Epilogue Dominic
One and a Half Years Later
“…People will always have something to say about how you look. Too much makeup, not enough makeup. Too skinny, too curvy. Too loud, too reserved,” Bella says into her headset, tugging her laptop closer.
“I used to let their voices define mine. I used to think all there was to me was what people had to say. I used to think I was not enough. But now, when I look in the mirror, I don’t see someone trying to be enough. I see someone who already is.”
She breathes, her hand catching the slip of her robe on her shoulders. “At the end of the day, all you have is you. When the curtains fall and lights fade out… all you have is you. So be kind to yourself. Cherish and embrace what makes you unique, because there’s only one ‘you’ in the whole world.”
As she continues her session, I lean against the doorway, our daughter, Aurora, cradled against my shoulder. I admire my wife, but there’s something about watching her in her element that tightens my chest until it almost hurts. Maybe it’s her tenacity, her passion, or her strength.
She didn’t let her past define her; rather, she let it forge a path for her. And not just any path—one where she shows people how to learn to heal and find inner strength.
Bella Moretti, CEO and founder of Bella’s Bloom, a non-profit organization geared toward helping people heal from domestic abuse.
The journey hasn’t been easy for her. I witnessed the sleepless nights, the tears, frustrations, and even her doubts, but each time I reminded her why she started it all in the first place.
Two years later, her zeal hasn’t wavered, and even now, while we’re on vacation at Lake Como, she still finds time to oversee a few things in the organization.
She closes the laptop with a soft click.
“I know you’re judging me,” she says without looking back.
I push off against the door frame, walking toward her.
She’s sitting in a lounge chair, back facing me, while her now closed laptop sits on a marble stool before her.
Her hair falls in loose waves as the evening sun gently illuminates her skin in a golden yellow hue.
“Hmm...” I rumble, fastening my hand around Aurora’s torso, leaning down to place a kiss on Bella’s temple.
Her fingers hold my face in place as she places a chaste kiss, and her gaze lands on Aurora, who’s fast asleep on my chest.
“Hmm,” she lowers her voice and I cock a brow at her, then slide my gaze to the laptop.
“I know we’re on vacation and I should be enjoying the moment, and I’m sorry, I swear,” she starts to say, rising from her seat. I can’t help the tug that pulls the corner of my lips when I catch sight of her white robe part for a split second, revealing her bare pussy.
Hmm. No panties.
She blushes and quickly yanks her robe in place as if I haven’t done more than look at her pussy.
“It’s okay, baby. You’re there for them, which is fine. But I’m here for you. I want you to rest. It’s why we’re here.”
She’d suggested this place because it holds sentimental significance to her, and I wanted her to enjoy it to the fullest, which was why I asked the nanny to come along, although she’s in a different quarter.
“Look at you schooling me about rest as if you get any yourself.”
She’s got a point. I know I’m not one to speak because I’m barely away from work myself, even with Matteo still carrying out his duties as my second-in-command.
But I can’t stand seeing her stressed, passion or not.
Heck, she could choose not to lift a finger for the rest of her life, and she’d live in luxury until the end of time.
“Having a beautiful wife and daughter is enough rest for me, Princess.”
She giggles softly, rolling her eyes. “Oh, please, Mr. Moretti. Don’t patronize me.”
Soft breeze whooshes onto the balcony and carries her robe once more. I feel myself getting impossibly hard.
“It would seem that nature wants me to patronize you with something…harder than words, Mrs. Moretti.”
I quirk a brow at her, looking her up and down with a slow, hungry smirk. She bites her lips, her eyes trailing to the obvious tent in my pants. It looks like she’s about to say something when Aurora chooses this exact moment to stir awake.
Her hair is even redder than it was at birth, matted across her forehead as her big doe eyes slowly blink open.
“Hi, Princess.” I smile, cooing against her cheeks. She shows a smile filled with scanty teeth then squeals. I push my disappointment aside, chuckling just as she spreads her hands toward Bella. Aurora is her mother’s splitting image.
“Mama, hug…hug.”
My smile deepens when she squirms excitedly. Happy baby, that’s what her Aunt Elena calls her whenever she comes to visit in New York.
At first, it was a bit difficult for Bella to decide if she wanted her stepmother or her sister anywhere near her new life, but after months in therapy, she finally caved in. Just for Elena.
Elena, too, went to therapy. According to Bella, Elena had spent years living the life she was conditioned to, but now she’s reclaiming the life she wants.
