Epilogue Elio
The world seems quiet now that Elio Donatelli Junior has succumbed to the arms of slumber. He terrorized both his mother and me with incessant cries throughout the ride back to my private estate in Hudson Valley. We’ve just returned from our individual therapy sessions.
Aria decided to have her own therapy sessions so she could finally work on processing the grief and trauma she had carried all this time since losing her mother and then her brother.
After making sure Cortez was well on top of everything, ready to take over, I decided I needed to get away from the bustle of New York, so as soon as we had Elio Junior ?we call him EJ? we moved to Hudson Valley.
It’s been three months of therapy, of digging through the wreckage of my childhood, of exposing wounds I thought were too deep to heal. And through it all, she’s been there. She’s never once let go.
I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “Today was good,” I say, voice thick with emotion. “I feel like... I’m finally getting somewhere.”
Aria glances up, her eyes locking onto mine with that quiet intensity that always makes me feel seen. “You are getting somewhere, Elio. I see it every day.”
I shake my head, swallowing hard. “I want to give him everything I never had.” I look down at our son, his tiny fingers curled into fists. “A home filled with love. A father who’s present. A father who tells him, every single day, that he is wanted, that he is enough.”
Aria steps closer, her hand cupping my face, her thumb brushing over my cheek. “And he will, Elio, because you’re already that father. You’re already breaking the cycle.”
I close my eyes for a second, leaning into her touch. Her presence in my life makes me feel complete even when I know I’ve not totally figured out the broken pieces of my life. “Sometimes I’m scared. That I’ll mess up, that I’ll slip into the patterns I grew up with.”
She shakes her head fiercely. “No. You won’t. You care too much about your son to hurt him in any way. You’ve seen the damage it does firsthand and you’re fighting to be different. And I’ll be right here, beside you. All the way.”
I don’t deserve her. God knows, I don’t.
But she is mine, and I am hers. That, I will never take for granted.
As Aria and I step into the bedroom, I shrug off my jacket, unbuttoning my shirt slowly, my eyes never leaving her as she cradles our son in her arms. He’s curled against her, tiny fingers gripping the fabric of her sweater even in sleep, his pacifier bobbing slightly between his lips.
My heart clenches at the sight.
Aria catches me staring and smiles, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s perfect, isn’t he?”
I take a slow step toward them, my breath hitching as I peer down to get a closer look. His little chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, his soft curls, dark like mine, slightly damp from the warmth of her body. His round cheeks are full, his lashes long and delicate against his creamy skin.
“He looks just like you,” she murmurs, brushing a gentle hand over his tiny head.
I swallow hard, my fingers aching to touch him. “You really think so?”
Aria shifts him slightly, angling him toward me. “The exact same nose, the same little pout when he sleeps… He’s your twin, Elio.”
“Except for his eyes, of course.” My lips lift gently. “He has your big, dark eyes.”
My index finger reaches out, trailing down his cheek. His skin is impossibly soft. My throat tightens with pride. “God, look at him,” I whisper, shaking my head in disbelief. “I still can’t believe he’s ours.”
Aria’s gaze flickers up to mine, her eyes pooling with moisture. “I know.” She exhales softly, her fingers tracing his tiny hand. “Sometimes, I just sit and watch him, trying to understand how we made something this beautiful.”
I let out a breathless chuckle, brushing my lips against the top of our son’s head. His powdery, sweet, and distinct baby scent fills my lungs, grounding me.
A lump forms in my throat, and I close my eyes for a second, absorbing her words. When I open them again, she’s still looking at me like I’m something worth believing in.
I press a hand to the small of her back, my fingers spreading wide. She sighs against me, her body warm, familiar. “I should put him down before he wakes up.”
I nod, watching as she steps into the nursery. I follow, leaning against the doorway as she lowers our son into the crib with the gentleness of someone placing down a piece of their own soul. He stirs for a moment, releasing a cute, nasal murmur. His little lips part before settling again, his pacifier still in place.
