Cesare nods and makes his way over to Lorenzo, having a brief word. Moments later, Lorenzo is striding purposefully toward Daire and Rurik on the dance floor.
I see Lorenzo tap Rurik on the shoulder and say something. Rurik steps back with a nod, allowing Lorenzo to take his place as Daire's dance partner. As they begin moving together, I notice Daire's posture tighten.
Oh, that does not look good.
"Crisis averted," Cesare murmurs as he returns to my side.
As I watch the young couple on the dance floor, I can't help but wonder what's going on. When Daire was dancing with Rurik, she was at ease and comfortable. But with Lorenzo? She's tense as a bow, and they're barely speaking.
I think back to how Cesare and I were at the beginning and realize it could just be pressure and uncertainty.
My gaze moves to Elisabetta, and I see she's dancing with Rurik's older brother, Danil. She looks beyond beautiful tonight and has turned many heads, including her soon-to-be fiancé's. She looks confident, and I love that she's finding herself.
"Are you doing okay?" Cesare asks softly so only I can hear.
"I'm fine. A little tired, but good," I reply.
"If you need to leave, just let me know."
I press closer to him, loving how attentive he is. I could never have imagined this when we first married, but Cesare has shown me over and over just how amazing he is.
I'm beyond excited to begin the next chapter of our lives, and I really hope everything works out for the best. I want everyone to be as happy as I am.
But as I watch Lorenzo and Daire's stilted dance, a knot of worry forms in my stomach. Not all arranged marriages turn out like mine and Cesare's.
Some remain cold, distant, unfulfilling.
I just pray that's not the fate awaiting his children.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
cesare
ONE YEAR LATER
I watchas Vittoria tenderly holds our son, Matteo. It’s hard to believe he's just over four months old now. He looks so much like Giovanni did as a baby, same dark eyes, same stubborn chin.
My gaze drifts to her once-again-flat stomach, where our second child is growing. It's fucking unbelievable how much has changed in a year.
When I married Vittoria, it was to strengthen Syndicate ties with a European faction. I never intended on falling in love. Yet everything I've learned about my wife has been a surprise. She's an incredible woman, and because of her, the Syndicate has grown immensely. We're now in business with Zhang Longwei, thanks to Olezka's right-hand man and brother marrying Zhang's sister.
Matteo gurgles happily in Vittoria's arms as she rocks him gently. I move to them.
"How are you feeling?" I ask, taking a seat beside her.
She smiles up at me, leaning into my side. "A little tired, but good. The morning sickness isn't as bad this time around."
I place my hand on her stomach where our baby is growing. She's ten weeks along now. "I still can't believe we're having another one so soon," I say with a chuckle.
"Your children will say the same once we tell them?—”
She's cut off by the sound of my phone ringing. I glance at the screen and see it's Andrea, one of the guards at the front gate.
Fuck. This can't be good.
"Yes?"
"Boss, Ronan Delaney is here and says it's important. It's about Lorenzo and his daughter's union."
