Page 13 of The Devil's Demise

“Thanks, babe,” she tells him, gazing up at him with so much devotion in her eyes.

He lowers his mouth to her forehead and kisses her, his eyes falling shut as he inhales deeply. In this moment, I’m smiling, seeing how loved my cousin is.

It’s funny sometimes, where one can start and where we can end up. Each of us has a story of how we met, lies and pain filling up the pages, but here we all are—happy, content ... a good life.

He takes his spot next to her, picking up her hand and holding it on his lap. Her head immediately falls on his shoulder.

Jade and I decide to have a seat too, me next to my cousin, and her beside me. Once the kids are busy playing with their stuff, Matteo sits right by Aida, opposite us.

Her attention immediately goes to him, and he holds her gaze, his mouth tilting at the corner. In their silence, one can literally feel their love, and it’s so beautiful. Out of all of us, they deserve it most of all.

I take a long breath, observing the people I love, laughing, their conversations buzzing while filling their plates.

“So . . .” Jade turns to me. “Any gut feelings?”

“Honestly? I think it’s a girl, or maybe I kind of want it to be.” I peer at each of them. “I mean, I want a healthy baby most of all, but a girl would be nice, ya know?”

“Of course. You’re allowed to have a preference,” Jade says, squeezing her hand on top of mine in reassurance.

“Most do.” Raquel picks up her glass of water. “I definitely wanted a boy because I’m so done after this kid.”

“That’s what they all say.” I give her a knowing look.

“No way.” Her eyes grow large. “I’m not having any more after this one.”

Dante’s gaze wanders to her. “Never say never, sweetheart.”

“Uh-uh.” Lighthearted annoyance greets her features. “I’m gonna make you push it out next time.”

“And that’s when I exit this conversation.” His face sets with a grimace as he slowly turns away.

“He’d have twenty kids,” Raquel says. “The man is nuts.”

“I heard that.” He speaks low, not looking at us this time, but cracking a smirk.

She bumps her shoulder into him on a laugh. “Good. I wasn’t hiding it.”

His chuckle is deep, and he snaps his attention back to us, a hand around her neck as he pulls her in to kiss her temple. “I love you. That’s the only reason I’d be happy with as many as you’d be willing to have.”

We all “aww” at them, while Raquel rolls her eyes with a groan, smiling ridiculously.

“Of course he has to say something as romantic as that.”

He winks at us. “How else do you think I got to marry someone like you?”

“By tricking me?”

“Wow, Mrs. Cavaleri. You wound me.” Both palms cling to his chest as he lets her go.

She throws her arms around his neck, kissing him slow.

“I’ll make it up to you when we’re home.” Her voice grows low, while his eyes don’t hide how he’s feeling right about now.

“Get a damn room!” Enzo sticks a finger into his mouth, pretending to throw up, just as he and Dom tread over to us.

“Oh, you leave them alone,” Sonia chides with a dismissive wave of her hand. Janet is beside her.

On days like this, all of us together, happy, it reminds me that my father didn’t win. That we did. After everything they put us through, we made it to the top.

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