Epilogue #2
“You’re being incredible,” Alessandro corrects, reaching over to take my free hand. “Balancing school and family business and now this? I don’t know how you do it.”
I don’t always know either. Some days I feel like I’m juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle.
But looking around this room—at Dad’s proud face, at Bella’s continued tears of joy, at the twins chattering excitedly, at Alessandro’s love—I know it’s all worth it.
This is what I’ve been building toward. Not just the marriage or the alliance or the business empire, but this moment.
This feeling of being completely surrounded by love and knowing that the child growing inside me will be born into something precious and permanent.
This is perfect, all three voices whisper in unison, their harmony so complete it almost sounds like one voice instead of three.
And I completely agree with them.
The next hour passes in a blur of excited planning and wild speculation.
Bella immediately starts talking about nursery decorations and baby names, while Dad begins debating how to rearrange security protocols to account for a pregnant underboss.
Alessandro just holds my hand and watches me with this expression of wonder, like he still can’t quite believe this is real.
The twins, meanwhile, have decided that they’re going to be the best big cousins in the history of the world and spend their time arguing about what they’re going to teach the baby.
“Trucks!” Giovanni insists, glowering at his sister.
“No, dolls!” Arianna counters, stamping her foot in frustration.
“Both,” I tell them diplomatically, trying to stave off the inevitable fight. “The baby can learn about trucks and dolls.”
“And books,” Dad adds, looking up from his feverish writing. “DeLucas always learn to read early.”
“And self-defense,” Alessandro chimes in, making everyone laugh.
“The baby’s not even born yet and you’re already planning their combat training?” Bella asks in dismay, shaking her head.
“It’s never too early to start thinking about protection,” Dad says seriously, and I can see him already calculating potential threats and security measures.
He looks at Bella. Speaking of that, piccola, the twins should probably start self-defense training. I’ll have Antonio add that to their schedule.”
Bella looks ready to pounce on him and Alessandro stifles his laughter behind his hand while I bite the inside of my cheek. If Bella sees us laughing, she’ll have our heads.
Some things never change.
As the afternoon fades into evening and the initial excitement settles into contented planning, I find myself studying the faces of the people I love most.
Dad looks younger somehow, lighter, like the prospect of becoming a grandfather has lifted some invisible weight from his shoulders.
Bella scrolls through baby websites, occasionally showing me nursery themes and car seats.
Alessandro hasn’t let go of my hand since the announcement, his thumb tracing gentle circles on my skin.
This is legacy, I realize.
Not just the businesses we’ve built or the territories we control, but this—love passed down through generations, children raised by people who would die to protect them, family bonds that can survive anything.
The baby growing inside me will inherit power, yes.
They’ll grow up understanding violence and navigating danger and making impossible choices.
But they’ll also inherit love.
They’ll know what it feels like to be wanted, protected, cherished.
They’ll learn that strength and tenderness aren’t mutually exclusive, that you can be dangerous and still choose mercy.
Exactly as it should be, the voices murmur approvingly.
Exactly as it should be.
Later that night, after we’ve gone home, I find myself staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
My hand rests on my still-flat stomach, trying to imagine the tiny life growing there. It’s hard to imagine I could love this tiny little creature so much.
Now if only it could stop making me feel nauseous in the morning…
“Penny for your thoughts?” Alessandro asks, appearing behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist. He kisses my neck before placing his chin at the curve where my neck and shoulder meet.
“Just thinking about how everything’s changed,” I tell him, leaning back against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “A year ago, I didn’t even know who I really was. And now…”
“Now you’re a kick ass underboss and a proven leader,” he finishes, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “And you’re going to be an incredible mother.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask, turning in his arms to face him. As much as I love this baby, I worry that I’ll turn into Sophia. Outside of Bella, I’ve had zero good female role models.
His smile is soft and certain, a dimple appearing in his left cheek.
“Because I’ve watched you love the people in your life.
The way you protect Matteo even when you’re angry with him, the way you play with the twins, the way you’ve built something beautiful out of all the darkness you inherited.
” His hands frame my face gently. “This baby is going to be so lucky to have you.”
“To have us,” I correct, rising up on my toes to kiss him.
The kiss is soft, sweet, full of promise and hope and the knowledge that whatever comes next, we’ll face it together. When we break apart, Alessandro rests his forehead against mine.
“I love you, Mrs. DeLuca-Ricci,” he murmurs, kissing me again.
“I love you too,” I murmur against his lips. “All of you. This life, this chaos, this beautiful mess we’ve built together.”
“Even the complicated parts?” he teases me. “Like when you can’t figure out what we should eat for dinner?”
I playfully smack him. “Especially the complicated parts.”
Because that’s what love is, isn’t it?
Choosing someone not despite their complications, but because of the complete picture they represent.
Choosing to build something together that’s stronger than what either of you could manage alone.
As we settle into bed, Alessandro’s hand resting protectively over my stomach, I feel the three voices in my head finally, truly quiet.
The parts of them that live in me don’t have to define me. I can take Giuseppe’s strength without his cruelty, Sophia’s survival instincts without her betrayal, Matteo’s protection without his need to hide difficult truths.
This child will inherit the best of what came before while being free to become something entirely their own.
The DeLuca legacy will continue, carried by children who inherit power without losing humanity, strength without sacrificing love.
It’s complicated and dangerous and absolutely perfect.
Just like everything else in my life.
Just like everything else worth having.