Page 111 of Ruined in Vows

I nod.

Seeing Nico with his children, brought out a side of me I didn’t realize I had.

The need to breed Allegra is strong and these past couple months I have been trying my best to knock her up. It worked. Not that anyone is aware yet, but my wife is six weeks pregnant. We haven’t told our family because we don’t want the news to detract from our wedding.

As much as Allegra argued that we didn’t need another ceremony, I knew doing it this way means a lot to her. I want to give myprincipessathe world. Because she deserves it.

“That’s good then.” I reply after a long minute.

Nico claps me on the shoulder. “Yeah. There is nothing worse than seeing my littleprincipessain pain.” He eyes me. “It will be your turn next.”

Keeping my body relaxed, and my face neutral, I search Nic’s face. Does he know? Can he see that I am hiding something from him? Nah. There is no way.

“Yeah,” I smile.

Before he can say anything else, the music signaling the start of the wedding begins. I spot the wedding coordinator, clipboard in one hand as she waves the other one in the air, her lips moving as she speaks to someone hidden out of view.

Just then, Athena, my wife’s annoying best friend, steps out of the sliding doors, followed by Ocean, who carries Sofia in one arm while holding her son Romeo’s hand in her free one.

Ocean, and Athena, both bridesmaids, wear pale blue dresses, while Sofia wears a little white dress with pale blue ribbon and Romeo, God love him, wears a tuxedo matching mine. He holds what looks to be a wooden plaque in his free hand, but I can’t read what it says from here.

A throat clears, before Nico states the obvious. “Here we go.”

Glancing over at him, I find his gaze locked on his wife, a possessive look in his eyes as he watches his family. Ocean squats down, getting eye level with her son, her mouth moving as she smiles at him.

The little boy nods, a look of determination on his face when he faces us. He looks to his papà, his face and eyes lighting up in delight when he spots Nico.

“Papà,” he calls, then starts toward us.

The guests chuckle, watching him. My gaze drops to the small, rectangle board in his chubby hands, emotion clogging my throat when I read the words.

Zio Dante, Zia Allegra is coming for you.

Ocean and Athena trail behind Romeo, slowing their walk so as not to beat Romeo to us. When he makes it to the altar, Nico lifts him in his arms, kissing his cheek.

“Well donemia figlio.”

Romeo giggles, squirming in Nico’s arms to face me. He holds up the sign, a look of pride on his small face. “Zia Leg, coming.”

I laugh, chucking his chin. “Thank you, Romeo.”

Nico steps forward, closing the distance between him and his wife, and pulling her into his arms. He presses a kiss to Sofia’s head, before brushing his lips against Ocean’s.

“You look exquisite,Tesoro,” he breathes softly.

The love that radiates from them is tangible and reminiscent of how I feel about Allegra.

Ocean chuckles, pulling out of his hold. “Behave,” she warns. “This is your sister and Dante’s day.”

“Never,” Nico growls. “Do I need to remind you that you signed a contract to say that I can touch you where and when I want?” he raises a brow.

Ocean rolls her eyes. “No. But today is not about us.”

She steps back, just as Athena moves into place. I don’t miss the way her gaze lands and stays on Matteo, eyeing him lasciviously. I glance at him, amusement rising inside me when I find him glaring at her as if she is an annoying fly. Biting back a laugh, I shake my head. Athena is going to have her work cut out there.

Everyone else is forgotten when all the hair on the back of my neck raises in awareness, my body going on high alert, blood heating my veins. She is here.

Glancing up, my eyes meet the most gorgeous ocean blue ones. Allegra smiles shyly and my heart beats to life in my chest as she walks toward me with Valentina by her side.

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