Chapter 17
Caterina
I watched Harlow with Serenity, and I couldn’t be more proud of my wife.
She loved this little girl more than anything and wanted her to have a perfect life.
While the two of them watched the movie, I stepped out to call Mallory.
I wanted to know what I needed to do to keep Serenity here with us.
There were enough men here to keep her safe, and with this new threat, I didn’t want her to go back.
If I couldn’t jumpstart the adoption process and get her to be ours, then I would keep a man at the foster center. No one would harm her, and if they did, there would be hell to pay. Serenity was a part of our family now, and I would burn the world for both of them.
“Cat? Is everything okay?”
“Yes. We had an incident at the mall, but it’s taken care of. Serenity and Harlow are watching a movie, but I wanted to know. What do I need to do to keep Serenity? I want to have the adoption process jumpstarted, and I want her to be ours.”
“I figured you would want to do that; I already started the paperwork. They’ll have to do a home inspection, but other than that, you will be good to go. I can let you know when they plan the visit, and we can finalize everything when you come home from your trip.”
“Thank you. I’m excited to tell my wife the good news.”
“Congratulations. I’ll have the paperwork ready for you two to sign when you come home from your trip. I have hooligans that can use a play date.”
“I’ll make sure to bring her over to play with them. Thank you for your help, Mallory.”
“Thank you for giving Harlow her life back.”
“She’s the one who gave me life.”
I disconnected the line and walked back to the room where Harlow was running her fingers through Serenity’s hair, and the little girl—our little girl—was knocked out.
I walked up to her and picked her up in my arms to carry her to her bedroom.
We spent a little time after her therapy session getting her room ready—we still had a way to go.
She was a demanding little girl which meant she’d fit in perfectly.
I wanted to test something out with Titus and Lucifer, but I needed to make sure she was okay with animals beforehand.
We would figure it out after we made it home.
As much as I hated to think about it, my boys were getting older.
They were almost nine, and while I kept them in tip-top shape, most Dobermans lived approximately ten to thirteen years.
My goal was to buy a Doberman pup for each child I had, and now I had one, so it was time.
I would also have a shelter animal for each Doberman I bought.
Harlow told me how much she loved animals, and while it might drive Moira insane, I would do anything to see my wife smile.
I placed Serenity in her bed. I was able to find new princess sheets and a comforter for her today. When we finally had her here with us, I would make sure she decorated her room the way she desired. She would be a spoiled princess. Our little princess.
I held Harlow’s hand as I took her to the kitchen.
It’s been too long since I had a moment with my wife.
She laughed as I pulled us into the center of the kitchen and told Alexa to play a love song, then Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran started to play.
I pulled her close to me, humming to the music as we swayed together.
This was how I wanted life to be for the rest of my existence.
Harlow was the beginning, and now Serenity was another stepping stone on the path of our life.
She would be the eldest Moretti daughter, the sunshine in her mothers’ eye, and the princess until she had a sister to fight over the title with.
“How many children do you want?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like you can put a baby in me.”
I smirked. “Hey, I am always down for practice, and I can in fact put a baby in you with added science to our sex life.”
She laughed, and it was the sweetest symphony. “Mmm I don’t know. I want Serenity to have siblings. Do you want to carry?”
“I can if you don’t want to.”
“We can figure it out in due time. I think Serenity will be good for right now. When we get back from New York, if everything is okay can we—”
“We are already working on the process.”
Harlow’s eyes grew wide as tears shone in her eyes. “Caterina, how? She’s going to be ours?” I pulled her up and she cupped my face. “We’re going to be her mamas?” I nodded, and before I could say anything else, she slammed her lips to mine. “I.” Kiss. “Love.” Kiss. “You.”
“I love you, bellissima. She made you happy, and I wanted to see that smile forever. And she’s sassy. I won’t let this life take me away from you.”
“Mama bear has to protect her family, but we will sit down and plan. We’re parents, so we have to make sure we take care of her, but also each other. Promise me.”
“I promise, bellissima.”
And I did. I let the mafia take so much from me without realizing it and now Harlow showed me what it meant to live and actually have a reason.
There was no more fighting a pointless war when I had my wife and now a little girl who deserved a family.
I wanted so much more with her, and a future that was woven in a different path than I originally wanted.
“We need to take her back to Mallory tomorrow before we leave, but when we come home, there will be no more waiting. We will start our life, and I will deal with Vincenzo one way or another, even if we have to leave the city.”
“Then he would hurt more people. Don’t let the mafia take you away from me, but save the world, Caterina. I love you, but I can’t be selfish and stop you from saving innocent women from him.”
“And I will make sure I protect you, Serenity, and everyone else.”
Vincenzo would burn for his sins against my family, even if I had to walk through the flames alone and risked my life to do it.