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Muriella’s shoulders deflated. “I think I knew.” She shook her head. “Hindsight is always more clear, but under normal circumstances, I’d have never asked for those things from a relative stranger.”
“You understand why I didn’t tell you who I was.”
She let out a long sigh. “Want to go back to the shooting range this week?”
“Shooting range?” My brows shot to my hairline.
“It’s cathartic.” Muriella shrugged. “However you intervened, I’m glad you did. Things certainly worked out better than if I’d gone through with my plans.” She held up our joined hands, showing off her ring.
“I had a feeling they would.” Valentina admired the wedding bands. “I’m free Thursday. Vivian, would you like to join us?”
“Absolutely.”
“No.” Vivian and Daniel answered at once.
She bumped him in the shoulder and said to Valentina, “Name the time and I’m there.”
“I don’t want you around guns,” Daniel protested.
She looked at him incredulously. “Really? Then why do we have them in our home?”
“I could use a beer,” I said.
Donato drained his wine and lifted the empty glass. “I could do with a refill.”
“Please don’t be angry with me,” Valentina said to Muriella as I moved toward the fridge.
“I’m not,” Muriella returned with a soft smile. “Mr. Salvatore, you have excellent taste in jewelry.” She exchanged a secretive smile with Valentina. Donato looked confused, but he didn’t say anything.
“Here you are, darlin’.” I placed a bottle of water in front of her on the island and wrapped my arms around her from behind, my hands on her stomach.
“I got the good stuff.” Vivian slid a glass of champagne to Muriella.
“You can have mine.”
Vivian’s eyes zeroed in on the glass, then on my hands on Muriella’s stomach.
“No,” she said, her eyes widening.
Daniel slid an arm around her waist. “No what?” His brows pinched.
She flicked her gaze back and forth between my hands on Muriella’s stomach and Daniel.
“What?” Daniel asked more insistently.
“No champagne.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “Look at his hands,” she said out of the side of her mouth.
Light dawned in Daniel’s eyes. “No.” He blinked at Muriella, who grinned.
“Yes,” she said.
“I’m going to be an aunt!” Vivian shrieked, running around the island and throwing her arms around both of us.
“I’m going to be an uncle?” Daniel tested the words on his tongue before his eyes met mine, and he grinned.
“That’s wonderful news,” Valentina clapped her hands.
“Salute.” Donato held up his glass.
