AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Monster Marchetti showing tenderness.
I recognized the vulnerability while he stared down at him compassionately.
It’s how he also looks at me and Natalia.
Like he’ll die before allowing anyone to hurt us.
But then all my anger resurfaced when I remembered he wants to kill the man I love.
He gently passed Enzo into my arms, introducing us, and then kissed my forehead before wishing me good morning. He pressed a kiss to Natalia’s lips, promised her he’d be home soon, and left.
“Hi, little man,” I say to Enzo, running a finger over his chubby face. “Sorry it took me so long to meet you. I was kinda, sorta taken hostage.”
Natalia throws her head back and laughs.
I rock him in my arms.
“I can tell he already loves you, Gigi.”
I snuggle him closely. “And I love him.”
Enzo has a head full of thick black hair, the Marchetti nose, and a major case of gas. He’s perfection, wrapped in a snug baby-blue blanket.
I hold him as Natalia fills me in on life while I was gone—her labor, how my father insists on changing diapers when he’s home, and how she’s already told Enzo story after story about me. My chin quivers as I remember how excited I was, driving to the hospital to meet him. If I hadn’t told Bruno to stay home that day, everything would’ve been different.
Some people believe I have this super-glamorous lifestyle, but if only they knew the reality, where it relentlessly drains me until there’s nothing left to offer.
As if she knows where my mind is going, Natalia rests her head on my shoulder and whispers, “Everything will be okay, I promise.”
Thirty minutes later, Neomi and her sisters arrive at the mansion. We migrate from the living room to my mother’s rose garden in the backyard. The space is my favorite part of ourhome. It’s where I go whenever I need to clear my mind. I’ve traveled all over the world, but nowhere puts me at ease like here. The vibrant hues of pinks, reds, whites, and yellows create a beautiful landscape for us, and the smell of roses is like a scented candle you never want to burn out.
We make ourselves comfortable on the black patio furniture I chose two years ago when we remodeled the area. As Natalia breastfeeds Enzo, Bria uncorks a bottle of merlot and pours three glasses—one for her, Isabella, and me. Alcohol is exactly what the doctor ordered for my imprisoned self.
“And there’s my future husband.”
Isabella’s voice breaks me out of my daze, and I glance up to find her waving at Luca, who’s passing by us.
I grip my wineglass and lean toward her. “Wait, what did I miss? Is something going on with you and Luca?”
“I wish,” Isabella says, blowing out a long breath before grabbing her bag and pulling out a tube of lipstick. “But a girl is manifesting over here.”
“Why don’t you try manifesting for someone else?” Neomi insists. “Someone more realistic.”
“Theonlyway Luca would ever marry is if my father forced him to,” I say.
Which, one day, could happen.
“And unfortunately, we already have a contractual marriage with your family.” I squeeze her wrist and offer her a gentle smile.
Isabella returns her lipstick to her Chanel bag. “All right, now that we’ve crushed my dreams, are we allowed to talk about the elephant in the garden?”
“The what in the what?” Bria asks, pulling her straight black hair into a ponytail.
“You married a Lombardi.” Isabella tips her wineglass toward me. “The somewhat sane and hot one.”
Chills rumble through my body.
My head spins, and it’s not from the wine.
