Page 79 of Sexting the Don

“What?” she catches me staring.

“You’re glowing,” I admit, my sandwich forgotten.

Chuckling, she teases, “Is Mr. Big Shot getting distracted by a little pregnancy glow?”

I stand up, shutting the office door with a click. “You could say that” I smirk, leaning in for a kiss, the kind that says we might be about to blur some professional lines.

She meets my kiss with equal fervor, pulling back with a playful glint in her eyes. “Mixing business with pleasure, Mr. Martelli? Isn’t that a bad idea?”

“I’ve always had a thing for bad ideas,” I murmur against her lips, but just as we’re about to dive deeper into that bad idea, she pauses, a confused look crossing her face.

Mandy’s eyes go wide, her hand flying to her stomach. "Enzo, something's not right," she says, her voice tinged with surprise more than fear.

"What's up?" I ask, worry slicing through the playful mood.

“I think my water just broke.”

I look down to see a small puddle forming on the floor at her feet. “I think you’re right.”

“The doctor said twins can come early, but I still have a month to go,” she says, looking slightly panicked.

I squeeze her shoulders. “Everything is going to be okay; I promise. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

"The 405 is going to be a nightmare right now," she half-laughs, half-groans, her usual humor flickering even through her nerves.

I shoot her a reassuring smile, all business now. "Don’t worry about the traffic," I say, the corners of my mouth ticking up in a smirk.

"Don’t worry about traffic in LA?" she shoots back, arching a skeptical eyebrow.

I pull out my phone as we rush toward the elevator. "Sean, get the chopper ready," I command into the receiver, not missing a beat.

The elevator ride to the roof is quick, the city sprawling out beneath us in a dizzying display of lights full of activity and life. The helicopter's rotors throb in the background, ready and waiting.

“Seriously?” she asks.

“Seriously,” I say as we step onto the roof. I nod to Sean, who’s already on the phone with Florence. "Tell her it’s go-time," I say, then turn my attention back to Mandy. "Hang tight; we’ll be there in no time."

The helicopter lifts off, the city slipping away beneath us as we soar over the congested roads. The flight is smooth, the skyline of Los Angeles a sprawling canvas below. Mandy squeezes my hand, her other resting on her belly, eyes wide as she takes in the view.

The landing on the hospital’s helipad is seamless, the urgency of our arrival cutting through any red tape as hospital staff rush out to meet us.

"We’re in good hands," I assure her as we’re whisked into the building, zooming through the hospital corridors.

The hustle into the delivery room is a blur of medical staff and urgent orders. I stand by Mandy’s side, each of us gripping the other's hand tightly as she endures the waves of labor. Florence arrives soon after, her presence a calming force, and Natalie isn’t far behind, bringing an air of nervous excitement.

“I’ve been pestering Flo here daily for pregnancy updates,” Natalie says with a smile as she sweeps into the waiting room.

The hours stretch endlessly, each longer than the last. I keep my face composed in a mask of control, but inside, the tension coils tightly. I just want my babies here, safe and sound.

Florence leans in, her voice soothing as if reading my mind. "They’ll be just fine, Enzo. These little ones are fighters, just like their mom and dad."

The medical team is efficient; their movements are practiced and precise. I stay close to Mandy, my focus entirely on her, trying to give her strength with my presence. I take her hand and let her squeeze the hell out of it as she breathes through each contraction like a champ.

"Almost there," I whisper to her, continuing to endure the painful squeezes of her hand, supersonic strength coming through, her face etched with determination and pain.

One after the other, the twins make their entrance into the world. The room fills with their first cries, a sound that stirs something profound and elemental in me. The team works quickly, examining, cleaning, and wrapping them before they're gently handed to Mandy.

I look down at them cradled in Mandy's arms—a boy and a girl.

---