Epilogue
EPILOGUE
PART 1: ROMAN
I clutch Marchella’s hand as we run through the revolving glass doors of Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas. We’re greeted by a whoosh of cold air as we hurry toward the reception desk.
I scrub a hand down the front of my face, my mind still processing Matteo’s words. The whole thing still just seems so…surreal.
The middle-of-the-night call, the urgency and concern in Matteo’s voice, the screaming sounds in the background, the crashing of something glass against a wall…
I should have been more prepared.
I mean, I know what date it is.
I guess I just still can’t wrap my head around the fact that my brother is gonna be a dad.
Is a dad…
God help that kid with those fiery Irish and stubborn Italian genes battling for victory.
It’ll be a brutal one, for sure.
Chella’s hand is cold and a little bit clammy, and it makes sense that she’s nervous even though I’ve told her everything will be fine with my family.
Her memory of my brothers isn’t fabulous, and even though she’s made a fan out of Dante, Matteo and Sergio are definitely the toughest out of the three.
But she has nothing to worry about.
My brothers are rowdy and menacing, but they are loyal to a fault.
And they always look out for their own.
Family comes first…always.
And Marchella is now a part of that.
Well, not exactly yet, but it’s all part of my plan.
I sign our names and grab her hand, tugging her past the elevator to the stairwell next to it. The maternity wing is on the third floor, but Matteo has Heaven and the baby tucked away in a private wing, away from the craziness of the rest of the floor.
When you live our lives, you can never be too careful.
I can’t stop smiling as we run down corridors toward the exclusive suite where my family is congregated. I guess it’s good we’re clear of the rest of the floor since there are so many of us. I can hear talking and laughter as we take a final right turn.
“Sounds crowded,” Chella mutters as we get closer to the room. “I really feel a little bit weird…I mean, it’s your family. Isn’t it odd for me to be meeting them all for the first time at the hospital like this?”
But before I can assure her that the Villanis don’t do anything in a conventional way, my brother Sergio pops his head out of the doorway, a big smile on his face. “Romo!” he bellows, walking over to give me a hug. His fiancée, Jaelyn, rushes out behind him and throws her arms around me and then around Marchella. I haven’t been out here since Sergio got engaged, so this is the first time we’re “officially” meeting.
“FaceTime doesn’t do you justice,” I say to Jaelyn and she lets out a hearty chuckle before she gives Marchella a big hug.
“I’m so glad you’re both here in the flesh!” she exclaims. “We’re going to have such a fun time together!” Jaelyn turns back to me. “Where’s Dante?”
“He had a few things to take care of back at the hotel. He’ll be here in a little while.” I nod toward the room. “Who else is here? Did Heaven’s family make it?”
Jaelyn rolls her eyes. “Patrick and her Aunt Maura are here, but none of the others. Fucking Conor threatened them with their lives if they made the trip.”
“Asshole,” I mutter. Heaven had a pretty major falling out with her family after her father promoted her dickhead brother, Conor, over her months ago. She’d just married Matteo at her father’s request, and he shoved her aside, giving the reins to his oldest son, a complete shit heel who tried to kill her while high as a goddamn kite. He’s been running that organization deep into the core of the Earth since she cut ties with them, and in my opinion, it serves them right for fucking her over like that.
Marchella furrows her brow. “None of them? Not even her father?”
Sergio shakes his head, his jaw tight. “And she’s upset. Of course, she won’t admit to it, but you can see it. Matty is ready to flip his shit right now.”
“At least the two people she’s closest to are here,” I say as Matteo comes up behind me, a grimace on his face.
“Those assholes don’t deserve this kind of air time, not when there is someone very important you need to meet.”
“Well, before I meet that very important person, I’d like you to meet my important person. In person.”
A smile spreads over Matteo’s face and he pulls Marchella in for a bear hug. He’s not a huggy type of guy, so he must really be feeling the love today. Her face glows, her smile stretching from ear to ear.
“I’m so happy to be here,” she says, her face buried in his massive chest. “And so happy for you both. Congratulations!”
A minute later, Matteo leads us into the suite, every available space filled with flowers of every shape and size and bunches of helium balloons. There’s barely any room for visitors.
I leave Marchella with Jaelyn and Sergio and walk right up to the bed where Heaven is sitting up with a tiny pink bundle in her arms. She grins at me, looking every bit as gorgeous as she usually does, despite the fact that she just gave birth.
“That motherly glow is a good look for you,” I say, giving her a kiss.
“Roman, meet your niece, Aisling Lucia,” Heaven murmurs, gazing down at her daughter.
“After Mama,” I whisper, grazing the tip of her nose with the pad of my finger. Her skin is smooth and pink, her lips shaped like a perfect heart.
