I wiped the cool gel off my stomach, grabbed the ultrasound printout, and stepped out of the room. Diego and Nicholas were waiting outside.
Ever since Giorgio’s promotion, these two had become my new bodyguards. Diego was Giorgio’s cousin. I’d known him for years, seen him around the house and the hotel.
Nicholas, on the other hand, carried that quiet danger I’d come to recognize in men like Carlo. People called him theAngel of Death. Rumor had it he’d won several underground death matches, but he never spoke of them.
They’d been by my side for almost a year. Unlike Giorgio, there was no friendship between us, only duty. Maybe it was because neither of them dared get too close to me. Or maybe I was too busy. Between the demands of the hotel and managing the household, I didn’t have the time or energy to make new friends.
Diego smiled politely as I approached, holding the car door open for me. Nicholas remained silent, stoic, his eyes sweeping the area for any threat.
“Everything alright, ma’am?” Diego asked.
I nodded, clutching the ultrasound printout to my chest, a secret smile playing on my lips. “Yes. Everything’s perfect.”
I climbed into the car, my thoughts already racing ahead to tomorrow. The news I carried wasn’t just mine anymore. It wasours. And I couldn’t wait to see Carlo’s face when he found out.
Diego glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Heading back to the hotel?”
“No,” I said, slipping the ultrasound safely into my bag. “We’re going home. And by the way, don’t mention where we went to Carlo. This is something I need to tell him myself.”
“Yes, Mrs. Bruni.”
As I stepped out of the car, I heard Diablo’s loud, ferocious barking before I even saw him. They say first impressions matter, and that definitely held true for Diablo and me.
Four years had passed, and despite the unbreakable bond between Carlo and his massive, terrifying dog, Diablo, he and I were still like oil and water. His predatory eyes always looked at me like he was dying to rip me apart.
What surprised me, though, was that lately... something in me had shifted. I’d started wanting to get closer to him, to ease the tension. At first, I couldn’t figure out why.
Later, I chalked it up to pregnancy hormones. But what confused me more washisbehavior. He’d gotten even more reactive, barking the second he spotted me. If he weren’t male, I would’ve sworn he was pregnant too, judging by how erratic he’d become.
The guard who handled him kept him tightly secured whenever I was nearby. Carlo always insisted Diablo wouldn’t attack unless ordered, but I wasn’t buying it. I could swear that beast was biding his time, waiting for the chance to take me out.
I grabbed my jacket from the car and slung it over my shoulder, shivering a little as the evening chill crept in. By the time I reached my room, I could feel the familiar weight of exhaustion settling in.
I dropped onto the bed and pulled the ultrasound photo from my bag, staring at it again. My little dot. The doctor said it was only 0.04 inches, but it was already turning my world upside down.
My phone rang. Seeing Carlo’s name on the screen made me smile instantly. I answered fast, not giving him a chance to speak first. “I miss you so much.”
His voice came through, light and teasing. “You have no idea what’s going through my head right now, Mrs. Bruni. You better be ready for some serious post-mission action, ‘cause I’m not holding back.”
“Don’t hold back, just get home,” I murmured, my voice already starting to shake. Damn these hormones.
He caught it right away. “What’s wrong, baby? You don’t sound okay.”
I pulled myself together. “I miss my husband. Do you even know how many days it’s been since I kissed you? Since I felt you?”
His tone shifted back to playful.
“Oh, I know exactly how many days. Me and my cock have been counting the minutes.”
Then his voice softened, promising, “Just one more night.”
I kissed the phone and whispered, “Just one more night.”
***
I turned on the hot shower, letting the steam and warmth soak into my skin. Every inch of me buzzed with happiness. It had been four years since I first set foot in this house, and back then, I never imagined I’d fall in love with a man as terrifying as Carlo.
I never thought I’d earn my degree or end up running one of the world’s top five-star hotel branches. And now... I was going to be a mother.
