Page 162 of Fortress of the Soul

Aleksi may be many things, but a martyr isn’t one of them. He and Yuri were not cut from the same cloth, and when he realized that Yuri had set out to kill Valentina in an act of revenge, he surprised us all by not retaliating.

I don’t fully trust the Russians, and neither do Angelo and Marco, even though Marco is now technically related.

Angelo worked with Petrov to figure out and track down who else was involved in the kidnappings. Katiya remembered some Czech’s conversing while she was held hostage and it turns out she was right.

There was a rogue gang doing all of Rombaldi’s dirty work. With no leader anymore, taking out anyone who got in our way, it sent a strong message. The dumb fucks had nowhere left to run, except into an early grave.

For now, we have muscled out all threats on our turf.

It’s time to enjoy the peace while we have it.

I lean over to my bride. “How is my beautiful wife?” I grip her thigh under the table.

She brings her mouth to my ear. “Horny. Can we leave already?”

I chuckle. “We haven’t even had the main course yet.”

Her eyebrows shoot up. “I could be the main course?”

I go to stand, and she laughs, tugging me back down. I lean down and kiss her.

“I can’t wait to get you alone, all to myself,” I say, as she puts her arms around my neck.

“Me either… and I have some news. I wanted to wait until we were alone…”

I quirk a brow. “Don’t tell me something’s come up at work. I’ve moved heaven and earth to clear our schedules. If Bianca can’t handle things…”

“Calm down, you crazy man.” She laughs. “I wouldn’t miss our honeymoon for the world.”

“Good, because you’re not gonna be seeing a whole lot of the Amalfi Coast once I get you in bed.”

“That implies we’re going to make it to the bed.”

I kiss her again quickly. “You’re right, where is my head? Any hard surface will do.”

She smiles, shaking her head, then grows serious. “I’m pregnant, E.”

My heart thuds in my chest. “You’re what?”

“Shhh!” she whispers, looking around to make sure nobody heard us. “I don’t want to announce it yet.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I whisper-shout. I can’t help the shit-eating grin that spreads across my face.

“I’m not kidding, Enz…”

“A baby?” I mouth.

She nods.

I cup her face as her eyes well with tears. “I guess with all the sex we have, babies can happen unexpectedly.”

“Especially with you, three times a day man.”

We’ve talked about kids, but we haven’t actively been trying. God, just imagining her barefoot and pregnant stirs something in me I didn’t realize I had.

I’ve often thought of that out of body experience, or whatever it was, I had in the hospital that day, seeing my future and my son Elio,and Valentina pregnant.I have that strong feeling that it’s all coming true, and I couldn’t be happier.

“I love you so fucking much, Mrs. Russo.”

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