Four months later
Milah closed the book and smiled.
Alicia Russo fell in love with Valentino De Luca. This was not the tale she had heard, but it was one that lightened her own heart.
Putting her hand on her swollen stomach, she gave it a pat.
“There is hope, my sweet girl. Always hope.”
The past four months had been a little crazy. After she’d been shot, it hadn’t been so bad. The doctor had referred to it as a through and through. Not exactly a nice way to think about her injury. It had hurt for several weeks after, but Damon had been so attentive.
On his last visit, the doctor had advised that she take better care of herself as he felt like Damon wouldn’t survive it. He’d been so scared of losing her.
Damon hadn’t said anything of his feelings to her.
Why would he? There was nothing to be said.
There were times that Damon was a little like Valentino. Apart from the nightly visits to create vicious rumors.
Damon had sent her to that open dungeon with the rats and the elements. The memory was enough to make her skin crawl. Since that moment, she had known only luxury.
Damon didn’t love her.
She glanced down at the ring on her finger. He was currently organizing all the arrangements for their wedding. He wanted to marry her quickly.
She’d requested that her wound be healed before the wedding, and now that it was, he was going full speed ahead.
It didn’t help that her dress had to be modified every single week because the baby she carried was widening her waistline at an alarming rate.
“I still love you, sweet baby.”
They didn’t know the sex of the child.
The doctor had said to them on their last checkup that he could tell them, but Damon had insisted on waiting. She liked that.
Either a boy or a girl. She didn’t care which, just so long as her child was healthy.
According to Alicia’s writings, her father was only interested in his sons to carry on the family line. All the daughters were used as business deals. Pawns to be used and sold at his whim.
Kind of like her own father.
Valentino had saved Alicia from a life of pain and regret. He’d loved her.
Even though she hadn’t read those words, she knew Alicia loved him. His actions spoke louder than the words that could be said.
Sliding the book back into its case, she placed it in the same position she did each time.
It had taken her a long time to read so far. Alicia’s scribbles were hard to decipher, especially when she was happy or excited about something.
She particularly liked the writings of the day in the snow. It had fallen thick and fast. Valentino had forced her to dress up well for the weather, and he’d escorted her outside. It had been a wonder to read how he’d shaken off his stilted captor suit and enjoyed the afternoon with her. They had gotten into a snowball fight, and it was the first time Alicia had felt the evidence of his arousal.
Milah smiled, just thinking about it.
Their romance was like a crazy storm. She loved it.
Climbing down the ladder, she took her time, not wanting to fall and hurt herself. She only got the chance to sneak off when Damon was busy or away. She used this place as a chance to escape. With the stairs to the attic neatly folded away, she glanced around the room. She wondered if this was the room where Alicia had stayed. If so, it had been fully remodeled.
Her aunt sounded kickass.
Milah could relate to her so much. Her life with her father had been a horrible, confined one. There had been no peace, and certainly no freedom.
Even though Damon had kept her locked up in a bedroom for some time, there had still been more freedom.
Each meal time, they talked.
In the past four months since she’d been shot, it was like a barrier had broken down between them. He no longer saw her as a Russo, and she didn’t see him as a De Luca.
They were going to be parents. Sharing a baby together.
Leaving the bedroom, she headed downstairs just as Glory was coming toward her.
“Mr. De Luca is waiting for you,” Glory said.
Milah frowned and glanced at the time.
It was nearly six o’clock in the evening.
She had completely lost all sense of time and reality.
“I’m so sorry.”
“I couldn’t find you,” Glory said.
“It’s fine.”
She walked downstairs, making her way toward the main dining room, not wanting to be late.
Damon was already at the table as she entered, and the scents filling the room made her aware that food had already been served.
Guilt gnawed at her as she rushed toward her seat.
He got up and helped her sit down.
She wasn’t that far into her pregnancy that she couldn’t sit or stand on her own. The time would come though. The giant ball in front of her was not deflating.
“Where have you been?” Damon asked.