“She looks just like you,” I say. “Beautiful. I love her already.”
Heaven giggles softly. “You’re going to have to make some more trips out here.”
I furrow my brow, leaning back slightly. “You mean, you guys are staying?”
Matteo joins me and smiles at Heaven. “We’ve tossed the idea around. There’s a lot to do out here and farther west in California. Maybe it’s time for a change of pace.” He lifts an eyebrow. “You think you can handle things in the city?”
“Well, you haven’t fired my ass yet, so I’m thinking you already know the answer to that question.”
“You narrowly escaped my firing squad,” he says with a pointed look.
“Escaped is the key word there,” I say.
Matteo snickers. “Lucky is another word. Just saying.”
“Admit it. Baby bro has the skills he needs.”
Matteo lifts an eyebrow at me. “Baby bro needs to keep a closer eye on shit in the future or I’m gonna poke them both out.”
“Noted,” I say as Heaven chuckles.
“Matty, can you just get back to being the big ol’ pile of mush? Save the badass stuff for another day. Today is a special one. It’s your daughter’s birthday and we’re celebrating, not making thinly veiled threats about gouging out eyeballs.”
“My favorite sister-in-law,” I say.
“Hey!” Jaelyn says, walking over with her hands on her hips. “Maybe now she is, but pretty soon, she’s gonna be sharing that title!”
Heaven gives an exaggerated eye roll. “My God, you are so competitive. Just like your fiancé.”
“There’s no reason to be competitive when you know you’re the best,” Sergio calls out from his spot against the wall.
I catch Marcella’s eye and wink. “What can I say? Love it or leave it, but this is us.”
* * *
About an hour later, Marchella and I wander away from the now-overcrowded suite, our arms snaked around each other’s waists. She lets out a little sigh and leans her head on my shoulder. “Aisling is so gorgeous,” she breathes. “I can’t believe how tiny she is!”
“Yeah, she’s cute.” I say.
“I can’t wait to have kids,” she says. “I adore them.”
“You’d be a really great mom,” I murmur.
“Thanks.” She sighs. “I really miss the kids I used to teach. I always had so much fun going to work, you know, before everything happened with my dad. I mean, I love volunteering at the animal shelter now, especially since I can bring Bella with me. And I’m so glad I’m still able to visit the kids at the old community center and read to them. But I need something more, you know? I have a pretty expensive bilingual teaching degree, now I’m going for my masters. I want to use my credentials. I want a career. Purpose. Fulfillment. All of it.”
“I think we might be able to do something about that,” I say. “I can call in a few favors, get you set up at one of the private schools in the city.”
“Oh my God, like that wouldn’t be worse than dealing with the public school parents! How would private school parents react to having an Amante teach their kids? I mean, with the tuition they must pay?” She looks over at me like I’ve grown another two heads.
“Trust me, I can take care of everything. You’re smart, gorgeous, and accomplished. They will love you.” I smirk. “Now, can we get back to the baby conversation?”
“Oh, are you ready for fatherhood?”
“Nah,” I say with a chuckle. “But I’ll tell ya, I suddenly have the urge to do a test run.” I stop suddenly in front of a door, backing her against it. “What do you say? Wanna fake make a baby with me?
The corners of her lips lift. “Oh, yes .”
I jiggle the lock and the door opens into a huge restroom. Oh, fuck yeah, this is how we roll in the VIP maternity wing.
I shut the door behind us, locking it before I turn toward Marchella. She eyes me with that come-hither look that always makes my cock tingle and slides her hand up her thigh, revealing a lacy pink thong under her skirt. With a quick, sexy wiggle, she manages to get the panties off before sashaying toward me, a seductive grin tugging at her lips. She grabs my belt buckle and yanks my shorts open. My dick springs to attention, precum glistening at the tip the second she starts stroking my hard length. I lift her into my arms and swing around so her back is against the wall.
She lets out a yelp. “Oh my God, cold tile!”
I snicker. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna warm you up nice.” I rub the swollen head of my cock against her wet slit. “You’re dripping for me, you dirty girl. You wanted me to fuck you against a wall in a bathroom, didn’t you?”
“Oh yeah,” she says in a breathy voice. “It’s the fantasy I’ve always wanted to live out with you.”
I cover my mouth with hers and she fists my hair, gasping against my lips as I slide my cock into her tight pussy. I thrust hard and fast as soon as I sink into her heat, unable to control myself.
Maybe it’s the baby stuff.
Maybe it’s the family stuff.
Or maybe it’s just because for the first time in my life, I’m really and truly happy.
All I know is that I need to be connected to her in every possible way.
And I couldn’t wait another second for it.
