I always thought I was prepared for anything. I’d faced enemies in dark alleys, dodged bullets, stared down men twice my size without flinching. But nothing—not a single damn thing—could have prepared me for this moment.For the absolute onslaught that came the second we stepped into the arrivals terminal.Sienna barely had time to breathe before her mother pulled her into a crushing hug, her father standing just behind her, looking more hesitant than anything. My mother, on the other hand, wasted no time before her arms were around me, gripping me so tight I almost lost feeling in my arms.“Oh, Luca,” she murmured, voice thick with emotion. “You’re back.”I let out a small laugh, hugging her back. “Yeah, Ma. I’m back.”Cassie, standing just beside her, gave me an exaggerated eye roll. “Finally. I swear to God, another week and I would’ve flown to Europe myself to drag your ass home.”Ethan smirked, standing with his hands in his pockets. “I was rooting for him to stay. Less work for
If I thought planning a wedding would be smooth, I was dead wrong.Within minutes of our engagement announcement, Cassie had practically appointed herself head of the wedding planning committee. My mother, of course, had her own ideas. And Luca? Luca had disappeared the moment the conversation started, leaving me to fend for myself.Coward.“So,” Cassie said, scrolling aggressively through her phone, “we need to lock in a venue first. Are we thinking Italy? New York? Oh! A beach wedding? Imagine the aesthetic! Luca in an all-white suit—”“Absolutely not.”My mother interrupted, shaking her head. “A wedding should be timeless, not some casual beach affair.”Cassie scoffed. “You act like I suggested they get married in a fast-food joint.”I groaned, rubbing my temples. “Guys. It’s my wedding. Can I at least have a say?”Both women blinked at me, as if the thought had never occurred to them.I sighed.Ethan, who had been silently sipping a beer from the couch, smirked. “Should’ve eloped.
(Sienna’s POV)If I had any doubts that Cassie was unhinged, they were obliterated the second I walked into my bachelorette party.The entire place was decked out in pink neon lights, feather boas, and a dangerously overfilled bar. The air was thick with laughter, music, and just the right amount of chaos.I barely had time to process it all before Cassie shoved a sash over my head that read Bridezilla-in-Training and plopped a tiara on my head.“Time to make terrible decisions, my dear future Mrs. Russo,” she purred.I groaned. “Cass, please tell me this won’t end up with me doing something stupid.”Her grin was nothing short of evil. “Define stupid.”I was so screwed.SHOTS & CHAOSWithin minutes, the drinks started flowing.Lila, surprisingly, was the first to drag me onto the dance floor, and before I knew it, I was being spun around, Cassie yelling something about letting loose.Someone handed me a ridiculously fruity drink, and I took a sip before promptly coughing my lungs out.
(Sienna’s POV)I woke up feeling like death.My head was pounding, my throat felt dry as hell, and my limbs were tangled in something soft and feathery.What the—?I blinked blearily at the ceiling, trying to piece together how I got here. My bed was covered in pink feathers, a boa wrapped around my arm like some unholy snake, and at the foot of my bed—Cassie. Snoring. With a plastic tiara still on her head.Oh, God.Then it hit me.The drinks. The strippers. The drunk phone call to Luca.I groaned, rolling over and grabbing my phone. Ten missed calls from my fiancé.Well. At least I hadn’t woken up in jail.Small victories.OPERATION: SURVIVE THE HANGOVERI was still debating whether I could move without puking when the bedroom door slammed open.Lila, looking annoyingly fresh and way too pleased with herself, waltzed in with a tray of water, aspirin, and—God bless her—black coffee.“You look like someone murdered you in your sleep,” she said sweetly, setting the tray down.I grunte
(Sienna’s POV)I woke up before dawn.Not because I set an alarm. Not because Cassie was screaming about last-minute changes. Not even because of nerves.I just… woke up.And for a long, quiet moment, I lay there staring at the ceiling, trying to grasp the fact that this was the last morning I would wake up as Sienna Calloway.By the time the sun set today, I would be Sienna Russo.I turned my head, eyes landing on my wedding dress hanging near the window. The soft morning light hit the fabric just right, making it shimmer like something out of a fairy tale.My fairy tale.It still didn’t feel real.Not the dress. Not the wedding. Not the fact that, in just a few hours, I was going to walk down the aisle and marry Luca Russo—the boy who had once been my enemy, the man who had become my home.A soft knock on my door broke me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I called, sitting up.The door creaked open, and my mother stepped in, looking elegant as ever in a deep blue silk robe.Her eyes land
(Sienna's POV) The backyard was alive with laughter, chatter, and the warm glow of string lights twinkling overhead. The air smelled of grilled steak and freshly baked bread, mingling with the sweet scent of blooming roses from the garden. Music played softly in the background, a mix of old classics and Cassie’s terrible but oddly fitting pop playlist.It was a perfect night. A perfect gathering.A celebration of family, love, and everything we had built together.The past five years had been a whirlwind—from completing school, to navigating our careers, to raising two identical little troublemakers who had inherited Luca’s reckless charm and my penchant for stubbornness.And now, tonight, surrounded by everyone who mattered, we were celebrating life, love, and the beautiful, chaotic family we had become.I stood by the long wooden dining table, watching as Alessandro and Matteo ran in circles around their Uncle Ethan, squealing as they tried to tackle his legs.“Alright, alright!” E
