Page 24 of Claimed by The Italian

I smile back. “Bianca, I’d love nothing more. And I think you’re dressed perfectly for the occasion.”

She chuckles a little and it feels like old times. It’s been a little rocky, the road to get this far, but now I know for sure that it’s going to be okay.

I allow Bianca to walk me down the aisle to begin the wedding. She whispers good luck to me and I stand a little nervously, waiting for Lydia to make her entrance. As the guests rise, I turn around and see her, looking completely perfect as she walks toward me. She’s glowing. She’s so goddamn beautiful and she’s mine forever. How did I get so lucky? The woman who could have anyone chose me. She saved me from the life I didn’t realize was destroying me slowly. And now, we get our fresh start.

This is all I need and more.EpilogueLorenzoOur honeymoon is spent in Sardinia, exploring the beautiful coastline and the various historical sites. Today is our final day and we’re lying on the beach together, holding hands and just quietly enjoying one another’s company. We don’t need to say much just to enjoy each other’s company. We’ve had time to get to know everything about one another these past few months, and now we’re so comfortable with one another that silence is peaceful so long as we’re together. With the waves lapping against the shore and the sun bronzing our skin, it feels like we’re in paradise.

“This place is so beautiful,” Lydia murmurs, glancing at the open water. “I could stay here forever.”

“So let’s do it,” I say, drawing her in close for a kiss. “We can be wherever we want to be, tesoro.”

She rubs a hand over her stomach. “Do you think it’ll be a good place to bring up the kids?”

I nod. What better place to start a family than on a beautiful island surrounded by all this incredible scenery?

“I think it’s kind of perfect, we can teach them English and Italian. And bring them to the beaches on the weekend. We can give them a childhood exploring the outdoors and away from the pollution of the big cities, it truly is perfect here. But we have time to explore more if you want. There are so many places to see. I want everything to be perfect for you.”

Lydia smiles. “I don’t care where we go as long as we’re together. But you’re right, this place is pretty incredible. I can imagine us having a life here.”

She lays back on her towel, smiling. It’s hard to believe we’ve only known one another for a few months. I still find it crazy that she chose to be with me over anyone else. But this whole new life is something I could get used to. Away from all the uncertainty of mafia life, I’ve learned to enjoy the little things in life. I wake up every morning without fear in my heart and stress headaches pressing against my skull. I wake up instead to my beautiful pregnant wife beside me and I hold her close, knowing she’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I look to our future and I know for the first time in years that I have something to look forward to. Every day with her is an adventure and I’m going to make the most of every second of it.

“Lorenzo…”

“Mmm?”

“I don’t want to worry you, but there’s a man over there...watching you.”

I sit up quickly. My instincts tell me that when someone is watching you in a place you’ve never been to before, then they’re either a creepy stranger or a dark figure from your past. It occurs to me that I’ve made enemies over the years, what if one of them has tracked me down to end me now?

But it’s not a stranger. In fact, it’s someone I know very well. Someone I care for.

Marco looks completely out of place on a beach. Somewhere this relaxing doesn’t suit him one bit, especially when he’s wearing a full suit and is struggling to walk along the sand with his cane. But his bronzed skin looks sun kissed and his white hair is blowing in the wind as he smiles down at me. It’s a little unnerving.

“I didn’t receive an invite to your wedding, Lorenzo. I must say I was a little offended.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, and I mean it. “But I don’t mix business with pleasure. Not when one thing was always getting in the way of the other. I didn’t want to draw a bad crowd to the wedding.”

Marco waves his stick as he nods. “No need to explain, I understand. Besides, I kept tabs on you. I watched the wedding, from my hotel room with a martini. It looked like a lovely ceremony.

I guess maybe that’s why he’s shown up here. Just to prove to me that he can. He can track me down any time, anywhere. But his smile is warm as he looks down at Lydia, still sprawled on her towel, looking bewildered at our exchange.

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