Page 24 of Savage Hearts

“First, call me Beckett. Second, you’re wrong. Iamhere for her. I fucked up walking away from her because I thought she’d be safe. Turns out I was wrong.”

“You think?” The youngest Anastasi spoke up. “She was almost killed. Our sister was taken and likely dead. Yeah… I’d say you were wrong.”

“Antonio,” Massimo growled a warning. “Not helping.”

He held his hands up in mock defense. “Fine.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise when a man walked up behind Antonio and wrapped his arms around his waist. He whispered something into his ear, making Antonio’s expression soften. Seeing them share an intimate moment made me feel guilty for staring, and I averted my gaze. Shifting in my seat caused my daughter to fuss against me.

“Let me take her.” Catarina stepped forward and reached out. “She might need a diaper change.”

I passed her off and turned back to the men in the room.

“I learned Manuel was coming for Celestina, despite my efforts to lure him off her trail. But it appears he already did. I have an idea where he is, and once I know she’s safe, I’ll be going after him.”

“You think that’s wise?” Vincenzo spoke up. “Leaving her again for vengeance? I can tell you vengeance will get you nothing, and you’ll be risking the woman you love. At least, I assume you love my sister.”

“I do,” I responded without hesitation. “But I need her safe.” I glanced over at the tiny bundle cradled in Catarina’s arms. “Now more than ever.”

“And together, we’ll ensure that happens, but you need to fix things with Celestina. Because if she doesn’t want you here, you won’t be welcome… daughter or not.” Massimo’s tone held a sense of finality I didn’t like.

“I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“Then go upstairs and make it right.” He jerked his head toward the stairs. “Her room is the second one on the left.”

Nodding, I pushed to my feet and stood. Taking the steps two at a time, I hurried down the hall and paused at the closed door. Twisting the knob, I eased open the door and stepped inside. I leaned against the wood and glanced at where Celestina stood. Her back was to me as she stared out the window. Without turning around, the pain laced in her voice stopped me from moving forward.

“For three months, I prayed you’d come find me, but days turned into weeks… then weeks into months. But you never came. I was so sick… I thought it was because my heart was broken. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the positive sign. At first, I was angry. You’d left, and now I was saddled with a constant reminder that you’d been mine for a short time. Then I realized something.” She turned to face me, her eyes dripping with the pain I’d caused. “I’d prayed for you… for something that would tell me you loved me. It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting, but I’ve gotten the love I craved with you from her—our daughter. She’s the only reason I’m still standing here, Beckett. The sorrow of losing you nearly swallowed me whole. That little girl has been the only thing keeping me present. When I woke up in the hospital and learned I’d lost my sister and had an emergency C-section, I died inside. Then Catarina laid her on my chest, and I knew I had to fight. If not for me, then for her.”

Stepping forward, I stopped in front of her. I didn’t know what to say or do, so I waited. Celestina took a deep breath and continued.

“I feel so empty inside, and it kills me, Beckett. Our daughter deserves so much more than half a mom, but my heart is cracked in two halves. One I thought was gone for good, the other I may never get back.”

“I’m not leaving again, and I’m going to find your sister, Celestina. I promise you.”

She snorted. “Funny thing about promises, Beckett. People around here don’t seem to keep them.”

“I fucked up before… I know that.” Reaching out, I cupped her cheek, surprised she didn’t pull away. “But leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. You took this,”—I pulled her hand against my chest—“when I pushed you away. I know I’ll have to prove to you I’m keeping my promise this time, but I’m not leaving you. Not on my own two feet.”

“I can’t risk the fraction of my heart that’s left, Beckett.” Celestina pressed her hand against my chest and pushed me back. “You shredded it to pieces. Then I lost my twin sister, and even more of it fractured. The only thing left inside my chest is reserved for that little girl downstairs.”

I pressed my finger beneath her chin and lifted her eyes to mine.

“I’ll leave once you’re safe if that’s what you want, Celestina, but I won’t go without fighting for you and my daughter. What’s her full name? You didn’t tell me.”

“Emilia Beckett Hart.”

“You gave her my name.”

“I was mad that you left me… but I couldn’t let you go. It was the only way I could feel connected to you.”

“Jesus.” I ran my hand through my hair and closed my eyes.

“I won’t make you leave your daughter. I’m not cruel. But I don’t know if I can forgive you.”

Without a thought in my head, I stepped forward again, threaded my fingers through her hair, and tugged her lips to mine. She resisted at first, but like fire and gasoline, our lips burned against each other. This woman was everything I wanted, everything I craved, and I’d be damned if I would let her go a second time. A knock startled us apart, but the hazy look in her eyes told me she’d felt it, too.

“We aren’t over.” I turned and opened the door to a woman who resembled Celestina, but older. Cradled in her arms was the living replica of the woman I loved more than air.

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