Her eyes go misty as she looks at me. “Your father was a good man, and he didn’t want that for your mother, so he did what he had to do. She and Camilla moved back in. He had to show his family they had reconciled and that all was good so they would lift the hit. And it worked. He loved your mother very much, Bianca.”
My breath hitches, and I have to look away. No one has called me Bianca since the day my father was murdered.
“But he loved you more,” I state, meeting her gaze.
She nods, wiping a tear from her face. “We wanted to be together. I was insistent that it be sooner rather than later, but your father was born and raised in this life. He knew it would be damn near impossible for us to make it work. But he promised he would find a way. But that day never came.”
“Is that why he’s dead? Did someone find out about you two?”
“I honestly don’t know.” She shakes her head and shrugs. “As far as I know, no one ever found out. We were extremely careful, and I didn’t tell a soul. And he was murdered years after our affair.”
I sit with my back pressed against the tub, absorbing everything she’s told me. My head is spinning with information, going over timelines, trying to fit together the missing pieces, and then it hits me.
“What about me?”
“What about you?” she says.
“I was born after your affair.”
Isabella leans back against the tub, mimicking my position. “I can’t speak for your father, but I know he loved Elena. He loved us both, and I can’t imagine how hard that was. I’ve always wondered if he really did try to make things work with her again. And not just as a show for his family, but for Camilla, or maybe for Elena.”
“You sent me the letter, didn’t you?”
She nods.
“Why, Isabella? Why now after all these years?”
“I have cancer, Shae.”
Oh, wow.
“I haven’t told the boys yet, so I would appreciate it if you kept that information to yourself. I’m going to tell them, it just has to be the right time. I don’t know how this is going to play out, and I wanted to get you into Dante’s life. If something happens to me, I want him to know who his father is and the family he rightfully belongs to.”
“He belongs to Rex. He’s an Ambrosi, Isabella.”
As much as it pains me to say that, as much as I would love Dante to take on the DiMarco name, I know what it would do to Rex.
“You’re right, he is, and nothing will change that. They will always be brothers. But I would really like for him to get to know his sister as well. I’m hoping you can tell him how amazing his father was.”
Overwhelmed, I drop my head back and stare at the ceiling.
“I kept tabs on you because you’re Dante’s sibling. I have an old friend of a friend who works for the government. That’s how I was able to find you. I wish I could’ve done something to get you away from the Blacks, but my hands were tied. I couldn’t risk it. For all I knew, your father’s murderer had the same connections as me and knew who you were and where you were. I couldn’t risk your life by drawing attention to it.”
As fucked up as her explanation is, I get it.
“Is my life in danger now?”
“I honestly don’t know. I have no reason to believe it is, but in this world, you can never be sure.”
I blow out a breath, looking down at my hands.
“You look so much like your mother,” Isabella says softly. “Your parents would be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, choosing to stay silent because my thoughts are racing around so fast I can’t seem to get them in order. Several moments pass.
“Now what? How am I supposed to go back out there and look Dante in the eye without seeing my father? Without wanting him to know who I am? How am I supposed to go to bed with Rex tonight and lie to him when he asks me what happened?”
“I hate that I’m asking you to stay silent. It isn’t fair to you, and it isn’t fair to my boys, but I have to figure out a way to do this without anyone getting hurt.”
“You mean without anyone getting murdered.”
“This is a fucked-up life we live, Shae. It’s not pretty, and it sure as hell isn’t easy, but one thing I’ve learned is that family means everything. Blood means everything. And I will find a way for this to work out. I just need you to give me more time.”
Ambrosi blood doesn’t run through Dante’s veins, DiMarco blood does. But does that mean that if push came to shove, if someone figured out who I am, Dante would protect me? And what happens if Sal Ambrosi wages war with me? What will Rex do?
The questions running through my head prove to be too much. Right now I just want to go home so I can process all of this.
“You’re running out of time, Isabella.”
“Shae,” Rex calls. The door handle jiggles again. “Unlock the door.”
Isabella places a hand on my shoulder, and I jerk away. She pushes to her feet, unlocks the door, and sticks her head through the crack.
“She’s fine, sweetheart. The food just didn’t agree with her. Give her a second to freshen up.”
“Let me in, Mother.”
I hear some shuffling, and next thing I know I’m lifted into Rex’s strong, warm, familiar arms.
“I’m taking you home,” he says against the side of my head.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lean against his chest, grateful that I have someone to take care of me.
“Did she bring in a purse?” Dante asks.
“No. It’s in the car. Can you get the door?” Rex asks, striding through the house as though I’m light as feather.
The door opens and a gentle hand strokes the top of my head. “Feel better, pretty girl.”
I blink up at Dante. His warm eyes are so tender and kind. How did I not see it before? The high cheekbones, thick brow, and the gold flecks that sparkle in his dark brown eyes. I want nothing more than to reach out to him, pull him into my arms, and beg him to be part of my life.
My lips part, prepared to say something, but the moment passes as Rex rushes from the house, intent on getting me home.
