Page 60 of Stolen Wife

I kick off my shoes and climb onto the bed next to her. “Yes, I spoke to the reporters.” I brush my baby boy’s tiny fingers, amazed at this little miracle we made together.

“I’m sure they were itching for a story.”

“Of course. I gave them a little to stir the pot, but nothing to bring them back to us. I hope they don’t darken our doorstep with their bright lights and greed for gossip.”

“I’m glad it was you. I probably would have bitten their heads off.”

“You’re a sweetheart, but even you can’t hold back on your hate for him.”

“Any news on his other son?”

“Yes, Marie’s mother has custody of him. I’m going to see if we can liquidate all of Marchetti’s assets and then give it to them. It’s hard because he used a lot of it to pay his lawyers.”

“Well, I know that we don’t owe the boy anything, but I’d like to do something for him. It’s not his fault he got stuck with a shitty family.”

“You have the heart of an angel. I was thinking the same. I’m planning on setting up a small trust that he’ll have access to when he reaches twenty-one.”

“That sounds so wonderful. Have you ever met him?”

“No, but I hope he’s going to be okay. I’d hate it if he fell into the same path as Rafael.”

“Me too. It’s possible with the right role models that he can have a good normal life.”

“Have you spoken to his grandparents?”

“Yes, but they stopped talking to Marie two years ago when Rafael threatened them.”

“Oh.”

“They want him to stay completely out of the family business. Marie had been naïve and impressionable when she ran off at sixteen to New York, but Cara Mia, let’s just focus on our little guy for now. I don’t want these memories tainted with the past.”

“Of course, my love, but someone is sleeping.” She pulls him off her breast and covers herself up, to my disappointment. I love seeing her tits, which have grown even more as they fill with milk. “Getting your fill?”

“Not yet, but I suppose you can cover those delicious mounds.” I drop my head and kiss her lips. “I love you so much, Giada. Thank you for my son and your love.”

“I wouldn’t be here without you.” She softly chokes back tears.

It breaks my heart to see her cry. “I would have come for you even if it wasn’t that night.”

She mumbles under her breath, but I slide my hand under her chin and lift it to my gaze. I want to hear what she has to say. “What was that?”

“It would have been too late. I mean that in all seriousness. If you hadn’t kidnapped me from my room, they would have killed me. They told me that very day that if I got my period again, I’d come up missing. So every day I thank goodness that you had fallen for me.”

In that moment, I realized how lucky I’d truly been. I can’t even fathom the thought that I could have been too late. There’s no way I can picture my life without her. “I won’t let anyone take you from me. Ever.”

Giada

Four years later

I breathe in the warm, fresh breeze as the sun sets. Texas, I think I’m in love. It’s so wonderful here. I’m so glad Santino took us away from New York and moved his company headquarters to just outside of Houston. His mother lives on the same plot of land, but in her own home. With baby number three on the way, we need all the space we can get. Michael, Carlotta, and soon-to-be-born Gio are our loves. I rub my belly, feeling his little foot destroy my abdomen. It’s amazing and painful at the same time.

I feel Santino’s hands slide around my waist from behind, closing over my own hand. “Sorry, tesoro. I wish I could take the pain away.”

“It’s fine. You know I love carrying your babies.”

“Still. You should be pampered.”

“I hardly do anything, my dear husband,” I say, lifting up onto my toes to kiss his chin. “I love this scruff.”

---