Page 22 of The DeLuca Crime Family: Vol. 1

“Enough, Devon,” Nic bit out. “You’d do well to remember who you’re speaking to.”

I shivered at his hard tone and the icy look he sent Devon’s way. Any sign of humor, which had been there moments before, was wiped clean away at my discomfort. As we left the house and headed back to the hospital, I was comforted by Nic’s protection of my sensibilities, as antiquated as they might be. And yet, I couldn’t help but note the one thing he hadn’t done—not once had he denied that he’d been trying to get me pregnant. He couldn’t, not when he seemed to be doing his best to make it true.

Chapter Fourteen

NIC

Sophia was coming home.

I hugged Gianna to my side tightly as we thanked Dr. McGowan for the news and hurried into her hospital room. My mother had already packed up her things, and we were able to get her out the door and home by lunch. The activity took a lot out of her, and when we arrived, I carried her up to her room. I laid her on the bed and tucked her in, kissing her forehead before making my way back downstairs.

Voices floated back from the kitchen and I smiled, thinking about my family as I walked down the hall. For so many years, Sophia had been my world. Now, I was so desperately in love with Gianna, and she fit perfectly into the space in my heart that had previously only been filled by Sophia. Hopefully, I would be making room for another addition soon.

I stopped in the doorway to the kitchen and drank in the sight of Gianna as she puttered around, making lunch. She shooed mymammaout of the kitchen casing her to grumble, but she winked at me as she left the room.

Gianna’s long, dark hair was pulled up into a mess of curls, high on her head, showing off her beautiful face. Her sweaterwasn’t tight, but it clung to her curves and I stared at her flat belly, envisioning it swollen with our baby. Feeling my pants tighten at the thought, I started going over baseball stats in my head until I calmed down. When that didn’t work, I moved on to ugly little men dancing around in my daughter’s ballerina costume. Mission accomplished.

I slipped into the room silently and came up behind Gianna, closing my arms around her and holding her tight. She gasped in surprise but melted the moment I nuzzled my face into her neck. “Mia dolce,you are so beautiful.”

I turned her around in the circle of my arms and kissed her, pouring out my love with every breath. When we came up for air, I was unable to keep a smug smile off of my face at the sight of her pink cheeks and lust glazed eyes. I pecked her on the nose and released her, allowing her to go back to cooking.

Putting my hands on the counter behind me, I leaned back and crossed one ankle over the other. I would have loved to stay there all day and watch her, but there was something I needed to do.

“Sophia will be asleep for several hours with the pain medication she took. I’m going to run an errand after we eat so I can be back here when she wakes.” I said nonchalantly.

She paused in her task and looked at me curiously. Obviously, I hadn’t done a good enough job disguising the importance of my errand. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing for you to worry about,mia dolce.”

She scowled with irritation but didn’t push for more information. I winked at her as she scooted by to reach a cupboard on the other side of me. I lightly smacked her sexy little ass and grinned when she glared at me, barely holding back a smile. Having taken off her shoes earlier, she wasn’t quite tall enough to reach the bowl on the top shelf, so I reached up and grabbed it, handing it over and stealing a kiss.

“Hmmm,” I mused as she stepped away, her cheeks pink with a sweet blush. “My ring is on your finger, you’re in our kitchen, barefoot. There’s only one thing missing from this picture,mia dolce.”

She hesitated and glanced at me warily. “About that?—”

“Another time, Gianna.” I cut her off but softened my words with a smile. “I’d like to go soon so I can get back to my girls as quickly as possible.”

She looked like she wanted to argue, but she simply asked, “Tonight?”

“If we have time to sit and discuss it,” I answered noncommittally. She studied me for another moment, her eyes narrowed, then went back to tossing a salad before announcing lunch was ready.

I helped Gianna bring the food to the table and waited for her as she wrapped up a small, plain lunch, and put it in the refrigerator. Warmth filled me as I realized she’d made food for Sophia, keeping in mind that her stomach was sensitive because of her medication. Gianna was everything I could have ever dreamed of for a wife and mother of my children.

I rangthe doorbell of a small apartment building situated not far from the Columbia campus. Gianna’s father was a math professor at the university, but she’d mentioned he had no classes on Mondays and worked from home.

When the door opened, I was surprised to see a beautiful woman, no older than her late forties, with mocha skin, short, curly hair, and twinkling brown eyes. I was sure I hadn’t gotten the address wrong, so I asked, “I’m looking for Mr. and Mrs. Martin, am I at the right home?”

She smiled brightly and something about her seemed familiar. “I’m Mrs. Martin, what can I do for you?”

I was taken aback by her response and more than a little confused. “You’re Gianna’s mother?” I asked. Then wanted to kick myself for how rude it must have sounded.

“Gianna?” A funny expression came over her face, but then she laughed again and nodded. “I am Anna’s mother,” she confirmed, “but I didn’t give birth to her.”

Her stepmother. I mentally rolled my eyes at myself for not considering that option. I decided to start over. “I’m Nic DeLuca.”

“Ah, Nic. I’ve been expecting you.”

“I—you have?”

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