Epilogue
Liv: Five Years Later
I wake up to the smell of something delicious wafting in the air, which is the only reason I even consider opening my eyes.
I thought the pregnant nose thing was a damn lie, but I can smell food from miles away.
For a second, I consider rolling over and going right back to sleep.
My body is exhausted, my back aches, and I swear to God, these babies are trying to fistfight each other inside me.
But it’s not like I can roll over with this belly in the way.
Then, I hear tiny giggles and whispers.
“Be careful, Alexi.”
“I am careful, Aria! You’re the one who almost dropped the plate!”
A deep voice rumbles from the doorway.
“Both of you, stop arguing before you drop it on the floor, and your mother kills all of us.”
I blink my eyes open, and there he is.
Alessio stands in the doorway with his arms crossed, wearing nothing but grey sweatpants slung low on his hips.
My name across his heart has faded into a scar.
He added ink around the scar to make it stand out.
He looks like an enforcer, but with toddlers.
Though he’s not one to enforce anything when it comes to our four-year-old twins, especially Aria.
She has her daddy wrapped so tightly around her little finger that if she asked for the moon, Alessio would be out there with a ladder and a fucking rope.
Aria, balancing a plate of eggs and bacon in her little hands, her red curls bouncing with every careful step as she tries not to spill a thing.
And Alexi, his father’s spitting image, with sandy brown hair and ice-blue eyes, carrying a tray that’s way too big for him.
His brows furrow in pure concentration, little hands gripping the edges like his life depends on it, probably because he’s determined not to spill the juice or send the fruit cup toppling over the edge.
I arch a brow, trying to suppress a smile.
“What’s all this? ”
Alexi huffs, hauling the tray onto the bed, his little face scrunched up like he just carried an entire building.
“Breakfast.”
Aria plops down beside me, carefully setting the plate on the tray next to the juice.
“Because it’s Mommy’s Day! And Daddy said you have to eat in bed and not move.”
I flick my gaze to Alessio, who just shrugs.
“Doctor’s orders. You stay in bed today.”
I roll my eyes.
“I’m pregnant, not dying.”
“Pregnant with twins. Same thing.” He walks over, leans down, and presses a slow, lingering kiss to my lips.
Aria makes a gagging sound.
“Ew.”
Alessio smirks against my mouth.
“Get used to it, princess. Your mother likes kissing me.”
Then he moves lower, pressing two kisses to my swollen belly, one for each baby.
We still don’t know the sex, Alessio and I wanted to wait until they were born.
Not knowing also helps his mother and Paola not go on a buying rampage.
When I was pregnant with Alexi and Aria, they damn near created an entire department store in our house.
I hum, kissing him again before I lean back, surveying my tray.
I take a sip of orange juice, my eyes fluttering shut at the taste.
“Hmm. He’s not wrong.”
Alexi climbs onto the bed, settling beside me, his small fingers playing with the blanket before he looks up, his face all serious.
“Mommy?”
I glance down at him.
“Yeah, baby?”
He hesitates, then tilts his head.
“Why was Grandpa Clover kissing Paola?”
The sip of juice I just took goes straight down the wrong pipe, and I choke.
Full-on, gasping-for-air choking.
Alessio instantly pats my back, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.
“You good, Sirena ?”
I cough, waving him off.
“I’m fine. Just—” I clear my throat, looking at Alexi.
“Wait. What?”
Aria nods enthusiastically, all proud of herself, like she’s spilling all kinds of secrets.
“Yeah! We saw it last night when Uncle Kota helped us sneak into the kitchen for a cupcake, when you and Daddy were playing dinosaurs in your room! “Grandpa Clover kissed her on the mouth!
I asked Uncle Kota, but he laughed and said, ‘Mommy will explain.’”
“Dinosaurs?” I repeat, already feeling my soul leave my body .
“Yeah,” Alexi chimes in, his little face scrunches up in confusion.
“When you and Daddy lock your door, and Daddy makes the grrrr growly noise… and you scream.”
I nearly choke on air as my brain hits the emergency shut-off switch and my face combusts into flames, cycling through every shade of red known to man.
Meanwhile, Alessio, the devil in sweatpants, leans back with his arms crossed like he’s watching his favorite show.
Alexi’s still not done.
“Isn’t that bad that Grandpa and Paola kiss? I thought only people who love each other do that.”
Oh, for the love of god.
I blink twice to make sure this is really happening and not some stress-induced pregnancy dream.
Clover moved closer after I had the twins and visits more often now.
And apparently, he’s kissing Paola on the mouth now.
Now, I have to soundproof the whole damn house and sit these kids down for a talk I’m absolutely not ready for.
I glare at Alessio before turning back to my concerned little son.
“Uh. Well. Sometimes—”
“Are they in love?” Aria asks, blinking up at me.
Alexi’s face twists like it’s the worst thing he’s ever heard, before his face lights up.
“Wait. Does that make her our grandma now?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose because I cannot deal with this right now.
I never saw the signs, but now that I think of it, he is here all the damn time.
Alessio, still being no help, chuckles and leans in, pressing another kiss to my cheek.
“Happy Mother’s Day, Sirena . Enjoy your breakfast.”
I drop my head against the pillows, looking at my two beautiful babies and my beast.
“Thanks, Warden.”