Bea smiled. “He’s not going anywhere.”
Sniffling, I replied, “But he won’t bond with me.”
“He’ll know your heartbeat anywhere.”
When I tried to reach for Luca, the wound at my shoulder reared its head. “Just try for one arm.”
After Bea eased Luca into my right arm, I stared down at him in complete wonder. Vittoria was right. He did have my hair. And as I took in his nose and chin, I realized Leo was right as well.
“Hi, sweetheart, it’s your mommy. I’m so sorry I haven’t been there for you.”
“You have the rest of your life to make it up to him,” Bea teased before ducking out to give us some privacy.
I laughed. “I just hope this isn’t what he blames me for in therapy one day.”
Leo grunted. “If he ever tries to hold this against you, I’ll set him straight and rearrange his face.”
“Leo!” I admonished.
“I’m serious, Drea. He does not disrespect you. Ever.”
“Okay, okay. You don’t have to threaten him with violence.”
“I have to toughen up my heir.”
I gasped. “He is?”
“He’s a firstborn.”
“But what if we have more sons? Ones that are your blood?”
Leo shook his head. “He might not be my son by blood, but he will be by his raising.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever loved you more than I do at this moment.”
“There is one thing I want to request.”
My chest tightened a little at his serious expression. “Okay.”
“I won’t keep it a secret that he is not mine.”
I gasped. “But Leo–”
“He shouldn’t grow up shrouded in secrets and whispers. People will know that despite not being my blood son, he is mine.”
“Won’t that set him up for a tough future?”
“Maybe. But he’ll have my name and the support of the entire Neretti family. And as you and I both know, adversity only makes us stronger.”
“You can say that again.”
As I gazed down at Luca’s sleeping face, I wanted to do everything within my power to shield him from the venomous arrows people would inevitably sling at him when they knew the truth.
But I also knew how detrimental it would be for him to one day discover our lies. So, I nodded. “I agree. It shouldn’t be a lie. There’s been too many of those between us.”
“I agree. From now on, it’s only the truth.”
“I love you, Leo.”
