Epilogue - Lucia
One Month Later, New York
“ H mm, eccellente.” I turn to Antonio on my right. “Why is this the first time you’ve brought me to Leo’s restaurant? This spinach and mushroom fettucine is delicious.”
With a twist of my fork, another strand of pasta twirls around it, and I bring it to my mouth. Hmm , my tastebuds explode when the creamy richness hits them.
“What? Better than my cooking?” Ant asks, pretending to be offended, but his teasing grin is a giveaway.
“You cooked?” Leo asks, turning fully in his chair to stare at his brother beside him. Tonight, he’s eating at the table with us instead of being in the kitchen, a rarity according to Ant.
Antonio tips his head and dares to glare at his brother, a Michelin star chef. “Yes I cooked. And my wife liked my fettucine … more than yours.”
“It’s not a competition,” I reprimand them, but fail to keep the laughter from my voice as I prepare another forkful.
Tonight is the first time we’ve all been together since the wedding in Vegas, which feels like many months ago but was only a couple. So much has happened that I still don’t feel like I’ve been able to catch my breath. My gaze travels around the table, at the faces of family and friends.
On the other side of Leo is Rose. She’s flown over from London to spend the week with me, and we plan on filling our time together with some serious shopping.
A perfect distraction I hope from the nightmares I’m having most nights since Bruno tried to attack us.
Though, it helps to have Ant’s protective arms comforting me when the images fill my head in the early hours.
Between him, my therapist, and Bruno finally locked up and paying for his crimes, I’m hopeful of a future without night terrors.
I send Rose a smile across the table and her attempt to return it is only half the usual wattage. Whatever this feud is between her and Nico, it’s time it stopped—especially when their icy glares and general grumpiness is becoming obvious to others, not just me.
Antonio throws an arm across the back of my chair to pull it and me closer. “What’s up with Rose tonight?” he asks, leaning toward me so only I can hear. He obviously caught her weak attempt at a smile too.
“I’m not sure but I think your brother might know.”
“Leo?”
“No, Nico,” I say with a shake of my head. My husband may be an expert at picking up my social cues but he’s hopeless with his brothers.
Ant looks around me at his younger brother sitting to my left. Nico has his head bent, intently focused on his phone. He’s been subdued and disengaged ever since he arrived. And those aren’t words you’d normally associate with the youngest Barbieri. Wild and unpredictable would be more appropriate.
Antonio’s gaze returns to mine before he leans in close again.
But this time, he doesn’t speak; instead, he places a soft kiss on the sensitive skin beneath my earlobe sending goose bumps skittering across every inch of exposed skin.
My mind goes completely blank of all thoughts but one. I wish we were alone.
I bite down on my bottom lip and Ant chuckles knowing exactly what his sexy little move just did to me.
Pregnancy hormones have turned up the heat to scorching between us, so that the slightest touch feels like an intimate caress.
I’m in a constant heightened state of horniness around my husband, and he likes to use it to his advantage.
“Please stop,” I whisper against his neck, just above the crisp open collar of his shirt. “Until later.”
“I’ll take that as a promise.” His grin stretches from one cheek to the other, and I melt into his side.
“Nico, is that news from the dock?” Gio’s firm voice pierces our steamy interlude. A stark reminder of exactly where we are, and I sit bolt upright in the chair. Ant’s shoulders shake with silent laughter, and I do my best to ignore him.
Instead, I focus my attention on Gio sitting to the right of Rose, his new girlfriend, Tori, by his side.
And like Ant, his arm is slung over her shoulders.
They’re finally together, after facing some tough times too.
And though I don’t have all the details of exactly what happened, it’s good to see Gio smiling again.
Even if currently a scowl is pulling his brows low as he looks at Nico.
“No, it’s personal.” He turns off his cell and places it facedown on the table in front of him. “Just an acquaintance making an impossible request,” he grumbles, flicking a glance at Rose before landing on Gio.
“How are things going with Father? Now that you’re part of the family business,” Leo asks Nico.
“Not part of the business, bro. I’m a consultant and still my own boss.” He directs his trademark grin at Gio. And it’s good to see his cheekiness return.
“A consultant? Is that what we’re calling you?” Gio raises his glass to Nico, then takes a sip. “All I know is that next time we have trouble in Naples, we’re coming straight to you.”
“Good to know that you no longer see me as the fuckup in the family.” Nico says but this time the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
Does he really believe that? Or is there something else behind that look?
Apart from Ant, Nico was the Barbieri brother I knew best from our summers in Capri.
He and Dante were closest in age and spent a lot of time together.
And if Ant and I were going somewhere that wasn’t the cove, we liked having them tag along.
I remember Nico as a quiet boy. But when the boys’ mother died, he changed, becoming almost reckless.
“Never thought of you as a fuckup.” Gio’s gaze narrows on his youngest brother, like he’s trying to solve a problem.
“Me neither,” Ant adds, offering his support.
“Not a total fuckup anyway,” Leo says, but his grin is broad. “Now who wants more wine?”
He opens another bottle of red, then fills Ant’s glass. When he’s done he turns to me. “What would you like to drink Lucia?”
I raise one brow at him. “A lemonade, grazie.” My pregnancy seems to be the worst kept secret amongst the brothers, which doesn’t surprise me.
But I’m not worried, because if they could keep a Vegas wedding a secret, I’m sure they’ll keep the news of a baby to themselves until Ant and I are ready to make an announcement.
