Page 98 of Sin and Redemption

His jeans leg pulled up slightly, revealing the futuristic-looking prosthesis. Ambra was fascinated as always. “Show me more!”

He revealed the rest of the prosthesis.

“Part human, part machine!” Primo shouted, causing Ambra to giggle again. She had a fascination with robots, probably exactly for that reason.

Sara came out of the house with a tray holding homemade lemonade and cookies. I rushed over to her, alarmed, and took the tray from her. “You aren’t supposed to lift anything heavy.”

She rolled her eyes and caressed her round belly. “We’re fine. Everything is perfectly all right, and my doc said it’s even fine to carry Ambra. Trust me, she weighs more than that tray.”

I ignored her comment and carried the tray down to the table under the pergola. Sara was much more relaxed this pregnancy. Everything had gone without a hiccup so far. As if to prove Sara’s point, Ambra rushed over to her the moment she spotted her and raised her arms. Sara lifted Ambra on her hip. The sight of Sara, heavily pregnant, carrying our daughter left my heart full in a way I had never thought possible.

A honk announced the arrival of a car. Romero waved out of the window of his Alfa Romeo. Behind him, Flavio pulled up in Romero’s Jeep. “Couldn’t fit into the Alfa?” I shouted, amused.

The back door opened, and Inessa climbed out, blowing out a breath. “Alea and I hardly fit in there. It’s tiny!”

“It’s vintage,” Romero said firmly as he got out. Liliana laughed as she appeared on the passenger side.

“So vintage that I had to ride the Jeep instead of my sportscar in case the old thing breaks down, and I’ll have to give them a ride.”

Romero shook his head. “Where did I go wrong? I thought you’d appreciate vintage cars?”

Flavio gave me a look, and I chuckled.

Ambra pointed at her grandparents. “Dad, there!” I took her from Sara and carried her over to her grandparents.

“You have legs, you know?” I told her with a smile. I didn’t mind carrying her. I’d definitely miss it the moment she was too old to be carried by me.

“I’m too exhausted. Papa Ryan chased me.”

I chuckled again. “You poor thing.” I kissed her temple before I handed her over to Romero, who smiled brightly. “Do you want to sit in my car?”

She beamed and nodded, causing him to smile proudly. Liliana kissed Ambra’s cheek before she headed over to Sara and hugged her, then touched her belly. “Not long now, I can tell.”

“Not today. We got steaks from the best butcher in New York, and I intend to eat one,” Flavio said.

Liliana sent him a scathing look, and Inessa tossed one of her sandals that she’d slipped off at him. He dodged it barely.

“I’m not giving birth today,” Sara said with conviction. Liliana’s face told me she wasn’t so sure. “And if I’m wrong and go into labor, you can just finish your steak. It’ll probably take some time, and I can’t eat rare meat anyway.”

I touched her shoulder. “I told you we don’t have to eat steak.”

“It’s okay. We have so many sides. I won’t go hungry.”

“I’ll cook one steak well done for you,” Dad rumbled.

I gave him a surprised look.

“What happened with ‘well done is an insult to the cow. She died once, let her death be worth it’?” Primo asked after he’d clapped hands with Flavio.

Mom’s death glare caused him to shrug.

Two hours later, we all settled around the table with steaks on our plates. Even Sara had a piece of well-done meat in front of her. Dad watched her closely as she took a bite.

“It’s good,” she said, surprised.

He nodded with a hint of pride in his eyes. Bacon gave me puppy dog eyes from his spot by my feet. “Sorry, bud.”

He’d never begged for food until Ambra had started solids and discovered the perks of feeding Bacon. It was why he wasn’t allowed to go to her high chair, even if Ambra tried to attract him with a piece of sausage.

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