Epilogue
EPILOGUE
I ’ve never hated being in one place so much in my life. If I see another plain white wall, I might actually lose it.
A week of being trapped in this hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and IVs, with nurses constantly poking and prodding—it’s a miracle I haven’t climbed out the window.
If only I were strong enough to make it that far.
“Easy there, tiger.” Luca’s amused voice drifts over as I scowl at the window. He’s sitting in the chair beside my bed, his legs stretched out, the picture of ease. He’s been there, always within reach, ever since I woke up. He even convinced the staff to let him sleep in here, pulling every string he could just to stay by my side.
Now, they barely raise an eyebrow when he stays overnight.
“You’re getting stir-crazy, aren’t you?” he asks, his lips quirking into a half-smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll smuggle you out if you can keep up.”
“Please.” I scoff, though I know I don’t have the strength to make it down the hallway, let alone out of the hospital. “If I could walk without feeling like I’d collapse, I’d have ditched this place days ago.”
Luca’s grin widens, his eyes crinkling in a way that makes my heart flip. “I know you would’ve.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as his gaze softens. “But I’m glad you’re here. That you’re safe.”
The emotion in his voice sends a pang through me, one that has nothing to do with my injury. I reach out, taking his hand in mine. “I’m not going anywhere, Luca.”
“I know,” he murmurs, but there’s still a tightness in his expression, a shadow that lingers just beneath the surface. “I almost lost you, Mia. I can’t—” He breaks off, swallowing hard. “I can’t go through that again.”
“You won’t,” I promise softly. “We’re okay. I’m okay. And we have so much to look forward to.” I glance down, my free hand drifting to my belly. It’s still flat, but knowing there’s life growing there fills me with a sense of awe that’s almost overwhelming. “We’re going to have a baby.”
Luca’s gaze follows mine, his eyes softening even further. “Yeah,” he breathes, his voice reverent. “A baby.”
The way he says it, like it’s the most miraculous thing in the world, makes my heart squeeze. Despite everything—despite the fear, the pain, the blood—I’d go through it all again just for this moment. Just for this man.
“Do you think… I mean, are you happy?” I ask, my voice unsteady. I know Luca wants this child. He’s already made that abundantly clear. But part of me still wonders if he’s holding back, if the guilt of what happened is stopping him from fully embracing this new chapter of our lives.
His eyes snap to mine, fierce and unyielding. “Am I happy?” he repeats incredulously. “Mia, I’m more than happy. I’m… God, I don’t even know how to put it into words. You’ve given me something I never thought I’d have—a family. A real one. And I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving that I’m worthy of it.”
Tears blur my vision, and I blink rapidly to clear them. “You already are, Luca. You’ve been here every second since I woke up. I don’t need you to prove anything.”
“I need to prove it to myself,” he murmurs, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. “I need to be the man you deserve.”
“Luca…” I don’t know what to say to that, so I just squeeze his hand, letting my silence speak for me. He’s already more than I ever imagined. More than I ever dared to hope for. And if he needs to fight to believe that, I’ll be here for him, every step of the way.
The door creaks open then, and I look up to see my mother and sisters peering in, hesitant smiles on their faces.
“Oh, don’t mind us,” Bianca says lightly, though her eyes are locked on me, relief and joy mingling in her gaze. “We’re just here to check in on the patient.”
“Or maybe,” Chiara teases, shooting a look at Luca, “we’re here to make sure someone is letting you rest instead of hovering like an overprotective watchdog.”
“I resent that,” Luca mutters, but there’s no heat in his words. If anything, he looks almost… sheepish.
“You should,” Sofia agrees, stepping inside and crossing her arms. “Honestly, Luca, you’re worse than a bodyguard on steroids. When did you last sleep?”
Luca’s jaw tightens, and I can practically see him weighing whether to answer honestly or deflect. Before he can respond, I jump in.
“He hasn’t left,” I say softly, looking up at my family. “Not once. He’s been here every second.”
Mama’s eyes shimmer with tears as she steps closer, her hand trembling as she reaches for mine. She hasn’t been able to stop crying whenever she sees me. “ Tesoro …”
“I’m okay, Mama,” I murmur, squeezing her fingers gently. “I’m really okay.”
