Page 42 of Savage Hearts

CELESTINA

Wakingup in Beckett’s arms reminded me of what I could’ve lost if I’d been successful in taking my own life—making the guilt tenfold. Instead of dwelling on that guilt, I pushed it aside and forced myself out of bed. Beckett stirred as I stood and ambled over to Emilia’s crib. She was making baby noises but not full-on crying yet, and I wanted to get her before that happened. One thing was certain… my daughter had a set of lungs on her when she was pissed.

“How is she?”

Beckett’s voice washed over me as I scooped her into my arms.

“Happy.”

“Good. And you?” He sat up, the sheet slipping off his body, giving me a perfect view of his magnificent chest. Despite the scars littering his skin, Beckett was a masterpiece.

“Better… feeling guilty… but glad to be holding her in my arms and having you here with me.”

Beckett stretched to his full height beside the bed and crossed the floor to where I was standing. He pressed a chaste kiss to our daughter’s head, then captured my lips with his.

“No place I’d rather be. We should get dressed and go downstairs. There’s a lot to get ready.”

“Before you leave.” My voice cracked, even though I tried not to let my emotions show. “Sorry… I know you have to do this.”

“Hey.” His finger lifted my chin. “I’m coming back to you, Cee.”

I nodded because I knew if I tried to speak, I’d burst into tears. Shuffling past him, I carried Emilia over to the bed and laid her down.

“Can you grab me a diaper?”

Beckett huffed out a deep breath but didn’t say anything. I knew he was struggling with how to handle me, but I didn’t want that. I didn’t need him to worry, knowing he was about to do something dangerous.

“Here… don’t shy away from me, Cee. If you want to scream… scream. If you want to cry… then fucking cry.” He wrapped his arms around me as I changed our daughter. “Don’t hide your feelings from me ever again. Okay?”

“Fine.” I snapped Emilia’s onesie and cradled her against my chest. “I’m scared.”

“I know you are, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t, too. But you’re going to have the best protection with you while I’m gone. Your brothers will ensure nothing happens to you while I’m gone.”

“Wait… they’re not going?”

“No.” He turned and headed into the bathroom, with me following. “Let’s get cleaned up and go downstairs. Then you can hear about the plans. I think it’s important you know exactly what’s happening, so you don’t doubt I’ll be coming back, okay?”

Walking into a room filled with intimidating men was nerve-wracking, to say the least. I felt like a little girl who’d just been caught sneaking out, even though that was the furthest thing from the truth. Beckett took the chair at the end of the long table, tugging me onto his lap. Emilia squirmed in my hold, alerting everyone she was present for this discussion as well.

“Celestina.” My father stood and came to the end where I was. He squatted in front of me and pulled my hands into his. “Please do not burden yourself with guilt. I will say this until you believe it is true. None of this was your fault, my sweet girl. And with the help of these men, we will get your sister back and kill the man who dared to try to destroy us.”

“I’m sorry for being a coward, Padre, but no more. I am an Anastasi and will not cower to Manuel or his men again.”

My father slipped Emilia from my arms and snuggled her close. “We will ensure your safety and hers. No one will ever dare to threaten my family again.”

“Especially since we are forging a new era.” Filippo stood and nodded toward his son and daughter, standing off to the side. “Lorenzo will take control of Reno, giving your family another ally here in the U.S. Between the Bianchis and the strength of Miguel Angel, we will form a stronghold unlike anything we’ve had in history.”

This was major news. Filippo was sending his only son to the states to form an arm of the Italian mafia in Reno. Glancing at Miguel Angel, I was surprised to see his eyes on Sofia. If I wasn’t mistaken, she was looking at him the same way. That attraction would go one of two ways… a stronger alliance or a war between the Sureños and the Bianchi family. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be the latter because that would be an enormous amount of bloodshed.

I listened to the men discuss what they knew, plotting how they would infiltrate the auction.

“Wait.” I interrupted at the mention of bringing a woman. “Did you say you’re planning on bringing a woman as a ruse?”

“Yes. Many of these men bring slaves with them as a show of dominance.” Miguel spoke from his spot against the wall. “My second-in-command, Gael, along with Alex and Beckett, will be in attendance. Gael will be escorting a woman as his slave, while Alex and Beckett will be his guests. They are going under the guise that they are in need of services.”

“What woman is crazy enough to sign up for this?”

“Me.” Sofia stepped up to the table. “I am the only woman here with the training and willingness to cut off a man’s cock if he gets too close to me.”

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