She leaned into me with a shuddering sigh and I cupped her head. She swallowed hard, obviously fighting tears. “These last few weeks were a lot to handle. I’m just happy that Anna’s finally home, and I’m mad at my body for taking so long to recover. I want to be the controlled woman you expect.”
I drew back with a frown. “You are everything I want, Val, trust me. Your body went through so much. You gave me a daughter. Give yourself time to heal. I want you healthy and happy, that’s all I require you to be right now.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I just don’t feel like myself recently. It’s hormones and the changes in my body. I need time to get used to all of this.”
“Maybe it’s for the best to tell my parents we don’t have time to have them over tonight. Neither of them will have a positive effect on your health.”
“I know they’re not happy that I didn’t give you an heir.” My hands on her tightened. “But their disappointment can’t hurt me, Dante. All that matters is us. That we are happy, and I’m delirious with joy whenever I look at Anna.”
“Me too,” I said, kissing her. Before Val, my life had been dominated by duty and controlled by the past. Joy had been an abstract concept of no consequence for me. But slowly, it was becoming part of my existence once more. Her happiness kindled my own. I didn’t regret my betrayal of the Outfit, even if I should have.
It was my duty to put the Outfit first, to eliminate any threat to my power and the Outfit’s unity. Hiding that Bibiana had killed her husband didn’t serve either purpose. It wasn’t the logical, the dutiful, the necessary choice. This was pure emotional ruling. After seeing Val heartbroken over Antonio, I didn’t want to shatter her completely by having to punish her best friend. So I lied and deceived. My men. The Outfit. My vow. Everything. For Valentina.
Did she even realize what kind of sacrifice that was? If she knew, she’d realize that I didn’t have to fake lovemaking anymore.
PART TEN
Valentina
We spent our first anniversary at home because Anna was still small and the last few months had been tiring. But Zita had prepared a three-course dinner for us and took over watching Anna while Dante and I enjoyed our meal. We sat close beside each other and talked about Anna and our plans to spend a few weeks in Tuscany in summer.
It was a relaxed, intimate evening. I was actually glad that we hadn’t gone out to a fancy restaurant for dinner. When we were in public, Dante always had to keep up his mask. He wasn’t the same man then that he was when we were alone. His outside appearance reminded me too much of the withdrawn man of the beginning of our marriage. I preferred his warmer, more approachable private side, one he hid so carefully and only showed to the people he trusted.
“I really love this,” I said after I finished a delicious piece of fig tart tatin, a fancy French dessert that tasted like heaven.
Dante tilted his head with a small smile. “The dessert or your gift?”
I laughed, twisting my arm around to see the emeralds in my bracelet catch the candlelight. “Both. But I was actually referring to our celebration.”
Dante ran his thumb over my knuckles, obviously surprised. “I thought you might expect a bigger celebration for the occasion.”
“No,” I said firmly. “I think this is a concept for the future even when Anna is older and won’t need us close by. I like that it’s just us, no prying eyes.”
Understanding took over Dante’s expression and he pressed a kiss to my hand. “I have to admit I prefer not to share the stunning sight of you in this dress.”
A pleased smile broke free on my face. I leaned toward him. “Are you turning into a flatterer?”
“No, flattering, only the honest truth,” he said in a low voice and a look in his eyes I could feel right between my legs.
I swallowed. “Well, I don’t like to share you with all the gawking women either.”
Dante chuckled. “Now you exaggerate.”
I gave him a look. “I have eyes and so have you. Power and money are the embodiment of sex-appeal, and you combine them with a six-pack. It’s ridiculous.”
Dante stood, holding out his hand in a silent command. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’ve had too much to drink. Let’s get you to bed.”
I pushed to my feet with a teasing smile. “I’m not tired.” It was a lie, of course. Anna had kept us awake the last few nights.
Dante pressed a hot kiss to my throat. “You won’t sleep.”
His fingers linked with mine as he led me upstairs.
I’d never grow tired of Dante’s body on top of mine, of him making love to me. Those were the moments I felt the most connected to him and could sense how much he wanted to tell me but couldn’t.
Afterward, we headed into Anna’s nursery. Zita had trouble calming her, and I just wanted to be with my little girl. I cradled her to my chest, kissing her chubby cheeks. Dante watched with a tender expression I’d never grow tired of seeing.
I pressed a kiss to Anna’s forehead. I just couldn’t stop loving on her.
“I love you,” Dante said quietly, almost hesitantly.
I smiled. “Do you hear, Anna? Your daddy loves you.”
Dante touched my cheek, bringing my attention to him and shook his head. “That’s not what I meant, even if it’s true. I love you, Val.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, staring at him in a state of shock. I’d made my peace with the fact that Dante couldn’t say the words. It had hurt occasionally but this was something I couldn’t demand.
Regret showed on Dante’s face as he leaned down, his gaze penetrating mine almost desperately. “Haven’t you known? I tried to show it. I obviously didn’t do a good job.”
I tried to get a grip on myself, swallowing hard. “No. You showed your feelings and I gathered that you loved me, but hearing the actual words…” A few embarrassing tears slid down my cheeks. Anna blinked sleepily up at us.
Dante looked like I’d mortally wounded him. He cupped my head and pulled me in for a harsh kiss. “I promise to tell you often from now on. But even if I don’t always voice my emotions aloud, you must know that I love Anna and you more than anything else. You are my future.”
“And your present,” I said with a small teasing smile.
“My everything,” he rasped, and I couldn’t imagine ever being happier than in this moment.
THE FOURTH BETRAYAL
About three years later
PART ONE
Dante
I rubbed my temples, trying to ignore the hints of a headache throbbing at the back of my head. Since I’d declared war on the Famiglia a few months ago after Liliana ran off with Luca’s soldier Romero and they killed one of my men, I hadn’t slept more than a few hours per night. I wanted to be a father to Anna who seemed to grow every day but for me to have time for my little girl during the day I needed to work at night.
Soon I’d have another child to take care of, not to mention that Valentina needed my support raising two small kids. I didn’t have any illusions about our future relationship with the Famiglia. After everything that had happened, peace was out of the question. This war would soon become bloodier and more brutal, and I needed to make sure that my family was safe.