Page 158 of Milo

"I want to say hi to baby!" Natalia frowns, struggling to lift her tiny body.

"Here—" I give Natalia a boost up on the bed.

Natalia kneels beside me, lowering herself down to my stomach as she whispers, "Hi, little baby. You be my friend?" She looks at me with doe-like eyes. "It hear me?"

"Yes, it can hear you," I sniffle as Milo grabs my hand, caressing the underside of my wrist.

"I would like to be alone with my future wife," Milo says, kissing the back of my hand. "We will see you all at home."

"Thank you all for coming. It means a lot," I whisper, wiping the tears from under my eyes as I get swarmed with hugs and kisses.

When the room empties, I tug on Milo's arm. "Lay down with me.” I roll to my side as he climbs into the bed. "Milo—" I run my fingers through his hair. "Were you going to go to Russia? Was that your plan?"

He sighs. "Marchello was supposed to go and lead the operation but now I cannot trust him."

"So, you were going to go yourself?" I ask, shaking my head. "It's too dangerous Milo. Your men can do it themselves. You said you had everything ready to go."

"There cannot be any errors, Kiara," Milo says, tracing the little circle on my arm. "That is why I wanted to go myself."

"You said you'd never leave me. I can't risk losing you." I glance down at my stomach. "We can't risk losing you."

"And that is why I will stay.” He pulls me against his chest, his sweet breath fanning against my forehead. "I love you, Kiara. I know this is all happening so fast, but I have never been more happy in my whole life. To have a child with a woman I love, that is truly a gift."

"You're not scared?" I swallow. "I'm scared."

"The greatest challenges yield the greatest rewards, tesoro," Milo whispers, brushing his nose against mine. "And there is no doubt in my mind that we are capable of providing this child with a beautiful life."

"Are you going to be mad if it's a girl?" I ask in a low murmur. "I know you probably want a boy. An heir."

Milo's chest rumbles as he laughs. "Kiara, if our daughter is anything like you, she will one day rule the fucking world."

I blink. "You're putting a lot of pressure on our unborn child."

He grins. "Pressure makes diamonds, tesoro, and our child will shine brighter than the burning sun." He drags his thumb across my bottom lip before arching down and giving me a gentle kiss. "God, I love you. I cannot wait to call you my wife."

"I love you too, so much." I close my eyes, every wound I've suffered over my lifetime, closing up, healing, disappearing. Tolstoy was right. Life and love. It's the only remedy for pain. "I wish my nana was here. I think she'd like you."

"Where is she buried?" Milo asks, smiling against my lips. "We can move her to our family plot if you'd like."

I peer up at him. "You can?"

"Of course, Kiara. She is part of the family."

Family.

Maybe that's the true remedy for pain.

Chapter 42

Dust to Dust

Death surrounds us.

Rows upon rows of resting souls. It should make me sad; it should prick my heart with longing, with sorrow, with pain.

But it doesn't.

All I feel is love.

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