Page 121 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

Tears gather in my eyes as he finishes, and I can’t help but smile through them. I take a deep breath and say, “And I promise to stand by you, to always love you, and support you through every challenge and joy. You are my heart, Ezra. I will be your rock, your confidante, and your safe haven.”

The officiant nods, looking at me. “Now, Raven Nightshade, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” I reply, my smile widening, my heart swelling with profound joy in the moment.

“Ezra Marino, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” the officiant asks.

Ezra’s answer comes quickly. “I do.” His smile radiates as he holds my gaze.

“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant declares, his voice ringing through the hall.

My focus is on Ezra— the warm glow in his eyes, the way his hand tightens around mine, and the way his smile lights up his face just before he leans in to kiss me.

When our lips touch, the room erupts in cheers and applause, but all I hear is the pounding of my heart. His lips are soft, his tongue tasting like melting candy. His arms wrap around me as if he’ll never let go, and truthfully, I don’t want him to. When we finally pull apart, I catch the glisten of tears in Ezra’s green eyes and realize my own are the same.

As we stand there, surrounded by our friends and family, everything feels perfect.

***

Seven Weeks Later

I inhale once and exhale twice, holding both sides of my waist with my hand as I pace the hospital’s hallway, patiently waiting to dilate. With the pain of contractions hitting me every few minutes, it takes everything in me not to turn around and cuss at Ezra. He walks behind me, massaging my shoulders.

“We’re almost there, baby, a few more squats, and you’ll be as dilated as the doctor says you need to be.”

“If you think it’s so easy, you should come do it yourself,” I snap, and stare daggers at him.

“I’m sorry…” he apologizes, but it does nothing to pacify me.

Suddenly, I groan out when a sharp pain rips through my cervix, pushing me backwards. Ezra catches me just in time, whispering sweet nothings that barely register.

“Take me back to the room,” I whisper, as the contraction subsides.

He obeys without hesitation and we start walking back the way we came. The doctor and two nurses are still there when we arrive, preparing for the delivery.

“Please tell me we’re at ten centimeters already,” Ezra says, as he helps me onto the bed. “I can’t bear to see her in pain anymore.”

“Well, let’s see,” the doctor chimes, slapping on his gloves. Just like earlier, I bend my legs in two, spreading my feet apart. The doctor invades my privates, sticking two fingers in.

“Yes, fully dilated and ready to bring these little ones out,” he announces a few moments later.

From the corner of my eye, I see Ezra heave a sigh of relief. Just then, another severe pain hits me hard. I bite my lip, trying to suppress a scream as waves of pain ripple through me. My body feels like it’s breaking in half.

“You have to push with every contraction,” the doctor says, and I nod repeatedly. “Remember to breathe,” he adds.

“Breathe, Raven,” Ezra urges, his voice soothing yet urgent. He grips my hand tightly, anchoring me. “You’ve got this.”

“Don’t tell me I’ve got this when you did this to me!” I scream at him, as yet another contraction pierces my lower abdomen.

Tears roll down my cheeks, my throat suddenly parched. I’ve never felt so much anguish all at once.

“Mrs. Marino, you need to calm down,” I hear the doctor say. “You’ll need your strength for the babies.”

I nod stiffly, and sniffle while working on reining in my emotions. My babies need me.

I fling my head back in agony and squeeze Ezra’s hand while clamping down on my lips to stop the scream bubbling in my lungs. With that, I push. Hard.

“Very good, I see baby number one, just a few more pushes.” Hearing the doctor’s words gives me the encouragement I need.