From across the table, Tori whispers the word, “Congratulations.” And I return a smile.
“I’m guessing everyone knows we’re having a baby?” My smile stretches wider.
Antonio’s free hand moves to protectively cover my belly. He’s been the best papa-to-be, ever since that first time I rushed from the bed with morning sickness. He’s always the first up in the morning, way before he needs to be, to make me a herbal tea and dry toast to help with the queasiness.
Leo signals for the waiter to bring me a lemonade while he walks around the table refilling the other glasses. When everyone has a drink, he raises his glass. “To the next generation of Barbieris. Congratulations to you both.”
“Cheers,” everyone replies, and my heart swells with love for my extended family and friends.
***
One Year Later, Capri
A Capri sunrise and the view doesn’t get much better than the one before me, my boys lying on a lounger on the terrace bathed in the golden light. I stand watching them for a moment, my chest tight, as if it will burst wide open with the love filling it.
Antonio’s voice floats to me on the gentle breeze, as he murmurs unintelligible sounds interspersed with the odd word to the baby cuddled against his bare chest. A cute gurgling sound bubbles up from our son, Matteo, and Ant chuckles.
My heart thumps with love for them both.
This is a moment to be captured in my mind for all time.
Clearing my throat quietly, I step out onto the terracotta tiles, and Ant tilts his head in my direction.
A fringe of sleep-tousled hair obscures his eyes briefly before he brushes it aside and his gaze rests on me.
The accompanying bone-melting smile pins me in place with such force that my knees tremble and a rush of butterflies flutter to life in my belly.
My reaction never changes, and I’ve reached a point where I can’t imagine how we ever managed to remain just friends for all the years before saying I do.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he says in a deep baritone that reminds me of whispered words of love only hours ago.
Able to move again, I cover the remaining steps between us to stand beside the lounger, and Ant lifts one hand off Matteo’s back reaching for mine. The warmth of his touch against my skin sends a flush of heat coursing through my veins.
“Hey, big-guy … and little-guy.” At the sound of my voice, Matteo’s head lifts, wobbles a little side to side, then drops again, two sets of blue-gray eyes now focused on me.
My heart squeezes and my full breasts ache when I look down at the perfect little human that we made.
Dipping low, I place a light kiss on his soft downy hair and breathe in his sweet baby smell.
Then lifting a little, I slide my hand behind my husband’s neck and sink into a good morning kiss.
Not a quick peck, but a clashing of lips and tongues that is impossible to pull back from until we’re both panting and in need of drawing a full breath. I drop my head to his shoulder.
Memories of last night come flooding back.
My nails scratching a claim into his skin while his teeth scraped over my clit, teasing and taunting me, every swipe of his tongue turning me more feral with lust. He devoured me like a man starved.
And when I cried out his name with my first release, he rolled me over onto my knees and fucked me hard and dirty.
My second orgasm came with the knowledge that I’d driven my husband wild with passion. We’d not found that intensity in our love making since before Matteo’s birth. But that’s the magic of Capri for us.
And I was never going to let Bruno take that away.
When I lift my head again from where I’m sprawled half standing and half kneeling over Ant, his eyes have darkened to a stormy gray with tiny shards of sunrise gold glittering in their depths.
Matteo squirms between us, grizzling with displeasure at being ignored for a moment, and we pull apart completely.
“When is this little fellow going to be ready for his next sleep?” Ant asks with a suggestive waggle of his brows. It seems that I’m not the only one remembering last night.
I giggle. “Maybe after I feed him. Is there space for one more on the lounger?”
“We’ve always got space for mamma,” Ant says, shuffling sideways to make room. I lie down beside him, and his arm goes around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
When I’m settled comfortably, he passes our son into my arms, and a contented sigh leaves my lips.
My eyelids close as I sink into the protective warmth of my husband.
The soft sounds of my baby’s suckling blend with the wash of the sea against the rocks far below and, it's the beginning of another perfect day in my favorite place.
I must doze off because it feels like seconds later when Antonio says, “Your mother just messaged to say she would babysit for us if we wanted to go out for lunch today.”
From the moment my mother heard we were coming to Capri, she had her bags packed and was offering to look after her grandson. She’s a very proud nonna, pushing the pram around town introducing Matteo to friends and family. But what’s been a complete shock is that my father goes with her.
Papa was a distant figure to Dante and I growing up, but since Matteo’s arrival, he has wanted to be present in his life.
I glance down at my baby sleeping peacefully against my breast. My son will grow up surrounded by love.
With a father who isn’t afraid to show affection, and adoring uncles who are all vying for the title of favorite.
Ant drops a quick kiss to my forehead. “I was thinking we could go to our cove for a picnic.”
I glance up at him, a grin stretching my cheeks wide. We haven’t been there since our honeymoon.
“That sounds perfect … and maybe this time we’ll actually get to eat our picnic at the cove.”
He chuckles, a deep low rumble that shakes his chest.
“I love you,” I whisper.
Antonio takes my hand,bringing it to his lipsto kiss the tip of one finger.
"Lucia, you own my heart. You're my best friend.
" He kisses the next finger along."My lover.
" Another finger, another kiss. "My wife.
" He stops, holding my gaze. "And the mother of my child. You and Matteo are my everything,” hefinishes before sealing our words of love with another steamy kiss, on my lips this time. I sink into it with a soft moan.
Hopefully our son won't wake just yet.
The End
***
Nico Barbieri the youngest of the Barbieri brothers and also the wildest, might have finally met his match in Rose.