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“Not yet.”
“Yet?”
She shivers and I tighten my hold and growl, “We have a plan, but it’s not watertight. Things could go badly wrong and if that happens, I’m sending you back to your father because that is the safest place for you right now.”
“NO!” she yells angrily, which makes me smile.
“My place is with you, Matteo. Whether it’s here or in the afterlife, I’m sticking by your side.”
Abi can’t possibly know how deep her words cut because nobody has ever put me before them in my life. It causes an emotion I’ve never experienced to be released from its cage, because how can I not react to that?
Gripping her face, I stare into her eyes and say firmly, “I love you, Abi, so hard it physically hurts.”
Her eyes widen and she stares at me with so much love shining in her eyes, it causes an ache in my heart that has never been there before.
“I love you so much, Matteo. I will never leave you; not for anything. Whatever threatens us, we face it together, and that is non-negotiable.”
I nod. The smile that breaks out across my face is solely for her because she makes me so happy I would promise her anything.
I lean forward and whisper against her lips, “As soon as this is over, I’m taking you on our honeymoon to make babies.”
“Babies?”
She shakes her head. “One at a time, please.”
Her laughter makes me smile and I stroke her cheek lightly. “Babies. I want an army of children that looks just like their mom so I can surround myself with your image every turn I make. They will be loved, protected and happy and so will you, my princess. You have my word on that.”
She smiles, and it’s as if the moon is dull in comparison and then she whispers, “Why wait until the honeymoon? There is nothing I love more than when you are inside me. Whatever comes for us, we will be prepared, but let’s not waste any more time worrying about that. Fuck me like you love me and let’s create our own idyllic world.”
No more words are needed because we are imagining the same future. We have arrived at our happy ending, even if fate has other ideas.
I must take my own advice and trust my brother because it’s now up to Leonardo to save our family and get rid of our enemies and I almost pity Carlos Mattasso because the last man I would want coming for me is the true heir of the Ortega Mafia and if anyone can guarantee our future, it’s him.
EPILOGUE
LEO
There are women and there’s Chastity Blake. She is the most delicious surprise, certainly unexpected and a challenge I wasn’t expecting.
She stares across the table at me with a poker face I would be proud to call my own. She is hiding many secrets behind those enigmatic eyes, and I am the man who is about to reveal them.
I flip my cards and watch for her reaction. There is none. The man to her right sighs in exasperation and throws in his hand, but I don’t tear my eyes from hers. The man to her left appears to have given up trying to flirt with her and gives way to anger instead. He stands and throws me a look that would tell most men their lives could be threatened as he retires from the game, leaving a small fortune on the table.
I play to win, but so does my opponent, and she merely turns over her last remaining cards revealing a full house.
There is no triumphant smile and smug joy, just mild curiosity as she waits for my own hand to play.
Without tearing my eyes from hers for a second, I reveal my own hand and note the disappointment cloud her sexy eyes when I win with a royal flush. To be honest, she has been an unwelcome distraction in a game that requires full concentration before you lose everything.
I’m guessing she is used to that because word on the street is she’s unbeaten, until now that is and as she meets my eyes with a wry smile of defeat, she stands and nods to the dealer, pushing her last remaining chips her way as thanks.
I nod to Ryan, my trusted consigliere, to deal with my winnings and I stand, facing the woman who is about to receive an offer she won’t be able to refuse and nod toward the bar.
“A word please, Miss. Blake.”
If she’s surprised that I know her name, she doesn’t show it and merely nods as my guards clear a path toward a booth set in the corner of the room, out of sight and unapproachable because I have business to discuss and must not be disturbed.
To her credit, she doesn’t react, even with curiosity, which makes me smile. She is a truly gifted poker player and is the one woman I need more than any other right now.
