Page 139 of Deception

We all look at one another, digesting the decision. After a few seconds, Alessandro stands, raising his glass. “To Dom. May he reap what he’s sown.”

The rest of us raise our glasses.

“To my brothers. To the Diamantes. We may be scattered, but we cannot be broken.”

“Here, here!” Ciro cheers, gulping down his wine.

“On that note, I think it’s time we retire for the evening.” Aless gives me a sly look.

“Agreed. I’ll see you all in the morning. Ciro, don’t go running down the mountainside in the dark,” I tease, following my lover out.

“And Ero, don’t you dare put him up to it!” Alessandro shouts over his shoulder.

We close the door to our room, changing for bed. I’m removing my jewelry when Aless comes up from behind me, sliding his arms around me, covering my hands resting on my belly.

“Finally,” he rumbles into my ear.

“I thought you’d talk all night…”

“There are far more pressing matters to attend toall night.”

“Promises, promises …”

“Speaking of promises…” Aless turns me in his arms, his forehead scrunching. “We haven’t really had much time to deal with…us.”

“We’ve got plenty of time, now.”

But I know what he means. The tumult of getting here, traveling, has kept us preoccupied, pushing any real conversation of what we are out ahead of us. It’s a rift I haven’t been able to close.

I see it every time the baby comes up. Every time we talk about the future.

“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

“Agreed. I’m starting to think that’s okay, in some ways,” I offer, losing myself in his hazel eyes.

“I would be fine with however much you choose to share with me, or how little, as long as you are yourself with me. But somehow, I doubt that you’re going to be able to resist asking me questions.Allthe questions.”

“I can be stubborn if need be. I won’t press you on anything you don’t want to tell.”

“If we make it a competition, I have no doubt you will win. You’re too tenacious and driven not to. I love that about you. You never let things go until you get what you are looking for. And the fact is, Isa, I want to share everything with you.”

“But …”

“It’s hard to talk about a lot of it. But I can promise you this: any question you ask me, I will answer honestly. 100 percent.”

“Good. Because I always know when someone’s lying.”

“I wish I had your intuition,” Aless sniffs, grimacing.

“Who would dare lie to you, the great Alessandro Diamante?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe some photographer, Miss Bianchi?”

I can’t help snorting a laugh. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh.”

“It’s alright. I’m actually pretty impressed, now that I’m not fuming mad about it.”

“I promise to be honest with you too, Alessandro,” I pull him into a kiss, tasting his lips. “Starting with this, I want you to bend me over this dresser and take me…”

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