Page 34 of His Willing Wife

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m okay. The police and Dad are onthe way.”

He cupped her face and pressed a kiss to herlips. “You didn’t need to do that.”

“He had a gun and there was no way I’d let him take you away fromme.”

Ed started to moan, and Luca acted quickly.With Tillie’s help, they were able to get him into a chair and tiehim up. During that time, Andrew arrived, as did David andBella.

Andrew looked at him, asking if he was all right, with genuineconcern. He told him he was, and then Bella grabbed his face,turning him left and right, then pulling him into a hug.

David shook his hand, and then pulled him infor a hug.

Luca couldn’t believe they were all in themain office, waiting for the police to arrive.

Ed glared at his brother. As forAndrew, his arms werefolded across his chest as he stared back at Ed.

“You didn’t deserve that company,” Edsaid.

“Shut up,” Andrew said. “Do youreally think Dad wasgoing to give the company to you? You spent all your time chasingwomen and a good time. When he tried to get you to work, you madehim feel like shit. You don’t know what hard work is, and younearly destroyed everything. Now, I don’t even have to worry aboutwhat crap you’re up to. You’re going away for a longtime.”

“Half is mine.”

“No, I’ve already spoken to the lawyer. There is no way for youto contest it. You got your fair share, but you wasted it and youdid so with speed.” Andrew shook his head. “You’re not entitled toanything and the company is now Luca’s, and he is going to makesure my mistakes are not repeated.” Andrew took a step toward him.“I appreciate you wanting to give my company back to me, but I knowwhere I went wrong. Just do as you’re doing, and you and I willnever have a problem.” Right in front of his eyes, he tore up thedeeds Luca had drawn.

Tillie pulled him toward her. “You weregoing to give the company back to my father?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Why?” Tillie asked.

“Because I have you and our baby, and I have a family. Thecompany is a success—”

“Because of you,” Andrew said.

“I just want to point out that I agree withthis as well,” David said. “Nearly losing it was a close call, and not one I want torepeat, so you’re not getting rid of us that easily.”

At the sound of the police arriving,everything else went by in a whirlwind as their statements weretaken. Ed was arrested, and then, one by one, Andrew, Bella, andDavid left, as did the police, and Luca was alone with his wife.

“I love you,” she said.

“And I love you.”

He took her hand, and rather than go to bed,he led her into the kitchen to make her a hot chocolate he knew shewas going to need.

Epilogue

Five Years Later

Luca knew he should be working, but havinghis children come and see him at lunchtime was one of the bestparts of his day. He had no choice but to go to work most days ofthe week. If he was at home, family distracted him. Work didn’tseem quite as important as enjoying Daniel andElizabeth’s earlyyears.

Daniel was his oldest son, at five yearsold, and a little terror when he got started. It had been an amazing pregnancy andsmooth birth. Even though, after being in the labor room withTillie, Luca had been tempted to get his balls chopped off, becauseseeing her in any kind of pain was so fucking difficult. Hecouldn’t stand it.

A year later, Elizabeth was born, and her pregnancy had comewith a few complications, mainly with the morning sickness. Thedoctors had been concerned, as had he, but Tillie had knowneverything would be all right. The birth had been smooth, andElizabeth had been an easy baby, whereas Daniel was a night owl.Even though his parents were tired, he liked to stay up at night,and it had taken them what felt like a millennia to finally trainhim to sleep at night and stay awake through the day.

Luca wouldn’t trade his life foranything.

He had both children on the ground and wastickling them, even as they screamed and he waited until theybegged. Then, he letthem up, only for them to attack him again.

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