Page 160 of Ignited Secrets

“Wonder where he gets that from,” I say dryly, dodging as Romeo makes a swipe for my hair.

“Must be his mother’s influence,” Alessandro replies with mock seriousness, his eyes dancing with mirth. “His father is known for being cautious and reasonable.”

I snort. “His father once jumped out of a moving car to chase down armed criminals,” I point out.

“That was one time,” Alessandro argues back. “And I seem to remember a certainsomeonealso jumping out a car to face down Calabrese soldiers.”

Okay, he’s got me there but I’m not about to back down.

“His father also proposed to a nineteen-year-old mafia princess after dating her for less than four months,” I shoot back. “If you can even call it dating.”

“That was good judgment, not recklessness,” Alessandro grins, dipping me carefully while Romeo squeals with delight at the sudden movement. “Best decision I ever made.”

The song ends, but we stay on the dance floor, swaying gently as other couples move around us. Romeo has fallen asleep against Alessandro’s shoulder, his tiny fist curled against his father’s shirt, completely content and secure.

This is what I want him to remember, I realize. Not the violence or the danger or the complicated politics that come with our world, but this—the love, the laughter, the sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself.

The knowledge that no matter what happens, family will always be there to catch you when you fall.

“What are you thinking about now?” Alessandro asks softly, noting my thoughtful expression.

“Legacy,” I tell him honestly. “What we’re building for him. What kind of world he’s going to inherit.”

Alessandro’s expression grows serious as he considers this. “He’s going to inherit power, yes. But he’s also going to inherit love. The knowledge that strength and gentleness can coexist, that you can be dangerous and still choose mercy.”

“Think he’ll be able to handle it?” I ask, studying Romeo’s peaceful face. My heart squeezes painfully at the thought of the world he’s going to grow up in. I wish I could shield him from it forever. “All the expectations, all the responsibility?”

“He’ll rise to the occasion,” Alessandro says with conviction. “Just like his mother.”

As the evening winds down and guests begin making their goodbyes, I find myself reluctant to leave this perfect bubble of happiness and normalcy.

But Romeo is getting fussy, and we still have a forty-minute drive back to the city.

“Thank you,” Elena says as we’re gathering our things, pulling me into a careful hug around the baby. “For everything. For being here, for supporting us, for…” She gestures toward a tiredlooking Stella who is currently being shepherded by Giovanni and Arianna’s nanny toward the house and not looking too thrilled about it.

I return the hug politely, because family is family even when that family has a history of making questionable choices. “Congratulations,” I tell her, and I do mean it. They’ve found their way to each other despite everything, and that’s worth something.

“For helping get rid of the Calabreses,” Mario finishes, his scarred face soft with emotion as he looks at his new wife.

“That’s what we do,” I tell them simply, keeping my tone neutral. Because while I’m not thrilled about their past betrayals, I’m also not interested in relitigating old grievances at their wedding. Some things you move past for the sake of family peace, even if you don’t entirely forget them.

The drive home is quiet, Romeo sleeping peacefully in his car seat while Alessandro and I hold hands across the center console.

The city lights blur past the windows, and I find myself thinking about how much has changed in such a short time.

A year and a half ago, I was angry and lost, convinced that learning the truth about my parentage had destroyed everything I thought I knew about myself.

Now I understand that it actually freed me to become exactly who I was always meant to be.

“No regrets?” Alessandro asks softly, as if he can read my thoughts.

“About what?” I ask, genuinely curious.

He shrugs. “Any of it. The trials, the violence, choosing this life instead of something normal and safe.”

I consider this seriously, looking back at Romeo’s sleeping face in the rearview mirror, then at Alessandro’s profile illuminated by the dashboard lights.

“Not one,” I tell him honestly. “This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”

And it is. This messy, beautiful life we’ve built together. This family that chose each other and fought to stay together.

This love that’s strong enough to survive anything our world throws at us.

Romeo stirs in his sleep, making those soft baby sounds that melt my heart every time.

He’ll grow up knowing exactly who he is and where he belongs, surrounded by people who would die to protect him and live to love him.

That’s the only legacy that really matters.