“Yeah, I guess.”

  “So show her that what she sees is what she gets with you and that she’d be lucky to have you in her life,” Maria says.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “Good,” Maria says, seeming pleased with herself.

  “How’s Car?”

  “She’s sore, but on the road to recovery.”

  “And the baby?”

  “Just fine, thank God.”

  “No kidding. That’s a huge relief.”

  “It is. Car will be coming home tomorrow with orders to take it easy for a few weeks.”

  “I’m glad they’re both okay.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Can you guys keep a secret?” Sofia asks in her usual soft tone.

  Maria and I turn to her.

  “I can, but I’m not so sure about her.”

  Maria smacks my arm. “Hush. What’s up, Sofia?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh my God! That’s amazing! All our kids will grow up together.”

  “I know.” Sofia raises her sunglasses to wipe away tears. “I haven’t told Nico yet.”

  “Um, why?” Maria asks, saving me from doing it.

  “I’m not sure it’s what he wants. I mean, we’re not even married yet and—”

  I reach out to her. “Sofia, he loves you with all his heart. He’ll be thrilled. You have nothing to worry about where he’s concerned.”

  “What am I going to be thrilled about?” Nico asks from across the pool deck.

  “Go tell him,” I whisper to her. “We’ll watch Mateo.”

  “Thank you.” Sofia gets up and tells Mateo to behave for a minute and that Maria and I are in charge.

  “Okay, Mama,” he says before he goes back to splashing with Everly.

  “This is so exciting,” Maria says as we watch Sofia go to Nico and direct him inside.

  “It sure is.”

  I’m thrilled for my brother and Sofia even as my own heart aches with longing for the one I love and miss so much.

  * * *

  NICO

  “What’s going on?” I ask as I follow Sofia upstairs to our room.

  As she gestures for me to go in ahead of her, I start to worry that something is wrong. And then she closes the door, and my anxiety spikes. The heightened state of alert I’ve been in for weeks has made my anxiety worse than it’s ever been.

  “Sofia…”

  She comes to me, puts her hands on my chest and presses her sun-warmed body against me.

  That’s all it takes for me to want her. Actually, it usually takes much less than that.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  I blink a few times as the words register, and then I’m whooping and picking her up and spinning her around until she begs me to stop.

  “Nico! I’m going to be sick!”

  I put her down and wait until she’s steady on her feet to pull back so I can see her gorgeous face. “We’re having a baby?”

  “Yes. I know we didn’t plan it so soon, and we’re not even married yet—”

  I kiss her. “We’ll get married tomorrow.”

  “What?”

  “Why not? It’s what we both want, and now there’s a baby. We can have a big celebration after the baby comes.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  I kiss her until she goes weak in my arms. I’ll never get tired of the way she responds to me or how I respond to her. “I’m crazy in love with you, and all I want is to be married to you and to adopt Mateo and to have more babies with you. I want us to have it all.”

  “I already have it all as long as I have you and Mateo and our baby.”

  “Then let’s get married and make it official.”

  “Can we at least wait until the weekend, so I have five minutes to buy a dress?”

  “I suppose I can wait that long, but not one minute longer.”

  “So impatient, my love.”

  “To be your husband? Yes, I am. I can’t wait to have everything with you.”

  “I’m the luckiest to be loved by you.”

  “I’m the luckiest.”

  “We’re both lucky,” I tell her as I guide her to the bed. With Maria and Milo watching Mateo, we can steal a few minutes for ourselves. “And we’re just getting started.”

  * * *

  DEE

  I wake up with no idea where I am, the sound of monitors beeping a quick reminder that I’m in the hospital with Wyatt, who’s still asleep next to me. Probably because he’s so well liked at Miami-Dade, no one objected to me sleeping at his side in the narrow hospital bed. We both sleep better when we’re together, even in a hospital.

  The events of yesterday and all the associated emotions come rushing back to remind me of how terrifying it was to be certain that Wyatt’s heart was failing, and he might die.

  I guess that’s how it’s going to be any time anything out of the ordinary happens with his health. I’m always going to panic and go straight to the worst-case scenario. I hate that my brain works that way, but with his situation being somewhat precarious, who could blame me?

  “Why are you spinning first thing in the morning?” he asks in the gruff morning voice I love so much. More than anything, I love that I’m the only one who ever hears that version of his sexy voice.

  “I’m not spinning.”

  “Don’t make it worse by lying to me, babe.”

  “I’m just thinking and realizing a few things.”

  “Like what?”

  “That I’ll always be terrified at the first sign of illness in you.”

  His deep sigh says it all. “I wish you didn’t have to live that way.”

  “It’s a small price to pay for all the good stuff that comes with you. We have so much to be thankful for.”

  “Yes, we do, and I want you to stay focused on that and not always be anticipating disaster. I work in a hospital. I picked up a germ. It happens.”

  “We both know how those germs can be anything but routine for you.”

  “We do, but we can’t live our lives constantly waiting for disaster to strike either.”

  “I don’t do that. I swear I don’t. I go days without even thinking about it, but when something like this happens, I can’t help but be triggered.”

