Femme Fatale Loved (Pericolo #3)

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  “This is for life, vita mia.” He winks, the moonlight catching the moment beautifully. “What about you, though?” he queries; worry begins to smother his handsome face. “After what Gio did, you were told this would impossible. How did you manage to conceive when we were told it wouldn’t happen? What happens now?”

  I shrug, unable to form words because what do I say? I made a miraculous recovery, we had a miracle, and we really showed Gio who won? I only had the facts, and even those were conclusive as to how I wound up pregnant after having my heart shredded to pieces as my happy ending was snatched away with the threat to be left unfinished.

  I know there was a lot of concern following the killer assault and subsequent surgery, but the doctor in California didn’t seem to be too nervous over my predicament. I guess we’ll have to see what my doctor here will say and go from there, but until something – if anything – happens, I will allow myself to love this baby. I won’t do it with a half-heart with the fear of something that may never materialize.

  “I asked about what I was told back then,” I start to say, peering up into his eyes. “The doctor said from the initial scan both me and the baby seemed to be in perfect health. He had noted the injuries I had from the stabbing, but he said to make an appointment with an OB-GYN and let them deal with it. He said that nothing seems to be wrong, and it could just mean I’m closely watched, and that’s it.”

  “So this is really our little miracle?” he asks, a hand settling on my flat stomach. “The one thing to give you the final piece of your smile.”

  “This is the thing that’s completely healed me,” I note, agreeing with his notion. “Thank you for never letting me walk away from you.”

  “I fought the devil and a lot of his demons to get you, Amelia. I wasn’t about to be beaten down by you.” He leans, pulling me closer as he does so. “As you saw, I still will.”

  “It was very sexy,” I say, giggling as I curl more into him. “You give Dante a run for his money.”

  “Nah,” Zane defies, shaking his head at me. “That man’s reputation precedes him, even now, and I’m in no way prepared to go up against that.”

  “Mmm, I have to agree. Dante’s been to some dark places.”

  “But so have you,” Zane rebukes, a scolding tone in his voice. “Dante may have done bad things, but he walked away. When he got what he needed from that life, he cut his loss. Likewise, you did, too. It took a lot of time and losing your mother and brother, but you made it. You and Dante were brought up in a world that was only built to destroy a person.”

  “I had my madre for the most part, and Dante had Jackson then he had Ryleigh. He was caught at the right times, just like I was.” I feel my eyes burn as tears flood my eyes and my bottom lip quivers. “I love this life, I really do, Zane, but sometimes, I resent the fact that my madre and Manuel can’t be here to enjoy it.”

  Before I can stop it, I burst into tears. This tender moment hangs around us, seeing Zane accept this new turn in our life together. While I enjoy every moment that elates every sorrow ever bestowed upon me, I can’t help but feel the void left by the absence of my mother and brother. For a short while, I miss my father. Well, I missed the father who doted on me before he saw me as a choice of weapon. Then I realized I never truly missed the man who tried to corrupt me from the inside out, but I missed the man he used to be, the man he’d never be again. Soon that void ebbed away, and I only had two notable pieces of hollowness, which I could only pinpoint when my mother and brother were murdered in cold blood.

  The thought of them missing this makes my heart ache; it screams and howls with sorrow, but I know they gave their lives, in some sense, for me to be here.

  “Hey now,” Zane coos, reaching up to wipe my face. “I know you miss them with every day that passes by, but they are here in everything we do. I miss my mom every day, especially since you learned to love me again, but I can forgive myself for not missing her when I live in the moment. I allow myself every day to remember her, but I never allow myself to cry at having the life she wanted for me. Amelia, they wanted this for you, too. They wanted you to be happy and boundless. Everything we do is in memory of them, but we can’t stop to mourn them constantly. They’re with us, in our hearts, in our happiest of moments and in our saddest ones, too. Your mother would be proud of who you chose to become.”

  “I just wanted her to meet you,” I say, sniffling as I calm. “Plus, baby hormones have a lot to explain for, apparently. It explains why I was so ready for that guy at the bar and why I’ve cried at the drop of a hat. They’re going to kill me.”

