“Cesare—” she moaned, her voice soft but desperate. I smiled against her skin, my tongue tracing her, my fingers gripping her hips to hold her steady as she began rocking against my mouth.
“Come for me,” I murmured, and she did, her body tightening, her cry muffled against the pillow.
I kissed her softly afterward, my hands stroking her, my heart full despite the chaos outside.
We lay tangled in the narrow bed, her head on my chest, my fingers tracing patterns on her skin. The world was still broken, but in that moment, we were whole. Alive. Together.
I closed my eyes, the weight of everything we’d been through pressing down on me. Paola was no longer just a pawn in her father’s game, a replacement for the woman I’d been forced to marry. She was mine, and I was hers, bound by something far stronger than duty or obligation.
But the shadows of our pasts lingered, a reminder that our world was built on violence and betrayal.
My hand brushed her jawline, thumb ghosting over her lower lip. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For that. For being here. For not running when this life gets impossible."
"Where would I run? You're my home now."
The admission settled over both of us.Home. Not the penthouse. Not New York. Each other.
"I love you," I said. Easier now than the first time. Still true. Still essential.
"I love you too." She kissed my chest carefully, avoiding the bandages. "We're going to be okay. All three of us."
The baby. Our family. Our future.
For the first time in days, I believed it might actually be true.
We were almost asleep when my phone buzzed. Giulo’s tired voice reported, “We have her. Sofia's daughter. She's safe.”
Relief flooded through me. "Where is she now?"
"We’re on our way to the hospital. I thought Sofia should see her here. Neutral ground. Plus medical can check Isabella out, make sure she's not injured. She doesn’t seem to be, at least not physically, but…"
"Good call. Bring them both."
I hung up, told Paola the news.
"One piece off Viktor's board," she said sleepily, eyelids drooping now that this part of the war was over. "He just lost his leverage."
"Yeah. But tomorrow's still coming. The hearing. Whatever Viktor has planned."
"We'll face it. Together."
"Together."
Tomorrow was Monday. The bail hearing. Everything came down to this.
But tonight, we had each other.
And that was enough.
We finally slept, wrapped around each other.
CHAPTER 21
Paola