  “I know, baby, and I’m so sorry to put you through that.”

  “Don’t be sorry. Loving you and having you love me is the best thing to ever happen to me.”

  “Same.”

  He twirls a length of my hair around his finger, something he does nearly every day. It’s those little familiar things that make me feel so at home with him. “I wish more than anything that we could have all this without the black cloud hanging over us.”

  “The cloud is part of who we are, and I love who we are. I’m sorry if I overreacted yesterday, but it’s your fault for making me so damned happy that the thought of losing you is terrifying to me.”

  He snuggles me into his embrace. “I’m not going anywhere except home with you later today, I hope.”

  “Are you sure it’s not too soon to go home?”

  “I’m very sure. I’m fine, Dee. I promise.”

  Since he knows better than I ever will about when we should be truly afraid, I take him at his word and try to relax so my own heart won’t fail at the thought of life without my beloved.

  * * *

  NICO

  In the end, it takes us three weeks to pull together a wedding that will include Sofia’s newfound family in Minnesota. She recently located her father, who’d had no idea she existed, and learned she had a stepmother and three half-siblings, too. They’re arriving tomorrow and staying with us, which has had Sofia cleaning every inch of the house and cooking like a madwoman. Despite my pleas to let others help her, she wants to do it herself. “This is the first time I’ve had my family to our home,” she told me. “I want to make it perfect.”

  So I stood by and let her do her thing, while helping where she’d let me. I’m worried that she’s going to drop from exhaustion before she says, “I do.” But the funny thing is, the harder she works, the more she glows with happiness.

  She has me, Mateo, my family and now hers as well as a baby on the way, and she’s never seemed happier or more content as she prepares for the arrival of her father, stepmother and half siblings. Nothing pleases me more to see the change in her, from haunted and terrorized when we first met, to happy and peaceful now. That’s how I want her to stay forever.

  My mother and grandmothers have been cooking all week for the wedding dinner, and we’re just about ready for the festivities to begin.

  Milo comes downstairs, finally looking more like his old self than he has since the shooting. He rubs his hands together with glee that I can tell is manufactured. He’s barely smiled since he last saw Gianna, but he’s trying to rally for my bachelor party tonight.

  “Ready to party, brother?”

  “Ready when you are. Is this really happening at the Ball & Chain?”

  “Dude… Of course it is.”

  “Remember… Payback is a bitch.” I immediately regret the comment when his smile falters. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. No worries about payback for a while.”

  “You don’t know that for sure.”

  “Three weeks and hardly a word from her.”

  “Have you reached out to her?”

  “I sent her a couple of cards and some flowers to let her know I’m thinking of her, like the girls said I should. She texts to thank me and says she hopes I’m doing well.” He shrugs as heartbreak emanates from every pore in his body. I hate this for him so much.

  “Well, it’s her loss if you ask me.”

  That gets me half a smile from him. “Thanks. Let’s put that aside for the night and focus on you.”

  “Do we have to?”

  “Yes, we have to.”

  The front door opens as our cousin Domenic comes in, followed by Jason, Austin and Wyatt. We’re so thankful he’s back to full health after his bout with pneumonia and would appreciate him not scaring us—or Dee—like that again any time soon.

  “You boys ready to rumble?” Dom asks.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I mutter.

  “The groom thinks this isn’t necessary,” Milo tells the others. “We know better right, boys?”

  “We sure do,” Austin says, putting his hands on my shoulders to direct me to the door where they have one of my cars and drivers waiting to transport us to the party. They think I don’t know about that.

  “Wait. I need to say good night to Sofia and Mateo. Give me one minute.”

  I run upstairs to find Sofia helping Mateo change into his pajamas. He tends to be needy this time of day, and his mother is so good with him.

  “Hey, guys, I’m getting ready to leave, and I wanted to say good night.”

  Mateo rushes over to hug me.

  I’ll never be able to describe what it means to me that he loves and trusts me the way he does after what he and Sofia endured at the hands of his father.

  “How come I can’t go on boys’ night out?” he asks.

  “Because it’s for big boys, and little boys need to get their sleep so they can help me get married in two days.”

  I love his goofy little smile with the gap from a front tooth he lost a week ago. Shopping with him for a suit to wear to the wedding was one of my favorite things ever. I give him a big hug and then lift him so I can plop him into bed. “Sweet dreams, pal.”

  “Have fun tonight.”

  I kiss his cheek and tuck the covers in around him like I do every night. “I won’t have as much fun as I do with you and Mama.”

  “You’d better not.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” As I start to get up, he says, “Hey, Nico?”

  “What’s up?”

  “After you marry Mama, can I call you Papa?”

  My heart nearly stops when he asks that, his little face so sweet and vulnerable.

  “It would be the honor of my lifetime to have you call me Papa.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  “Thank you for being a son that any man would be proud of.” I kiss him again, and he hugs me tightly. “Get some sleep. We’ve got an exciting couple of days coming up.”

  When I turn to leave the room, I catch Sofia wiping away tears. I follow her into the hallway and reach for her.

