Chapter 22
The pain tore through her belly.Strong.Deep.Making her hold her breath.
Vincenzo was the first to notice.
“Sara?”
“Honey…”
Her voice came out shaky.
“I think… our daughter has decided to be born.”
Eleonora was the first to understand.
“Oh my God. She’s in labor.”
Chaos erupted immediately.
Lorenzo shouted, “WHAT?!”
Mateo stared at them in shock. “NOW?!”
“SHE’S HAVING THE BABY RIGHT NOW?!”
“STOP YELLING!” Eleonora roared.
Everyone fell silent.
“Vincenzo, get towels!”
“Leonardo, get me hot water!”
“You two, stop running around like headless chickens and do something useful!”
Mateo and Lorenzo vanished from the room at record speed.
Meanwhile, another contraction made Sara moan.
“Ah…”
Vincenzo was already on his knees beside her, gripping her hand tightly, his eyes full of fear and love at the same time.
“I’m right here, sweetheart… Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I’m scared… I’m so scared, Vincenzo.”
“You don’t have to be, amore. I’m here. You can have our daughter in peace. I’ll protect both of you… or don’t you trust me?”
Sara gave a weak smile at seeing him pretend to be offended.
“I trust you…”
“Your husband is incredibly strong. No one can take me down, amore.”
Sara fell even more in love when she realized he already considered himself her husband. “And I’m proud of that. That’s why I chose to have our daughter… I was proud to carry the baby of a man I admired so much.”
The mafioso’s eyes filled with tears.
“It seems like only the two of you can make me weak, amore.”
Sara gave a soft smile.
“Maybe… Does that bother you?”
He smiled. “Not even a little…”
Another contraction.Another moan.And the desperation grew.
◆◆◆
Two hours later.
The situation was much more intense.
The contractions were coming closer and closer.Stronger and stronger.
That was when Sara made a decision.
“I want the bathtub.”
Eleonora blinked.
“What?”
“I want hot water.”
“Now.”
Vincenzo didn’t ask questions.
He just ran.
Minutes later, the enormous bathtub in the master suite was full. The warm water helped. At least a little. Enough for Sara to breathe between contractions.
She was gripping Vincenzo’s hand so hard she was probably breaking every one of his fingers. He stayed on his knees beside the tub, his face pressed close to hers, whispering words of love and strength the entire time.
The hours passed.Slowly.Very slowly.
Vincenzo never left her side for a single second. Supporting her. Helping. Praying silently for everything to end well.
Until it finally happened.
A tiny body appeared in the water.
Sara immediately reached for her, carefully holding the baby. The moment she took her first breath, a rough, soft cry filled the room.
Vincenzo Salvatore’s firstborn had arrived.
For a few seconds no one spoke.No one breathed.No one moved.
Then the cry came. And tears filled Sara’s eyes.Eleonora’s eyes.And especially Vincenzo’s.
Their daughter.Finally.Was here.
◆◆◆
Eleonora took control with firm, gentle hands.
She carefully cleaned the newborn.
Vincenzo helped cut the umbilical cord.
He wrapped the tiny girl in a soft, warm blanket.
Then put a minuscule outfit on her.
The baby was so small.So delicate.It seemed impossible that something so fragile and perfect could exist.
Then Eleonora walked over to Vincenzo.
And placed his daughter in his arms.
The most feared mafioso of the Salvatore family simply fell apart.
Tears streamed freely.Without shame.Without trying to look strong.
Because in that moment he wasn’t an heir.He wasn’t a criminal.He wasn’t a warrior.
He was just a father.
Holding his daughter for the first time.
“She’s perfect…”
His voice broke.
“My God…”
“Welcome home, Catarina Salvatore.”
◆◆◆
While Vincenzo helped Sara out of the bathtub and into the shower, Eleonora carried the baby to the living room.
The result was exactly what everyone expected.
Chaos and celebration.
Mateo spoke, completely smitten as he stared at his niece. “My God… That’s not a baby. That’s a tiny little thing with little legs and little arms.”
Lorenzo rushed over, almost shoving his brother aside. “Let me see too!! What’s her name?”
“Vincenzo said her name is Catarina.”
The two brothers practically fought to get closer.
Leonardo just laughed, secretly enchanted by the love of his life holding a baby—she looked perfect doing it.
Lorenzo said, “She’s so small. I think my finger is bigger than her hand.”
Eleonora rolled her eyes.
But she smiled.
Because everyone was completely in love.
◆◆◆
Minutes later, Leonardo stepped closer to her.
Watching the newborn.
Then he slid an arm around her waist.
“Let me put a baby in you too, amore?”
Eleonora closed her eyes immediately.
A shiver ran through her entire body at hearing her man’s voice say those words.
“It’s my dream to have your child…”
He smiled quietly, proud. “As soon as this is over, I’m not leaving your side until my son is growing inside you… That’s a promise.”
She turned red, already wishing she could go home soon.
◆◆◆
A little later, Vincenzo reappeared.
He carefully took his daughter.
Accepted the congratulations from his brothers.
Ignored half of the jokes.
And went back upstairs.
Because he knew there was still someone even more desperate to hold that baby.
Her mother.
◆◆◆
When he entered the suite, he found Sara sitting on the bed.
Tired.Exhausted.But with a radiant smile on her face.
Vincenzo placed the newborn in her arms.
And for the first time the three of them were together.
The little family.Complete.
The baby desperately searched for her mother’s breast and began to nurse.
Sara smiled, emotional, tears streaming down her face as she gently stroked the tiny head.
Vincenzo watched every detail.
As if he were afraid that if he blinked, he would lose the moment.
Outside, the sun had already disappeared.
Night covered the mountains.
And for the first time in a long while…
It felt like everything was going to be okay.
◆◆◆
Until the first alarm sounded.
In the living room.
Outside, the soldiers on security detail began to move.
Another alarm went off.
Then another. And another.
Vincenzo’s brothers rushed to a monitor on the living room wall—a screen showing the camera feeds from around the entire property.
And then they went pale.
Because it wasn’t just one signal.Or two.Or three.
Dozens of red dots appeared around the mountain.
Moving.Climbing.Surrounding the cabin.
Approaching slowly.
Upstairs, Vincenzo lifted his head immediately. He knew that sound and exactly what it meant.
He left Sara on the bed nursing their daughter and went downstairs, where he found everyone tense and the monitor on the wall showing multiple alarms triggered.
He looked seriously at everyone in the room and said:
“Get ready. They found us…”
And in that instant…
Everyone knew the war had finally arrived.