The words seem to break something in her, and she lets out a choked sob, her other hand covering her mouth. “Oh, my brave girl,” she whispers, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “You scared us half to death.”
“I know,” I whisper, my own voice thick with emotion. She hasn’t stopped saying that since I woke up a week ago. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Sofia interjects, shaking her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re the victim here.”
A humorless laugh escapes me. “Some victim. I’m the one who’s supposed to be good at staying out of trouble, remember?”
Bianca snorts, folding her arms. “Well, you’ve officially lost that title, little sister.”
“Guess so,” I mutter, but I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “Does that mean one of you gets to take over?”
“Not a chance,” Chiara says, smirking. “We’re all in too deep. You’re stuck with us now.”
Luca chuckles softly beside me, and I glance up at him, my heart swelling. Even now, surrounded by my family, he doesn’t look like he quite believes he belongs here. Like he’s on the outside, looking in.
But then Sofia steps forward, a small smile playing on her lips. “We, um… we brought something for you.”
I blink, surprised. “For me?”
“Not just for you,” she clarifies, glancing at Luca. “For both of you.”
She pulls a small, wrapped package from her bag and hands it to me. I tear it open carefully, revealing a tiny pair of baby booties—white and soft, with little bows on their fronts.
“Guys…” I choke out, my voice breaking. “This is…”
“We know it’s a little early,” Bianca murmurs, her smile turning wry. “But we couldn’t resist.”
Tears spill over, and I clutch the booties to my chest, overwhelmed. “Thank you. I… I don’t even know what to say.”
“Say you’ll let us spoil this baby rotten,” Chiara quips, her grin widening. “Because we fully intend to. Cara and Nico can’t wait to meet their new baby cousin.”
“And don’t think we’re going to stop with the baby,” Anna adds, her voice still thick with emotion. “We’re going to spoil you, too, Mia. You, and Luca, and… and this little one.”
I glance at Luca, and his expression is so full of awe, of wonder, that it takes my breath away.
“Did you hear that?” I whisper, reaching for his hand. “We’re going to be spoiled.”
He swallows hard, his gaze never leaving mine. “Yeah,” he breathes. “I heard.”
And in that moment, I know—we’re not just having a baby. We’re building a family. A real one, surrounded by love and laughter and everything I thought I’d lost forever.
We’re going to be okay. All of us. Because no matter what, we have each other. And that’s more than enough.
* * *
The day I’m finally allowed to leave the hospital, I feel like I’m being released from a prison. My doctor, a grumpy but well-meaning man named Dr. Callahan, drones on about taking it easy, listing off a dozen restrictions in his stern, no-nonsense tone. But his expression softens when he looks at Luca beside me, no doubt thinking he’ll be able to enforce the rules with a tyrant like him keeping watch.
“Remember, no strenuous activity for at least another few weeks,” Dr. Callahan emphasizes, glaring pointedly at Luca. “That includes anything that could strain your muscles or aggravate the wound site.”
Luca nods solemnly. “Of course. I’ll make sure she follows every instruction.”
I roll my eyes, exasperated. “You know I’m right here, don’t you?”
“Yeah, and you’re notorious for pushing boundaries,” Luca shoots back, a teasing glint in his eye. “I’m just making sure there’s no room for misinterpretation.”
“Misinterpretation?” I grumble, crossing my arms. “I’m not a child, Luca.”
“No, you’re not,” he murmurs softly, his gaze shifting, darkening as it roams over me. “But you’re mine to protect, and I’m not taking any chances.”
Heat flares low in my belly, and I quickly look away, my cheeks flushing. Dr. Callahan clears his throat, clearly catching on to the charged moment, and shuffles awkwardly before muttering a quick goodbye and escaping down the hall.
“Do you have to do that?” I ask Luca, still blushing furiously.
“Do what?” he asks innocently, his lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
“Make everything sound like a seductive promise,” I grumble, shooting him a glare.
He laughs then, low and husky, and the sound wraps around me like a caress. “I can’t help it, Mia. Everything about you makes me want to make promises I’ll spend the rest of my life keeping.”
