Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Vincent laughed and clapped his hands together. “And you burned it all.”
“That I did. He also didn’t know if the ties ran to the Vigo Bratva and King. They don’t. Diego wasn’t able to win them over. His plan was to earn enough money to buy the respect of the capos. He won over Ricardo, but he wanted the free cash, and it was easy money.”
Lily-Mae sighed. “Yeah, that is what I learned.”
Massimo looked toward her. “Russo is waiting for you.”
He moved out of the way of the door. “Thank you,” he said. “For rescuing my wife.”
“It’s the least I could do.” Lily-Mae turned to Adelina. “And I am sorry for all the bad stuff I’ve said and done.”
“It’s good. We’re even.”
Lily-Mae nodded and left.
“Is she going to be okay?” Isabella asked.
“Yeah, Russo is going to take care of her. She was never even tempted by Diego’s schemes, which is a surprise.” He shrugged. “Her family wanted the easy way. Not her.”
“Adelina’s pregnant,” Isabella said, suddenly shouting the words. “I’m sorry. I know it’s not the right time to bring it up, but when is a good time? We were kidnapped and nearly sold into sex slavery, so I guess keeping stuff to ourselves is not exactly the plan. She’s pregnant and I’m going to be an auntie, and you’re going to be a granddad, and you’re going to be a daddy.”
He cupped his wife’s face and looked her in the eye. “I’m going to be a dad?” he asked.
“Yeah. I took the test.”
“We told her it would be good news for when you came home.”
Massimo smiled, then he picked his wife up in his arms and twirled her around in the air before bringing her back down and taking possession of her lips.
He loved this woman with all of his heart and soul.
He was never going to let her go.
She belonged to him, just as he was now hers, in every way possible.
Epilogue
Five Years Later
Massimo held his newborn daughter, Elsebeth, against his chest, as Thomas squealed, quickly handing his grandpa the tinsel for the tree.
After his mother died, Christmases had been more reserved. They had done something for Isabella, for her to feel the magic, but it had lost that sparkle his mother had brought to it.
Adelina had helped to bring it back for them. As well as his two children. Also, Isabella had also had a child. Massimo was still not a big fan of Luca Santiago. He was considered the Russo Mafia Lothario, with plenty of notches on his bedpost. Much to his surprise, Luca had been the one to chase Isabella.
While his sister refused to cave easily, it had been a four-year courtship that finally ended in marriage, and now a newborn son for his sister. They had a full house.
Massimo stayed in his family home, while Isabella had moved in with Luca, but they had come home for the holidays, because Isabella absolutely loved Adelina and her family.
He looked across the sitting room to Luca who held his newborn son, Matthew. Isabella was in the kitchen with Adelina.
“I think it is time for a drink,” Vincent said, looking at the tree.
He was a proud grandpa.
“Catch me, Grandpa,” Thomas said. His son had climbed up on the sofa and threw himself at his grandfather, who caught him.
“Thomas, how many times must I tell you that you’re not supposed to climb on the furniture?” Adelina said, tutting as she walked in. She carried a tray of hot chocolate, and Isabella followed behind with the cookies they had recently made.
It had been an interesting time—his wife and sister learning to bake cookies. They wanted to get as traditional as possible, and home baking apparently equaled traditional.
His father and he had to learn to be polite in some of their offerings. After five years of practice, they had been able to finally produce some delicious cookies. Adelina came to his side and looked down at their sleeping daughter.
“She is going to be awake all night long,” Adelina said.
“I don’t mind. I’ll stay up.”
The truth was, they would both stay up. Massimo was always there for his kids. His father had been the same.
His dad, Vincent Salvatore, no longer hid from the world. He was very much present in the Russo Mafia.
Adelina had come into their lives, and without even realizing it, she had saved them all. She had certainly saved him. He wasn’t lying when he told her the only reason he went to those damn parties was to see her.
She was the love of his life, and the best thing he ever did was make sure she belonged to him.
The End