Tossing the car in park, I lean my head back against the headrest and watch Shae sleep. Poor girl broke out in tears as soon as I got her in the car, and somewhere between my mother’s house and mine, she cried herself to sleep.
I don’t care what she says; I don’t believe for one second that any part of tonight had to do with an upset stomach. It was more than that. I can feel it. Her emotions were too raw. Despite what she thinks, Shae has never been good at hiding her feelings. I could see the pain in her eyes when I buckled her in. It was a deep pain, so much more than a little bit of food poisoning, which is what she insists is wrong with her.
There’s a soft tap on the window, and I look up to find my doorman, Sam, standing outside. Pulling the keys from the ignition, I slide out and hand them to him.
“Everything okay, sir?”
“She’s not feeling well.” I make my way around the front of the car. Opening the passenger door, I unbuckle Shae, making sure not to jostle her too much, and lift her into my arms.
“Do you need me to get you anything, Mr. Ambrosi?”
“No, thank you, Sam.”
Shae stirs in my arms, mumbling something I can’t quite make out and then settles against my chest.
Once we’re in the condo, I kick the door shut and walk down the dark hallway, not bothering to turn the lights on because I’m taking my girl straight to bed. As gently as possible, I lay her on my bed, pull off her heels, and tuck her under the covers. Worried that she might wake up feeling sick again, I line up a bottle Pepto, some Tylenol, and a bottle of water next to her side of the bed. Then I brush my teeth, strip off my clothes, and climb in beside her.
Her breaths come in short, even pants. The worried lines on her face from not long ago have now smoothed, and I run a finger down her cheek, wondering when I fell in love with
her.
Because I did fall in love with her. Hard and fast and without any control of the landing.
It hit me hard tonight. The intense need to take care of her and protect her—the worry I felt deep in my bones, a feeling unlike any I’ve ever experienced.
I reach for Shae, pulling her in close, needing to feel her body pressed against mine. Excited and scared about how I’m feeling, I want to wake her up, tell her everything that’s running through my head, but I can’t.
Shae is a flight risk. Yes, she’s expressed how much she cares for me, but she’s holding something back. Something big. I can’t explain it, but I can feel it, and I refuse to give her the words—give her that sort of power over me—until I know exactly what she’s hiding.
Until that time comes, I vow to show her. Every single day I will make it a point to show her how much I love her, show her that she can trust me and that I would do absolutely anything for her. Our relationship may be new, but our connection is strong, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that she’s the woman for me.
“Rex,” she murmurs, nuzzling her nose against my chest.
“Shhh.” I stroke my fingers through her hair, something I’ve learned she likes. It soothes her, helps her sleep. “I’m right here.”
With the only woman—besides my mother—I’ve ever loved wrapped around my body, and my heart overflowing with all of these new, crazy emotions, I drift off to sleep.
I wake up in the morning to light cutting through the window and my favorite song being sung slightly off key. Rubbing my eyes, I stretch and slide out of bed. I slip on a pair of boxers and pad down the hall.
The closer I get to the kitchen, the louder the singing gets, and when I round the corner, there’s the most breathtaking view. Shae stands at the stove, flipping bacon. Her dark hair is piled on top of her head, though a few loose strands have worked their way out and tumble down her back. She’s wearing one of my T-shirts, and it hits her just below the ass. The music fades into a long guitar riff, and Shae takes a moment to shake her ass, causing the shirt to lift, and that’s how I know she isn’t wearing any underwear.
My cock stiffens, and I have to adjust myself at the sight of her creamy skin. With the tongs to her mouth like a microphone and one hand in the air, she twirls in a circle and startles at the sight of me standing across the room.
“Oh my gosh!” She presses a hand to her chest. “You scared me.”
“Please.” I wave my hand, motioning for her to continue. “Don’t stop on my account. I was enjoying the show.”
The apples of her cheeks turn bright red, and she ducks her head, redirecting her attention to the bacon on the stove.
“You’re too sexy for words,” I whisper, slipping my hands under her shirt, stopping to squeeze her tits.
“Careful,” she says, slapping at my arm. “I’m going to get burned.”
“I would never let that happen.” Spinning her in my arms, I pull the tongs from her hand and set them on the counter. “I could get used to waking up to this every morning.”
Her mouth tilts up at the corner and unable to resist, I capture it with mine.
She moans, her lips parting, and I dip my tongue inside, worshiping her with each stroke.
The bacon sizzles and pops, and Shae nudges me back. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
“I’m hungry for you.”
She slaps my hand again when I reach for her. “And you can have me, after we eat breakfast.”
“You must be starved after last night. How’re you feeling this morning?”
The smile in her eyes diminishes and she nods, biting her lip. “I’m sorry about last night.”
“Don’t apologize. I just want you to feel better.”
“I don’t know what happened. One minute I was fine, and the next I wasn’t.” There’s a waver in her voice, slight enough that most people would miss it, but not me.
“Are you sure that’s all it was?” Please, baby, tell me the truth.