And just like that, my irritation evaporates, replaced by a rush of warmth and love so intense it nearly knocks the breath from my lungs. He’s impossible. But he’s mine.
Luca insists on carrying me out of the hospital, despite my protests that I can walk just fine. His expression is implacable, though, and I know better than to argue when he’s in one of his overprotective moods. So, I let him scoop me up into his arms, holding me close as he strides confidently through the hallways, ignoring the curious stares from staff and visitors alike.
When we finally reach the car, he settles me gently into the passenger seat, buckling me in with the same care he’d use with a delicate piece of glass. He rounds the front of the car and climbs in, his expression softening as he glances over at me.
“Ready to go home?” he asks quietly, his hand reaching for mine.
Home . I never thought I’d associate that word with a place that wasn’t the Marino estate I grew up in, with my sisters’ voices echoing through the halls and my father’s shadow always looming just out of sight.
But as I look at Luca, at the man who’s become my rock, my anchor, I know that wherever he is… that’s home.
“Yes,” I whisper, squeezing his hand. “Take me home.”
The drive is quiet, peaceful, a sense of anticipation building between us. I stare out the window, watching the city pass by, the familiar sights a comforting blur as we make our way back to Luca’s—no, our —house. It’s surreal, thinking of it that way. As a place that belongs to both of us, a place where we’ll raise our child.
When we pull up in front of the estate, I’m unprepared for the rush of emotion that hits me. The house is grand and imposing, but it’s more than just a structure of stone and glass.
It’s a symbol of everything Luca and I have fought for—our future, our family, our happiness.
The staff must have been alerted to our arrival because the front door swings open and a line of familiar faces appears, all smiling warmly as they welcome me home. Tears blur my vision as I see Lucia, Maria, Alberto, and even some of the newer members of the household staff gathered together, clapping and cheering softly as Luca carries me up the steps.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Strambo,” Lucia says warmly, stepping forward with a bouquet of flowers in her hands. “We’ve missed you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice choked with emotion. “I’ve missed you all, too.”
She beams at me, her eyes suspiciously bright, before stepping back to let Luca carry me inside. He moves carefully, his every step measured as he brings me up the grand staircase and down the hall to our bedroom. When he pushes the door open and sets me down on the sofa, a wave of relief and contentment washes over me.
“I’m really home,” I murmur, staring around the room, my heart swelling.
“Yes, you are,” Luca says softly, sitting beside me and taking my hands in his. “And this is where you belong, Mia. With me.”
I look up at him, at the love and devotion etched into every line of his face, and something inside me melts. I reach up, cupping his cheek, feeling the rough scrape of stubble against my palm.
“I love you, Luca,” I whisper, the words spilling out of me like a confession. “I love you so much.”
His eyes darken, his hands tightening around mine. “I love you too, Mia. More than anything.”
He leans down, capturing my lips in a soft, reverent kiss, and everything else fades away. There’s only him, only us, only this moment. He’s so gentle, so achingly careful, as if he’s afraid I might break. But beneath that tenderness is a fierce, unyielding passion that takes my breath away.
He pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against mine. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt how much you mean to me.”
“I know,” I murmur, smiling up at him. “I know, Luca.”
With a low growl, he scoops me up again, carrying me to the bed and laying me down as if I’m the most precious thing in the world. And in his eyes, I am.
He hovers over me, his gaze raking over my face, my body, as if he’s memorizing every detail.
“Are you sure?” he asks softly, his voice rough with need and restraint.
“Yes,” I breathe, reaching up to pull him down. “I need you, Luca. Please.”
He groans, his control snapping as he lowers himself onto the bed, his hands gliding over my body with a touch so gentle it sends shivers down my spine. And then he’s kissing me again, his lips trailing down my neck, across my collarbone, each caress a promise of everything we’re going to build together.
“Luca,” I whisper, arching into him, my body aching for his touch.
“Shh, baby,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my skin. “I’ve got you. I’ll always have you.”
And as he worships me with every touch, every kiss, I know, without a doubt, that this is where I’m meant to be. With this man, in this bed, in this life that we’ve fought so hard to create.
Against all odds, the Marino daughters have achieved our father’s last wish.
And I’ve found the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.