40. SCARLET #2
Three simple little words. Two of them don't mean much when they stand alone. The third could mean a ton of different things. But when they're strung together, and a man like Antonio looks at you like this, they mean everything.
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me, and happiness doesn't even come close to describing my emotions right now. Lifting my arms, I place the palms of my hands on both sides of his face, reveling in the heat of his skin, how smooth it is after he just shaved this morning.
"You are my dream." I lift my head, and he kisses me deeply.
"Which is why I love you so fucking much."
I don't think my heart can take any more flip-flops, stumbles, races, or whatever, but hell, his words make it sing.
"Good." I nip at his lip.
"Good?" He arches a brow.
"Yeah, 'cause I kinda love you too. Very fucking much so."
His grin turns into his calling card arrogant smirk. "Of course you do. What's not to love?"
I box his side. As much as I would love to revel in all this happiness right now, he's right. There are things that need to be taken care of first. So I sober and ask, "So, what's next?"
He is about to answer when Maisy enters after a short, timid knock. "I beg your pardon, but Doctor Brown is here."
"Ah, good. Send him in." Antonio doesn't look pleased by the interruption.
"Good afternoon," the old man who took care of me before enters. "It's been a few days. How are you doing, little lady?"
"I'm good. The painkillers help." I should bring up the vomiting, but one look at Antonio tells me that he wouldn't let it go, so I keep quiet.
There has to be a way to get my hands on a pregnancy test. I don't want to tell him until I'm sure.
My life has been changing so rapidly over the past few weeks that my emotions are all over the place.
I don't need to involve Antonio in any more of my drama until I'm certain.
"Good, good. I'm glad we don't need anything stronger. Toni." He nods at Antonio, who holds up his glass of whiskey in question.
"You know I gave that up years ago, but you young folk enjoy," Doctor Brown snickers.
"I didn't even thank you for last time." I look into his kind eyes, surrounded by hooded eyelids and round glasses.
"Nothing to thank me for. It's my pleasure to help a beautiful lady for a change instead of ugly bastards like him." He chuckles to himself, and Antonio grunts his reply. A faint smile hovers over his lips.
"Well, don't be shy, let me see." Doc puts his bag down, and I turn around and unbutton my blouse so I can lower it over my shoulder.
"The patch definitely needs to be replaced," he mumbles.
His hand moves to my forehead. "No fever, good."
He pulls out a stethoscope, not giving me any time to admire his old-school technique. "Deep breath in. Excellent, again."
"Lungs are fine," he announces and listens to my chest. "Heart is too, as long as you don't break it." He wags a finger at Antonio. This time, I can't help but chuckle.
"If anyone's heart is in any danger, it's mine," Antonio replies dryly, creating a little hitch in mine, which I hope the good doctor missed. No such luck; he winks at me. Antonio continues, clueless as to what just happened. "Are you going to listen to mine, too?"
"You don't have one," Doc replies, eliciting more giggles from me.
"Hah," Antonio replies. "I beg to differ. A certain someone has awakened something."
"That's not your heart, that's your dick."
This time, I snort with laughter.
"Very funny," Antonio pouts.
"It's true," I come to his defense. "I heard it beat."
"Did you now?" Doc looks skeptical but walks over to Antonio with his stethoscope out. "Well, I'll be damned. There's a heartbeat. Who would have thought? Your mother is weeping in heaven."
More of my laughter gets swallowed by a startled cry as he rips the bandage off my shoulder. He's quick for an old man. I didn't even notice him returning to my side.
"Careful, old man, wouldn't want anything to happen to you," Antonio growls, and the good old doctor lifts his middle finger.
"It's better to rip the band-aid quickly. You, of all people, should know that." The older man admonishes.
"Well, this looks good. I'll clean it, and in a couple of days, we'll take the stitches out," he says to me. "No nausea? No fever, no loss of appetite…" he notices the glance between Antonio and me and sighs loudly. "Food, I'm talking about loss of appetite for food."
"No, I've been eating. Thank you. No nausea either." I manage to answer, despite the sweat running down my armpits. Antonio gives me a funny look, as if he's sensing I'm lying, but Doc is already busy, whipping out a few pieces of gauze and alcohol.
"Good, good." He cleanses my wound so carefully that I feel nothing but the slightest pressure.
"You're healing fast. That's excellent."
He packs his things. "Bill's in the mail." He lifts his hand over his head and waves as he walks out.
