Page 52 of Ruined in Vows

My brother glares at me, wrapping his free hand around his wife and pulling her into his side. He presses a kiss to her forehead. “You have nothing to worry about,Tesoro. Everything will be fine, and I will be home before you know it.”

Ocean exhales wearily, though when she glances up at him, it is with a dreamy look on her face.

“I will miss you,” she murmurs.

Nico grins, satisfaction flashing in his blue eyes.

“I feel the same way, baby. But I will be gone for twenty-four hours at the most.”

Ocean melts into him, love hearts bursting from her eyes. Wanting his mamma’s attention, Romeo grips her cheeks, tugging until her gaze is on him. She laughs, while Nico mumbles something about his son taking away his wife’s attention.

“I better get cleaned up.” She looks at me. “Can you watch him while I shower?”

“Of course,” I say, reaching out to take my nephew.

I look at my brother, only to wish I hadn’t when I see the lustful look on his face.

“I have some time. I will come help you get cleaned up,Tesoro.”

“Ugh. Gross,” I groan, taking Romeo. I throw them both a pointed look. “Go do what you’ve got to do. I will be in the den.”

Leaving the studio quickly, I make my way up the stairs and down the hall, stopping at the kitchen when I spot Mamma at the counter making fresh pasta while Alessio hovers close by. He watches her with a possessive, but awestruck, look in his eyes as she talks him through what she is doing.

“You’re really something special, you know that, Valentina.” It’s not a question but a statement, one that turns my mamma’s cheeks red.

“Thank you, Alessio. But it’s really not that hard once you get the hang of it.” Mamma murmurs her response.

Alessio sighs in exasperation. I cock my head, waiting to hear what he comes back with.

“I didn’t mean the pasta and you know it. When are you going to let me in?” There is a hint of vulnerability to his plea.

Mamma pauses what she is doing, turning to face him fully. “You’re a good man Alessio. You deserve more than the broken, forty-eight-year-old, widowed wife of Lorenzo Marchetti. I can’t give you what you want or need.”

He shakes his head, grabbing her hands and bending slightly at the knee so he can get in her line of sight. I bite back a smile. You’ve got to give Alessio credit for being so reckless. Nico would have his balls if he witnessed any of this.

“Don’t you dare put yourself down. You are amazing, Valentina Marchetti. The most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on but it’s more than that. You are strong. Kind. And all that is good in this world. You can keep pushing me away, but I will keep coming back until you give in to this. To us. Becauseit’s right. And you damn well know it.” He speaks with so much emotion and determination in his voice, I feel it in the marrow of my bones.

Romeo wriggles in my arms, reminding me that I still have him.

To be honest, I’m surprised he kept quiet all this time and didn’t give us away.

Not wanting to get caught now, I tiptoe past the entryway, continuing to the den.

Once Dante is back where he belongs, I will talk to Mamma about what I just overheard.

I will make her see that she is exactly as Alessio portrays her and deserves her happy ever after.

It’s the least I can do after everything Mamma has done for me.

Chapter 32

Dante

“Iwill only be out of town for two nights. Carmen doesn’t want to be away from the baby for any longer than that,” Caterina tells me from her spot at her vanity table, as she brushes through her long blonde hair.

Leaning against the door jamb, I fold my arms across my chest, responding with a smile, “No problem. I have plenty of work I need to catch up on anyway.”

She turns to face me, her teeth chewing at her bottom lip. She looks resigned, tired, but there is still a little fight left in her eyes.

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