Epilogue
Alessandra (Alex)
I cuddle my precious bundle closer as we walk along a familiar pathway. These past months have been hectic, to say the least, between marrying my Santa, taking over the famiglia , and learning to handle the family business.
The day I gave birth dances in my head, and a small smile graces my face.
“Braxton, hurry up, my water just broke,” I shriek as I strip out of my soaked leggings.
“Wait, what?” he asks, practically falling out of the bed when he gets tangled in the sheets that were around his waist. “Okay, let’s go,” he shouts, walking to the door, his fine ass on display.
“Um, Santa? I may enjoy your jingle bells, but I don’t want anyone else seeing what’s mine,” I tease.
“Fuck,” he drawls out, looking down at his morning wood. “Give me five!” he shouts, rushing into the bathroom. As I struggle to put clean underwear on, knowing I’m just going to be soaked all over again, I hear him hollering at himself as he takes care of business. The toilet flushes, the water turns on and off, and he rushes back out, grabbing his jeans and slipping them on.
Once he’s dressed, I grin because his shirt’s on inside out, he has mismatched socks that cover his feet as he shoves them into his motorcycle boots, but his cut sits proudly across his shoulders.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he scoops me into his arms and rushes through the door.
“Getting you to the hospital,” he replies, practically running while holding on to me as though I’m precious.
A contraction takes hold, and I grimace, moaning at the pain. His eyes grow even wilder, and I grin when I see his hair is sticking up everywhere. Gone is the cool, calm, and collected man I love beyond reason, and in its place is a first-time father panicking.
Mamá warned me he might do this; she said all alpha males tend to lose their minds when the woman they love is in pain. As another contraction hits, I realize that maybe we might not make it to the hospital.
“Well, this is a first,” the doctor comments as he walks into the room. “Not too often that I get to deliver one of my patients on the side of the road.”
I grin up at him, exhaustion evident on my face. “You said first babies take hours, Doc. I think you lied.”
“Alex, you’ve never been a typical patient,” he chides as he comes closer. “Let me make sure everything is going well,” he says, putting on a pair of gloves.
Braxton says nothing, just looks at the tiny baby curled up in sleep in the bassinet that’s beside my hospital bed. Leaning down, he kisses me, which is a good distraction from what the doctor is currently doing down below. “Love you, my little elf. More today than I ever have before.”
“And I love you, Santa Daddy.”
Goliath
I walk beside my wife, paying attention to our surroundings. While I understand what she’s doing, I don’t like being so exposed since we both know her enemies are still out there. When I notice several of Lorenzo’s men hiding in plain sight, I nod to let them know I appreciate the fact that they’re here to protect her.
My Alex.
My elf.
My fucking everything.
The grave comes into view, and I hear her breath hitch. Curling my arm around her shoulder, I read the headstone, my heart aching at a young life cut short at such an early age. I know my woman still carries guilt over that long-ago day; my goal is to ensure that she has more good days than bad, and I make a silent promise to the best friend she lost but still loves that I’ll make it happen.
I watch as a red cardinal appears and lands on the top of the grave, remembering that Granny has always said when they’re near, so is a lost loved one.
“I think she approves,” I murmur, my voice softer than normal, which is a feat in itself.
When a butterfly settles next to the bird, she gasps, her gaze meeting my own. “I think you’re right, Braxton. I’ve asked for a sign for years but never got one.”
“Thinking you got one today, sweetheart,” I whisper. “Emily, we’ve got her now. Rest in peace, sweet girl, and know that you’re still loved and missed, even all these years later.”
“Hey, Em,” she softly says, one hand reaching out to touch the marble headstone. “I want you to meet our daughter, Emily Noelle.”