Chapter 46 #2
My husband is up and rounding the couch in a second flat, approaching me with an unreadable expression. He softly takes the pictures, examining them closely.
“It’s a boy,” I add, voice trembling.
“You did this without me?” His question isn’t angry, but I almost think I detect a trace of hurt.
“I’ll give you two a minute,” Yordan says, awkwardly shuffling to move out of the room. “Congratulations, though. I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, watching him go.
Once we’re alone, my eyes prick with hot tears. “I’m sorry,” I tell Apollo, arms wrapping around my middle. “I shouldn’t have lied, and I shouldn’t have gone without you. I was just so scared. Please don’t hate me for this.”
“I don’t hate you, I could never hate you,” he says, shaking his head. “I just don’t understand. Why were you scared? Don’t you want this?”
“Yes, yes,” I rush out, nodding insistently.
“I wanted it so bad. Pregnancy is kind of scary, and I was worried how I might react. But mostly, I was terrified that I wouldn’t be and something would be wrong.
If I couldn’t give you an heir, I thought it might be over between us.
And I don’t think I could handle losing what we h-have. ”
“What?” he asks, voice going dark. “Why would you think that?”
I swipe away a stubborn tear that escapes from the corner of my eye, laughing incredulously. “Are you serious? Apollo, the whole reason we got married was to give you an heir. If I couldn’t do it, s-surely you’d have to find someone else who could.”
“I absolutely would not.” His reply is so sharp, so forceful that it sends a shiver down my spine.
“What?” I rasp, blinking with confusion. “But you have to have an heir to become Capo. If I couldn’t give you that, everything would be ruined.”
“It would change nothing.”
His words aren’t reassuring, they’re baffling. “But the contract—”
“Fuck the contract, Rayna,” he growls, hands cupping my face firmly. “I don’t give a shit about a piece of paper. Even if I did, it says that we would try to reproduce, not that it’s required to remain married. Did you even read it?”
I did read it, but maybe not as closely as I should have.
“Apollo, you need—”
“You,” he cuts in. “I need you, Rayna. My fucking wife.”
My stomach swoops and my head feels fuzzy. I still don’t understand how he could brush this off.
“You said you need an heir to become Capo.”
“Listen to me,” he snaps, hands flexing around my face.
“I’m going to make this clear one time, and then I never want to hear you worry about this again.
If you couldn’t get pregnant, I wouldn’t divorce you.
Leon would take my place, and I would take his.
I don’t want to be Capo if I can’t be Capo with you as my wife. I fucking love you, Rayna.”
“What did you just say?”
“You heard me.” His gaze holds mine, nothing but honesty pooling in those baby blues.
“I’ve been waiting for you to give me any sign that you’re ready to hear it.
You’ve been so closed off emotionally that I haven’t pushed.
But I can’t stand here and let you continue thinking that I care more about The Outfit than I care about you.
Capo, Underboss, fucking Consigliere, I would take any position if it meant keeping you.
I was born to be Capo, but I live to be with you. ”
Please, please, God, don’t let me be dreaming.
“I love you too,” I murmur, the vulnerability hurting a lot less than I thought it would. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I should have taken you with me. I hate that I struggle to trust you, even when you show me that I can over and over again.”
“I married you knowing you were slow to trust,” he says softly. “I wouldn’t be the husband for you if I couldn’t handle it. But you better believe I’m going to be at every single appointment from here on out.”
“I believe it,” I reply with a giggle. A million ton weight has been lifted and suddenly, I’m not so scared anymore. He loves me.
Apollo Moretti loves me.
A surprising amount of giddiness sets in, and I raise up on my tip toes to kiss him sweetly. He returns it, holding me close and cherishing the moment.
“Do you want to go tell everybody?” I ask, excitement bubbling up.
He chuckles, amused. “Do you?”
“So much,” I admit.
“Yordan,” he calls out. “Let’s go, we’re bringing the news to the main house!”
“Coming!” he yells back from the other room.
I bounce on my feet, excitedly smacking another peck on Apollo’s lips.
“I should have told you that I loved you weeks ago,” he mumbles into our kiss. “You look so fucking happy, baby.”
“I am.”
And the joy only continues as we find a big chunk of his family in the main house. His father, most of his brothers, his sisters, and even Martha.
“Hey, what are you guys doing here?” Jade asks, smiling excitedly. “Are we doing a group dinner tonight?”
“If Martha doesn’t mind,” I reply with a hidden smile. “We have some news that might be nice to celebrate.”
I look up at Apollo, nudging him to announce it.
“We’re having a baby.”
“A boy,” Yordan adds just before the room explodes.
Congratulatory cheers ring out all around us, and after only a few minutes, my cheeks start to grow sore from smiling.
“How far are you?” Martha asks, eyes brimming with tears.
“Twelve weeks,” I admit, looking down at my stomach. “The doctor said I should start showing more soon.”
“You haven’t been married for twelve weeks,” Yordan realizes, eyes drawing down as he counts on his hands.
Matteo cackles, throwing his head back. “Marriage doesn’t make a baby, bud. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this family is fertile as hell. He probably just breathed on her and boom, pregnant.”
“It was the first time,” I admit, rolling my eyes at the smug look on my husband’s face. Men, I scoff, silently.
“I’m pregnant, too,” Jade suddenly bursts out.
Gasps fly around the group and my eyes widen.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she stammers. “I didn’t mean to say that and cut in on your moment. I’m only six weeks, I’m not supposed to say anything yet. I’m just so excited to have a pregnancy buddy this time around.”
“You didn’t cut in,” I assure her, seeing the guilt on her face. “That’s incredible news, Jade. I’m excited to have someone to go through this with too.”
“Oh thank God,” she breathes out, pulling me in for a tight hug. “I didn’t mean to blurt that out, I swear.”
“I’m glad you did,” I reply, hugging her back.
Having someone to experience this with makes me feel great, actually.
“We definitely have to celebrate,” Ana declares, grinning at the both of us. “Two of the prettiest Morettis are pregnant, which means two beautiful babies are on the way.”
“Hey,” Matteo gripes. “I think we all know, I’m the prettiest Moretti.”
Almost everyone laughs, and the night fades into one that I’ll always remember. Apollo loves me, we’re having a baby, and I’ve never been happier.