by Hamel, B. B.
But the front door crashed open. Five men spilled into the room—five men that I recognized. Valentino guys, the Don’s entire squad. They exchanged fire with the two Healy men, but the Valentinos quickly overwhelmed them.
“Not him,” I managed to yell, pointing at Shaun. “He’s okay, not him.”
Shaun stayed on the floor, hands up above his head, and the Valentino squad roughly pulled him to his feet, but didn’t put a bullet in his head.
I collapsed onto my back, breathing shallow, gasping breaths.
Sam came to me there. She pressed her hands against the wound and kissed my lips. “Matteo, oh, fuck, stay with me.”
I squeezed her hands, smiling. “I love you. I love that baby. I can’t lose you, you know?”
“You won’t,” she said. “I love you too.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
One of the Valentino guys appeared. His name was Tony, a rough-looking man with a scraggly beard. “You got hit real good, but we’re going to take care of you, all right, Matteo? You stay with us.”
“Sam,” I whispered, looking into her beautiful face.
“Stay with me,” she said.
Pain made me gasp as they lifted me up and got me out of there with Shaun and Sam in tow. They weren’t gentle about shoving me in the back of a van, but then we were off, speeding away as sirens sounded in the distance. The ride was a blur of darkness and Sam as I drifted in and out of consciousness, but eventually we arrived at a nearby Valentino safehouse.
“Doctor’s almost here,” Tony said. “Hang on, Matteo.” They got me inside and put me down on a couch. Shaun paced around, talking to the other guys, but all I could do was keeping looking at Sam. Some part of me wanted to let go and fall asleep, let the darkness that was creeping into my vision finally take hold, but the thought of leaving her and the baby kept me going, kept my heart beating. I didn’t want my boy to grow up without a daddy, and I didn’t want Sam to have a life without me. There was so much more I wanted to give her, so much more I wanted to experience with her.
I wasn’t ready to let go, not yet at least.
The doctor arrived not long later. He knelt down next to the couch and looked at the wound. “This is going to hurt,” he said as he started to do something.
Pain lanced through my shoulder, arcing down into my chest, and I finally passed out.
19
Sam
Two Years Later
“Mommy!” Baby Allie ran at me like a hurricane. She tripped on a toy and nearly went sprawling but I caught her before her head could slam against the floor. She laughed, totally delighted like we were playing some game, and she squirmed around in my arms. The girl was a little terror, tearing through the townhouse like she owned the place—which she pretty much did.
“Careful, sweetie,” I said, as she teetered around on her own, walking with absolutely zero fear of falling, even though she fell constantly
“Daddy?” she asked, looking back at me.
I frowned a little bit. “He’s not here,” I said.
“Daddy,” she said. “Daddy!”
“Did someone call for me?” Matteo appeared in the door, grinning.
“There he is,” I said, swooping her up. She reached for him and he laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and held her high in the air. She squirmed until he held her normally, hanging off his hip like an extension of him.
“Hey, babe,” he said and kissed me.
“Hey, yourself. How’s the Don?”
“Oh, you know, hanging in there.” He kissed Allie on the cheek. “How are my girls?”
“Doing great, right, sweetie?” I tickled her side and she laughed. She looked just like her father, with that same dark hair, but I thought I could see myself around her eyes and chin. “She’s seriously going to start walking soon.”
“That’s great.” He hugged her then put her down. She tried to take a step, toppled instantly, then crawled away.
Matteo kissed me gently then pulled me against him. “There’s my girl,” he whispered.
I grinned and kissed his neck. “Seriously, Nessa says you’ve been busy.”
“Yeah, well, now that the families are getting along, there’s a lot of work to do getting shit integrated. The Don’s been spearheading that and he’s got me running things on the ground.”
“Busy man.”
“Making money.” He let me go and chased after Allie. I watched him scoop her up then fall with her onto the couch and she squealed with delight.
For two weeks, I thought I was going to lose him. The doctor said the bullet nearly pierced his lung and that he lost a lot of blood. Then there were complications, an infection, and he hovered on the line between life and death. But I never left his side, and he pulled through for me.
