Page 88 of Mafia Pregnancy

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of family activities that feel both new and completely natural. As evening settles over the estate, I watch Danielle help Leo with his bath while I rest on the couch in his new room. It’s currently a guest room, but we’ll convert it to something that’s his as soon as I can get a design team scheduled. The domestic routine feels like everything I never knew I wanted, complete with splashing water and negotiations about hair washing and discussions of whether astronauts brush their teeth in space.

“Daddy, will you read me a story tonight?” Leo’s question stops my heart with its casual use of the title I’ve waited weeks to hear.

“I would love to read you a story.” I settle into the chair beside his bed while he arranges his stuffed animals as an audience. “What should we read about?”

“Space dinosaurs. We never finished it.” His choice is immediate and enthusiastic.

I frown slightly. “I don’t know if we have a copy here.” I’m sure we don’t.

Danielle comes to the rescue, finding the book in the overnight bag Molly packed for him when they went to stay at the safehouse. The “encyclopedia” is elaborate and scientifically questionable, but Leo listens with rapt attention and provides running commentary about the practical challenges of space travel for very large dinosaurs. When I finish reading, he insists I stay while Danielle sings him a lullaby that makes his eyelids heavy.

“Good night, Daddy.” The words are sleepy and content as he snuggles under covers in the huge bed. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Leo.” I kiss his forehead and turn on a nightstand lamp to its lowest setting as an improvised nightlight. We’ll get all their things tomorrow, and then this place will really be a home for all of us. “Sweet dreams.”

In the hallway outside his room, Danielle and I stand together listening to him settle into sleep. The quiet contentment of successful bedtime routines feels like a preview of years to come.

“Walk with me?” I take her hand and lead her toward the terrace that overlooks the ocean. I’m not up for a long walk, but the night is perfect. The evening air is cool and clear, with stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. The sound of waves against the cliffs below provides a peaceful soundtrack for the conversation I’ve been planning since I woke up this morning.

“Today was perfect.” Danielle leans against the stone railing and looks out at the water. “Leo took everything better than I ever imagined.”

“He’s been ready for this since the day we met. He just needed permission to hope for it.” I move to stand beside her, close enough to touch but giving her space to process the day’s emotions. “What about you? Any regrets about choosing this complicated mess?”

“No regrets.” She turns to face me with certainty that makes my chest tight with love. “This is exactly what I want. You, Leo, our daughter… All of it.”

“Good.” I reach into my pocket and retrieve the ring I’ve been carrying since this afternoon when Andrei brought it from the jeweler after I picked it out via a video call, sending him to shop for me in person. “I have something I want to ask you.”

Her eyes widen as I drop to one knee on the stone terrace, wincing slightly at the movement but committed to doing this properly. “Radmir?—”

“You’ve made me a father to the most incredible little boy in the world, and you’re carrying our daughter who will be equally amazing.” I hold up the ring, a simple platinum band with a classic solitaire diamond that catches the light from the house. “You’ve also made me want to be better than I ever thought I could be.”

Tears start streaming down her face, but her smile is radiant in the dim light.

“I know my world hasn’t always been safe, and you’ve had to be braver than anyone should have to be,” I take her left hand and hold it gently, “But I’m done with all of that now. I want to spend the rest of my life making sure you never have to be afraid again.”

“Yes.” The word comes out as a ragged whisper.

I laugh softly though my eyes are stinging with the unexpected urge to cry. “I haven’t asked the question yet.” I slip the ring onto her finger, noting how perfectly it fits. “Danielle, will you marry me? Will you let me be your husband and Leo’s father and our daughter’s father for the rest of our lives?”

“Yes.” This time her voice is stronger, filled with joy and certainty. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

I stand carefully and pull her into my arms, spinning her around despite my injury because the moment calls for celebration. When I set her down, she’s laughing and crying at the same time.

“I love you.” I cup her face in my hands and kiss her with all the promise I can put into the gesture. “I love our family.”

“I love you too.” She admires the ring on her finger, tilting her hand to catch the light. “When?”

“Whenever you want. Tomorrow, next month, or even after the baby is born doesn’t matter. I just want it to be official that we’re building this life together.”

“After the baby is born sounds perfect.” She leans into my arms and looks out at the ocean that will be part of our daughter’s view every day. “I want her to be part of the ceremony somehow.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” I hold her close and think about everything that led us to this moment. “Leo’s going to be excited about helping plan a wedding.”

“He’s going to want the whole thing to be dinosaur-themed.”

“With space,” I add with a chuckle. “We’ll have dinosaur spaceship decorations and dinosaur cake and whatever else makes him happy.” I kiss the top of her head and breathe in thescent of her hair. “This is our family now. We get to decide what traditions look like.”

We stand together on the terrace until full darkness settles over the estate, making plans for the future and talking about names for our daughter. The conversation is easy and natural, filled with comfortable intimacy that comes from knowing you’re exactly where you belong.

---