Epilogue
Ten Months Later
“What do you think?” I ask Maggie, doing a dramatic spin to show off the freshly painted blue room. The ceiling is painted with fluffy white clouds and a sun. Painted hot-air balloons and animals adorn the walls.
This is the only room I didn’t paint myself.
Emilio wouldn’t let me.
And frankly, my artwork consists of stick figures and flowers.
“I love it,” Maggie says, beaming as she takes in the room. “It’s adorable!”
While she spent four months in Chicago helping with Evalina, we renovated her old wing of the house. By the time she returned to New York, it was move-in ready.
She lives with us now, and life has never been better.
But this room, I’ve kept it a surprise from her until now.
I’m just about to ask if she wants to go shopping when something warm and wet drops down my leg.
I freeze, feeling like I just peed myself.
“Oh my God,” I say, taking a shaky breath before looking down.
Maggie, always one on her toes, is already on the phone. “Her water just broke,” she says into the speaker before snapping her fingers at me. “Bag. Car. Hospital. You know the drill!”
I blink at her, my head feeling like mush as nervousness overwhelms me. “What was that plan again?”
Maggie grabs my arm, helping me down the stairs, and has me sit. I hunch forward as a series of strong cramps hits me. Maggie hitches my hospital bag over her shoulder, and I hear tires screech outside.
Maggie opens the door at the same time Emilio jumps out of the car and runs inside. He’d left only ten minutes ago to grab my favorite dinner. Since I’m so close to my due date, he hasn’t been leaving my side much.
“Do you have the bag?” he asks.
Maggie holds it up. “Check! The car seat is installed?”
“Check,” Emilio says as I double over when another cramp hits me.
“And baby is still in Mama,” Maggie says, cracking a smile.
“Hopefully not in here for long,” I cry out, doubling over at another contraction.
“All right, let’s move,” Emilio says, suddenly sounding like a drill sergeant.
He helps me into the car’s back seat. Maggie slides in behind me. Emilio drives off, calling my OB as soon as he turns onto the road.
I ball my fists together, groaning as Maggie talks me through the pain. She tells me everything will be okay and we’ll meet our little one soon.
The hospital isn’t close.
I’m sweating, yelling, and ready to deliver this baby in the damn back seat.
When we arrive at the hospital, Maggie helps me out of the car. Emilio drives off to find a spot. He must’ve found something front row because he sprints inside just as Maggie and I reach the front desk.
Emilio holds my hand, and the pain and cramps intensify as the nurse wheels me into the hospital room.
He doesn’t leave my side as the doctor comes in and tells me it’s time to have my baby.
When I’m in labor and scream that I don’t think I can push any more, Emilio tells me I’m the strongest woman he knows and that I can do it.
My body feels weak as I cry out.
Emilio’s hand doesn’t leave mine as he encourages me to push and not give up.
He does this for eight hours, not even stepping away for a bathroom or drink break, and then it happens.
One final push, and I hear the cries.
My tears of pain turn into tears of happiness.
“You have a baby boy,” the nurse says cheerfully.
I’m shaking as she places the tiny, wrinkled baby in my arms.
Emilio stares at us, speechless. He drops his head, kisses my sweaty forehead, and then softly brushes his finger along our son’s cheek.
“I love you both so much,” he whispers.
“And we love you,” I say, sobbing and staring down at the little human we made out of love. Not out of duty or because of a contract.
When Emilio takes our son in his arms for the first time, nothing else matters but us.
Our little family that I want to keep growing.
We’ll create a happy home.
We’ll give our children everything we grew up without.
“Emeri,” Aurora repeats, rocking my son gently while sitting on the hospital sofa. “Such a beautiful name.”
“It means bravery,” I say, struggling to fight off a yawn. “He wishes you’d brought Evalina to see him.”
“She’s at the house,” she says with a smile.
I return the smile, happiness spreading all over my tired body, because the house means our house.
This will be Aurora and Andre’s second stay with us.
Andre isn’t a fan of the accommodations and brings his full security crew, but I don’t care. They’re here, and that’s all that matters.
Emilio hovers over Aurora like she’s never held a baby before.
For a man who swears not to have a heart, I keep seeing glimpses of it.
I’ll never forget the way his entire face lit up when I showed him the positive pregnancy test.
And again, today, when he held our son for the first time.
I’ve never seen a happier, more at peace man than him in those moments.
Aurora stays for thirty minutes before saying goodbye. I’m pretty sure Emilio secretly texted and asked her to give me a break so I could take a nap.
Later that evening, Dasha and Leo visit.
They’ve been dating for three months now.
It’s different, them dating and not being forced into a contracted marriage.
Antonio isn’t thrilled about it, given his opinion of Dasha running from the last wedding and asking me for money, but he’s slowly coming around. She still isn’t invited to any Lombardi family gatherings yet though.
As for our family, no one has stepped up to claim the Bratva throne.
Everything went to my mother—the estate, money, and businesses.
I don’t think she can handle it, but we don’t talk much.
The Lombardis leave her alone and don’t ask for any cuts in profits.
She doesn’t know what really happened that day in Aleksy’s office.
Nor will she ever.
She’d blame it on Dasha, and my sister doesn’t deserve that.
Just like with Aurora, Emilio stands over Dasha as she holds Emeri.
He’s going to be as protective of him as he is of me.
Those who wanted to give me time to rest at the hospital visit me when I’m home.
Maggie throws me what she calls a Welcome Home, Mommy and Baby party.
The other wives come bearing gifts and advice. They tell me they’re only a phone call away and available, day or night, assuring me I’m not alone.
The men give me hugs and tell me Emilio will be a great father. Most of them call Emeri their nephew.
By the end of the night, I’m drained and can’t wait to sleep.
Emeri’s bassinet is in our bedroom. I check on him, making sure he’s asleep, before undressing and climbing into bed. The soft sheets feel like heaven against my skin.
Emilio walks in, post-shower, wearing only boxer briefs. He pauses at the bassinet to kiss Emeri’s forehead and then strolls toward our bed.
He pulls back the blanket and slides in. Propping himself up on his elbow, he stares down at me in admiration and softly runs a hand over my stomach. “I can’t believe you grew our baby inside there.”
I press my hand over his, interlacing our fingers. “And you helped make our beautiful baby boy.”
“None of this would’ve happened without you, Liliya.
” He lifts our joined hands from my stomach and places them on his bare chest, right over his heart.
“If you hadn’t come into my life, this home would’ve rotted.
It wouldn’t be filled with love like it is now.
I wouldn’t know what it feels like to be happy.
I’d still be the same heartless man I was.
“Before you, I was miserable. I wasn’t afraid of death. In fact, sometimes, I welcomed it. But now, I fear death because it’ll take me away from you and our son.” His voice grows thick with emotion. “Turns out, maybe some hearts can be saved.”
“Your heart never needed to be saved. It was always there,” I whisper to him. “You just needed someone to show you the proof. Your heart is huge, Emilio. It runs full for all the people you love and protect.”
“You did that.” He tips his head down, kissing my lips, and pulls me close. “You proved that I have the heart.”
As I lie there, the heat of him relaxes my body.
I smile.
Our hearts finally found a home with each other.
A place to feel safe.
Even the darkest hearts can find their happily ever after.
And usually, those are the best tales to read.