I think because he was desperate to meet his baby, his little Allie girl.
I never imagined how he’d take to being a father. I knew he wanted it, but I never thought for a second that he’d be so active and involved, getting Allie up from all her naps, putting her down every night, feeding her bottles, going without sleep in those awful early days, singing to her, reading to her, doting on her needs. He cooked, he cleaned, and he cracked skulls out on the street, and he treated me like a goddess, and Allie like a princess.
He was my everything. I couldn’t imagine where I’d be without him.
“I talked to your dad today,” he said casually, as if that were no big deal.
I tried to act like that didn’t bother me. “What’d he have to say?”
“Just asked about Allie again. He wants to meet his granddaughter.”
“I’m not ready.” I drifted toward the kitchen.
“He says he’s sorry.” Matteo followed after me while Allie played with a few pillows and stuffed bears on the rug in front of the TV. “I’m not sure I believe him, but the girl should meet her grandfather at least once, right?”
“I don’t know.” I crossed my arms over my chest. I’d barely been involved with the Healy family ever since Colm was killed. There was a power struggle for a little while, with two factions fighting over control, but eventually Don Valentino stepped in and mediated everything. Since then, the Healy family had been run by a council of old guys, one of which included my father, and they were allied closely with the Valentino family. Matteo spent a lot of time with them, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Look, he’s an asshole. That’s obvious. And I’m not saying you need to forgive him. Frankly, he doesn’t deserve it.” He walked over and put his hands on my hips. “I just know how hard it’s been for you, being away from your family, and I think you’d be happier if you at least made peace with your dad.”
I leaned against his chest. “Maybe you’re right.”
“You want to see Nessa more often, right? You want to go spend more time at Healy places and do all their family shit?”
“I’d love that.” I squeezed my eyes shut. I’d been keeping away from the Healy side of the family because of my father, because I wasn’t totally ready to forgive him for everything, and the idea of running into him made my blood boil.
But Matteo was right. I didn’t have to forgive him, but I could at least make peace. That way, I wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable spending more time around the family again.
I missed it, I really did. I loved the sense of community and belonging I felt from that group of people, and although I liked the Valentinos and got along with all the other wives, they still weren’t my family.
“Then let’s talk to him,” Matteo said. “Set some ground rules. Make it clear that you’re in charge, and if he doesn’t like that, he can fuck himself.”
“I doubt he’ll make a fuss with you around.”
“I want to make sure he won’t make a fuss when it’s only you, too.”
I nodded and kissed him. “All right, I’ll do it. God, I want to go home, you know?”
“I know.” He grinned and hugged me tight. “Now let’s go check on Allie be
fore she rips the house to pieces.”
I laughed and kissed him one more time, and watched as he went out and scooped his baby girl up into his arms. My life wasn’t what I expected it would be when everything began, but I couldn’t be prouder of where it ended up. He was my light, my life, and Allie was my entire reason for breathing. Without them, I’d be empty.
And now I felt like everything was finally coming together.
Matteo looked back at me, and the love in his eyes was overwhelming.
“How about I make dinner,” I said. “What’s everyone want?”
“Mac and cheese,” Matteo said. “With hot dogs cut up.”
“So you’re eating Allie’s meals now too, huh?”
“Like father, like daughter.”
I laughed and went into the kitchen, a stupid smile on my face.
* * *
If you want more steamy suspense, read the mafia books that started it all! Obsessed with His Bride begins the story of the Leone Crime Family. Dante meets his match in Aida, though she resists his intense charms at first. But when a war breaks out, Aida must give in to her desire or end up dead. I’ll kill to keep her. I’ll do much worse to make her my bride. >> Click Here to read it!
Sign up for my mailing list and find out about new releases, giveaways, and more. Plus, get a free book and other awesome bonus material! >> Click here
Also by BB Hamel
All my books are standalones, steamy, safe, and have a guaranteed HEA!
Click Here for the whole catalogue on Amazon!
Series include Steamy Daddies, SEAL Team Hotties, Love to Hate, Baby Daddy, Miracle Babies, and more.
Thanks so much for reading! As an indie author, your support means absolutely everything to me.
XO, BB
