Page 46 of Wanted Twins with the Mafia Boss

“They’re too far away for a war. He was probably worried about them sending highly trained assassins after us. We didn’t know about the deal, so they could’ve killed either Matteo or me, or bothof us. They threatened you and our children in that letter. It must be how they operate.”

“Then how does abandoning you fit in all that? Something could’ve happened to you and he could’ve lost you.”

“If he did it to Matteo, maybe he did it to me too—sent his men to work for me. It would explain Domenico. He was probably acting under Gennaro’s orders, either to test me or to see if I could discover his other spies.”

“Are you saying there might be spies close to us?” I don’t like that idea at all.

“Maybe I weeded them out eventually or they already retired, because no one stopped me from killing Gennaro. Or maybe they weren’t supposed to interfere with something like that. It doesn’t matter because Gennaro’s dead. But I’ll do some additional checks just in case.”

“Wasn’t there still a chance Matteo and you would kill each other? What if he was only left with one of you?” I tilt my head.

“I think he would’ve handed the remaining one over anyway. His retirement would have had to wait, but maybe he’d have found himself a replacement. It would’ve taken work and time, but I don’t think he would’ve protected either of us. But I don’t know whathe was thinking. All I know is that he cared about money and power the most, and everything else was meaningless or replaceable to him.”

“That’s so sad.” I can’t imagine a miserable existence like that, with no love or any emotion.

“It is. But if I hadn’t met you, I wouldn’t have known it. I would’ve been just like him.” He sits on the bed, his shoulders slumped.

“You know what? I don’t think so. You’ve always been different from him. You just had to pretend you weren’t to survive in a world like his.”

The corners of his lips tilt up. “Luckily, I met you.”

He reaches out to me and I intertwine my fingers with his. Yeah, we’re lucky. Despite all the things that have happened, we’re lucky to have each other.

CHAPTER 24

Chiara

When I wake up, the first thing I hear is the soft beeping. Then I notice the smell of antiseptic and something flowery. It takes me a moment to remember that I’m in a hospital room. I slowly open my eyes, and then I see the source of the flowery scent.

Flowers. Lots of them. The whole room is filled with them, and with some yellow balloons.

My memory is a little hazy, but I remember Adriano rushing me to hospital because I felt the contractions. Then I was taken for an urgent C-section.

I still feel exhausted and my whole body hurts, but I’m also happy because I know they’re here. My twins. My precious babies.

A girl and a boy.

I didn’t get a lot of time with them, but I rememberthem perfectly. Their beautiful little faces. Their tiny feet and hands. How fragile and small they looked and felt in my arms.

Pure perfection.

“Hey,” Adriano says, bringing my attention to him, as he gets to his feet. “How are you feeling?”

“Um, like someone stabbed me and ran me over.” I spread my lips into a smile. “With a heavy truck.”

He catches my hand and places a kiss on my knuckles. “Do you want me to call the nurse? They probably have something to make you feel better.”

“No, it’s fine. Where are they? Our babies?” I try to lift myself up.

“It’s not fine. There’s zero need for you to be in pain. I’ll call the nurse. And they’re right here.” He moves and I spot the bassinet behind him.

A little gasp escapes my throat as I sit up.

There they are. I can see them. So beautiful and so peaceful as they sleep.

“Is everything okay with them?” I guess if something was wrong, they wouldn’t be here, but I need to hear it to convince myself that everything really happened in the best possible way.

“Yeah, they’re healthy and perfect.” His eyes shine with happiness as he glances at them, but then he heads for thedoor.

---