Chapter 15
ADRIANO
I wake before dawn, Eva's body curved against mine.
For the first time in four years, I feel human again.
I watch her for a moment, wondering about the demons that haunt her and how long before she’ll fully trust me again.
For now, I need to make her feel safe, and that starts by letting her get the rest she needs to recover physically and mentally.
I slide from the bed, careful not to disturb her.
I dress quickly and then walk to Mirabella's room.
My daughter.
It’s still surreal to think about.
She's awake, standing on her tiptoes at the window, tracing raindrops on the glass.
She turns when I enter, her eyes brightening.
“Hi, Daddy.”
My heart clenches at how easily she's accepted me. “Good morning, Sunshine. You ready for breakfast?”
Her head bobs up and down. “Where’s Mommy?”
"Let's let Mommy sleep a little longer."
I find the little robe Eva bought for Mirabella and help her slip it on.
In the kitchen, there’s a flurry of activity from staff preparing for the day.
“We want to make pancakes,” I announce to surprised expressions.
We’re given space and ingredients. I lift Mirabella onto the counter while I make pancakes.
She giggles when I let her pour chocolate chips into the batter. "More.” She claps. Of course, I let her add more.
Over the next few days, I spend time with Mirabella, in awe of the person she is.
The mornings are ours as Eva sleeps and recuperates.
With the help of Sophia, I’ve learned to braid Mirabella’s hair.
We’ve studied the birds who frequent the garden and found more fairy stones.
Of course, there’s work to be done, and so during the day, I’m away.
But at night, Eva and I read fairy tales with Mirabella nestled between us in her new fairy bed.
I remember thinking Luca’s mind had gone to mush when he learned he was Enzo’s father.
Now I understand.
There’s a soul-deep change in a man when he becomes a father.
Priorities expand and yet narrow into focus as well.
Eva’s skittishness settles, at least around me.
I’m certain that soon, she’ll tell me all I need to know about why the Bratva is interested in her.
For now, I’m going to prove to her and Mirabella that their home is here with me.
No more running.
No more fearing for their lives.
Today, I’m off and decide to give my girls a treat.
With the help of the kitchen staff, I organize a picnic.
“Do you think we’ll see fairies?” Mirabella asks me, her hand in mine as we walk to the area I’ve selected for our meal. In my other hand, I carry the large picnic basket.
“Well, you know fairies are shy, but I bet if we’re patient, we will.” I glance at Eva walking on the other side of Mirabella and give her wink.
Her smile is sweet, like it warms her heart to see the father I am to Mirabella.
If only I could break through the wall she continues to use to keep parts of herself away from me.
Inwardly, I laugh at myself.
Who knew I could be such a mush?
I spread a blanket beneath the oak tree not far from a tiny little stream that crosses the property near the back.
"Is this good?" I ask Mirabella, who's bouncing on her toes beside me.
She nods enthusiastically, clutching the fairy doll I bought her yesterday. "Can we have the strawberries now?"
“I don’t see why not.”
Eva starts to unpack the lunch, ignoring the fact that twenty yards away, one of my brother’s soldiers leans against a tree, pretending to smoke while scanning the perimeter.
He’s not protecting us. Alessandro's watchdog was assigned to keep an eye on Eva.
The constant surveillance grates on my nerves, but it’s the concession I had to make.
Considering the secrets she still holds, I can’t deny that it's a good idea to watch her.
But fucking hell, she doesn’t need to be watched when around me.
I'm right here.
I can watch my own woman.
But Alessandro's voice echoes in my head. "I can’t let your dick make decisions for the family." It’s not my dick that’s the problem. It’s how much I want back what I lost. If I’m wrong about Eva, it’s not my dick that will suffer. It’s my heart.
“Here are a few berries,” Eva says, setting ripe red strawberries on a plate and handing them to Mirabella.
The sunlight catches in her hair, and for a moment, I forget everything else.
Eva is smiling, something she doesn’t do often.
Mirabella climbs into Eva's lap and eats her berries.