She pauses, a look of uncertainty flashing across her face, but then she nods. “I’m sure. It must’ve been something I ate because I feel great now.”
Deciding to let it go, for now, I get plates from the cabinet. Shae pulls the bacon from the stove, whips up some scrambled eggs, and pours us each a glass of milk.
She wastes no time digging into her food.
“We should probably talk about Erin’s wedding this weekend.”
Swallowing her food, she takes a drink. “What about it?”
“We’re going together.”
She nods.
“I know you have obligations to Erin that day, but I’m going to need every man within a twenty-mile radius to know you’re there with me.”
She lifts a brow. “Caveman much?”
“Only with you, baby.”
She winks.
“Oh, and my mother will be there as well.”
Shae takes another bite of her food, chewing it slowly before swallowing. “I didn’t realize your mother was friends with Jacob’s family.”
“My mother and Jacob’s mother grew up together.”
She nods, looking down at her plate. “And your father, will he be there?”
“I don’t think so. Mom mentioned that he had a prior obligation.”
Shae doesn’t ask any more questions, and we fall into general conversation as we finish our breakfast. Once we’re done, she loads the dishwasher while I put the leftovers in a container. When I open the refrigerator and slide the Tupperware inside, my eyes find the tub of frosting I bought yesterday. I had hopes of bringing her home from my mother’s and making some new memories, but those plans were squashed when she got sick.
I glance over my shoulder. Shae’s bent over the dishwasher, her bare ass sticking out, and I think, What the hell? Now’s as good a time as any.
I set the tub on the counter and peel off the lid. Shae stands up and turns to see what I’m doing.
“What’s that?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Humor me.”
“Take your shirt off, Shae.”
Her eyes flash with desire, and she lifts the bottom of her shirt over her head. It takes a moment for me to catch my breath at the sight of this angel standing naked in my kitchen. Everything about her is perfect, and I’m not talking about her body, although that’s damn perfect too.
“On the counter.”
Biting her lip, she jumps up on the counter, one leg hanging over the edge, the other propped up. She’s open, her pussy glistening, her clit already swollen and begging for my tongue. I have to drag my eyes back to hers.
“I don’t want you to remember that night on my roof every time you take a lick of icing. I want you to have a better memory. A sexy memory.” Dipping my finger in the chocolate, I paint a line across her chest, taking the time to outline each of her nipples.
When I lower my lips to her breast, Shae grabs my hand, sucking my finger into her mouth. Her tongue swirls, matching the movement of my tongue against her nipple.
“Rex.” She pulls my fingers from her mouth and guides my hand to her opposite breast. I squeeze and pluck at her nipple, loving the feel of her body writhing against mine.
I ease my mouth across her chest, offering soft, tender bites that I know drive her wild. When she can’t take it anymore, she shoves my boxers over my hips and guides my heavy cock to her entrance. With my lips still wrapped around her breast, I thrust into her. She cries out, tossing her head back.
Her fingers dig into my hair, cupping the back of my head, holding my face hostage at her breast while the other hand digs into my back. Hips rolling on the counter, she matches me thrust for thrust. My balls tighten, a shot of electricity shooting up my spine, and I grab her knee, hooking her leg around my waist so I can drive deeper into her body.
“Shae,” I growl, burying my face in her hair. My hips jerk against hers, and as I spill into her, Shae lets go. She tightens around me, sucking me in, milking every drop from
my body.
I slow my hips to a nice, steady pace, allowing her to ride out every last bit of her orgasm.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful. You take my breath away.”
Blowing a lock of hair out of her eyes, she licks her lips. “Promise me we’ll do that at least once a week.”
“Absolutely. Bacon and counter sex. We’ll make it a weekly ritual.”
Closing her eyes, she fights to catch her breath. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
I hope you do, sweetheart.
Gently, I pull out and walk to the bathroom to grab a towel. When I return to the kitchen, Shae is standing up, staring at her bare thighs where a stream of my cum slips down her leg.
She glances up, a shy smiling pulling at the corner of her mouth as I wipe the remnants of my orgasm from her leg.
“That’s definitely happening again. I have so many more plans for that icing.”
“There’s always tonight,” she says, batting those long, dark eyelashes.
“You’re going to be the death of me.” I drop my lips to her shoulder, and she scrunches her neck, giggling. It’s the most beautiful sound in the world.
I love you.
“Today couldn’t have been more perfect.” Wrapping my arms around Erin, I pull her in for a hug, careful not to mess up her hair.
Her wedding went off without a hitch, and after endless smiles and photographs we all piled into a trolley, stopping at a few of her and Jacob’s favorite bars before coming to the reception hall. The dinner was delicious, and now it’s time to kick back and dance.
Erin sighs. “It really was perfect.”
Pulling apart, we look out at the room. Beautiful floral bouquets are on each of the tables, lights twinkle from above, and people are dancing and laughing as little kids peek over the edge of the dessert table.
“So perfect,” I murmur, my eyes catching on Dante and Rex. They’re standing together near the bar, talking with JJ and some unfamiliar guy, and I can’t seem to look away.
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