"I'm so glad you and Alessandro finally made up. You were just a terrible person to be around." Phoebe looks at me from the corner of her eye, wary that I might throw her with my teacup. I might still do it, too. "Fuck you." I give her the middle finger. "You know, in a few months you are going to be a mother, maybe you should start practicing using better language." It looks like my sister really has a death wish today. "I'm only saying this out of concern for my nephew and the other two who we are yet to find out." She claps her hands together in glee. "I'm so excited, do you like my outfit?" She looks like something straight out of a Barbie commercial. "You don't think it's too much pink?" I ask sweetly. "No!" She exclaims like I'm insane. " I'm channeling all female energy. I can do with one boy, I'm holding all fingers and toes that the other two are girls." "You do know that we don't know if they're identical or not, right? Because if they are identical, all three of t
I proudly step back as I take in my very first Christmas tree. I turn on the lights, and I laugh in glee as it lights up the huge room. "That's insane!" T.J. bounces on the balls of his feet. I enlisted his help today to put the tree up, and I have to admit that I've never felt this childlike joy before. Maybe I wasn't meant to be this hard-shelled person. Maybe the only reason I was like this in the first place was because I never had the chance to experience the simple joys of a Christmas tree. "You guys did a good job." Alma says from the kitchen. I hold my hand up for a high five from my assistant. "We did a great job." He smashes his hand against mine. "Next year, I'll have three new friends to help me!" I laugh, not telling him that those little friends won't be able to do anything but cry and poop. "But this year you're the only kid getting presents." I ruffle his hair. His eyes go wide with excitement. "Do you think my dad will get me a drone?" "If he doesn't, I'll ge
Phoebe is in disbelief when we stop at Alessandro's private plane. "What the hell is this?" Thomas turns around in his seat to look at us. "The wedding has been compromised. Clearly, someone knew where we were going that wanted to harm us." In this life, I've learned that nothing can surprise me anymore. "What do you mean!" Phoebe cries out. "But I had everything planned!" "Don't worry, okay? We have your plans." Thomas gets out, and I follow him. We round the car to look at the damage that one hit got in. "Do you know who that could've been?" I ask him. He shakes his head. "No, it could've been anyone." There are just too many enemies, I can't even keep track of them all anymore. But my life has always been a shitshow. Why would I expect it to be any different. "So where are we going now?" I want to know. "And did you anticipate something happening? " "Rule number one," Thomas looks me in the eyes. "Always anticipate something happening, got it?" I nod. "When you're a pow
"Good morning, sleepy head." I struggle to open my eyes and moan in pleasure as he rains kisses down my face. "Wake up, baby, we have guests." He chuckles in my ear. In another life I would've attacked him with my knife, but my body is working overtime. This would be a perfect time to kidnap me, actually, because I simply wouldn't have the energy to fight back. "I know you're tired." More kisses on my exposed shoulder. "But it's already eleven, and I told everyone we'll have a wedding brunch." This makes me open my eyes. I'm getting married in one day. Alessandro smiles down at me. "Good morning." I rub the sleep from my eyes. "When did you get in?" He kisses me softly on the forehead. "A few hours ago. Are you okay after yesterday?" There's fury in his eyes, and I lift my hand to rub the frown from his forehead. "I'm good, not even a scratch. Thomas has mad driving skills." I smile. "Okay, let me get up and get the boys fed." He smirks and bends down to kiss me swiftly on
Phoebe squeezes my hand hard as we enter the courtyard where the brunch that is now more likely a lunch is begin held. She knows how much I hate attention. How Alessandro thought this was a good idea is beyond me. And without telling me, too. "Just smile." Phoebe whispers as everyone stops what they're doing and look at us. I think I grimace more than smile as Alessandro stops talking to a man I absolutely don't know and walks over to me with a devilish smile. "Baby, you look beautiful." He bends down to kiss me, and I subtly punch him in the stomach without anybody noticing. "What the fuck is Phoebe talking about some feature in the newspaper!" I whisper through gritted teeth. "I thought I had to lay low!" He has the audacity to look amused. "This way that motherfucker would know that you are mine, that you're pregnant with my babies." Well, if he puts it that way it probably makes sense. "And apparently, I'm the most eligible bachelor in the city. Don't you want people to kno
"You look absolutely beautiful." Phoebe whispers behind me, her face stoic. I look at myself in the full-length mirror and take a deep breath. This is it. I'm getting married. I'm twenty-one, pregnant, and on the verge of making the biggest decision of my life. I don't even feel an ounce of fear. I should, because I'm young and technically inexperienced. Plus, I'm in danger just because I'm with Alessandro. But I'm not scared. I haven't felt so one hundred percent sure about anything before. The flowiness of the dress hides the baby bump that seems to be growing by the day. I'm not scared of that either. My body is a vessel for these boys to come through, and I don't care if it has to stretch to maximum capacity for them. "I'm so proud of you." Phoebe hugs me from behind. I smile at her in the mirror. "For getting knocked up and married?" "No, for being the best fucking person a sister could ever ask for." Tears shine in her eyes. "You are my rock, and I couldn't have asked
I stare up into Alessandro's brown eyes as we lightly sway to slow music underneath thousands of fairy lights. Apparently, the reception is set up exactly as Phoebe planned for the beach house, and she cried tears of joy when she saw all her plans come together. And I have to say that even I like it. The decor is all white, and nothing is over the top, which I appreciate. "You ready to get out of here?" Alessandro kisses my lips lightly, sending tingles down my spine. "You want to fuck your new wife?" I tease with a smile. He smirks. "All night long." "Well, I have to go pee like right now." I disentangle myself from his embrace. "I'll be right back." I wave to T.J. on my way to the restroom, who is dancing with Phoebe with a big smile on his face. Everyone is either smiling or laughing, and I wish that I could bottle that and keep it forever. I stop in my tracks when I open the door of the restroom. There are three large stalls, and right now, there are loud moans coming from
Something about Mattia is nagging at me. I don't know if it's the smug way he looked at me when he emerged from that bathroom or if it's just my sixth sense going into overdrive. And I hate Raquel with a passion. She nearly killed Dario, so that makes her a murderer as much as me. But what the fuck was she thinking sleeping with her fake fiancée's uncle? That's just plain sleazy. And here I thought she was miss prim and proper, but she's just another ho disguised in designer wear and diamonds. And they call me the dirt under their shoes? But this is my wedding night. Although unplanned, I snagged the most eligible bachelor in the city, and I'm not going to let dirty uncles and debutants stand in the way of enjoying the most delicious thing that's ever been on my plate. The waves outside our bedroom crash against rocks in a harmonic melody, perfect for the mood inside the candle lit room. "Mmm." Alessandro traces a finger down my lace clad arm. "How do I get this thing off withou