I arrange the food between us.
"It’s a beautiful day. This is a really nice idea,” Eva says, catching a strawberry that nearly rolls off Mirabella's plate.
I smile. "I want her to have normal memories too. Not just fancy rooms and security details."
Eva’s assigned guard shifts position, moving to keep us in his sightline. Eva tenses beside me.
"Ignore him," I whisper. "Today is just for us."
What I don't say is how I'm fighting against my brother's suspicion with these small moments of normalcy.
How I’m trying to show Eva she can trust me, can trust that I’ll burn the world down before I let anyone hurt her or our daughter.
At the same time, I can’t deny the kernel of doubt that grows each day Eva hides her secrets from me.
What is Eva hiding?
Despite her desire to run, she hasn’t called anyone.
Hasn’t done anything suspicious.
Nothing that suggests she's attempting to contact the Bratva.
No Bratva attempt to contact her.
Alessandro insisted on surveillance, but I’m the one checking logs of calls and deliveries.
I want to feel relief that so far, she hasn’t reached out to anyone.
But her secrets worry me.
"You're thinking too loudly," Eva says, wiping strawberry juice from Mirabella's chin.
"Just enjoying the view," I lie, forcing my face to relax.
Alessandro’s man shifts again.
Eva's eyes track the movement before returning to Mirabella.
Her hyperawareness tells me she’s on guard.
It’s not just residual from being on the run.
She knows Alessandro doesn’t trust her.
Mirabella wanders down near the water as Eva and I feast on cheese, French bread, and champagne.
"Daddy, look!" Mirabella holds up her fairy doll, now adorned with a crown of clover blossoms. "She's the fairy queen now."
I lean forward to inspect her handiwork. "The most beautiful queen I've ever seen."
We eat and play, and when Mirabella yawns, I pull out an old book I found that had been my sister Valentina’s when she was a child.
Mirabella lies on her stomach looking at the pictures of princesses.
And as happens most times when I look at her, I’m filled with awe and pride.
I lean back against the tree trunk, savoring this moment.
For the first time in years, I feel calm, settled.
All thanks to Eva.
"What?" Eva catches me watching her.
"Nothing.” But that’s not true because this… whatever it is… is everything.
Mirabella scrambles up suddenly. "I'm gonna find more flowers for Queen Cristalbell!"
"Stay where we can see you," Eva calls as our daughter scampers a few yards away, her fairy doll clutched tightly in one hand.
The moment she's distracted, I slide closer to Eva. "Thank you."
"For what?" Her eyes meet mine.
"For her. For this." I gesture between us. "For coming home with me and staying."
When I brush my lips against hers, she stiffens momentarily before melting against me. The kiss is soft, a coaxing to help her relax and believe in me.
"Adriano…" There’s a warning in her tone, but I’m not sure if it’s because of Mirabella or the guard.
But I don’t give a shit if anyone sees me kissing Eva. So I steal another kiss, deeper this time. Alessandro’s goon can watch all he wants. Let him report back to Alessandro that I'm falling for her again. It's already too late.
When we part, I brush my thumb across her lower lip, feeling her breath catch.
"We could be this," I tell her, my voice low and fierce. "Always."
She looks down, and evasiveness feels like a punch to the gut. “Do you really think we can have what we had before?”
“We almost already do.”
“Except Alessandro.” She glances over at the soldier assigned to keep track of her.
“You want to move? We’ll move.” I don’t know what’s coming over me. It’s safer for all of us to stay in the compound. But if Eva’s worries are tied to Alessandro’s mistrust, then I’ll deal with it by separating the two.
Her eyes are wide. “You’d do that?”
“Eva, when are you going to understand that I’ll do anything for you and Mirabella?”
This time, she kisses me, and it feels like a win. Like I’m one step closer to gaining everything that I’ve lost. That Eva and Mirabella will be mine. Permanently.
Despite Alessandro's suspicions, despite the Russians hunting her, despite whatever she's still hiding, they are mine.
And heaven help anyone who tries to take them away from me.