"Wow," I say, turning to Antonio.
He rolls his eyes. "Wow, is right. Cranky old goat."
Not even an hour later, the officiate arrives.
"Henry Nolan," Antonio introduces him.
"I have the papers ready," Henry comes straight to the point. He pulls some papers out from an old briefcase that I'm sure has seen better days, about a hundred years ago.
"I need both of your signatures here and here," he points at the first page, placing it on the desk.
Being the daughter of a judge, I learned long ago to read what I sign before I do, but this looks like a pretty straightforward marriage agreement.
My hand shakes as I sign it, butterflies rummaging through my stomach, but no second thoughts rear up.
This is it. I'm signing on for an entirely new life, with Antonio at my side.
I look up at him, and he winks at me while he puts his name on the paper in big, swiping letters.
"I'll sign as one of the witnesses, but we need one more," Henry mumbles while scribbling his name.
"Vito!" Antonio barks.
Like a genie summoned, Vito pops in, making me wonder if he stood outside just waiting for Antonio to call him.
"I need you to sign here." Antonio hands him a pen.
"Sure." Vito doesn't even ask what it is before putting his name down. The trust between these two men never ceases to amaze me.
"So, you're getting married?" Vito asks, finally looking at the header of the document he just signed.
Antonio nods, taking his pen back, and without blinking, says, "That could be you."
Vito's jaw works as he looks heavenward, like in silent prayer.
"I need you to sign this, Mr. DeLuna." Henry pulls out another paper, and Antonio signs it. I glance over and my eyes grow wide when I see, Power of Attorney , written on it in bold letters.
"Antonio, what is this?"
"This is just in case something happens to me, passerotta, no worries." He assures me.
"No worries?" I nearly laugh.
"Easy, Scarlet," he cups my face and kisses me. "It will all be fine."
Fine ?
"And this," Henry pulls out another.
"I need you to sign this, Mrs. DeLuna." Hearing him say my new name wells up a whole new flood of emotions. Mrs. DeLuna, I'm Mrs. DeLuna! I beam at Antonio. Then I look at the papers before me, "What is this?"
"It's only a formality, Scarlet. It puts certain assets in your name in case something happens to me. The feds won't be able to touch it. It'll ensure that you're taken care of even if I'm not there."
"I…" I'm lost for words.
"It's all good, passerotta, just standard nonsense."
I don't believe his assurances for even a second, and I know I've been raised better.
But damn, I'm signing Mrs. Scarlet DeLuna on pages, and that will need some getting used to.
And really, what the hell, I just committed my life to the mafia, so I don't see that signing any of these papers will put me in jail or get me killed, or whatever…
Henry hands me a black card. I look at Antonio, quizzically. "It's a credit card. No limits." He shrugs nonchalantly.
"Oh, okay." I pretend to be as nonchalant as he is, but his smirk tells me he sees right through my facade.
"What's going on here?" Gigi enters the office without knocking.
"Getting hitched," Antonio tells her, and I feel my face heat—way to break the news.
"Oh," Gigi squeals and rushes over to me, folding me into a tight embrace that makes it hard to breathe. "Sister!" she squeals some more, making my ears hurt.
Sister!
My heart hammers a little bit faster. I have always wanted to have a sister. I can't imagine anybody better than her. "Sister." I declare right back at her.
She lets go of me and punches Antonio in the kidney.
"Ouch, what was that for?"
"Congratulations?" Gigi glares at him.
"I don't think that's how you congratulate people," Antonio grumbles.
"That's how you congratulate asshole brothers who don't bother inviting their sister to their wedding or give her a chance to plan it." Gigi pouts, making me smile.
"Gigi." Antonio looks at her most sincerely.
"Yeah?" She still glares at him.
"Will you help us plan a wedding?"
"Of course," she beams, slinging her arms around his neck.
"All you had to do was ask. When do you want to have the big day?
" Antonio can't see it, but I do. The look on Vito's face. It’s filled with yearning, and my heart goes out to him and Gigi both. Whatever game Antonio is playing, he’d better put a stop to it soon, otherwise I will. This is just cruel.
But then Antonio looks at me over her shoulder, and my mind returns to his question. And I remember who we are and how we met, and I straighten myself. "As soon as Carlos is in jail," I say.
Antonio's face lights up with pride. He mouths, I love you .
And I mouth it to him right back.