Page 57 of Mafia Heir's Broken Vows

I lean against the doorway, arms crossed, just watching them. This is everything I fought for. Everything I didn't know I needed until I nearly lost it.

Serafina senses me and turns, smiling. "Dinner's almost ready. Long day?"

I walk over, slipping my arms around her waist. "Long, but worth it." I say, "My father died." It just slips out.

She leans into me, resting her head against my chest. "Alessandro, I'm sorry." She stops what she's doing and comes to put her arms around me.

"Don't be sorry, I'm not. I'm glad he's gone." I'm honest with her.

I tilt her chin up, capturing her lips in a soft kiss—because I don't want to talk about it.

Leo's voice pipes up from the table. "Ew! You're kissing again! Yuck, what about cooties Dad? Girl cooties are baaaad." He pulls a face, he learns the strangest things at school—like cooties, and last week it was some bizarre fact about fish eating his skin off.

We laugh, breaking apart just enough to see his face still pulled up in disgust.

Serafina grins. "Better get used to it, kid. Shall I come give you some of my cooties?" She runs over to him, and he squeals.

And as laughter fills the room, I know we've built more than just a haven. We've built a home—a family.

ALESSANDRO

The early morning sun spills in through the open windows, casting a soft golden hue across the villa. The breeze carries in the scent of salt and blooming flowers, rustling the linen curtains. The sea stretches endlessly before me, calm and serene.

I go out onto the terrace, coffee warming my hands, watching the waves roll in. This place, this life, feels like it was meant for us. Not the legacy of death and violence I was born into, but this—a future I chose.

Behind me, soft footsteps approach. Serafina wraps her arms around my waist, resting her cheek against my back.

"You're up way too early," she murmurs, her voice still heavy with sleep.

I place my hand over hers. "Couldn't sleep. Not even when everything finally feels—right."

She moans softly, lifting her head to press a kiss between my shoulder blades. "It does, doesn't it?"

I turn to face her, brushing her messy morning hair from her face. I lean in, capturing her lips in a slow, tender kiss.

"Come back to bed," she whispers against my lips.

I chuckle softly. "Soon. I just want to savor this—peace."

She tightens her hold around me, sighing contentedly. "Then come savor it in bed with me."

Later that morning,the villa is buzzing with activity. Leo races through the sprawling garden, his laughter bubbling from his belly. He darts between the olive trees, chasing after a lizard that I'm certain is imaginary.

Serafina lounges in the shade of an ancient olive tree, her head resting on my lap. The soft cotton of her dress blows up in the breeze, and her hand idly traces patterns along my arm. She's pretending to read, but I know her focus is on Leo. She's not turned a page since she started.

"Look at him," she whispers, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "He's so innocent still."

I run my fingers through her hair, savoring the softness. "I hope he stays that way."

Her eyes soften, and she reaches up to cup my face. "Nothing stays the same forever." She says with a wink. "Maybe he needs a sister, so he doesn't have to chase imaginary lizards all day."

"Maybe he needs a brother to chase lizards with," I answer her, thinking about growing our family reminds me how much I missed not being there for Leo.

Leo is now building small towers of stones along the garden's edge. His imagination turns them into castles, fortresses standing strong against imaginary armies. He uses his tractor to knock them over, then starts again.

The air cools with the setting sun, a relief from the blistering heat earlier in the day.

"Do you want more kids?" she asks, her voice not even a whisper. We've never spoken about it, about any of the things normal couples would have discussed.

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