“Shut the fuck up.” Luca shakes his head. “Father would be proud of you, but who the hell cares? His opinion means jack shit when you realize that you did what he couldn’t do. Bratva gone. Vitales gone. You’re stronger than Father, and I suspect it’s because of a woman.”
Alessandro looks down at me. “I suspect you’re right.”
“Gag.” Adriano makes a noise.
“Oh, please,” Alessandro says. “I had to endure you being a sad sack for years over Eva.”
“He’s not wrong,” Adriano admits.
“The point is, we need to celebrate. The Dantes are on top.”
“Hear, hear,” Luca says, holding up his whisky and drinking.
For a moment, I hope it’s not poisoned. When he doesn’t keel over, I let out a breath.
“I’m hoping Luca and Cristian can stay a few days, just to help quell any attempts at retaliation and take over the Vitale organization.”
“I can stay,” Luca says.
“Valentina will likely chew my ass, but?—”
“You love it when she chews your ass.”
“That is our sister,” Alessandro says to Adriano.
“Why don’t Katerina and Valentina and the kids come to New York? They can get to know their new sister-in-law better,” Eva suggests.
“Good idea.” Alessandro looks at me. “If you’re up to it.”
“I’m always up for family.”
He smiles, and it’s one I haven’t seen before. There’s no hint of tension. It’s just plain happy. “Good, then we can tell them about the baby.”
The room explodes with cheers. Eva is the first to reach me and pull me into a hug. "Our children will grow up together."
One by one, they surround us. Luca claps Alessandro on the back. Adriano kisses my cheek and promises to be the fun uncle. Cristian offers congratulations, saying that nothing will keep Valentina away now.
And through it all, Alessandro never lets go of me.
Later, as the celebration continues around us, he leads me out onto the terrace. The night air is cool and clean. I feel like I can breathe.
"Are you happy?" His voice is uncharacteristically uncertain.
I look up at him. "I used to dream about escaping. About running far from my life.”
His jaw tightens slightly, but I smooth away the tension with my fingertips. “I found my life. With you.”
Alessandro pulls me close, one hand cradling my face while the other tugs me close to him. "We're going to build a life together, Isabella Dante," he murmurs against my lips.
For the first time in my life, I belong. I have love. I have a family.
EPILOGUE
Alessandro – Two years later
I step out onto the terrace of our Long Island estate after a long meeting with the Collisono family. My family is sprawled around the pool and playing on the lawn.
Valentina chases three-year-old Matteo while her husband, Cristian, laughs.
