Page 39 of Under His Embrace

Chloe nodded, looking out for Nina to come to the small altar area where Dante waited. “And he’s such a good sport to do what she wants.”

“He always will. Same for the baby. I used to wonder if he thought he'd messed up being a single parent to Romeo.”

She frowned at me, so serious all of a sudden. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you know that Romeo’s mother died shortly after he was born.” I cringed. “Oh, shit. I wonder if that’s why she’s wanting to elope like this. Because Dante’s first wife didn’t make it long after Romeo was born and Dante was a single father.”

Chloe’s shoulders slumped. “Oh…”

“Dante had to find his footing with Romeo. He was running the whole Constella empire while figuring out how to be a dad.”

“That’s… a lot.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, I can only imagine.”

“Yeah. But Dante is such a natural. He’s a good dad and he wouldn’t change that for the world. Ever since Liam brough Olivia, he’s been like a grandpa to her. And he’ll cover it withbeing overprotective and worrying about Nina, but he can’t wait to be a dad again.”

I glanced at Chloe and wondered about her sad, almost apprehensive expression.

“I bet it’s hard to balance work and family with your kinds of, um, careers.”

I rolled my eyes and took her hand. “We do all we can to keep the danger out of our homes. Look at Liam. He was in the military, right? In combat under a large employer. Now he’s doing the same, but here. There will always be evil in the world, Chloe. The Constella Family only deals with it in their own way.”

“I can see that.” She sighed. “With Wes having his connections with the law, I get it. More than anyone else could. He’s used his connections and powers in a corrupt way, and I am very familiar with how the ‘good’ guys can be evil too.”

It seemed like such a sign of growth, hearing this from her.

“I’m still surprised about Dante, though.” She smiled as Nina entered the room dressed in an off-white dress that emphasized the baby in her belly.

“How so?” I whispered to her. She met him before, back when we were younger. I brought her to a few cookouts and parties and introduced her way back then. This past week, she’d been with the women more than Dante.

“He’s such a businessman. Committed to working and being so gruff.” She furrowed her brow and seemed distant with a frown. “It’s hard to imagine him wanting to be this present family man.”

I leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “We all are. We're all softies under the gruff exterior.” I winked at her, wishing she could see that. If I were to ever bring a child into the world, it would be with her. She was the only woman I ever saw as the mother of my children, and if we could be so lucky, I’d move heaven and earth to welcome our child.

Later, after the sweet but short ceremony, we shared a simple yet elegant meal and cut the cake.

“We can have a fancier wedding later,” Dante told Nina as she sat on his lap and fed cake to him. “If you want.” He rested his hand on her stomach.

“Or,” Nina teased back, a bright smile on her lips, “I can live vicariously through Eva marrying Liam.”

“What does that mean?” Eva asked as she held a sleeping Olivia against her chest. The toddler was too tired from all the excitement and fun of the night.

“You’re the spoiled Constella princess and want it all,” Tessa joked. “Your wedding will be outrageous, I’m sure.”

Liam shrugged and I laughed.

“Hmmm.” Eva grinned at Liam. “I might already have it all.”

I smiled at her holding Olivia. Eva had really come around in becoming a mother.

But the smile on Liam’s face seemed suggestive.

“I think…” Eva drew in a deep breath and looked at all of us. “I think I might be pregnant.”

Nina shrieked her delight, so excited.

“We’ve been trying,” Liam said as he brushed Olivia’s hair back from her face. “We want to make sure Liv has a brother or sister.”

“So maybe we’ll elope too,” Eva said.

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