  He laughs, his thumb stroking my damp cheek still, drawing my mouth closer to his. “But it’ll be so worth it.”

  “That’s true,” I say, stifling a yawn. My emotions begin to settle, mellowing out now that I’ve admitted my heart’s greatest distress at this moment. “Can we go to bed now?” I ask, pouting playfully.

  Instead of answering me, his lips touch mine gently, almost soothingly, and I sink against him, aided by my own desire for him and my tiredness. My eyes remain shut as he draws his lips barely away from mine and speaks.

  “One more time,” he utters against my mouth, drawing our kiss to an end. I nod, opening my eyes and curling up against him as he restarts the film. As it starts to play – that nothingness before that whoosh of a heartbeat – I sink into a domestication like no other and just close my eyes, falling asleep to the most perfect sound ever.

  And as if all at once, we fall asleep tangled on the couch.

  ***

  “We’re not going in there all guns blazing.”

  My reiteration is tiresome. Dante wants to go to my father with a loaded gun and reintroduce himself. Apparently, Dante’s spectacular flair for the dramatics hasn’t dwindled any over the years, and Ryleigh and I keep looking at one another to roll our eyes.

  “We’ve been there once before; the man is a drunk.”

  “He’s living in his own personal hell, so there isn’t the need to go around there and revert to our brutish ways, is there?” I ask, cocking a brow at Dante. “If you want to go around there for answers, fair enough, but there isn’t a threat anymore, not where Sal is concerned.”

  “Okay,” Dante admits defeat, allowing his aggression to drip away from his system. “But I want answers. It’s been a long time, and coming home to find one of the strongest Italian families now defeated, I really want some fucking answers.”

  “It was all a front,” Enzo comments, putting an arm around Alessa and drawing her in close. “We kept up appearances for the sake of it, but behind doors, we were a mess long ago.”

  “Since Madre died,” Carlo admits, the sadness hitting his voice.

  “That was a sad day for the Dio Lavoro,” Dante commented solemnly, looking away from us all. As he lifts his gaze, he offers a sad smile. “You guys really took a hit losing her.”

  “I think she’d be proud of all we’ve become.” My comment hits them all, and they stare at me. We could wallow in the sorrow her passing still evoked, but what good would that do? “She taught us to be strong people who love their family with no doubt or shame. She brought us up to know love and right from wrong, and even though we got lost in what we thought was right, we came out the other side. We have one another, we have people who love us, and we’re a stronger family than ever.”

  “She’s right,” Enzo breathes, fixing me with a look and a small, knowing smile. “Why are you always right?”

  “It’s my mother’s charm,” I joke, winking at Enzo. “I just don’t want to wallow on what we had and what we lost. We live every day with that cross, but we shouldn’t let it overshadow anything.” I smile sweetly, watching them all with glee as they all start to agree. “Now, because I’m starving, I’m going to sort something for brunch,” I comment, turning to kiss Zane and get up. He grabs my hand, stopping me from standing. I look over my shoulder at him. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” he says, and I see he’s struggling no
t to become too overprotective. “Sweetheart, just throw some fruit in a bowl. If anyone wants anything else, they know where the stuff is.”

  “Eh, some of us are new to this little pad of yours,” Dante comments sarcastically. “I only know where stuff is due to the mess your brother left.”

  “That’s true, but you can go in and explore. You can call it an adventure,” Zane quips, causing Dante to laugh. “Our home is yours, after all.”

  “I’m going to grab some drinks,” Alessa announces, leaving Enzo’s side.

  Alessa follows me inside, going straight to the fridge.

  “This place is vastly becoming like some sort of Mecca, isn’t it?” she jokes as she wanders across the kitchen with the jug of punch she made up. “None of this for you, lady, so what would you rather have?”

  “There’s some orange juice. I’ll just have that.”

