Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78627 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I finally get to head to the suite, and the moment I step inside, there’s a chorus of shouts from my women.
“Dio! Dio! What happened to you?” Mamma worries.
“Jesus, Armani,” Tiana gasps as she rushes to my side. “Come sit. Did you get medical attention? Where does it hurt? What can I do?”
I slump down on a couch and grin at my family, who’s fussing over me.
“I’m fine,” I say to set them all at ease. “I only have a broken arm.”
When Mamma is sure I’m not going to die, she says, “You need to eat.” She and Zia Giada check the menu and order half the dishes on it.
Tiana keeps inspecting every inch of my body, her fingers gently brushing over the fresh cast on my forearm.
“I’m fine, bella,” I reassure her.
“Misha and Alek?” she asks, worry still dancing in her eyes.
“They’re fine, too.”
She lets out a sigh of relief. “I was so worried.”
I press a kiss to her mouth and pull her closer until she’s nestled against my side. “Makarova is dead.”
Mr. Aslanhov went to Makarova’s property and notified us just before we landed in Geneva. There was enough of his body left to identify him but not enough to fill a coffin. Viktor demanded a photo as proof, and I got a glimpse of the charred body.
Needless to say, I was fucking happy to see Makarova’s dead body.
I hope the fucker suffered.
Once again, relief washes over her beautiful features. “Finally, we’re rid of him.”
I press a kiss to her hair before resting my cheek against the silky strands. “Now we can go on with our lives.”
She nods. “And live happily ever after.”
I place my hand against her abdomen. “With our baby.”
“And us,” Mamma mutters, then surprise flutters over her features. “Baby? We’re having a baby?”
When I nod, Zia Giada and Mamma let out shouts of happiness and come to pull us up from the couch so they can hug us.
When they calm down, I say, “Let’s go home. I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“But I ordered food,” Mamma protests.
“I’ll cancel the order,” I say before calling the kitchen to tell them not to worry.
Ushering my family out of the suite, we pass Misha in the hallway.
“We’re heading home,” I tell him.
He quickly hugs Tiana and meets my eyes over the top of her head. “Let me know when you’re safely home. I’ll bring Aurora for a long weekend visit once I finish the training.”
“Which means we’ll see you in a week.”
Alek comes out of a room, and I ask, “Are you coming to visit as well once you’re done here?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, I won’t be able to. I’m leaving with Viktor and joining him in LA.”
Closing the distance between us, I give my friend a brotherly hug. “Don’t be a stranger. Come visit when you get the chance.”
“Same goes for you,” he mutters.
When I pull back, I can see he’s happy about joining Viktor in America. I think the change of scenery will do him a world of good. And he’ll get away from his father.
Happy for Alek, I ask Misha, “Do you know what you’ll do when you’re done with training?”
Nodding, he says, “I’ll supervise Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary.”
My eyebrows fly up. “That’s a huge area, brother. I’m happy for you.”
Alek and Misha walk us to the front entrance of the castle, and we pause to say our goodbyes. Promising to stay in touch, I bundle my family into an SUV, and as we drive away, I hope to all that’s holy, I don’t have to come back to St. Monarch’s ever again. I’ve had my fill of the place the past three years.
Chapter 43
Tiana
Seven months later…
The moment the nurse placed our son in Armani’s arms, I watched him fall irrevocably in love.
It was a sight to see and left me wiping tears from my cheeks.
Diego De Santis.
I let Armani choose the name because Diego is our firstborn, who will carry on his father’s legacy.
I had to spend three days in the hospital, but we’re finally on our way home.
With our baby.
I stare at the sleeping bundle in my arms, vowing once again to give him the world.
Mama loves you so much, my little boy. I’ll give you everything I never had.
Armani glances at us, and a stupidly happy grin spreads over his face. “I can’t stop looking at you holding our son. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Diego makes cute little sounds, making Armani and I melt in our seats.
“He’s so cute,” I coo. “Look at his tiny fingers.”
When we get home, we walk to the nursery, and I check Diego’s diaper before laying him in his brand-new crib.
We stare at our sleeping son, then Armani says, “He’s sleeping in our room, right?”
“Definitely.” I pick him up again and carry him to our room.