Page 122 of Sin & Secrets

For what feels like hours, we simply lie there, basking in the beautiful joy of each other's bodies.

“Nothing has ever felt so right.” Rocco breaks the comfortable silence first.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” I agree.

He plants a gentle kiss on my forehead. “And soon, we’ll have a little one to add to our joy.”

I hum noncommittally before I bury my face in his neck. My tongue darts out to lick the sensitive spot I know sends him completely wild. “I guess there’s nothing else for it.”

Rocco props himself up on his hand, pulling himself away. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, we can’t exactly be doing this all the time when the baby is born,” I point out.

His eyes twinkle mischievously. “I suppose that means we should go again.”

“You took the words straight out of my mouth.”

FIRST EPILOGUE

Cassandra, Three Months Later

I’m going to kill Mia Chiavari.

I let my hatred fuel every step back along Bay Ridge toward the brownstone. I need the walk home to calm down before confronting anyone. The last thing I need is anyone accusing me of having baby hormones.

But I think any rational person would be annoyed if they showed up to work only to discover someone else had closed the club already.

My club.

Mia might still work behind the bar some nights, but I’m not afraid to pull rank on her if she tries this shit again.

It’s only been three months since we discovered the pregnancy, but if she’s already insisting that I need to be coddled, we’re going to have a problem.

I shake it off as I reach the familiar brownstone, my house keys jangling as I open the front door.

The walk home begins to bother my sensitive joints, and I absently rub my little swollen bump as I imagine stepping into a nice warm bath. Mmmm. Yeah, that will take the edge off.

I step into the foyer, kicking off my shoes as I go, and open my mouth to shout for Donatella…

“SURPRISE!”

One second, the two-story entrance way is entirely deserted. The next, about fifty people line the stairs, each throwing confetti and streamers over the railing, revealing a banner that rolls down from the topmost banister.

Written on it, in giant sparkling letters, is the phrase, “Baby Shower”.

I blink at the wild display of sound and color, trying desperately to orient myself when another body slams into mine.

“Happy surprise baby shower, bitch!”

I bury my face in Mia’s flaming red hair, returning her embrace just as tightly. “I’m going to fucking kill you.”

She laughs as she pulls away, dragging me toward the row of my eagerly awaiting friends, all wanting to offer me congratulations.

The vast majority are from theCandelabra. The bar and wait staff I’ve come to know far too well, and some of the regulars who are coincidentally also mafioso are here as well. Even some of Rocco’s closest circle are here. I wave at Martino and Teo, who smile back sheepishly.

“Congrats, Bellini.”

I’m surprised when my gaze lands on the stunning blonde before me. “Thanks, Danny.”

---