  While I cut some fruit, preparing to throw it in the bowl, Alessa comes over to me. Standing by my side, she prepares to pour the drinks. For a moment, I hear only the sound of the liquid pouring and my knife sliding through the pieces of fruit to hit the chopping board beneath.

  “So what’s going on with you and Enzo right now?” I ask, pausing only to look at her. “You seem cozy.”

  “We are,” she responds, her tone feather light. “We both agree we feel like no time has passed, but we’re both aware we’re different people and rightly so. We’re going to take it slow, see where life takes us, go on dates. I’ve told him he can go back to cooking me those gorgeous meals any day when we used to eat by candlelight.”

  “You will make it back to one another, though, right?” I ask, my voice tightening at the fear that they won’t try hard. “I don’t want to see you two apart anymore.”

  “Don’t you worry,” she quells my nervousness. “I’m sticking around for more than the man I love.” She grabs the tray she was using for drinks earlier and starts to put the drinks on it. “When are you going to tell the rest of them about the baby?” she asks, nudging me, and I can see the bright, beaming smile she wears in my peripheral vision.

  “I don’t know,” I reply, pondering on the thoughts. “I mean should we?” I ask, wondering if Zane wants the same thing. “I don’t know how they’d feel about baby news.”

  "What baby news?" Enzo's fierce tone cuts into our whispered conversation.

  We both turn as if we were one being, both silenced and both shell-shocked. We slowly look at one another but refrain from admitting anything that could incriminate us.

  "Alessa?" he asks, a crease forming on his brow. He looks wounded as if she's lied to him and is the one with a child. I watch as the cracks explode to life as confusion disguises itself as the truth. "What's going on? Is there something you aren't telling us?"

  Neither one of us talk. Enzo doesn't even look at me, not for one second, as he focuses on Alessa. I loathe how I'm tarnished with one brush - the one that forces me to be seen as barren. The thought makes my eyes water, as I don't even seem to enter his mind as the one who could possibly be pregnant.

  I sniffle to keep my composure, shuffle on the spot, and feel my muscles become rigid.

  "Amelia?" Enzo echoes my name, and I look up, unaware my gaze had even dropped as desolation began to sit on my shoulders. "It's you."

  His statement is awarded with my lips curling into the tiniest of smiles, and my watery eyes turning doleful. Yes, it's me, my voice rises up within me.

  "Oh, my God," Enzo says, shock filters into ebbs in his voice. "You're pregnant?!"

  His exclamation is loud and proud, and as soon as he's realized he's let a massive cat out of the bag, he quiets down. But it's too late; all outside conversation has hushed, and I know there will be people outside eager to hear the truth in Enzo's shouting.

  “Sorry,” he apologizes, but I don’t totally believe he is. “Well, I’m not actually.” He walks over, grabbing the full bowl of fruit, and nudges me forward. “Get out there, now.”

  “You’re throwing me in the deep, you bastardo!” I cuss, my eyes wider than ever. “I can’t go out there now.”

  “You can, and you’ll thank me for it,” he presses, smirking sanctimoniously.

  I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s not my news to tell.”

  “Just get out there, Lia.”

  “I’m not saying anything, loud mouth,” I remark, scowling at him.

  I walk out of the kitchen trying to act as normal as possible, but every pair of eyes burns into me - even those who know. I smile awkwardly and go and sit back, trying to act casual.

  "Something you need to tell us?" Allana asks; her voice is so casual it makes me even more nervous than ever.

  "I'm engaged," I squawk, raising a shaking hand. I force a smile through my awkwardness and watch as eyes continue to stare at me.

  “We noticed the ring,” Bruno comments, nodding his head at the ring. “We were just waiting for you to say something. Now, is there something else?”

  “No,” I say, frowning as I shake my head and sink further into my seat beside Zane. “There’s nothing else,” I say, feeling my lie burning all over my face. “Enzo was overreacting.”

  “No, I wasn’t!” my brother exclaims. “Don’t try and worm your way out of this, Amelia.”

  “I’m not!” I exclaim, my voice hitting a little too high, to be honest. “I don’t know what you heard, but no one here is pregnant.” All eyes narrow and burn into Zane and me. “I’m not!”

