The color’s come back to Sophie’s face. There’s a happy glow around her, like she can see the same vision I can, and she likes it. “Our grandkids.” Her eyes get bright again. “We’re having a baby.”
“It was meant to be.”
She wraps her arms around me and leans her face against my chest. “I’m having your baby.” There’s wonder in her voice.
I feel it, too. Something unexpected and wonderful just happened to us.
To me. Sophie’s mine.
ChapterFifteen
Sophie
The next morning, Joey makes me an omelet for breakfast, and I choke it down with toast and juice, skipping the morning coffee.
Now that I know I’m pregnant, I’m working harder to keep food in my system. When I thought it was a stomach bug, I figured the less food I ate, the better. But not when I’m eating for two.
“You up for a drive?” Joey asks.
Considering he already canceled all my appointments for the day and I’m not sick, I nod. “Sure.” A drive is low-effort.
Joey is Mr. Attentive, not that he isn’t always, but now especially. Holding the door to the apartment and the car. Keeping a hand on my lower back. Making me feel like a pampered princess.
It’s amazing. I’ve never been treated so well in my life, and it’s taking on fairy-tale-like proportions. In the back of my head, I know there’s stuff I haven’t looked at.
I mean, how well do I really know Joey? And I still have major concerns about the Family.
But after the shock of finding out I’m pregnant, I’m clinging to his strength right now. His surety. I’m in rough waters, and he’s the lighthouse beacon showing me the way to terra firma. He makes me trust all those concerns can be worked out.
As if he reads my mind, when he climbs behind the wheel and starts the car, he says, “I want to make you every promise in the world right now.”
I can hardly speak from the rush of emotion that makes my eyes and nose burn.
“I’m sure you’re freaking out. It’s a lot, right?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“I know. Whatever you need from me, I’m going to give it to you. I want you to know that,bella.”
Part of me–a terrible, small, mean part–wants to ask him to leave his family.
But that’s not fair. I need to forget all my bitterness towardLa Cosa Nostra. My entire past. All the pain and resentment and anger toward Joey’s family.
I want to believe in the perfect future he’s offering me. The stable, sweet, loving family we’re going to create.
Still, I can’t stop the thoughts in my head from spilling out of my mouth. “Do you like it? Your role inla famiglia?”
Joey’s brows shoot up. His hands tighten on the wheel. He doesn’t answer for a moment, and I have to hold a sense of dread at bay. A fear that we’ll never work this issue out between us. “Honestly? No.” He turns to look at me, and when he does, I see a haunted quality in his eyes. “I hate it.”
My breath catches. Relief pours in. Maybe we’re not so different. “You do?”
He nods. “I didn’t ask to be the crown prince.” His lips twist with distaste. “They sent me to college to be the numbers guy. I don’t want to run the club or be anyone’s boss. I don’t want to be the guy Al sends out to intimidate our competition when they move into our territory.”
I blink back tears for him. “But you have to?” I whisper.
“I don’t know. Do I? This is the question I ask myself. Al has Carlo now, and Carlo’s more suited to this lifestyle.” Joey looks over at me, and I see a flash of uncertainty that makes my chest tighten. “Could I abdicate my throne? Take a step back from the organization?”
Hope sings in my chest. Just the fact that Joeywantsto take a step back is enough for me.