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Last month she found out she was having a girl. For reasons she didn’t understand she felt the divinity in this blessing. Her baby, their baby, was created out of love. Six months ago she didn’t believe it, but now she did. She’d had a lot of time for reflection. She learned a lot about her heart, and herself. This baby was his gift to her, the life that came out of so much pain. Now she had peace.

“Mira what are you doing out there in the cold?”

Her head turned. Kei stood inside shivering. He wore a deep scowl of impatience.

“Sweetheart? You’ll make yourself sick.”

“Go back to bed.”

“Join me.” Kei teased. Mira shook her head laughing. She turned and locked eyes with him. The man became sexier on nights like this. Not since Giovanni had she let any man between her legs, and Kei tried often. The swell of her breasts and hips kept him groaning when they passed each other close in her kitchen. She considered it more than once, but still she couldn’t go there. Even if she wanted to purge Giovanni from her heart, he was constantly between them. His child kept her chained to him.

“I don’t think so. We’re friends, remember?”

Kei crossed his arms over his tightly muscled chest. His dark black hair was parted at the center and blew lightly from his strongly handsome face. He only wore a white t-shirt and silk pajama pants. Sex with Kei was always a spiritual experience. He worshipped a woman’s body and taught her things she never knew possible. With Giovanni it had been different, more of a ravishment. His love overwhelmed and overpowered her. Now with her hormones raging she wondered what lucky woman was in Giovanni’s arms now.

“I’m glad to see you up and walking around.” Kei said. “You feeling stronger?”

“I am. I think it’s the herbal massages you give my feet.” She winked.

“I can give you more than that.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “I know. You keep telling me.”

Since she was in her last trimester of her pregnancy, he insisted on staying with her. The doctor said she was to stay off her feet because her blood pressure kept elevating. That was easier said than done. Living in isolation could be so draining. It was necessary. At first a trip to Switzerland seemed like the perfect place to refocus, start again. But Kei’s plan took on another life. Angelique’s body was identified as Mira at the scene. Kei used influence Mira didn’t know he had to make sure the reporters believed it. They actually had a funeral for her. Celebrities, dignitaries, people from all walks of life came to pay their respects. She wept through the service. Her funeral was the last time she saw Giovanni.

To her surprise he appeared among the mourners. Giovanni Battaglia had flown in to New York. If the press hadn’t made such a big deal over it, she might not have ever known. She watched him linger near a closed casket with dark shades. His face showed no expression, but she knew his pain, love, regret would swirl deep in his blue-violet eyes. The sight of him and his men moving out of the church, disappearing into a waiting car nearly broke her. She desperately wanted to call him and share the truth. She couldn’t.

The State Attorney General’s office and the F.B.I. had erased her identity. They grilled her over what she knew of the Battaglia’s, and she told them very little. They even asked her about the Calderone war. Apparently several members were gunned down, including the elder Calderone, and his nephew Angelo was in hiding. She knew nothing, only the love he had shown her in their brief affair.

Kei said she would have probably returned to him if she hadn’t discovered she was pregnant. Mira was inclined to believe him.

“You are so stubborn.” He disappeared inside and returned with a heavy coat that he draped around her shoulders.

“It feels great out here,” she smiled.

He stepped to her side and looked up at the moon.

“You sure you have to stay? Maybe you should go back.”

“I’m staying until the baby is born.”

“I can warm you some milk. Is the little one up at it again?”

Mira took his hand and pressed it to her tummy. “Feel.”

Kei’s eyes stretched. He looked up at her stunned. “She’s a fighter.”

“Like her father.” Mira chuckled. When she looked back at Kei, she saw his frown. He had made his feelings clear months ago. Mira declined his offer of marriage and his request that she let him into her bed. Her baby was all she needed, not a man. And she surely wouldn’t do that to Kei when she knew he wanted a wife, a future she would never have.

“C’mon, let’s go back in.”

He captured her hand. Mira stopped. He brought her palm to his mouth and pressed a kiss there. “I’m still very much in love with you Mira.”

“I know Kei, but…”

“No buts. We have all the time in the world. I’m here for you and the baby. You know that.”

“Yes.” She pulled on his hand and then returned inside.