Page 107 of Beautiful Devil

“He won’t get to remember the experience of being an only child, because he’s being promoted to big brother.”

When I finish speaking, his eyebrows shoot to the top of his head and his jaw drops, almost hitting the floor. His eyes drop down to my stomach and then back up to meet my gaze.

“You mean…”

I start to nod and laugh as it finally clicks.

“We’re having another baby?”

“Si,” is my only reply.

He grabs me by the face and places a passionate kiss on my lips before he drops to his knees and starts kissing my belly and embracing my lower half in a tight hug.

He looks up into my eyes as he says, “Ti amo gattina, ti amo.”

He may not be the devil I believed he was when we first met, but he is now, and always will be, mybeautiful devil.

EPILOGUE 2

ELLE

Stepping out of the car,I take Santino’s hand as he helps me out. I stand there for a couple minutes as I take in the opulence that is their house and wonder if I’ll ever have this someday. Not the mansion that is the size of a small country, but the love and connection you share with someone. I had that spark once, but it was a one-time thing, and I’ve never seen the person again.

I shake those thoughts out of my head, because it is not the time or place.

As I walk up the steps to the front door, it opens in a rush, and Gia lets out a squeal as soon as she sees me.

“Ahhh, I’ve missed you, bitch,” she cries as she throws herself at me in a tight embrace. I hug her back just as hard because I’ve missed her, too.

“I’ve missed you too, G.” I smile as Gia pulls away, taking my hand and leading me into the kitchen.

So much has changed, and quickly, in Gia’s life. Something neither of us ever could have predicted. They might not have had the most conventional or romantic start to their relationship, but when both of them are this happy, does it really matter?

“Oh, God, Elle, I’m so excited. How is this even my life right now?”

I sit at the island and watch as Gia easily moves through the kitchen, grabbing two wine glasses, filling them both, and telling me all about how they plan on traveling to Italy soon to see Fabi’s sister, Sofia. The double doors leading out to the garden open, grabbing my attention as Fabi walks in.

“Hi, Elle,” he says as he walks toward me, enveloping me in a hug.

“Hey, Fab,” I say as I return the hug.

He’s not the most emotional man, but this man gives some of the best hugs when he wants to.

“I’ll join you ladies for dinner later. I have a friend coming over now to discuss some business,” Fabi announces as he walks over to Gia, pulls her in close, slips his hands down around her, and squeezes her ass while giving her a hard, lingering kiss on the lips.

I turn my head, looking out onto the terrace, not wanting to feel like I’m invading their privacy when I hear Gia talk from behind me.

“Good, because Elle and I have girl things to discuss.” Gia smiles as she turns to lift our glasses and heads out through the garden doors. Sliding off the high stool, I follow her out into the garden on this beautiful sunny evening.

I’ve been here for dinner a few times now since Gia and Fabi hashed things out. We don’t see each other as much as we used to before they met, but I still see her more now than when she was with that asshole Gallo.

Ugh, don’t even get me started on that prick.

As much as I love being in their company, sometimes when I leave, I feel so deflated. It’s like a kick in the gut that at the ripe age of twenty-seven, I am still single and living alone. I’ve had one serious boyfriend in my entire life, and after that total train wreck, I made a promise to myself to never allow any man into my heart ever again. But as the years have gone on, and especially since Gia and Fabi found one another, it makes my heart hurt a little at the thought of spending the rest of my life alone.

“Okay, come on. Spill it.”

I lift my glass and take as big a gulp as possible, wanting to delay this conversation for as long as I can. Faking confusion, I look at Gia while setting my glass back on the table.

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