Page 103 of His to Destroy

He stares down at her, wonder painting his features.

“She’s so small,” he breathes.

“Yeah,” Gaspare murmurs, ruffling his hair. “You were once too, you know.”

Luca’s eyes widen in disbelief, and I laugh softly.

Gaspare crouches down beside them, one hand resting protectively on Luca’s back, the other gently adjusting Gianna’s blanket.

The sight of them — my boys, my world, wrapped around this tiny, perfect little girl — makes my throat ache.

I blink rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

Gaspare catches my eye and smiles — a real, open, soul-deep smile that still makes my heart stutter even after all this time.

“You were right, you know,” he says, voice low and full of awe.

“About what?”

He leans closer, brushing a kiss to Gianna’s tiny forehead.

“That it would be a girl.”

I beam, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear smugly.

“I’ll try not to rub it in too much,” I tease.

He chuckles and rises, pulling me — rocking chair and all — closer with one strong arm until he can kiss my temple.

“Rub it in all you want,” he whispers. “You gave me her. You gave me everything.”

I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his words sink into my soul.

The house is different now.

Fuller.

Louder in some ways — Luca’s giggles, Gianna’s soft cries, Gaspare’s deep, rumbling laughter when he plays along with their antics.

But quieter too.

No more fear lurking in every corner.

No more running.

Just us.

Just love.

The life I once thought I could never have blooms around me, messy and wild and heartbreakingly beautiful.

And as Luca hums softly to Gianna, and Gaspare wraps his arms around both of us, I know:

This is what forever feels like.