Page 48 of Ruined By Protection
"Would you like to hold her?" Zoe offers.
My eyes widen. "Oh, I don't know if I should. I've never held a baby before."
"It's easy," Zoe says, already moving toward me. "Just support her head and cradle her body."
Before I can protest Zoe is transferring Sofia into my arms, arranging my hands to properly support the baby's neck and back.
The weight surprises me—so light yet somehow substantial. Sofia squirms slightly at the transfer, her eyes fluttering open to reveal dark irises that stare up at me with unfocused curiosity.
"Hi there," I whisper, a strange warmth spreading through my chest.
Sofia's tiny fingers flex and stretch and without thinking, I offer my pinky. Her hand immediately closes around it with surprising strength.
"She likes you," Lucrezia says, watching us with a smile.
I can't look away from this tiny person. The softness of her skin, the perfect miniature fingernails, the way her chest rises and falls with each breath—it's mesmerizing.
"I had no idea they were this small," I admit, gently swaying as Sofia's eyelids begin to droop again. "Or this perfect."
I stare down at Sofia's perfect little face, mesmerized by how peaceful she looks in my arms. The warmth of her tiny body against mine creates a strange ache in my chest—something between longing and fear.
"She's absolutely perfect," I whisper, unable to look away from her delicate features.
Zoe laughs softly. "They aren't always this perfect, believe me. You're seeing her during a rare quiet moment."
"Really?" I glance up at Zoe.
"Oh yes. Last night she screamed for three hours straight. Nothing would calm her—not feeding, changing, rocking, singing. Damiano and I took turns walking her around the house at 3 a.m. Exhaustion is definitely part of the game as well as perfection."
I look back down at the peaceful baby in my arms. "It's hard to imagine her screaming for hours."
"Just wait. She'll show you her lungs soon enough." Zoe smiles, moving to sit in a plush rocking chair near the window. She places a hand on her still-flat stomach. "I'm a little terrified about having two under a year old, to be honest."
"At least you have help," I say, thinking about how many people live in this mansion. "Lucrezia, even Damiano..."
Zoe nods. "I'm incredibly lucky that way. I keep wondering how tough it is for women who don't have this kind of support. Single mothers, women without family nearby, those who can't afford help..." Her voice grows thoughtful. "Just trying to take a shower must be impossible."
Lucrezia sits on the arm of Zoe's chair. "Remember when Sofia was a couple of weeks old and you hadn't slept more than two hours at a stretch? You said motherhood was like being an Olympic athlete—except the event never ends and no one gives you a medal."
"It's true though," Zoe says, looking at me. "The physical demands alone—pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation. Then add the emotional marathon on top of that. Mothers are the strongest people I know."
I think about my own mother, how she worked multiple jobs to keep us afloat after my dad's factory closed. How she never complained, even when I could tell she was exhausted.
"My mom was like that," I say softly. “I don't know how she managed."
Sofia stirs in my arms, her tiny face scrunching up before relaxing again. I adjust my hold slightly, suddenly aware of how precious this little life is.
"Women are incredible," Lucrezia says, watching me with Sofia. "We adapt, we survive, we nurture—sometimes all at the same time."
Matteo
I leave Damiano's office with a headache brewing behind my eyes. We've gone over the casino security protocols three times already, but the boss wants everything perfect. Can't blame him—our reputation depends on running a clean operation.
"We good?" I ask, pausing at the door.
Damiano nods, already looking at something on his laptop. "Just make sure the new dealer on table six understands our standards."
The mansion feels quiet as I make my way to the side entrance where I parked my Ducati. The sleek black machine waits for me like a loyal friend. I pull the keys from my pocket, ready to escape for a few hours. The casino will be a good distraction.