(Sienna’s POV)The day started the same way it always did.With screaming.“MAMAAAAAAAA!”Sienna groaned, barely cracking an eye open as she heard the patter of little feet pounding against the hardwood floors.Beside her, Luca let out a heavy sigh.“Your turn,” he mumbled, dragging a pillow over his head.Sienna peeked at the alarm clock. 5:42 AM.She groaned. “Luca, it’s your turn.”“No, it’s not.”“Yes, it is. I dealt with their meltdown last night.”“Fine,” Luca sighed dramatically. He shifted, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer. “But if I have to get up, I demand payment.”“Payment?” she asked sleepily, already smiling.“Hmm,” he hummed, lips brushing against her shoulder. “A kiss. Minimum.”Before she could answer, a loud crash echoed through the house, followed by giggles.Sienna and Luca both shot up.“MATTEO!”“ALESSANDRO!”Luca cursed, already throwing the blanket off. “I swear, if they broke another vase—”“They take after you,” Sienna said, following h
Luca’s POVSaturday mornings in the Russo household were anything but peaceful.Luca had been rudely awakened by a flying pillow to the face, followed by the sound of Matteo and Alessandro jumping on the bed like wild animals.“Wake up, wake up, wake up!” Matteo chanted.Alessandro giggled. “Dada, we’re gonna be late!”Luca groaned, burying his face into the mattress. “Late for what?”“Soccer practice!” Matteo exclaimed, shoving him again.Alessandro nodded eagerly. “Coach said we have to be on time today, or we have to run extra laps.”Luca cracked an eye open. “Wait. We?”Matteo grinned. “Yeah! You promised to help coach today, remember?”Shit.He had promised.Sienna, who had been pretending to sleep beside him, finally peeked up from the blankets, laughing. “Looks like your morning is planned out.”Luca sighed dramatically. “Guess so.”Alessandro clapped his hands. “Yay! Now get up, Dada!”Luca groaned but sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Matteo and Alessandro immediately
(Sienna’s POV)The house was alive with laughter, the scent of fresh flowers and warm food mingling in the air as the guests arrived one after another. It felt surreal—this moment, this day. A day that marked the beginning of something far greater than Luca and me. It was the start of a new legacy, a new generation.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace on my white and gold dress. The fitted bodice hugged my waist, the flowy skirt cascading down to the floor in elegant waves. It was tradition to wear white for purity, for new beginnings, and today, everything felt pure.“Are you ready?” Luca’s voice came from behind me, deep and soothing.I turned, and there he was—my husband, the father of my children, the love of my life. He looked breathtaking in his custom-fitted navy-blue suit, the gold cufflinks matching the accents on my dress. His dark hair was styled to perfection, but it was his eyes—the way they softened when they met mine—that made my heart race.“As
(Sienna’s POV)The house was finally quiet. It was a fragile silence, the kind that came after hours of soothing newborn cries, calming restless toddlers, and making sure everything was set for the next day. I stood at the doorway of the nursery, my fingers gripping the frame as I watched my daughters sleeping soundly in their cribs.Elena and Isabella.It still felt surreal, even though I had spent the past eight weeks holding them, feeding them, memorizing every little detail about their tiny features. The gentle rise and fall of their chests, the way Isabella’s little fingers always curled around her sister’s when they were placed beside each other, the way Elena would turn her head in search of my voice.A soft smile tugged at my lips.It wasn’t just them that made my heart feel impossibly full—it was everything. The house, now brimming with life. The sound of Matteo and Alessandro’s giggles echoing through the halls. The way Luca looked at me with a depth of love that made me wea
(Luca's POV) Sienna was asleep.After more than fifteen hours of labor, screaming, crying, and a near bone-breaking grip on my hand, she had finally drifted into a well-earned rest. Her body was utterly exhausted, her face soft in slumber, strands of hair still sticking to her forehead.But me? I couldn’t sleep. Not even for a second.Because right in front of me, in the transparent bassinet beside Sienna’s hospital bed, lay our daughters.My daughters.I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. It didn’t feel real. How could it? One moment, it was just the two of us—just me and Sienna, figuring out life, navigating chaos, and now… now there were four of us.My heart clenched.They were so tiny. So fragile.One of them let out a small, soft sigh in her sleep, her tiny fingers twitching before settling against the soft pink blanket wrapped around her. Her sister lay beside her, her lips pursed slightly, looking just as peaceful.Matteo had arrived with Alessandro a few hours ago, and af
