“Are you okay?” she asks. “You should rest. I’m worried about your wounds.”
“I’m okay, Goddess. Don’t worry about me. I’m good. The question is are you okay?”
“I’m happy to be here with you, I’m happy you’re alive, but I don’t know if I’m okay. Too much happened, Alex. Too much that will stay with me forever,” she says.
“I’m sorry I had to kill him…” I thought I should say that. He was her father, and I killed him. Regardless of what was going on, my bullet ended his life.
She shakes her head at me. “Alex, you know you did what you had to do, and I know you’re only saying that for my benefit. You’d do the same thing all over again if you had to, and I would be in agreement. He was going to kill me. After all of that and everything we’ve been through, he was going to kill me.”
I reach for her hands and take them into mine. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“I don’t think of him as my father. He wasn’t. Not to me. I just want to move forward and pick up where we left off four years ago.”
“Yeah?” That sounds great to me.
She nods and smiles, and I think it will be interesting to see what we do next.
“Yeah.”
I glance around the place and see how homey she looks here. “You like it here?”
She nods again. “Do you want to live here?”
“Sometimes. You’d be too far away from the guys if we were here all the time though. We could come here for breaks. I like the quiet.” She looks out to the lake and smiles wide. “The kids would love it here. They’d like the lake a lot. We should get a boat.”
My damn heart warms at her words, and I can see the vision too of having a family with her.
She looks back at me and smiles.
“Yeah, we should get a boat,” I answer and sit next to her on the sofa.
She curls up in my arms, and I feel like I can finally rest indeed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Cora
James Piedmont gazes at me over the wad of paperwork I handed him. He took over Giles’ position. He’s from New York.
What he’s looking at is everything I found on Matvey, Zack, and Richard and all they got up to.
It’s weird being back in Chicago and in this building, but this is the last time I’ll have to come inside.
Other than meeting Lyndsey for lunch, I won’t be anywhere near here.
“This is impeccable work,” he comments. He looks truly impressed, as he should be. I managed to get the information on the whole syndicate Richard was part of, and people are being questioned and investigated as we speak. The evidence of their crimes is all there for him to see though. I was able to get a lot from Richard’s computer and personal files.
“Thank you.”
“How did you manage to come by all of this?” he asks with a quizzical stare.
I smile, and it’s the first time I’ve felt like myself in years. “I have my ways,” I reply.
“You certainly do. Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay with us? You’d be an asset to the team.”
“Thank you, but I’m going to have to decline.” There, it’s really done now. I’m not part of the Bureau anymore.
I’ve done some good work here, but it’s time to do what I want with my life, and go back to the woman I was before the lie.
Gibbs made me a very interesting offer—join his team but be my own boss. I choose what I do and do what I want. Most of all, I get to just be me.
Gibbs is the kind of PI I want to be. The type that has certain ways of doing things that exist outside the proverbial box. I accepted.
“I respect that. Well, please know that if you ever want a job here, it’s yours. Just give me a call.”
“Thank you.”
We shake hands, then I head out to meet Lyndsey at the coffee shop. She’s already sitting at one of the tables outside.
I told her everything too, but when I did, it was a very emotional conversation because it was her. Like the friend she is, she supported me, and I feel better in my heart.
I know it’s going to take time to truly heal. It’s going to take me a while before I’m able to accept all that happened and unravel the lies Richard told.
What I decided to do was to focus on my happiness. All the things that I remember that made me happy, all the love my parents showed me. I know they would have wanted me to do that, the same way we used to when we were all together.
They both would have loved Alex.
When Lyndsey sees me, she smiles, and I notice the wedding magazine in front of her.
“Yayy, I’m so glad you’re here. Let me see your ring again,” she bubbles, and I hold out my hand to show her the beautiful engagement ring Alex gave me last week. It’s a beautiful oval cut diamond ring that I can’t stop looking at.
The man wasn’t joking when he said he was going to put a ring on my finger one day. The day just came sooner than I thought, and I couldn’t have been happier when he did it. We went to the secret garden and he proposed.
“I love it,” she says and claps.
“Thank you. You know I love yours too,” I say. While we were away Owen proposed to her so we both have exciting news to share.
“God, look at us, crazy together and engaged.” She laughs.
“I know.”
“I’m going to miss you at work though. It won’t be the same without you, but this is better.” She nods. “We can talk wedding plans.”
“And do wedding shopping.”
“We sure can. I have a feeling our lives are about to change for the better.” She draws in a breath and has that look of contentment in her eyes.
I have the same feeling inside me too. It comes from true love and happiness.
“Me too,” I answer with a firm nod.
I can’t wait to see what my life will be like with Alex.
I already know it’s going to be everything I dreamed of.
Epilogue
Cora
Eighteen months later…
I curl up on the sofa by the fire and flip through our wedding album. A smile lights up my face as I look over the pictures of Alex and me on our special day. We made a beautiful couple. Him in his tux and me in my gown that looked like it was pulled from a fairytale. The smiles on our faces speaking of happiness, forever.
