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“I did not know I had a child until today.”
Her eyes glisten with more tears as she takes in my declaration. I can see the uncertainty there behind all her questions.
“How did Nicolai know where I was?”
“He saw you in Madrid. Saw that you were with child and gave his blessing for me to come and take you home. He didn’t tell me you were pregnant, though.”
“That makes no sense, Luca. Nicolai was the one who sentenced me to death. I find it hard to believe he has had a sudden change of heart.”
“It’s not his heart that changed his mind. It’s mine.”
She huffs. “I find it hard to believe you have a heart also.”
“I didn’t either, until you.”
I continue to stroke her face, surprised she allows it. She bites her bottom lip, watching me with suspicion. “You don’t even know me. Not the real me, anyway.”
“What I know was enough to save your life.”
“What you are asking of me is too much. I will not play a part in your mafia world, Luca, and nor will this child.” She puts the gun down and cradles her stomach. “I will not bring a child up knowing the same hate and destruction as you faced. I won’t allow it.”
I release my hands from her face, moving them to her belly. She pulls away slightly at first but then allows me to touch it.
“I know, red. I don’t want that for my baby either, and that is why I swear to you that I will never kill another man ever again.”
Forty-Seven
Scarlet
As I look into Luca’s eyes. I don’t see the darkness that once surrounded them. I see truth and promise and so much hope as his hand strokes softly over my belly, the swell of my heart pushes heavy on my chest. I have dreamed of this moment and wished for this with all my heart, but I never imagined it would come true.
“What about your obligations to your family?” I ask, wanting so much to believe that he could be the man I need him to be, but in truth, I have so many doubts.
He smiles up at me before going back to my abundant belly. “My obligations are to my new family.”
I am not used to seeing this Luca. This warm, soft side of him. Not only has his demeanor changed, but his appearance. No longer dressed in his usual black attire, he wears blue denim jeans and a white linen button-up shirt. He is like a familiar stranger. Did he do this for me? Did he change himself so I would not see him as the monster he once was to me?
“Nicolai would never accept that,” I inform him sharply. “You can’t just walk away without consequences. Even I know that.”
Leaning back a little, he regards me with serious eyes. “While I am to remain as part of the business, my role in the family is no longer the enforcer, or head of security.”
My eyes crinkle with skepticism. “So what is it?”
“That all depends on you.” He shrugs.
“What do I have to do with it?”
“Everything, red.” He chuckles. “You have everything to do with it because I will not do anything that you can’t live with.” His hand rubs my belly again. “But you have to remember I am still a Valsetti, and so is this child.”
I look away for a moment because although his disposition cloaks me in comfort, his words are too irrefutable. He is right, he can change what he does, but he can never change who his family is, nor separate the blood that our unborn baby shares with them.
“In the end, it is your decision. I will not force you to come back to America with me, but I will be a part of this child’s life in some capacity. I cannot walk away from him.”
“Him?” I look at him with furrowed eyes.
He places a soft kiss on my stomach. “It’s a boy. I can feel it.”
“You can feel something because it appears I am not the only one you woke up.” I wince a little, feeling a limb prod me in the ribs.
