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“If you want this baby, I do too,” he says quietly, and it’s so unlike what I thought he would say that I’m taken aback, blinking at him. “I’ve never thought about having kids, but if it makes you happy, then I’m happy.”
I stare at him, wary. “Are you just telling me what you think I want to hear?”
Dante takes my hand and I don’t pull away. “Can I show you something?”
I follow him as he leads me down the stairs and into the garage. He opens the trunk of his car and inside is a big box containing a crib.
“I thought we’d need one of these,” he says quietly, and tears well in my eyes. I throw my arms around him, hugging him tightly, and Dante’s arms go around my waist.
I bury my face in his chest, feeling a myriad of emotions swirl through me. It’s like everything has finally calmed down and I can breathe again, and I cry into his shirt for a few moments before pulling away.
He leans down to kiss me, softly, but I deepen the kiss and it’s intimate and sweet and unlike any other time we’ve kissed before.
Does he love me? I feel like I can sense it, like I can feel it through his kiss like osmosis, but I need to hear it. I need to hear him say it.
“Do you love me, Dante?” I ask softly against his mouth, and Dante stiffens.
He pulls away, looking down into my eyes.
“Of course I do, pretty girl,” he says softly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Didn’t I risk my life to save you? Twice?” He chuckles.
I search his face, looking to try and guess if he’s lying. It’s still not the same as hearing those three little words that would mean so much to me, but it’s better than nothing.
I’ll take anything I can get when it comes to Dante Ricci.
23
DANTE
Idon’t sleep that night, thinking about the baby and what I’m planning to do to my wife’s father. The meeting with Luca is at dinner, and I hope he’s alone, because I don’t like my work getting messier than it has to.
Mia and I spend the day setting up the crib in the bedroom right next to the master bedroom, which we’ve decided is the best place for the nursery. I still can’t wrap my head around it, her being pregnant. She’s going to have my baby, and I have no idea how to feel about it.
This is more serious than just marrying her to get close to her father. Hell, this is even more serious than possibly falling in love with her. But I have to make her happy. Worse, Iwantto make her happy, and I’m so conflicted I just try not to think too much, try to enjoy spending time with her.
“I have a meeting tonight,” I tell her, not wanting her to be surprised or try and keep me from going. I know that she gets anxious when I’m working, and it’s understandable, given everything that happened.
Mia nods idly, not having much of a reaction, and I’m happy. Hopefully, things are calming down. Although they’re about to get a lot more stressful for her. Guilt rockets through me and I put my arms around her waist, hugging her from behind and kissing along the side of her face.
She giggles and leans back against me. “Hurry back. Marisa says she’s making dinner.”
I hum in the back of my throat and kiss her cheek again before reluctantly letting her go. “It shouldn’t take too long.”
The words feel like acid in my mouth because I know that I’m going to be changing her life forever in just a few hours.
I do my best to keep my mind blank as I drive to Luca’s, leaving Nico in charge of guarding the house and Mia. He asks me three times if I need backup.
“No,” I say firmly. “I need to do this on my own.”
It’s my mission, this revenge. It’s the only thing I’ve been thinking about since my father died, and I thought I’d be happy, but instead I just feel numb.
Mia and my feelings for her have complicated everything.
I ring the doorbell and expect Luca to come to the door, just like before, but instead, it’s a petite blonde with striking blue eyes. It only takes me a second to realize they’re the same shade as Mia’s.
“Hello,” she says in a heavily accented voice. “You must be my son-in-law.”
She smiles brightly, and I can see Mia all over her features.