She digs her fingers into my back as I glide in and out, dragging my cock against her clit with each push and pull. Her walls clench around me, soft whimpers slipping from her mouth as she meets my every thrust. Her legs are locked around my waist, her body beckoning me, driving me deeper and deeper until I don’t know where I end and where she begins.
Her head falls back against the wall, her eyes the brightest blue as they glitter with deep-seated desire. She squeezes my cock, her juices flowing over me. Her body trembles, her pussy quivering as I drive into her with long, hard strokes. “Oh…my…God,” she moans. “So…good!”
I squeeze my eyes shut, sparks igniting into flames that rage through me as the orgasm explodes, sizzling every cell in my body. My body spasms against her as the euphoric sensations consume me like a tidal wave.
We collapse against each other, breathless, sated, and smiling.
I tangle my fingers in her long hair, dropping my head into her sweet-smelling neck. “I fucking love you,” I rasp.
“I fucking love you, too,” she whispers, her tongue poking out to tickle the area behind my ear.
I pull away slightly, staring into her eyes. “I mean it, Chell. You’re it for me. Forever. I wanna marry you.”
She cocks her head to the side. “So…are you…proposing?”
“Maybe,” I say.
“You didn’t ask me a question,” she whispers.
“Well, I wasn’t exactly planning this. I mean, I was, but not here.”
“In Vegas?”
“In a bathroom,” I say with a chuckle. “I was gonna do it tonight, with the ring and everything. But I got caught up. I didn’t want to wait. I love you, and I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Bright pink spots color her cheeks. “Yes,” she says, tears glistening in her eyes. “Of course I will. But…”
I lift an eyebrow. “Yeah…”
“Can we wait to tell everyone? I’d really like to be able to paint a different picture for your family when they ask, other than the one where you nail me against a wall in a hospital bathroom because you just couldn’t wait.”
I laugh, hugging her tight. “You’ve got it. I’ll give you a different picture. It’s gonna be damn colorful, too, so get ready.”
“I’m always ready,” she says with a sly smile on her flushed face. “For anything with you.”
PART 2: DANTE
I trudge down the hallway with my hands shoved deep into the pockets of my jeans, my mind spinning with explicit details about my latest target.
My client expected me to land in Dubai last night, and judging by the scathing tone in his voice when he called, he sure as hell isn’t happy about my little detour.
But fuck him.
I’m an uncle now, for Christ’s sake.
And an assassin.
In that order.
Let the motherfucker live a day longer so I can meet our girl.
In my periphery, I see the nurses pointing and whispering softly as I pass. I flash them my signature smirk and one of them turns beet red when she catches my eye. “The VIP maternity wing?” I ask.
She clears her throat and points in the direction I’m walking. “Right through those doors.”
I wink at her. “Thanks. Big day.”
“Congratulations!” they all say with bright smiles.
“Come back later and we can celebrate,” one of them quips when she thinks I’m just out of earshot. The rest of them giggle, and I swallow my own chuckle as I push open the doors. I walk right up to Matteo where he’s standing with Sergio and give him a big hug. “Congratulations, Matty.”
He claps me on the back. “Thanks, bro. It’s really good to see you.” His expression sobers slightly and my eyebrows furrow.
“Something wrong? I thought you’d be on top of the stratosphere today.” I chuckle. “You know, because the Stratosphere…is right out there…” I say, nodding toward the window where the hotel stands tall and proud across the street.
“Yeah, well, I am, but…” He rubs the back of his head and looks past me down the hall. “I need to talk to you about something.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
Matteo gives Sergio a look and he backs away, his hands held up. “Private shit. Got it. I’m just gonna go back inside and fight Jae to hold the baby again.”
“Good luck with that,” Jaelyn calls from inside the room.
Once Sergio disappears, Matteo turns back to me. “I need you to be here, Dante.”
“I am here,” I say. “See? Trust me, I ain’t no mirage.” Then I let out another laugh. “Because, you know…”
“The Mirage. Yeah, I get it.” He rolls his eyes. “Jesus, when did you become such a comedian?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s the uncle thing. I’m like a new man or something. You know, the fun uncle…the funcle.”
“Or maybe it’s the job,” Matteo says.
“Maybe. Contract killers don’t get a lot of on-the-job laughs, so we look for ’em when we’re off the clock.”
“I’m sure.” His eyebrows knit together and a chill shuttles down my spine. He’s being more evasive than usual, and his expression isn’t the usual stoic one he sports.
He’s nervous.
Matteo never gets nervous.
That makes me more than a little curious to hear the reason.
“What’s happening, Matty?” I ask in a low voice. “What the hell do I need to know?”
His blue eyes darken as he leans in closer, his voice a choked whisper. “It’s what you already do know that’s the problem.”
Get ready for SAVAGE SINNER, Dante and Anya’s spicy hot secret identity nanny romance, up next!