  “Sweetest boy ever,” I whisper.

  “Thank you for loving him so much.”

  “Loving you both is the easiest thing I’ve ever done. Thank you for making me a Papa.”

  We’re both battling tears when we pull back for a kiss.

  “Love you forever and ever and ever, amen.”

  She looks at me like no one else ever has. “Love you always.”

  “That’s all I’ll ever need.” I kiss her again, more intently this time, and I immediately wish I had nowhere to be.

  “Let’s go, Romeo,” Milo calls from downstairs. “Time’s a-wasting.”

  She gives me a stern look. “No strippers or lap dances, you hear me?”

  Smiling, I kiss her again. “The only lap dance I want is from you.”

  “Such a charmer. Go on and have a good time with your boys.”

  “Enjoy your time with the girls.” My sisters, mother, grandmothers, aunts, cousins and other friends are coming over to fete Sofia while I’m out with the boys.

  “I will.”

  I tear myself away to spend a few hours without her. If I needed further confirmation that she’s the one for me, it’s that I’ve never had to tear myself away from another woman.

  We head out a few minutes later, and I act surprised to see one of my limos waiting for us along with a driver who works for me. “You shouldn’t have,” I tell them as they crack up.

  “Don’t worry, we’re paying Jesus tonight,” Milo says as he gestures for me to get into the car.

  I’m surprised to find my dad and my uncle Vincent waiting for us, champagne in hand. I thought they were meeting us there.

  “Let’s get this party started,” Dad says as he pours champagne for the rest of us.

  “Isn’t this supposed to be a bachelor party?” I ask them. “Where’s the whiskey?”

  “We’re saving that for later,” Milo tells me as he hands me a glass of champagne. “A toast to the man of the hour, my big brother and best friend forever. We love you, we love Sofia and Mateo, and we’re so happy for you all. Cheers!”

  Damn if he doesn’t nearly reduce me to tears calling me his best friend forever. Before the shooting, that wouldn’t have hit me the way it does now. “Thanks, everyone. And by the way, how is it fair that Domenic got married without us even knowing it, and he didn’t have to do this bachelor party bullshit?”

  “You’re not as clever as I am,” Dom says, waggling his brows. “Where you went wrong, my friend, is in planning a big family shitshow. If you were smooth like me, you’d sneak off and do the deed without anyone knowing.”

  Before Sofia found her father and his family, that would’ve looked good to me, but now I’d never deny her the wedding she deserves.

  I roll my eyes at Dom. “How’s married life treating you, primo?”

  “It’s the best thing ever,” he says, looking slightly dazzled. “How come no one told me how great it is?”

  “Dude,” Austin says with disdain. “We’ve been showing you that for a while now.”

  “Yes, you have, and doing a fine job of it.”

  “How’s Carmen feeling, Jay?” Wyatt asks.

  “She’s much better. Tonight will be her first outing since coming home from the hospital. Viv is driving her to your place, Nico.”

  “Oh, good. I’m glad she’s able to come. Sofia is looking forward to it.”

  The car pulls onto Calle Oche, home of the infamous Ball & Chain bar. I still can’t believe Milo booked that place for this. Well, yes, I can. As a lifelong ballbuster, I’ve taught my little brother well.

  The hijinks begin right away when a lightweight “iron” ball is chained to my ankle for the festivities. I’m stunned to find friends from all corners of my life waiting to greet me. High school friends I played football with, college friends I partied with, work friends and neighbors. Everyone who’s anyone in my life is there.

  “This is amazing, Mi,” I say to my brother. “Thank you so much.”

  “Anything for you, bro.”

  After coming so close to losing him, I’m so thankful he’s there to celebrate everything with, now and always. But the heartache is as plain as the nose on his face, and I’m determined to try to fix that for him before I go forth into my own happily ever after.

  Chapter 24

  GIANNA

  It’s been a punishing week at work, with more critical cases than we’ve seen all at once in quite some time. By the time the weekend rolls around, I’m ready to sleep for days. I’ve been so exhausted lately, and I can’t help but note that the exhaustion set in shortly after I sent Milo away.

  I’m enjoying my first cup of coffee in the garden patio my parents loved so much when the doorbell rings. Ugh, who’s that? No one comes by without texting first, so I’m sure it’s no one I want to see. But when I go to look through the peephole, I’m shocked to see Nico. I’m immediately worried that something has happened to Milo.

  I open the door. “What’s wrong?”

  “Can we talk?”

  “Um, sure.” I run my fingers through my hair, which I haven’t brushed yet, fearing I look as frightful as I’ve felt the last few weeks. “Is everything all right with Milo? He’s not sick or anything, is he?”

  “He’s fine.” Nico stops and turns to face me. “Well, that’s kind of a lie. He’s not fine at all. He’s been a mess since he last saw you, even if he tries to hide that from us.”

  My heart sinks at that news, but I also feel a tiny spark of relief at knowing he’s as miserable as I am. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I sort of freaked out and ruined everything.”

  “You haven’t. Ruined everything, that is. If you still care for him, I think he’d love to hear from you.”