Page 152 of Righteous Enforcer
The reception blazes with light and laughter in the Dante estate gardens. Fairy lights twinkle overhead as Adriano leads me in our first dance.
"Happy, Mrs. Dante?" he murmurs against my ear.
"Beyond words." I rest my head against his chest, savoring the beat of his heart, knowing it beats for me.
Luca and Katerina dance up next to us. According to Adriano, both Luca and Cristian came to New York right after the incident with the Bratva and “cleaned up” the rest of the scourge. Apparently, Luca and Cristian had their own beefs with the Bratva and were happy to make sure the threat was finally eliminated.
“Welcome to the family—officially," Luca says as he twirls his wife. "I know what it's like to find your way back."
“Thank you.”
As we dance, I take in this newfound family I have. Valentina and Cristian, dancing with their baby between them. Enzo and Mirabella running around catching fireflies.
Across the room, Alessandro catches my eye and offers the barest nod. Not quite acceptance, but a truce.
“I hope my family doesn’t scare you away.” He means it as a joke, but there was a time his family did scare me.
“There’s a lot of love here, Adriano. I feel it.” Tears sting my eyes, which embarrasses me, but I’m so filled with emotion. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted for me and Mirabella.”
“You’ll never lack for love, baby. Never.” His promise is as solid as he is.
Valentina and Cristian agree to watch Mirabella as Adriano takes me into Manhattan to a fancy hotel for our wedding night.
Adriano slides the key card into the lock and then sweeps me up into his arms, carrying me across the threshold.
The day has been a whirlwind of emotion, laughter, and dancing. Now, finally, we're alone.
"Do you think Mirabella will be okay?" I ask. I don’t know why I worry. Old habits, I guess.
"She couldn't drag Valentina to the fairy castle in her room fast enough." Adriano chuckles. "Our daughter practically pushed us out the door."
"Wife," he murmurs, pulling me close to him, the word sending delicious shivers down my spine.
"Husband," I reply, looping my arms around his neck.
"I have something for you," I say, suddenly remembering what I’d tucked away into my clutch.
Adriano raises an eyebrow, that half-smile playing across his lips. "Is it this sweet body of yours?”
“Well, yes, in a minute. But I have something else too.” I hand him a small box wrapped in silver paper. He studies my face before carefully unwrapping it.
When he lifts the lid, his expression freezes. The positive pregnancy test lies nestled in tissue paper, a tiny note beside it reading,Baby Dante #2 arriving in 7 months.
"Eva.” His gaze lifts to mine, and in his eyes I see all the love I’ve ever wanted.
"I found out three days ago. I wanted to wait until we were alone."
"A baby.” He lets out a giddy laugh. “We're having another baby."
His kiss is fierce yet tender, possessive yet reverent. “I love you so fucking much.”
“And I love you.”
He sweeps me up again, carrying me to our bed. As he lays me down, his touch changes. It’s slow and gentle, like he’s worshiping me.
"I'll do better this time," he promises, pressing kisses along my collarbone. "I'll be there for everything."
I pull him closer, undoing his tie. "I can’t wait."
