Chapter 38
EMILIA
A knock at the door woke me from the fitful sleep I was having. The dreams didn’t haunt me when Nico was beside me, but he couldn’t stay here all the time. “Come in.” I pulled the blankets up tightly to my chin.
“Look at you still in bed,” Alessia said as she and Gianna walked into the room with snacks.
“Are you naked?” Gianna asked, stopping as she got closer to the bed.
“Yes, I am, don’t ask.” Tucking the sheet under my arms, I sat up and looked at the two of them.
“Well, she might not ask, but I am. Why?” Alessia said, hopping on the bed beside me.
Closing my eyes, this was not something I wanted to talk to my sisters about.
“It’s a rule Nico has. If I’m in his bed, I have to be, well, you know.
” I made a motion over my body that I hoped they would figure out, and I wouldn’t have to go into any more detail.
These were my baby sisters; they didn’t need to know what happened between Nico and me.
“But why?”
“I think initially it was because he didn’t trust me not to kill him in his sleep, but now.” I let my voice trail off.
“He doesn’t have to deal with pesky pyjamas when he wants to ravage you.” Gianna smiled and arched her brow.
“You’re supposed to be innocent. How do you know about ravaging?”
“Sis, the way that man looks at you, I’m surprised he has time to run the family.” Gianna wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.
“Gianna,” I said, staring at her.
“She’s right,” Alessia said, smirking. “I would die if anyone looked at me like that.”
“Rephrase that, whoever looks at you like that will die,” I said, my voice menacing, and I didn’t have to remind anyone I wasn’t joking.
“Oh, there’s dona, we’ve been hearing about.
” My sisters laughed, and I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
I didn’t tell them it wouldn’t be me killing for them; their brother-in-law vowed to protect them as well, so their suitors were going to have to go through him.
“But I’m all seriousness, what’s the story on Antonio? ” Alessia wiggled her eyebrows.
“Off limits,” I said flatly. Nico’s right-hand man, head of all security, and the underboss would eat my sister up and spit her out. She’d been largely protected from this world, and I wasn’t about to let her walk into the lion’s den.
A knock on the door ended the conversation, “Come in.” I called.
The door opened, and Doctor Kingston walked through.
“Well, I’m very glad to see you sitting up.
Your colour is better, and you’re glowing.
” She beamed as she took off her coat and opened her bag.
“Let’s check the two of you out.” My sisters’ heads turned from the doctor to me, their eyes wide, just before the ear-piercing squeals. “Oh, I’m sorry, Mrs. Venosa.”
“It’s fine,” I said, laughing as I was attacked by the girls. “You actually probably made it easier for me. Okay, both of you get off me.” They let me go and climbed off the bed.
“Are they staying for the exam?”
“Yes, it’s fine.” I moved the blankets to expose my abdomen, and the doctor squeezed the gel on my stomach.
“Are you three ready to hear this little one?” She smiled, and the girls nodded vigorously. From the corner of my eye, I saw the door open, and I turned to look at the handsome man walking into the room.
Tha thump, tha thump, tha thump, I listened to my baby's heartbeat for the first time as I stared at Nico. The smile grew on his face, and I couldn’t stop the tears forming in my eyes.
“Everything is fine, Mrs. Venosa. I’m very pleased with your progression over the last twenty-four hours.
” The doctor wiped me clean and pulled the sheet back over me.
Packing up her things, Nico moved closer to the bed.
“Intimacy, doctor?” He arched his brow as he looked at me, and I could feel my cheeks blaze with heat.
“I feel comfortable saying that if you’re gentle, it would be fine in a week.
” She looked from me to Nico. He groaned and shook his head.
Both my sisters turned and stared at him, wide-eyed.
“You need to be up and about, but remember to rest when you need it. I trust your sisters will be hovering, making sure you take it easy, and I will see you in a week, Emilia.” She left the room, and I saw one of Nico’s men walk her out.
“I need to speak with my wife,” Nico said, and without question, the girls left the room. Every time he called me his wife in his possessive way, I instantly needed him.
“What’s wrong, my love?” I asked, sitting up, not caring that the sheet had slipped down and exposed me.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He stalked to the bed, undoing the buttons of his shirt as he moved. “I’ve spent the last five days watching you sleep from that chair.” He pointed to the one beside my bed. “So I think it’s time to have a nap.
He took off his pants but left his boxer briefs on and crawled into bed beside me. Ever so gently he moved right to my side, and I wanted him to cradle me in his arms but I was grateful he hadn’t tried to move me.
“Are you happy about the baby?” I asked him quietly. Part of me didn’t want to know the answer but I needed to hear it.
“When I got the call you were gone, my world ended. I didn’t know if I would be able to go on if I didn’t get you back. Then I got home and Trixie told, and I collapsed. I’d lost you and our child.” Nico gently slid his arm around me and moved so he was holding me.
“You are the most important person in my life, now I have one more reason to make it home at the end of the day. So yeah, Emilia I’m happy about the baby.
I want to fill the house with our kids, I want to watch you be a mother to them, because I’ve seen how you are with your sisters and I can’t wait to watch you be a mom.
” His words were so soft, and he kissed the side of my head.
“There won’t ever be a time you have to question if I’m happy. As long as I have you there’s nothing I need. I vow to protect you all from harm.” The words were soft but I felt every one of them as I drifted to sleep in his arms.