“Then why would you suggest that we get married!” I can’t stop myself from shouting at him. Thankfully, no one else is home, or everyone would have heard me.
He chances a glance over his shoulder and when he realizes I’m dressed, he turns to face me.
“Dante demanded I marry you instead of Luca. He wants you, a loose end, tied up and doesn’t want you destroying his son’s life.”
“Wow,” I say, not sure if those are Ashton’s words or Dante’s.
The wedding planning has been going on for months.
Why now?
Why the sudden change?
Does Luca know?
“What the hell happened, Ashton?” I step closer, prepared to beat the answer out of him if I have no other choice.
“Nova’s father found out about me and his daughter,” Ashton says. “I think this is his way of keeping me away from her.”
It’s a punishment.
For all of us.
I tilt my head back, staring at the ceiling, running my hands frustratedly through my hair. “I’m not marrying you!”
“Fine, but Dante isn’t going to be happy when you walk down the aisle and it’s his son who’s waiting for you.”
“Well, fuck him! I’m—” I shut my mouth before I say anything incriminating.
“You’re what?” Ashton asks, shaking his head, waiting for me to elaborate.
“I’m fucking tired of being told what to do,” I grumble and point at the door. “Get out of my bedroom!”
Ashton stalks to the door, throws it open, and glances at me over his shoulder. “Dante isn’t going to be pleased.”
“That makes two of us!”
I’m in bed early, after Zeke is sound asleep. The warm bed calls to me and I willingly oblige. Had it been earlier in the day, I’d have taken a nap, but it’s just after nine and I can’t seem to keep my eyes open.
I barely drift to sleep when I hear the bedroom door creak open, and I glance up, relieved to see it’s Luca and not Zeke sneaking out of bed.
Having him go from a crib to a big boy bed has been hellacious. He keeps escaping his room after I put him down, refusing to go to bed until he tires me out.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you,” Luca says as he stumbles in the darkness, fumbling through the dresser before giving up.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
I watch as he disrobes, his clothes in a pile on the floor, removing everything before climbing into bed with me.
This is a pleasant surprise.
“Come here,” he mumbles, pulling me against him and his arms wrap around my waist, holding me close.
“You’re naked,” I rasp, stating the obvious as I let my hand glide across his bare skin, grazing his hip and then slowly letting my hand wander down his stomach.
“I couldn’t find my boxers,” Luca says. “Did you rearrange the drawers again?”
I chuckle against his chest.
