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“You know, as much as I love you being on top of me like this, it might make it rather difficult to get around.” I breathe a laugh and look down at her head as she looks up at me.

“We’ll make it work.” She quietly remarks, and I feel that her words mean more than countering my jest, so I say, “We will.” And kiss her soft forehead.

For the following days,I regain enough strength to walk for short spurts, and the doctors are happy with all of my test results. It does feel rather annoying to be cooped up in the hospital all day, but Jessica is by my side every moment she can be, and it makes it bearable. I think I could be anywhere in the world with her and be happy because she’s by my side.

Her strength is something I always saw beneath the surface of her baggy suits and snide remarks. I never realized how much courage she truly possessed until now. She’s taken every new day in stride and with resilience, and I believe it’s what’s made me stronger.

“I got the green light for you to check out in the morning, Mr. San Giovanni.” Doctor Farley finally says.

It’s been a week in the hospital, from what I’ve calculated, and every doctor’s blown away with my progress. I keep attributing it to Jess, but no one seems to take my confidence in that very seriously. It doesn’t matter to me, though, because she has and will always be the one I live for. I’d move every mountain in my way just to get to her. It’s clear to me now that she’d do the very same.

“This is good news.” Jess smiles at me when I’m silent at dinner time. I’m not quiet because I’m sad or upset, unless you count hating hospital food and losing muscle mass because of all the jello cups.

“Yes.” I reach for her hand and squeeze it. We hold the deepest eye contact I’ve ever held with anyone, and it’s like she can see my soul and me, hers. Her face shifts and I’m uncertain if I recognize this one, but I think she has something to tell me, so I tilt my head inquisitively.

“Vince…” She looks down at our hands, and I swallow the lump in my throat that’s formed in these few seconds of suspense.

“I haven’t told you… I- I wasn’t really sure how to….” I’m watching every movement play out in slow motion, and I think I might die if she says she’s going to leave more or something along those lines. She shakes her head, looks right into my eyes, and takes a deep breath before declaring, “I’m pregnant.”

It takes me a moment to process the whiplash of the news. When I do, I’m smiling wider than I have in a while.

“Really?” It comes out sounding more surprised than I meant it to, but I am amazed, and her reaction tells me she is too.

“Is this good?” Her lips turn down at the corner as she waits for my response.

“Yes, this is—“ I struggle to find the perfect words for such an incredible situation. “Perfect. You’re perfect.” I squeeze her hands and pull her close to my face. Tears roll down her cheeks as we smile into a kiss, and everything truly is the way it was meant to be all along.

I can’t imagine a world without her and this child I already love even in the seconds of knowing about its existence. As we hold each other, the image of the children I saw in my dreams flashes through my mind. They’re waiting for me to make a move, to be the one to bring change to the future of every mafia family. I stare right back into their eyes with determination. The challenge to go against the grain for the sake of preservation and much-needed progress is essential in these modern times.

This will be a new era, one where Jessica Lee gets her peace and every gang has their needs exceedingly met. I hold her tight as she nestles into the crook of my neck. My fingers swirl small circles into her back as we fall asleep with my food tray still laying across my lap.

The nurses greet us with balloons, flowers, and congratulatory posters in the morning. They help me into a wheelchair as part of the protocol, though I think I could walk to the car. Lee had visited us a couple of times this week, and I tell Jess to message him for our pick-up as they help us downstairs to finish the release papers. I sign everything, and we thank the doctors for their help, then wait in the lobby for Lee to arrive.

“What do we do now?” Jess whispers, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Live.” We both laugh, intertwining our fingers as we continue to wait.

When Lee arrives, Jess pushes me out to the car. She folds up my wheelchair as Lee gets out to help me up. I watch her through the window, telling him what to do and where to put my things like a boss.

An idea sparks through my brain when I recognize her strength to be much more than I thought even yesterday, and I decide this is a sign. She should work with me rather than for me. Neptune could use strong leaders like her, and we make a good team. There’s not a doubt in my mind that she will excel in such a position.

She slides into the car and flicks through her phone as Lee gets in the driver's side. I watch her, captivated by everything she is externally and all she possesses internally. She catches me from the corner of her eye, and a wry smile curves on her round lips.

“What?” She shakes her head at me, and I confidently quip back before she can fully get the word out, “You’re transcendent.”

She lets out a laugh. “And your pain meds are kicking in.” I just smile in response because she still doesn't know how much I love her and continue to watch her until we reach my building. Lee parks the car in the garage, and they wheel me to the lift. It dings open, and we enter, hitting the button for the top floor and zooming up to it in record timing.

As the doors part, I catch a glimpse of a crowd, then balloons, then the exclamations of “Welcome home!” It’s rather overwhelming, but that’s my boys for you, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“What the fuck?” I laugh in shock, forcing myself out of the wheelchair, and Jess rushes to my side, clinging on my arm as I walk through the crowd. My whole family— blood and mafia— are filling my penthouse to the brim. I look down at Jess as we reach the kitchen.

“Did you plan this?” I ask as the chatter rises to a more normal volume after the welcome we received.

“I had a lot of help.” She rubs my back with a grin, and I take her chin in between my fingers, kissing her so passionately that the rumination of its very existence would melt solid hearts of stone.

The night breezes by, as people come and go until all that remains besides Jess and me are my father, younger brothers, and Espie. We’re sitting on the couches in the living room, discussing business strategies for Neptune, and then Pops checks the time.

“We should be going, Vincenzo. Let you two get your rest.” We stand to our feet upon his advisory and say our goodbyes. I hold Antonio a little tighter than I have in a while, knowing this loss will hit him the hardest because he was closest to Carlito out of all of us. But he doesn’t return the same strength. His eyes were withdrawn from the conversation all night, and I sense he’s grieving.


Tags: Sophia March Billionaire Romance