Page 8 of Savage Hearts

Releasing his sack, I stepped back. “Just don’t hurt her.”

“Don’t plan on it. I’m falling for her. It’s me who’s in danger of getting hurt. She’s like the sun. She’s the light in the darkness, but if you get too close, you risk getting burned.”

I blinked at his accurate assessment of my identical twin. She was like the sun, but he was wrong. She wouldn’t burn him. She’d warm his soul for all eternity if he loved her right. Something I would never have.

“Damn, Cee.” Antonio chuckled as we climbed into his SUV. “I didn’t know you had a violent side. Guess you’re more like Vin than I realized. I think Alex’s balls shrunk a little. I’m pretty sure he nearly pissed himself.”

“Carmela has been hurt before. I don’t want to see it happen twice.”

“What do you mean, she’s been hurt?” Antonio’s knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel hard. “By whom?”

“Not my story to tell.” I tilted my head and smiled. “She’s put it behind her and doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers. If her secret got out, it would cause a ripple effect no one wants. Trust it’s okay now, and that she is stronger because of it.”

“Tell me this, Cee,” Antonio growled. “Was she hurt physically? Because I won’t stand for her keeping something like that to herself, ripple effect or not.”

“No, not really. It was more her heart and pride that took the hit. But I swear to you if it was something more, I’d be the first to throw the pebble in the pond.”

“You’re going to make a damn fine mother, Cee.” He arched his brow. “Your baby lucked out when God picked you to be his or her mother.”

“I hope I can be as good of a parent as you and Vin are. I see how you are with my nieces and nephews, and I want that for my baby.”

“You’ll have it, Cee. I’ll make damn sure of it.”

three

CELESTINA

One hundred and fifty-two days,nine hours, thirty-two minutes, and seventeen seconds.

Time felt like an eternity since I’d held Beckett. Massimo hadn’t been able to contact him, so for all anyone knew, he might’ve actually been dead. My brother swore he was searching to locate him, but I had my doubts. That thought made my stomach churn with bile. Pressing my palm against the tiny round bump, I took several deep breaths and closed my eyes.

“You about ready to go?” Michael stood in the doorway of my bedroom and smiled. “I’m your chariot today.”

I smiled at my brother-in-law and shrugged. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Any word on Manuel Costa?”

“No.” Michael shook his head. “The fucker has gone to ground.”

“Maybe he’s finally giving up on hunting me.”

Michael’s face softened. “You know men like him don’t give up, Celestina. He’ll lie low and then strike when he thinks we’ve relaxed.”

I forced a laugh out. “Good thing we’re never relaxed. Whatever, we should go.”

We headed out of his house to his SUV.

“You sure you don’t want one of the girls to go with you?”

“God, no. They’ll make this into a bigger deal than I need them to.”

“And you don’t think I won’t? I missed out on Dante’s first ultrasound. This is going to be fun for me.”

“Oh, lord.” I rolled my eyes, but secretly it’s why I asked him to come with me when I found out my baby’s gender. “Maybe I should have asked Vincenzo to come.”

“That psycho?” Michael laughed. “Nope. You picked right.”

Carmela was still at Catarina’s place, helping her and Donny adjust to their newborn baby. She’d offered to come, but I told her Cat needed her more. She’d had a hard delivery with their son, Leo, which made moving around difficult.

Danny, being the macho ass he was, thought he could handle it all. He learned quickly that taking care of a newborn and a wife, who was pretty much bedridden, wasn’t something he could do alone. He wasn’t the incredible hulk and needed help.

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