(Luca's POV) Time had never felt so slow and so fast at the same time.The past eight months had been a whirlwind. From setting up the nursery to attending doctor’s appointments, every single day had been a countdown to this moment. And now—now it was here.Sienna was in labor.And I was losing my goddamn mind.I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times. I had planned, prepared, and memorized every step of the process. But all of that went out the window the second Sienna gripped my arm and gasped, “Luca… my water just broke.”For a solid five seconds, I stared at her like a complete idiot.Then chaos erupted.“Okay—okay! We’re ready! We have the bag! We have the—where’s my phone?!” I patted down my pockets, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I barely heard Sienna groan.“Luca,” she exhaled, gripping the kitchen counter as she breathed through a contraction. “Stop panicking.”“I’m not panicking,” I lied, my hands shaking as I reach
(Sienna's POV) The news of our twin girls spread like wildfire. By the time Luca and I had finished calling everyone in our immediate circle, our families had already told their friends, and somehow, I suspected half the neighborhood knew too.Luca’s mother had called again—twice—to ask if she could start planning the baby shower immediately. My own mother had sent me a list of name suggestions before I could even finish breakfast. Even Cassie had texted me with an absurd amount of baby girl outfits she wanted to buy.And through all of this, Luca looked like a man who had been hit by a freight train.“Are you okay?” I asked him as he slumped against the kitchen counter, staring at his phone.He let out a slow breath. “I just got a message from my uncle. He says congratulations, and that we should start looking into bulletproof windows for when the girls are teenagers.”I snorted. “He’s not wrong.”Luca groaned, rubbing his face. “Sienna, do you realize how much trouble I’m in?”I ra
(Luca’s POV)I didn’t know how long I sat there, staring at the ultrasound screen like a man who’d just had his entire world flipped upside down. Twin girls.Two.Jesus Christ.I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply as I tried to process the reality of it. One baby had already been enough to completely wreck me in the best possible way, but two? I was so f***ed.Sienna was watching me, her fingers squeezing mine, probably waiting for me to say something more profound than the string of curses I’d already let loose. But my mind was short-circuiting.Twin daughters.“Luca,” she murmured, her voice softer now, like she was worried about me.I shook myself out of the trance, blinking at her before looking back at the screen, where two tiny, indistinct shapes flickered with life. My daughters.I swallowed hard, my chest tightening with something dangerously close to tears. “They’re so small,” I rasped.Dr. Caldwell chuckled. “That’s because they’re only about ten weeks along. But I
(Sienna’s POV)I sat on the edge of the bed, my fingers idly tracing the fabric of my nightgown. The past few months had been a whirlwind—recovery, adjusting back to normal life, and trying to find a sense of peace after everything we’d been through. Luca had been my rock, never leaving my side, always knowing exactly what I needed before I even said a word. And now, as the early morning light filtered through the curtains, I found myself staring down at the pregnancy test in my hands.Two lines.Two lines.I blinked. My breath hitched.No. This couldn’t be right.I grabbed another test from the drawer—one of the fancy digital ones. My hands shook as I followed the instructions, waiting the agonizing minutes for the result.“Pregnant. 3+ weeks.”A choked gasp left my lips. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears.Pregnant.I pressed a hand to my stomach, a thousand thoughts racing through my mind. We hadn’t been trying, not exactly, but we also hadn’t been preventing it. I
Luca's POV I never thought the sight of home would make my chest ache the way it did today. As the car rolled up the driveway, the massive wrought-iron gates slowly opening, I tightened my grip on Sienna’s hand.“We’re here, baby,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple.Her head rested against the seat, exhaustion still etched into her delicate features, but when she lifted her gaze to meet mine, I saw something there—relief. Hope. A softness that had been missing for too long.She smiled, small but real. “Home,” she whispered, as if testing the word on her tongue.It had been months of uncertainty, months of fighting battles that neither of us had been prepared for. The long nights in the hospital, the painful procedures, the endless waiting for answers that never seemed to come fast enough. But we had made it through.And now, we were finally back where we belonged.The front door swung open before the driver even fully stopped the car. My mother rushed out first, wiping her ha
(Sienna’s POV)The hospital doors slid open, ushering in a crisp breeze that smelled like rain-soaked pavement. It was the scent of freedom, of normalcy, of the life we had fought so hard to return to. After what felt like an eternity inside these sterile white walls, we were finally walking out as a family again.Luca held Matteo in his arms, pressing a soft kiss to our son’s temple. Matteo had always been a light sleeper, but today, exhaustion had won, and he rested against his father’s chest, his small fingers curled into the fabric of Luca’s hoodie. Alessandro clutched my hand tightly, his grip firm as if he were afraid someone would try to pull us back inside. He had been so strong through all of this, stronger than any five-year-old should ever have to be.Outside, Dr. Caldwell and Dr. Moreau stood near the entrance, watching us go.“Remember,” Dr. Moreau said, adjusting the glasses perched on his nose, “his immune system is still delicate. Keep him away from crowded places for