She decided to drop partying habits and she launched a beauty line—Elané—with a loan she got from Bella. And it’s been faring quite well so far.
She’s distancing herself from the mafia, which Dean’s second-in-command, Enzo, has now taken over. I don’t bother myself with the details of the Rossi Mafia, but word is Enzo is a less cunning man than Dean was.
Bella had said that Enzo reached out to her again, asking about her well-being.
Somehow, she’d also figured out through his words that he was aware of Dean’s general scheme but wasn’t aware that Bella would be used as a tool in it.
Regardless, Bella had jokingly said that Enzo silently did what her father didn’t do throughout his existence. He offered her quiet support.
“Melanie called again.” Bella’s voice jars me out of my thoughts.
“What did she say?” I ask, though I already know the answer. She called to ask for forgiveness, and although Bella has been open to talk to her, she still prefers to keep her distance from Melanie.
“Asked if she could come see Aurora.”
Aurora perks up at her name and almost lunges back into Bella’s arms. She quickly catches her with a hand on her back, which elicits another round of giggles from our daughter.
Sometimes her shenanigans are enough to make an old man like me have a heart attack.
I shake my head at the irony of it. Countless wars, and my heart beats faster than it would at gunpoint when my little princess has her usual sudden burst of energy.
Fuck, I damn near lose it when I sense the slightest bit of danger threatening my girls.
That’s why we move around with heavy security now.
I’m not letting anything ruin the two people I consider my whole world.
“What did you say?”
“No,” she sighs. “Maybe one day, but for now, I’d rather they keep seeing each other via video calls.”
“And that’s okay, too.” My voice is soft as I move closer to her, patting her shoulder.
When she looks up at me, I notice how blank her eyes are. Before, I’d see the confusion, hate, hurt. But now she’s healed from that.
“I love you, Dominic,” she breathes and I swear I feel my world stop.
“I love you too, Princess. So damn much.” My fingers lightly trail the side of her face as I capture her lips in a searing kiss, Aurora giggling softly between us.
When we pull back, I gently kiss our daughter’s forehead and wrap my arms around them. One around Bella’s waist and the other around Aurora’s back.
“Luh you, Mommy Daddy.” Aurora smiles.
“We love you too, baby,” we both say. Bella smiles and turns, the wind blowing on cue as we revel in the serenity of nature.
The lake glints on the ground below, reflecting the rays of the sun like scattered diamonds in water. A neatly trimmed garden stands directly adjacent to the lake.
My heart rate slows down, and a sense of peace overwhelms me. I no longer feel like a man waiting for war… I feel like I’m finally home.
Vacation in Italy, a stunning wife, and our lovely daughter, wrapped in my arms…watching the beautiful view from the villa. Just perfection.
I lightly brush my lips against her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of shampoo and baby oil. Then press my body closer to Bella’s. Suddenly I’m not seeing any damn scenery anymore. Instead, I see the earlier image of her silky thighs and bare pussy in my head. Fuck!
I deliberately let my hand fall to her side then slowly work my way between her thighs. The way her head tilts to the side I can tell she’s holding back a moan. I’m damn near sliding my hands into her folds when she stops me with a hand.
“I swear we can’t enjoy a moment without your dick getting in the way.”
My head drops in the crook of her neck. “Well it’s not my fault I have a sexy wife,” I rasp, kissing her neck.
She turns around, her gaze briefly sliding to my boner and I see it. The desire, the way she bites her lips seductively. She’s indulging me in a chase and, fuck, am I enjoying every bit of it.
She starts to speak when Aurora interrupts.
“Daddy dick!” She giggles and Bella whirls her head to me, color draining from her face.
Shit.
Just then, the nanny makes herself known. Thank God!
“Good morning, sir. Good morning, ma’am,” she greets both of us with a bow. “It is time for Aurora’s second meal.”
Aurora perks up at her name as Bella slowly lets her down. As if knowing it’s time for her meal, our little princess runs gingerly over to Helen. She’s been our nanny since Aurora was born and the affection between the two is evident.
Helen coos, gently picking her up before they disappear from sight.
“Sometimes I get carried away and just say things in her presence.” Bella shakes her head.
“That’s the dick effect,” I rumble, tugging her closer to me.
When she feels the bulge in my sweatpants again, she smirks. “I wonder what we’re going to do about this.”