Gentle air escapes my nostrils as I drink in the sight of him. My son. My whole world.
Aria stands beside the crib, her arms crossing over her chest as she stares down at him. Her expression softens, something unreadable flickering across her face.
“You know,” she murmurs, “despite all his mistakes, my dad was still the best dad in the world to me. He lied about my brother and that… that hurt. But he never let me feel my mom’s absence too much. He was there for me.” She looks up at me, her eyes glistening. “And that’s all kids really need, Elio. For their parents to be there.”
I step toward her, my fingers finding her waist. “And you’ll do the same for him.”
She lets out a shaky breath, nodding. “Yes. I will.”
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering at her jaw. “And I’ll be right there with you.”
A small, breathless laugh escapes her as she wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me close. “I know,” she whispers.
I rest my forehead against hers, closing my eyes as I let myself sink into the warmth of her, into the reality that this?this beautiful moment right here?is my life now.
“I can’t do this without you, Aria,” I murmur, my voice breaking. “I swear, I can’t.”
She tilts her head back slightly, her hands tightening around me. “You’ll never have to. It’s you and me against the world. You don’t have to worry about the mafia empire’s safety any longer, not when you have Cortez.”
“He has proven himself to be such a brave man. I can’t wait to see how he fares, but I’m sure he’ll make me proud.”
“Oh, he will. He’s had the best example there can be,” she says, a big grin framing her face.
Something inside me cracks wide open. I grip her face, my thumbs brushing over her cheeks as I stare into the eyes of the woman who changed my life. “You’ve made me better in ways I can’t even explain.” My voice is raw, thick with everything I feel but don’t have the words for. “I just want to be able to focus on the legal businesses I have, the casinos, hotels, and restaurants. I’m never going back to that life of violence. I’m done.”
Tears gather at the edges of her lashes, but she smiles through them, lifting a hand to my chest, right over my heart. “This decision you made means the world to me, and I love you for that. So much.”
My breath shudders out of me. I cup the back of her neck, tilting her chin up as I lean in and capture her mouth in a slow, lingering kiss. She melts into me, her body pressing flush against mine, her hands fisting into my shirt like she never wants to let go.
Her lips are soft and warm against mine, parting just enough for me to taste the sweetness of her breath. I pull her closer, feeling the heat of her body press against mine as my hands trace the curve of her waist.
Her fingers slip beneath my shirt, cool against my skin, and I shudder at the contrast. I reach for the hem of her blouse, bunching the fabric in my fists before sliding it up and over her head. She gasps as the air kisses her bare skin.
“Elio…” she whispers, her lips brushing against my ear. “Not here.”
I glance at the crib. Our baby’s still sleeping soundly, undisturbed by the heat pulsing between us, but she’s right. We should take this elsewhere.
I brush my lips against her ear, just enough to make her shiver. “Next time he’s asleep in his own bed,” I murmur, my fingers tracing lazy circles on her hip, “I’m taking you downstairs– to our special room. I’m going to press you up against that velvet chair you love so much, have you gripping the arms and just watch while you squirm, until you’re the one telling me exactly what you need.”
I drag my fingers slowly down her spine, my lips still hovering at her ear. “Then I can have you on your knees,” I murmur. “Hands behind your back, eyes on me, waiting, begging...because you know better than to touch unless I say so. Then I’ll pull you into my lap, spread you out across my thighs, and take my time with you. I’ll map every inch of your skin with my hands and my mouth, until you’re restless, aching.” I pause, letting my breath fan against her neck. “And when I finally have you where I want you...against that cool leather, legs trembling, I’ll scratch something against those hardened nipples of yours. Guess what?”
Aria swallows hard, her breath coming faster now, her nails digging into my chest through my shirt.
“I... I don’t know. Maybe a whip?”
She’s literally trembling while a low growl seizes my throat.
“That’s what you want, eh? A whip across your nipples? If you’re a good girl, then I will do that.”
