Page 89 of Beautiful Vows

"Are you both ready to face the world?" Cade asks.

I nod at Cade's question, my hand instinctively tightening around Lia's.

"You can still back out."

"I can't do that." Lia steps toward Cade, her sundress swaying gently with her movement.

"We're ready." My voice is calm despite the gravity of the moment.

She presses a soft kiss to his lips, and I watch as his fingers tangle in her hair, pulling her close for a lingering embrace. The sight no longer stirs jealousy in me, only gratitude for the love and protection Cade and Rafe offer her.

"Then be safe, my love," Cade murmurs as they part.

Previously, Cade and Rafe only wanted Lia and these babies so they'd be accepted as a couple once I was the head of the de Luca family. Now neither man cares. Now they only want all of us to be safe. It makes me feel so much better. Just knowing these men love her and these babies as much as I do, and I know if anything should happen to me, Cade and Rafe will always be there for her.

Lia replies, "As long as Lorenzo Bianchi doesn't cause any trouble, we'll be fine."

"But Milly might not be so happy. He'll need to get married soon, because if he dies, he has no heirs, and that leaves his family in a precarious position." Rafe enters the room, his bare feet silent on the floor. His gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips.

I notice Lia's appreciative glance at his muscular but still bruised form.

His response is valid, causing Lia to groan in frustration. "He's going to dump her for the same reason Romeo did. I wish she'd listen to me. I need to talk to her."

"Not such a bad idea," I say.

She sighs. "I'll call her again when we get back."

The buzz from the security gate interrupts our discussion. Rafe checks his phone, his brow furrowing slightly. "Yep … Okay." He checks the screen on his cell before pressing the button to open the gates. "Dad's here."

An hour later, we're pulling up to Antonio Conti's estate. The car winds through manicured grounds, the sprawling mansion growing larger as we approach. My father's voice breaks the tense silence as we come to a stop.

"Are you ready?" Dominic says as his driver opens the door on Lia's side.

"I am."

He turns his attention to Lia. "And you, Lia?"

As we step out of the car, the warm breeze carries the scent of blooming flowers, but even that doesn’t dissipate the tension in the air.

She offers him a warm smile, her hand finding mine once more. "I'm ready."

Hand in hand, we walk toward our future with the gravel crunching beneath our feet, and the only sound I hear.

When we reach the imposing front door of Antonio's home, the door opens.

I glance at Lia. We exchange a last look.

But I know we'll be fine. Whatever happens next, we've agreed we'll face it together.

Chapter 30

Lia

Antonio's piercing gaze meets mine, his expression unreadable. "Can I talk to you?"

Before I can respond, Dante's hand tightens around mine. "Not without me." His tone leaves no room for argument.

A part of me wants to assert my independence, to prove I can handle this on my own. But the larger part, the part that's grown accustomed to having support, appreciates Dante's protectiveness. "Dante comes too."

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