Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
MASSIO
There’s no other word for it—panic. Complete and utter panic that I’ve thrown everything away, that I’ve destroyed us before we ever got the chance to truly start.
“Massio, you’re freaking me out,” Thea says from beside me.
I barely gave the poor girl a chance before I pulled us from the water and pushed a sundress over her head. Hell, I still have my swim shorts on and sliders on my feet. At least I had the foresight to drag a T-shirt over my head before I planted her ass in the SUV.
We pull into the courthouse parking lot, and I fire a text off to Zane.
Me: You here?
Zane: Inside waiting. Everything is in place.
Me: Appreciate it.
Zane: You owe me.
I shake my head at his response.
“Is this the courthouse?” Thea asks, peering through the window. “What are we doing here?” She spins to face me.
I lift my head. “I’m marrying you.”
Her lips part and she slowly blinks. I need her onboard with this. Leaning forward, I press my lips against her stunned ones, then I palm her cheeks in my hands. “I love you, Thea. You love me. We want a baby together; this is the next step in ensuring our little family.”
She swallows, and her gaze bounces over my face, searching for a lie she won’t find.
“It’s so soon,” she whispers, and I hate the uncertainty in her voice. “Why are we rushing?”
“It is soon,” I admit, then lick my lips.
“I’m in the Mafia, Thea. I need to ensure you’re mine.
” Those words are a bend on the truth. I do need to ensure she’s mine, but only because the venomous glare in her mother’s eyes told me everything I need to know.
The bitch will want vengeance, crave it even, and I need to do everything in my power to secure our future before she has a chance.
I rest a hand on her stomach. “I want our baby to have a family.” I hope she can see the truth and the future I so desperately want.
She breathes out, and my heart stills. “Okay.”
My shoulders sag. “Thank fuck.” I grin back at her before planting another kiss on her edible lips. “Let’s do this, Little Brat.”
Then I unclip my seatbelt and take the next step into our future.