CHAPTER 24 Lindsay #2
“Let’s talk about our options, though,” Valentina continues. “If you’re really pregnant, what would that look like?”
“I-I don’t know,” I murmur, because I truly haven’t been able to think about it. “He told me he loved me and that he meant it.”
That I’ve thought about so many times, turned the words over and over again in my head.
“And what did you say?”
“Nothing.”
Valentina laughs and my eyes narrow. I’m not really sure what’s funny about my predicament.
“I’m sorry, Lin. It’s just… I’ve never seen you unsure about anything in your life. You’ve always known exactly what the plan was and how to achieve your goals. I guess it’s just weird seeing you like this.”
I groan softly, running my hands through my hair. “What am I going to do?”
“Hey.” Valentina draws my attention. “Even if you’re pregnant, it doesn’t mean you have to stay with him, right? The baby isn’t a trap. You can still choose to leave.”
The firmness in her tone at those words has my heart clenching.
“I can’t do that to him,” I whisper. Especially not after what he went through with Sara. “And I don’t want to either. I want him, Val. And I’ve even started to grow comfortable with all this, his life and everything in it. I—”
“You love him,” she finishes for me gently. “That’s what you can’t get out, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, I think I do.”
“Then tell him. Tell him everything and then you can both make a decision together.”
“I’m just… scared.”
“Of what? How he’ll react? He’s not exactly a stranger to children, Lindsay. Plus, he’s just as responsible as you are for the baby. But I beg you, please, let’s go to the doctor and make sure you really are pregnant before we start drawing our conclusions.”
She’s right. I know she’s right.
“Yeah, I agree. But Matteo doesn’t let me go anywhere without guards. How are we going to be able to sneak away for long enough to get me to a hospital?”
“Just leave that to me.” She smiles. “I’ll make up a reason that we have to meet up tomorrow and we can sneak away from the guards long enough to find a clinic.”
I huff out a breath, “Alright. Let’s do it.”
I’m so glad I have my best friend by my side through all of this. Heaven knows what I would do without her.
“Thank you, Val,” I murmur, wrapping my arms around her.
“You’re welcome. Oh, and if you really want to make it up to me, I want our monthly meetings on the fifteenth back. I miss that.”
“Done, and I’m sorry they came to an end because of me.”
“Water under the bridge, babe,” she says, waving off my apology.
I look up from her to find Elio Vitale leaning against a wall, watching us, and I nearly jump.
“Goodness,” I whisper, clutching my chest.
Valentina whirls around and chuckles at the sight of her brother-in-law.
“I’ve told you not to sneak up on people like that, cognato,” she chides.
He pushes off the wall with a smirk, coming to stand in front of us.
“Sal says we should all head to the dining for breakfast. We’re all itching to get to know a kinder side of Ms. Prosecutor,” he informs us.
“That feels… foreboding,” I state.
He smiles. “For what it’s worth, I’m happy my brother found someone that made him lose control. He was always too uptight.”
“He still is,” I point out.
“Yeah, but he’s better,” Elio says on a shrug.
I like him the best out of all the brothers. Mostly because he’s the least intimidating, but there’s a quiet thoughtfulness to him. He’s similar to Matteo in his intensity but his aura doesn’t scream about the type of life he belongs to.
We head over to where a spread of breakfast has been served. Enough to feed a small army. Salvatore sits at the head of the table and after Valentina squeezes my hand, she moves to take her place beside him. His eyes light up at her approach, his gaze softening.
Raffaele’s leaning back in his chair, restless as always, “Where did you two go?” he questions.
“We were braiding each other’s hair,” I reply sarcastically.
He grins. “You have a mouth that gets most people in trouble, little Lin.”
“Play nice, Raf,” Matteo says from behind me.
I didn’t even hear him walk in. All my attention is fixed on him as my gaze goes down to his stomach. He’s put on a shirt, but the way he walks makes it obvious he’s still in pain.
“You should be in bed,” I scold.
“I’m fine, Kitten.”
His presence settles at my side as we take our seats. Elio sits across from me.
Breakfast is normal. Strangely so. Coffee is poured, plates are passed around.
Valentina keeps up a steady stream of conversation that somehow manages to include everyone without forcing it.
Raffaele interrupts constantly. Salvatore engages his wife while Elio only speaks when he has something worth saying.
Matteo barely speaks at all. But he does thread our fingers together underneath the table, swiping his thumb over my palm in a soothing motion.
“So, madam prosecutor,” Raffaele says at some point. “Should we be expecting the cops to knock down on our doors anytime soon?”
“I’m not sure,” I say. “I imagine you could do with a brief stint in jail.”
Everyone laughs at that while Raffaele glares.
“Jail would be horrible for my skin, little Lin. This pretty face needs protection.”
I simply roll my eyes. He’s ridiculous. And maybe it’s because I know he would never hurt me, but the more time I spend in his presence, the less scared of him I feel.
“Raf is right, Lindsay. We’ve let you into our home and you’ve taken a seat at our table,” Salvatore begins. “I’d like to know if you’ll drop the RICO case against my family.”
Matteo’s hand tightens against mine. “Sal,” he grits out.
“No, it’s fine,” I tell him before facing the head of the family. “You can rest assured, I have no interest in pursing a case against your family anymore. Besides, it was always going to be a losing game,” I say bitterly.
Something like approval flickers in Salvatore’s eyes. “Not sure you’ve lost anything, considering the person you’ve gained sitting at your side.”
Well, he’s right about that.
He nods once and conversation moves on. I can feel Matteo watching me, his intense gaze sucking all of my breath. I sneak a glance at him and there’s approval glittering in the depths of his irises.
There’s also possession and love, and I realize I can read each one of them astutely. I feel each emotion that shines across his face.
As the conversation continues around the table, I realize with a jolt that I don’t feel out of place here. With this family that’s the definition of everything that I used to despise.
Shock slides through my chest. Maybe what I’ve always needed was a family at my side.
And I know without a doubt the Vitales would burn the world down to protect one of their own.
I want exactly that for myself. For my baby. I want the man at my side and all the love he has to give me. I want to be with him and with Leo. And I want to love him and get lost in him.
Since I can’t say the words yet, I squeeze his hand and look at him hoping to convey it all without speaking.
You won, Matteo Vitale.
I fell in love with you. And now I never want to stop falling.