I don’t even have to look at her to know her cheeks are flushed, her lips parting just enough to betray how much she wants me. She shifts slightly, pressing closer as if drawn by the weight of my words alone. I don’t rush her. I let her absorb every detail, every promise laced between them. And then, in the softest, most breathless voice, she whispers, “God, Elio… when?”
“Like I said, when next we don’t have to tiptoe around EJ.”
Without hesitation, I lift her into my arms. She hooks her legs around my waist as I carry her across the hall, pushing open our bedroom door with my shoulder. The moment it clicks shut behind us, I pin her against it, claiming her mouth once more.
Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me deeper into the kiss, and I groan at the sensation. My hands slide down, gripping her thighs as I walk us toward the bed. I lower her onto the mattress, following her down, and let my mouth trace a slow, teasing path from her jaw to her collarbone.
She gasps as I reach behind her and strip her black brassiere open, my hands mapping the familiar territory of her perfect breasts as I take one of them in my palm and the other in my mouth.
A guttural moan escapes her lips as my teeth graze her nipple, my tongue circling the pink bud like my life depends on it.
“Elio,” she says my name so softly I’m not even sure if her mouth moves. “Just touch me already,” she whines, arching impatiently against my hips. I can’t make either of us wait any longer. Slowly, I bring my middle finger down and slide it gently over her folds.
She throws her head back. “Ahhh… yes. Keep going.” I slide my hands between her legs, positioning my fingers and thumb, this time gathering her wetness with my fingertip.
As I part her with two fingers, I rub her clit in small circles. She cries out against my lips as if she’s lost.
“Shhh…” I coo into her ears, pulling her up so that we’re face-to-face again. “We don’t want to wake him.”
I nuzzle against her, my lips on her neck, nibbling and kissing my way up to her earlobe. “Ooh…” she moans melodiously as I work my fingers inside the slick slit of her slippery pussy.
Aria squeezes her eyes shut, clamping her thighs against my wrist and snapping her hips up once, twice, three times before she freezes. All the muscles in her thighs, belly, and bottom tense and quiver, and I feel her contract against my fingers.
Before she can recover, I plunge my bulging, heavy cock inside her, pushing her leg aside so I can ease more of my significant length into her. Her melodic moans force me to pick up the pace as she arches, hungry for more, trying hard to fit all of me.
That’s my girl!
My hips dig deeper and harder into her, shafting her with long, quick strokes as my fingers tighten around her thigh.
So fucking delicious!
She slides her hands down over my back, slick with sweat, grasping my pumping buttocks.
“Fuck,” I mumble.
She moans, then arches her back to give me better access as my mouth swipes down again to suckle at her rock-solid nipples.
“Aria.” Her name slips past my mouth as her hips tremble, demanding more, craving the fullness of my cock inside her. The gesture makes a feral growl reverberate in my chest.
Her leg flexes against my back, urging me closer, her hands reaching up to cup my head, holding me still as I now slam into her hard and steady.
A soft, breathy exhalation leaves her as her moist palms move from my head to grip my bulky arms, eyes rolling back into her head, and hips trembling in convulsion.
I slide my cock out of her, meaning to turn her around, but there’s a wicked gleam in her eye. She pushes me off from her and in the twinkling of an eye, she’s somewhere in between my thighs, suckling on my balls.
Oh… Lord!
My back arches involuntarily, legs spreading to accommodate her hungry mouth. Her hands slide along my cock?now covered with her juices.
She glides her tongue up my cock, thrusting the tip in between her lips. My hand grips her hair and pulls it around my fingers while I dig into her wet mouth, shivering as my orgasm overtakes my entire being and I explode into her mouth, cum spilling all over her lips and face.
“I love you, Mr. Donatelli,” she says, delightfully licking my cum off her lips.
“I love you more, Princess.”
Pulling her into my arms, the scent of sweat and cum envelopes us as we fall back onto the bed.
I never believed a happy ending was in the cards for me. But life has rewritten my story in the most unpredictable way.
And now, against all odds, I stand at the threshold of something different from what I’ve known all my life:
A family.
A home.
And, at long last, love .
The End