We got married fourteen months ago and our wedding day was the best day ever. It happened a little over four months after his magical proposal in the secret garden. We were married on the pristine, white sandy shore of Mondello Beach in Sicily. It was beautiful, magical even. A day I’ll never forget.
Today is another day like that.
It’s nearly dark and I’m waiting for Alex to get home.
We split our time between Chicago and the lake house in Minnesota. This week we’re going to be at the lake house. I got here last night because I had a special appointment.
I like being in the city, close to everyone but I adore the lake house for the serenity I feel when I’m here. To me it’s more like home so I treat it as such.
As I look through the pictures and think of the news I have to share with Alex I remember all that happened prior to the wedding.
I think back with remorse of how I told Alex I didn’t want my future with him. Fear made me speak those words, but love set me free. The day we started our future was the best day of my life. It was here, not when he asked me to marry him. It was that day he told me he was going to put a ring on my finger one day and we’d have lots of babies.
The front door clicks open and his footsteps echo on the floorboards. Seconds later he comes into the living room with a radiant smile on his face that brightens the more he looks at me.
“Hello Mrs. Alex,” he beams, walking over.
“Hello.” I straighten up to receive the kiss he plants on my lips.
He sits and reaches for me to pull me into his lap. I slip my arms around his neck and smile down at him.
&nb
sp; “Do I have you all to myself now?” I ask. There was something happening in Chicago that he had to take care of. Business.
“Yeah, you have me all to yourself and we’re taking a two week break,” he answers.
“Really?” I gasp excited at the prospect of us hanging out here for the next two weeks.
He nods. “Yes indeed. You got me. I shuffled things around so we can theoretically spend more time here.”
My smile widens. I work mainly from home so I’m flexible. If Gibbs needs me on a job then I could be travelling for a few days but other than that I’m extremely happy with my work and the team I’ve managed to assemble for my very own company.
“I like the sound of that Mr. Bellantoni. It looks like we might have to spend more time here anyway. ” It’s time to tell him the news. I’ve been bursting to tell him since I found out yesterday but I didn’t want to do it over the phone.
He chuckles. “Why? So we can have wild sex out by the lake and no one will see us?” His eyes sparkle with a lascivious glint.
“That’s one reason.” I kiss the top of his nose.
“What’s the other, doll?”
“Doctors,” I answer and he narrows his eyes. I smile at his reaction, loving this game.
“Doctors? There’s doctors in Chicago, Goddess.”
“My doctor is here,” I remind him.
“Yes that is true.”
“I’m going to need to go to the doctor a lot more than I have,” I say with a playful smile.
Now interest flickers in his eyes along with curiosity. “Doll… are you okay? Are you still sick?”
“No, I’m not sick today, but it turns out that stomach bug I thought I had last week wasn’t that at all. Dr. Jameson said it’s common to have morning sickness at this stage,” I answer and he holds my gaze with a riveting stare.
His lips part and he cups my face. “Cora… Coraline, what are you saying to me?”
We both look down at my stomach at the same time and I smile when he returns his gaze to mine. He places a hand on my stomach and his eyes brim with tears.
“I’m pregnant,” I answer and the smile that lifts his face fills my heart with warmth and the love we’ve always shared as a couple.
“Goddess, oh my God! We’re going to have a baby?” he asks, excitement rippling through his voice.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to be a father,” he says and pulls me in for a kiss.
“I love you,” I whisper against his lips.
“I love you too. I love you so much Coraline Bellantoni. Thank you for being my everything.” He presses his forehead to mine and holds me.
“You are my everything too.” I truly mean that. I never knew that when I met him he was all I could ever want.
He was my future.
The love of my life.
Alex
I gaze at the sun ahead as it starts to set. I’ve never been at the cemetery at this time of day. I’ve also never been here any day outside of the anniversary date.
Today is just a random day for a visit. One that’s not filled with the angst of a memory I’ll always carry guilt for.
I look down at the headstone and Jude’s grave and I cast my mind back to when we were boys. To the years I want to remember.
“I never speak when I come,” I say to the grave. “Never know what I’m supposed to say that sounds like I should be allowed to speak. I killed you and I’m sorry.” My heart opens and the words come easier. Words I’ve been hanging on to.
I clear my throat and continue. “I’m sorry Jude. I’m sorry that I had to do that, I’m sorry for the way things turned out and that you aren’t here anymore. I came to tell you that it ends today. Guilt and sorrow. What happened, happened and I couldn’t have been the man we were raised to be if I allowed you to continue the way you were. Killing people and destroying lives. When you next see me, I’ll be different. I’ll just be coming to see how you are.”
That’s all I have to say. When I straighten up and take a step back away from the grave, the soft pad of footsteps makes me turn to look at the beautiful goddess floating toward me. Cora came with me today and hung back by the path so I could speak to Jude in private.
