Page 71 of Ti Amo

“Baby?”

Giovanni had to consider that his sister was lying again. He hadn’t decided Dominic’s fate. Carlo and the boys were instructed to teach him a well-deserved lesson before dropping him off in Palermo to give him time to think it through. Mira walked around the desk and sat on the edge of it next to him. “What happened?”

When he didn’t answer, she picked up his whiskey glass and moved it from his reach.

“So she’s pregnant?” Mira asked.

“That’s what she says,” he answered dryly.

“Ironic,” she said.

Giovanni shrugged. “Irony seems to be the foundation this family is built upon. It doesn’t matter. The damage is done. Anything I do will just make me a monster to her, and to you.”

“I would never think of you as a monster.”

“Just the other day you all but called me one.”

“I hated what you did but I understand why. You love Domi. Please at least admit that.”

Giovanni rested the side of his face between his thumb and index finger. “I don’t know him, and though he will keep his life, I want him out of mine.”

“Don’t say that.” She took his hand and forced him to rise. Together they went to the sofa in his office and sat down. He leaned back into the sofa cushions staring up at the ceiling. “Do you know that the Minettis were supposed to come here for the holidays? Can’t wait to have the conversation with Franco’s father explaining what happened to his son.”

Mira ran her hand over his then placed it in her lap to hold it. “This is hard, and I know you are trying to make sense of it all, but it’s still Domi, Giovanni. Does anybody around here care it’s four days before Christmas? I want my Christmas. Our Christmas. We have our baby to think about. She has grown so close to you so fast. She deserves her family Christmas too.” Mira brushed her lips over his and stroked the side of his jaw. “Can we have the family Christmas we both want?”

“So now the fate of Christmas rests upon my shoulders?” The cynicism in the remark grated her.

Mira ignored the bitterness in his voice. “You’re the head of this family. Our fate always rests in your hands.”

“You’re asking me to pretend that myconsiglierehasn’t knocked up my recently widowed sister?”

“Forgiveness, Giovanni. Have you not heard anything I’ve said to you? We’re a family. That includes Domi. As yourdonnaI’m making my request. I don’t know or care how you handle your business but when it comes to this family I have the final say. Domi stays, and we celebrate Christmas together. All of us.” She braced for his reaction.

“I’m ready to make you my wife.” The press of his lips to hers was such a soothing sensation. Parting her lips she moved in on him and welcomed his tongue into her mouth with lovely swirls of her own. His touch elevated her pressure and spiked the adrenaline coursing through her blood. She felt herself reclining as he positioned himself over her on the sofa.

“Marry me Bella.”

“We will be married Giovanni. I promise. Let’s just wait until some of this all settles. A few months and we deal with my resurrection from the dead,” she chuckled nervously.

“You are so beautiful. The world only makes sense when I have you with me. We will get married.” He kissed her nose, lips, chin, and then brushed lovely kisses over her neck. Mira sighed, raising her arms above her head to grip the edge of the sofa as his weight crushed her into the cushions. Mira smiled as he began to unbutton her pants. She lifted and moved each way he instructed as he undressed her, no matter the madness. Being with him she felt complete, just as Fabiana had told her she would be in her dreams.

****

“Gio, can we speak for a moment?” Dominic approached from the opposite end of the hall.

“No. I mean we were about to go upstairs,” Mira said quickly.

I’ll join you in a few,” he kissed her brow. He patted her on the butt and gave her a gentle shove to leave them. She walked away.

She glanced back once and addressed Giovanni. “Don’t make me wait too long, I want us to have lunch with Eve.”

Giovanni winked at her then turned to head to the family room.

Dominic left Catalina’s side after she finally agreed to lie down and get some rest. He wasn’t sure of his role in the family now, but until he was told otherwise he would do what was expected of him. Walking inside he saw the seven-foot tall Christmas tree still tied up by rope. Giovanni was facing it as well.

“I have some bad news.”

Giovanni looked back over his shoulder, his gemmed eyes piercing with distrust. “More news huh? This day keeps getting better and better.”

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