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I beam at him, convinced that I’ve never seen him look as beautiful as he does now.
He saved us. My golden boy.
“Hi,” I whisper back, grinning at him.
“Everyone okay?” he asks, appraising us for immediate injuries. When he’s satisfied that everyone is relatively still intact, he settles in beside me on the floor.
I lean into his warm chest, savoring how safe and precious he makes me feel, even when I’m half-naked and covered in blood.
I turn around and sneak a quick kiss onto his chin to show him how much I appreciate him. He smiles, nuzzling into my hair.
“I should find a working phone,” he says quietly. “Apparently, one of those goons was also maneuvering this thing, and with him… gone, we’re just free floating in the ocean right now.”
“You mean the great Golden Ace doesn’t know how to drive a yacht?” I joke, biting back a giggle.It feels wrong to laugh after everything we went through, and my eyes instantly well up with tears.
“A man can’t be good at everything.” He laughs, winking at me. “Good thing I’m good at the important stuff, huh?”
“When we get off this damn boat, you’ll have to remind me.” I wink back, blushing at our outrageous flirtation in the face of what happened here tonight.
“Let me find a way to make that come true faster then,” he says, gently scooching away from me and heading back onto the deck.
Although I don’t want to let him out of my sight ever again, I nod and pull Matilda closer. He disappears down the deck, and I can’t help thinking about how funny life is sometimes.
Years ago, he was pulled from my life, shrouded in secrets and mysteries I never thought I’d figure out. And now, just like that, he’s back, and it’s like no time has passed.
Matilda sits up, surprising me, and eyes Alessia. I can see the thoughts churning in her mind, trying to make sense of this.
“Mama?” she asks, still staring at Alessia. “The lady said Alessia is Enzo’s daughter, didn’t she?”
“Mmhmm, that’s right,” I agree, eyeing the girl myself. I’m still in complete shock that Enzo had not one, but two secret daughters he never knew about.
What a mess his mind must be right now.
“So, if Enzo is my dad,” she continues, drawing connections in the air with her finger, “that means… Alessia is my sister?”
“Yes, honeybee,” I say gently. “She’s your half-sister, which means one of your parents is the same.”
“So, since we’re sisters,” she asks, her eyes widening in wonder, “are we gonna all live together? With Enzo, too?”
“Would you like that?” I ask softly, stroking her tiny nose. Her bright green eyes light up, and she clutches her hands to her chest, nodding emphatically.
“I always wanted a sister!” she cries, a smile spreading across her face.
Like a bullet, she’s off my lap and nudging Alessia gently.
“We’re sisters! Did you know that?” she says, plopping down near Alessia’s curled-up body. I watch their interaction intently, praying that Alessia might at least open up to someone her own age.
She slowly opens her eyes and pulls herself into a cross-legged pose across from Matilda. “We are?”
“Yes!” Matilda grins. “Do you want that?”
Alessia hesitates, glancing at me, and I smile encouragingly. Before she can reveal her answer, a piercing shriek makes me leap into the air. I study the deck, seeing no movement around us.
Shit. Alexandra.
“Girls,” I rush to explain, already backing out of the cabin, “I need to go see if everything’s okay. Matilda, lock this door and don’t open for anyone except me or Enzo, got it?”
She nods firmly, trying to be brave, but I see the fear flooding into her face again. I quickly swoop down and kiss her forehead, assuring her that everything will be fine.