Page 20 of Roped By Ryan

One of my brother’s men knocks on the door, interrupting us. “I need to speak with you, please,” he tells Lorenzo with a look I can’t quite decipher.

“I’ll be right back,” my brother calls before following the other man out the door.

The door opens and my brother steps back in. “I need details about the island so we can check it out and make sure it’s secure.”

Ryan remains calm, his voice steady and reassuring. “It’s very secure. Private security oversees the island, and it’s accessible only by boat or seaplane. We’ll have everything we need to make sure she’s safe and comfortable.”

Lorenzo isn’t ready to cave. “I need to see that for myself. Have you already forgotten your promise to keep me in the loop?”

Ryan stares at him silently for a few moments, and I’m worried the frail truce between them is about to shatter. “Okay. I’ll email you all the details.”

Lorenzo nods. “Once we make sure the island is safe enough, I’ll arrange a private plane for you and Michela.”

“Thank you.” Ryan sits on the bed next to me and takes my hand in his while my brother sits in the hard plastic hospital chair next to the door.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Rome wasn’t built in one day, and the new dynamic between Ryan and Lorenzo will take time to cement.

With Ryan by my side, I know I’ll get through this. The prospect of sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and spending time alone with Ryan sounds like heaven. Whatever comes next, I’m ready to face it, one step at a time.

Chapter 14

Michela

The sun dipsbelow the horizon, casting a warm, golden hue across the private beach. I watch the gentle waves kiss the shore, the sound soothing, a stark contrast to the life we left behind. My hand rests on the steel railing of our beach house porch, and for the first time in weeks, I allow myself to truly relax. The ocean's rhythm is lulling, and I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp, salty air.

Ryan steps out, holding two glasses of wine. His presence behind me is both comforting and a reminder of the safety we've found here. “Michela,” he says softly, handing me a glass. “It’s a beautiful evening.”

I nod, giving a small smile as he sits on one of the loungers and pulls me onto his lap. “It is. Almost feels like a different world, doesn't it?” I set my glass on the table without taking a sip. I’m pretty freaking sure I’m pregnant, but there’s no way to verify it since I can’t exactly run to a drug store on the private island and get a test.

"It does," he says, nuzzling the back of my neck. Desire for him flows through me as we sit here, watching the last slivers of sunlight disappear.

It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since we arrived here. In some ways, it feels like yesterday, but in others, it feels like a lifetime ago. I’m dying to get back to civilization so I can verify I’m pregnant and start my life with Ryan.

Back home, chaos reigned. The Grimaldi family war ravaged the streets of New York. But all of that feels like a distant nightmare now. The news of the captain's death had been a turning point, a catalyst for peace—if such a thing is ever truly possible with the mafia.

Lorenzo proved himself to be completely unpredictable. Out of the blue, he decided to take his first vacation ever and showed up on the island two weeks ago, shocking both of us. I’m pretty sure he was missing the close friendship he’s always had with Ryan and wanted to come and clear the air.

“Come help me with these coconuts.” Lorenzo walks out the back door and sets two coconuts on the glass-top table. He decided we need to have pina coladas in fresh coconuts to celebrate our last night on the island. I’m not sure where this different side of my brother came from, but I’m loving it.

I almost hate to return to Texas tomorrow because I’m going to miss spending all day, every day with Ryan and seeing this carefree side of my brother. But it’s time. School starts in three weeks, and I have so much to do. Plus, we have a wedding to plan—something small and intimate. Ryan asked me to marry him; actually, he told me we’re getting married, and I didn’t argue since it’s something I’ve wanted as long as I can remember.

Between getting ready for the upcoming school year, moving into Ryan’s home, and the upcoming wedding, I have no doubt I’ll be exhausted by the time school starts.

Ryan stands and sets his wine glass on the table. “Show me what to do.” He’s also making an effort to mend things between him and Lorenzo.

As Lorenzo and Ryan wrestle with the coconuts, their laughter blending with the sound of the waves, I take the opportunity to slip away. I step into the cool, shaded villa, intent on finding my book. There are only ten pages left, and I’m determined to finish it before we leave this sanctuary. Deep down, I know that once we return to Silver Spoon Falls, time for such luxuries will be scarce.

I find my book on the small table by the window, where the light filters through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The world is loud and chaotic, but reading has always been my escape, a way to anchor myself amid the storm. This final chapter is like a symbol of closure, or perhaps a new beginning.

With the book in my hand, I pause for a moment, gazing out the window at the scene outside. Lorenzo and Ryan are still engrossed in their task, the playful banter and shared effort creating a sense of camaraderie that warms my heart. It’sremarkable seeing them like this, considering the animosity that initially shadowed Lorenzo’s unexpected arrival.

I walk back outside, the warmth of the evening sun greeting me again. Settling into a lounge chair on the porch, I open the book to the final pages. The sound of their easy conversation confirms the progress we’ve made as a family, both mending old rifts and forging new bonds.

It wasn’t long ago that the tension between them was palpable. But here, in this peaceful paradise, there’s a shift happening, a tentative rebuilding of trust and friendship.

As I immerse myself in the book’s final lines, I steal glances at them. Lorenzo demonstrates the proper technique for splitting the coconut, and Ryan follows suit, finally managing to crack it open with a triumphant smile. Their camaraderie feels genuine, no longer forced, or tentative, and it reminds me of how they used to be.

"So that's how you do it,” Lorenzo says, raising his half of the coconut in a mock toast.

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