Page 30 of Savage Hearts

“In the shower?” Her eyes widened.

“Baby, she’s three months old. I doubt she’ll have any clue we’re naked. Go on, get her. I want to shower with the two women I love.”

Standing at the entrance to the bathroom, I watch as she hurried to the crib and greeted our daughter. Celestina stripped our daughter down and removed her diaper. She wiped her bottom, then tossed the soiled diaper into the trashcan and lifted her into her arms.

“Maybe I should feed her first.” She turned to face me.

“No. If she gets hungry, you can do it in the bathroom. I need to be close to you, baby. Her, too.”

Celestina swayed, Emilia in her arms as she headed toward me. I pressed a chaste kiss onto Emilia’s head.

“Morning sweet pea. Let’s get you cleaned up.” I slipped her out of Celestina’s arms and cradled her in the crook of my elbow.

“Damn,” Celestina smirked. “Seeing you hold her naked is a big fucking turn-on and a cock block, all at the same time.”

Chuckling at the blush covering her skin, I smiled.

“We’ll have plenty of time to catch up on alone time. For now, let me enjoy this time with you two.”

Pushing past me, Celestina hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Her brother had spared no expense in the bathroom and definitely not in the shower. It was a room in its own right, making this easier than I expected. The walls were lined with two sitting benches and the water fell from multiple shower heads, making it feel more like rainfall than a jetted spray. Emilia began to mewl, making me gently rock her in my hold. Once the heat of the water began to fill the stall, she settled down and sucked on her tiny fingers.

Holding her in my arms felt right, as though I’d finally done something right in my life of perpetual fuck ups. I altered between watching her reactions to the water, to watching the water pour over Celestina’s body. If it hadn’t been for the princess cradled against my chest, I know my dick would have been at full mast, but this moment had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with my family.

Something I didn’t deserve but would never give up.

twelve

CELESTINA

When we finally emerged fromthe bedroom, Beckett is holding Emilia like she’s the only girl alive, and I can’t help the jealous monster rising inside my gut. As if he sensed my mood, he shifts her to his other arm and wraps the one he’d been holding her with around my middle.

“I love you, Celestina. Never doubt that.”

“Oh, goodie… looks like they made up.”

Antonio’s snarky voice caused my head to jerk in his direction. Narrowing my gaze, I started to snap at him, but my eyes caught sight of the full room. When I stumbled into the living room, Beckett tightened his hold on me.

“Whoa… you okay?”

“Um.” I glanced around at the faces in the room and smiled. “Yeah, just surprised to see them.” I motioned toward the men gathered around, watching us with interest. When my eyes landed on the man in the corner, I pulled out of Beckett’s arm.

“Daddy.”

His arms wrapped around me as I flung myself against him.

“Stellina.”Little Star.His lips pressed to the top of my head, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. “I’m so glad to see you smiling. Your mother and I feared you’d never find something to be happy about, even with my precious patata.little potato.”

“I…” lifting my head to look him in the face. “Daddy, I’d like you to meet Beckett.”

He nodded his head and stepped around me. “I know who you are, Mr. Hart. The question is, do they?” He paused, glancing around at everyone. “I didn’t think so. My sons said you’d returned. But is this a game or are you here to do right by my daughter? Because like my son, I’ll kill you if you hurt Celestina again.”

Beckett stepped forward with his back ramrod straight, and his chin held high.

“Non sai niente su di me. Ma… L'unico motivo per cui sono qui è per lei. Preferirei strapparmi il cuore piuttosto che ferirla di nuovo. Hai la mia parola che lei è tutto ciò che mi interessa… beh, lei e mia figlia.”You know nothing about me. But…the only reason I'm here is because of her. I’d rather cut out my own heart than hurt her again. You have my word that she is all I care about—well, her and my daughter.

Everyone gasped at his perfect Italian. More shocking was seeing my father reach out and take his hand.

“Ahh... ne so più di te, ma questo è per un altro tempo e luogo. Ottimo. Benvenuto in famiglia. Ora… diamo la caccia a questo mostro e troviamo l’altra mia figlia.”Ahh... I know more than you, but that is for another time and place.Very well. Welcome to the family. Now… let’s hunt this monster and find my other daughter.

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