Epilogue 1
~Caterina~
Eighteen Months Later
I smiled down at my phone and the text message exchange I’d been having with my mom and my dad—yes, that was how I was finally referring to Joe.
We often communicated in a group chat now.
That was how often they were together.
They’d started dating again soon after the party at the Manor and things had been going swimmingly. They were even talking about moving in together.
With both the Leone and Marchetti mansion being torn down under Nico’s orders—orders that had been well-received—and my mom not wanting to set foot back inside the former anyway, I’d given my apartment to my mom. My dad had been staying in one of Julian’s hotels for a long while, but now it looked like they were both going to settle at my former place together.
Dad: Still on for dinner at Il Forno? All six of us?
Caterina: Still on, Dad.
Mom: You’ve reminded her three times in the last forty-eight hours, Joey.
Dad: So, you can tell that I’m excited then, huh?
Mom: No, really?
Caterina: Too funny. Dad, your meeting with Nico is tomorrow. Are you ready?
Dad: Got it locked down. Don’t worry.
Caterina: Perfect. He’s looking forward to it.
Dad: I doubt that. But I appreciate you trying to soften it for me.
Caterina: Trust me, you’re growing on him. He wouldn’t allow this otherwise.
Dad: I know. He doesn’t give his trust lightly.
Mom: Understandable after what he’s dealt with.
Dad: True, angel.
Mom: I’ll talk to you later. Being paged. Guess my break’s over. See you after my shift, Joey.
Dad: I’ll pick you up from the hospital right after.
Mom: Perfect.
Calls from the boys caught my attention.
Caterina: Gotta go, too. Love you guys.
I smiled to myself as they responded in kind.
Then I stowed my phone in the inside pocket of my leather riding jacket.
The riding gear I was decked out in was something I’d been planning on putting to use tonight. But after what I’d discovered a couple of hours before heading down here from work, that had now gone out the window.
That discovery also meant that me, my parents, and the boys, getting together for dinner in a few days would be more than just one of our regular get-togethers with all six of us.
The rumble of motorcycles sounded around me, taking my attention, as the boys got ready and into position.
I could feel the excitement ramping up as I took in the three of them, mounting their bikes and pulling their helmets on.
We’d been holding true to our commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
And this, tonight, was just one example of living up to that.
Having fun.
Taking a step away from work.
Nico and Milo were running the Marchetti Syndicate and even reworking things in a much more legitimate direction. One such legitimate operation was Reincourt Construction, which Julian and I had partnered with them on in order to develop business outside the city and to expand. Nico was going to be meeting with my dad and bringing him on as his Chief Security Advisor for all things Marchetti Syndicate. Nico had already taken his secret company, Cronos Group, and turned it into a charitable foundation that had been working with the Carver Foundation to further its reach and expand into other charitable endeavors.
Julian was running Carver Group.
There was me with Camlann Corporation and working on the Brimbank project.
Julian and I had also gone further than our hotel mega hub idea and we’d created LC Entertainment together to produce many other like it beyond the City of Tolhurst.
The two of us were also still in therapy and seeing Roslynn regularly.
Even Nico had gotten help with undoing the compartmentalization he’d employed over the years when he’d basically been existing in survival mode.
We had a lot going on, but we’d been managing it well with our relationship and enjoying our lives.
That management was about to be pushed further, though.
Julian was extra happy tonight because he wasn’t riding Milo or Nico’s bike. He was riding his own again. His own, incredibly pimped out Harley. Milo had worked hard to have it rebuilt and replicated exactly as it had been.
I watched as he got going then had adrenaline shooting through me as he performed a wheelie to claps from me and the guys, but then took it further by executing a fucking headstand while doing that—a switchback headstand was what he’d termed it when he’d explained to me what he would be doing earlier. He maintained seemingly impossibly perfect balance on the bike while upside down.
When he came out of it, he landed perfectly back on the saddle.
“Holy shit!” I cried, whooping and clapping.
“Still got it, Sunshine!” Milo called out.
Nico was next, performing wheelies and drifting, then even standing up on the saddle while his bike was tearing down the road.
I knew it had been a long time since he’d done anything like this, but it wasn’t showing. His love for it was. His wild side. The part that wasn’t just rooted in darkness or extreme protectiveness.
As he came to a stop, I watched Milo place both legs on the handlebars while his bike leaned on the rear wheel while still riding.
It was spectacular.
“Whoop! Insane!” I yelled out to them down the back road.
Julian came to a stop beside me first.
He dismounted and pulled off his helmet.
“I’m thinking we delve back into some primal kink after you’ve had your turn, darlin’. Hardcore primal in these woods right here. What do you say?”
Oh shit. A dirty thrill rolled through me at his words.
The timing, though? That was a whole other thing.
“I’m down for that,” Nico said, pulling up beside his bike.
“Once you’ve had your turn, beauty,” Milo told me, dismounting as Nico did, the three of them walking to me, all excited and elated.
As Milo went to hand his helmet to me, I took a step back.
And the mood abruptly shifted.
Oops.
This wasn’t how I’d meant to do this.
I just hadn’t been sure until I’d gotten the news earlier.
“That’s not the best idea now,” I told them.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Nico asked.
As Julian and Milo went to join in, I held up my hand.
“Relax. Nothing is wrong, per se. I mean, there is something. But it’s not bad.”
“Cat?” Julian pushed gently.
“What’s happened?” Milo asked.
I sucked in a breath, then it came bursting out of me. “I’m pregnant.”
Nico blinked harshly. “You’re sure?”
“I just came from the doctor. It’s confirmed.”
A huge, blazing smile spread over his face. “Fuck, principessa.”
“This is the best fucking news!” Julian cried.
Milo tossed his helmet on the ground. “Well, damn!”
And in the next moment, they were all over me.
Holding me.
Loving me.
Giving me everything I’d ever needed.