  I’m only arguing because this isn’t my own surprise to spring on everyone. Zane has equal say, and we’ve barely had time to breathe and get used to the idea, let alone discuss when we’re going to let the cat out of the bag.

  However, Zane clears his throat and sits forward as the argument continues, but he remains silent.

  “Look, you can just tell us,” Carlo states, now joining the chorus. “Not like secrets are kept between us, and it’s not like we all don’t know you fuck like rabbits. I mean it was only the other day I caught you in the front room in there.”

  “Carlo!” I gasp, my eyes flicking to the children, but I breathe a sigh of relief as they all continue to play. I sink back, my face afire with embarrassment. “Just leave it before everyone knows the ins and outs of my life.”

  “Well, I do,” Carlo says, deliberately causing my blush to go into overdrive. “You don’t lock doors, so you being pregnant wouldn’t be a shocker.”

  “Well, it would,” I mutter, shooting him a death glare. “We all know that was off the cards for me.”

  "Oh, fuck this," Zane mutters, laughing a little to disperse the worry that he's about to get grilled by the Abbiati brother. "Amelia's pregnant!" He puts his hands up in the air. “There you go, I said it.” He sinks next to me on the seat, a hand coming around my shoulder and drawing me close. “This woman here finally said yes and offered me our very own little family all in one afternoon.”

  He lifts a hand to my chin, bringing my lips in to kiss his, and while I feel like everyone melts away, the chorus of cheers and claps is enough to remind me we’re not alone. I release from the kiss, putting my forehead against Zane’s and looking him in the eyes before turning coyly to face everyone.

  “Officially seven weeks,” I comment, trying to withhold my excitement. “Found out while in California.”

  “Which is how I came into the picture,” Dante muses, lightening up. “Alessa, Ryleigh, and I have been in close contact for some time. She called me when Amelia collapsed, but we got her seen to, got her discharged, and all came back to Manhattan.”

  “You collapsed?” Enzo asks, granted thick support from Carlo and Bruno over this turn of events.

  “Lack of food and heat.” My comment comes across dryly, and I even roll my eyes. “But the baby is healthy, and that’s all I need to know. I just don’t like to do things halfway.”

  “Ah, come here,” Enzo says, getting up only to yank me from my seat and wrap his arms around me. He clings on tight as if I’ve b
rought all the hope back to his heart. When he releases the brotherly hug, Carlo and Bruno are there ready and waiting, moving on to congratulate Zane for a moment.

  If this were the moment the stars began to fall from the sky like tumbling jewels and the world stopped spinning, I wouldn’t be in the slightest bit unfulfilled by the life I’ve come to lead. I’ve been granted second chances, been bestowed by all manners of happiness, felt the hands of my soul mate caress my heart back to life, and survived the greatest of horrors.

  This is a good life, one with so much more to offer.

  ***

  “This is going to be a waste of my time and effort.” I feel like I’m sulking, and maybe I am. “Why are we doing this the day before Manuel’s anniversary?”

  “I think we’re all excited due to some baby news.” Enzo’s comment is curt, but I can’t mistake that ounce of animation in his voice and expression.

  “Gio coming back doesn’t help matters,” I mutter dryly. “What really happened with him?”

  “Well, I heard Carlo’s men had a grievance, so added to what Zane and Dante had both done.” Enzo looks into the middle mirror, finding Carlo grinning back like a goddamn fool. “He got everything he wanted.”

  “Well, almost,” I mutter, keeping my gaze out of the window. “I want one final visit.”

  “Amelia.” Enzo sighs, exasperatedly.

  “No, don’t try and talk me out of it. I’ve spoken to Zane about it, and I’m taking a little trip to Gio’s hospital room tomorrow for one final time.”

  “What are you plotting?” Bruno asks, struggling to work me out.

  “Nothing. Just one final visit.” I try to resist the smile pulling on my cheeks, but I can’t. “I’m also thinking about cooking his favorite meal.”