Page 89 of Brutal Vows

“Will you give this to him for us?” she asks.

The regret in her eyes speaks volumes. She missed his funeral because she was still in the hospital from giving birth. Nico only stopped by for a few minutes of the service, then rushed back to her side.

She must feel guilty over the timing. The doctors kept pushing her due date further back. If she’d given birth earlier, Pops could have met Perla, but no one can control these things. Words won’t ease the angst in her soul, so I give her a half hug and kiss her on both cheeks in the formal Italian greeting before wiping the tears from her face.

“Pops will love it. Thank you,” I say.

She takes a watery breath and hugs me back.

“The envelope is for Camilla. She agreed to watch your emergency footage to confirm if Viktor was there during her attack, but… will you stay with her for a while after she watches it?”

I nearly fall to the floor as she trusts me with her older sister. Almost a year ago, Camilla suffered an attack so brutal her parents forced Serenity to marry Nico instead of her. She currently lives in a facility upstate with top-notch care, but if Serenity wants me by her side, then that’s where I’ll be.

“Of course,” I say.

“Thank you, Loretta.”

With the heavy topics covered, we move to Perla and their journey of becoming new parents. Nico and Ermanno step out for a few minutes, probably to discuss work-related stuff,but they return rather quickly. When Serenity’s energy wanes, Ermanno and I say goodbye and leave Nico to settle his bride and baby down for a nap.

I shut the bedroom door behind us and set the envelope and picture frame on the corner of the counter before tackling the dishes in the sink.

Knowing Nico, he’s been doing all the cleaning himself to avoid having other people enter the home while they settle into their new life.

Ermanno follows my lead without a word, tidying the living room and sweeping the kitchen as I wash the empty food containers and wipe down the counters.

We fold the clean pile of clothes on the couch, put away the groceries, and take out the trash.

When I pick the frame up from the corner of the counter, Camilla’s envelope falls to the floor. Perla’s picture slips out. I tuck it back in and pause at the words on the front of the envelope.

For when you’re ready. Love, Serenity and Nico.

A band squeezes my ribs.

Is she upset Serenity married the man she was supposed to?

Or is it something way worse?

Ermanno wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my temple.

“If we don’t leave soon, the boss will come out instead of taking a nap with his wife and daughter,” he murmurs.

I nod, crane my neck for a quick kiss, and lead the way to the elevator.

As the doors close behind us, I lean against my kidnapper turned savior and marvel at the intricate twists and turns of life.

It doesn’t matter where the future leads us so long as we’re together.

I rise onto tiptoe and steal a quick bite above Ermanno’s collar. He digs his fingers into my hip, growls, and pierces my soul with his steely eyes.

“I love you, Ermanno,” I say.

His expression softens and hunger glints in his bottomless grey orbs.

“I love you, too, Loretta,” he vows.

When I rise onto tiptoes again, he pulls me against him and invades my mouth.

This is where I belong. With my big, bad mafia man.Mio marito. My favorite sparring partner. My kidnapper turned lover.Il mio sovrano.

Ermanno Mancini is mine.

Always.