Page 154 of The Viper's Wife

Yevgeniy gives a short laugh. “That is okay.” He mimes shooting Nico with a finger gun. “Because I have just killed you for it.” The door cuts off his wild laughter as he gets into his car and drives off.

We tuck ourselves behind the columns of the bridge to hide from any potential cars and wait in the gloomy cold.

“There’s no going back now,” Nico says. His breath ruffles the top of my head.

“Thank god,” I say, smiling against his chest.

Outside the underpass, rain starts to fall.

It doesn’t take long for a black SUV to pull up. The door opens, and Annetta jumps out. Nico steps to the side as she throws her arms around me.

“I’m so glad to see you!” she says. She breaks the hug off quickly and moves behind me. “We have to move fast, okay? We don’t have a lot of time. I brought clothes for you guys. Nico, Dom has a spare outfit for you.”

Dom comes out of the car next. I catch a glimpse of Salvatore and Marisol in the driver and passenger’s seat, speaking quietly to each other.

Annetta passes me a shirt and grabs my robe, holding it up to create a curtain of privacy.

“Thank you for coming,” I say as I shimmy out of the nightgown and yank on the shirt. The hem comes up to my belly button.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

“How did the wedding go?”

I catch her grin as she moves in front of me. “Oh, everyone wasfurious.”

She passes me sweatpants, which fall just past my knees.

“Sorry,” she says. “I only had time to get my clothes.”

Nico comes around the car, swimming in what must be Dom’s shorts and shirt.

Annetta ushers us all into the car and has Nico and me sit in the back of the SUV, next to giant suitcases.

“Hope you guys aren’t claustrophobic,” Dom says with a laugh before he slams the rear door shut.

Nico and I catch each other’s eye. He smiles, and I reach over to grab his hand.

“It’s just to get onto the plane,” Annetta assures us, her voice carrying over the seats as Don Salvatore drives.

This is really happening.

“Annetta,” I call to her, “my friends, Lacey and Mei, please, I know…” Tears prick my eyes. I know Lacey would understand. I just wish I could tell her. “Can you take care of them?”

Her voice is soft with emotion. “Of course, Val. They won’t ever want for a thing, I promise. And, by the way,” she says, peeking over the seats to smile warmly at me, “congratulations on the baby.”

My free hand goes to my belly, and I squeeze Nico’s hand. “Thank you.” My eyes fill with tears. “I’msohappy.”

It sounds ridiculous to say, but it’s true.

After so much fighting and scrambling and fear and uncertainty, I have a husband and I have a baby and I have a chance at a beautiful future. I swipe at my face.

We’re going to be okay.

EPILOGUE

VALERIA

Eight Months Later