My eyes go straight to her flat stomach and I can’t believe my baby is inside her. She looks so tiny, so small and delicate. So beautiful with her hair flowing in the wind and that sun-kissed skin. I reach out to her and she takes my hand.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“I am now.” I smile. It’s the first time I’ve smiled at this place. It’s the first time I’ve felt free.
It’s the first time I’ve felt happiness.
“You sure?”
“I am, come on let’s go.”
Her beautiful eyes sparkle when I take her hand and I walk away from the past with the girl I love, looking forward to the future I saw when I first looked at her.
A future where we have our own family.
Me and her forever.
My goddess…
* * *
Thanks so much for reading. I have you enjoy my gangsters and their dolls.
If you loved Alex and Cora’s story, you’ll also enjoy Donny and Willow’s sexy dangerous adventure in The Sting of Love.
The Sting of Love is available now on Amazon.
Keep turning to read an excerpt of the book.
The Sting of Love Excerpt
Chapter 1
Donny
I cast my gaze over the people below me on the dance floor like I own them. Resting my hands on the metal rail of the balcony, I smile.
Fuck, I might as well proclaim myself king because if I please the powers that be I’ll be the new boss here and over the whole empire in Italia.
Bel Posto is the most popular nightclub on the east coast of Sicily and attracts anybody who’s anybody looking for a wild night of fun.
Being the boss has a ring to it I definitely like. Boss or not, people know my face and know who I am. They know to straighten up to attention when they see me and they know who I represent. There are certain benefits to working for a powerful mafia boss and being the right-hand man to one of his capos. This is one of them.
Although I grew up in Sicily, I live in Chicago. One of my jobs is to fly out once a year to check on business. I’ve been doing that for the last seven years. This is the second time I’ve been this year, and this trip is the one that matters most for my future. In a nutshell, I have to prove my worth. Prove I can be as badass as the boss is in Chicago when dealing with the criminal underworld.
This trip is the one that will define me in more ways than one. The chance to be in charge is an opportunity I’d be an idiot to miss for the wealth and recognition that will come to me and my family. At the same time, taking the steps to seize the chance is also a sign that I’m ready to put the past behind me.
The meaning and accomplishment the opportunity holds for me is serious as fuck, but I’m the kind of guy who can step away from the serious aspects of life and appreciate the sight of a beautiful woman when I see one.
Especially when they look like the goddess below me sitting at the bar.
Tonight has brought out a sea of beauties, but the raven-haired goddess I’m looking at is the kind of woman who stands out in a crowd.
She’s beautiful with a face like an angel, has wild jet-black hair that sparkles against the club’s strobe lights, and a body made for serious sinning.
I know exactly what to do with a body like that.
She’s what I call a perfect specimen of a woman, like a lost pin-up girl who could give Marilyn Monroe a run for her money. This goddess has perfect fully rounded breasts I could play with all night and curves in all the right places. The best part about her is, she’s completely oblivious to the effect she has in that little blue summer dress that’s caressing her body the way I want to.
She came in about ten minutes ago and went straight to the bar.
I’ve been watching her. I’m not th
e only guy watching either. I’m just the guy who’s most likely to claim her. The guys who noticed me watching stopped the minute they realized that I saw them. They were the fuckers who knew better than to piss me off. The other guys looking at her haven’t seen me yet. I can’t blame them, though, for hoping to get lucky with her.
Thinking with my dick is the last thing I should be doing tonight because I’m not on the prowl. I can’t help it, however, when candy is laid before me, and I think if tonight goes well and I don’t lose my shit in the meeting, I’d like to dip my hands in the sweet jar that is this woman and have some sinful fun with her body.
She must feel my eyes on her because she looks up for the first time to where I’m standing, and our eyes lock. I’m amazed she hasn’t done so before given the focused intensity of my stare.
Since I’m not one of these pansy-assed pussies who look away when they get caught blatantly checking a woman out, I continue to stare. I’m Donny Caporetti, and lust runs through my veins the same as my blood. In all my thirty-five years I’ve never restrained myself, and since I’m not about to do it now, I hold her gaze and smile, allowing her to see my interest in her like I’m marking my territory.
We’re about thirty feet away from each other, too far to clearly see those eyes of hers, but I can tell she’s interested in me too from the way she looks back at me. I can feel the heat in her desire, the want in her arousal as she traces her finger ever so lightly down her cheek. I’d bet her skin is as soft as I imagine it to be too.
I would continue this stare fest and do something about that twitch in my cock, but the footsteps behind me signal that it’s time to stop thinking with my dick and get serious.
I turn away from the beauty and face Alex as he approaches me. He’s the third capo to our boss, Claudius Morientz, and he’s always ready for business.
He’s a big guy like me. Six foot four with the same kind of muscle and the same wild streak for fast cars and motorcycles.
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