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“I think that’s a great idea,” I tell him, sliding my hand down over his groin. It’s been a few days since our bodies connected, and I can think of nothing else more satisfying and comforting than to feel his skin against mine.
“Mrs. Santoro, you’re being suggestive.”
“Then you should listen to my suggestion and heed it. Your wife is your greatest asset,” I whisper, standing to take his hand. Yes, I think we’ll work out just fine.
32
EPILOGUE
LUKE
Istand behind Micah as she leans over the computer. I’m still mesmerized by her talent and how fast her fingers move. In her new office, redecorated and set up exactly how she wants it, she not only runs her own business of web development but continues to hack for me. In fact, she and James—Dale’s friend who now works for me—have been running new scams for me, and I couldn’t be happier.
“Watch, watch!” James cautions from his desk across the room. I’d never have thought a man older than me would be so good at coding and tech, but he’s a genius, way better than Dale ever was—rest his soul.
“Yeah, I know… Sheesh,” Micah groans, her brow furrowed in concentration.
The latest hack they’ve been doing is to confuse our enemies’ shipments at the port, sending containers to the wrong ships or warehouses. We’ve not only uncovered a smuggling ring and set hundreds of children free, but we’ve managed to significantly cripple their shipping. The city commissioner liked his new Lamborghini, delivered directly to his door with papers inhis name thanks to Micah, and I have a new friend in the government.
“Look… Come on,” Micah hums as she types faster. “Backing out… cover it.”
“You’ve got it! Not even a trace you were there,” James boasts, and Micah throws her hands up in celebration.
“We did it!” She claps and cheers, then spins around to face me. Her swelling stomach stretches her shirt out, and I couldn’t be prouder. She stands and throws her arms around me, lavishing me in kisses while James finishes up, as he usually does.
“What was the game today?” I ask, careful not to press on her pregnant belly too much. With only six weeks left until birth, she’s been uncomfortable. Though, with her stomach pushing into mine, I feel the movement inside her and grin.
“Well, we just sent the Russians’ arms to the Port Authority and replaced it with a shipping container full of ice and mackerel.” She snickers and kisses me, and I kiss her back, nipping at her lower lip.
“Feels like our little guy is active today,” I say, letting a hand rest on her contorting belly. Every step of this pregnancy has been something new, learning about why she cries so easily, giving in to her cravings for pickles dipped in ice cream. I have adored every second of it except for the mood swings when I had no clue how to help her.
“He’s a little soccer player,” she says, taking my hand and moving it around to the other side where I feel the rhythmic thumping of his little feet inside her womb. “He doesn’t let me get a break for a second.”
We discovered she was pregnant only a week after her friend died, and months later, when we learned our child will be a boy, we chose the name Luciano William Santoro, to honor his legacy. I don’t mind sharing that honor because I have the best prize ever, my beautiful and intelligent wife.
“What do you say we celebrate?” she asks, rising up on her tiptoes to peck me on the cheek again.
“What do you have in mind, Mrs. Santoro?” I ask her as I hold her against my body. She rises up and whispers unmentionable things in my ear, and I feel warmth spread through my body. In a few short weeks, I’ll be banished from partaking of her heavenly body, so I’m not going to tell her no at all right now.
“I think that sounds like a good idea,” I tell her, and she looks over her shoulder.
“James, I have some business to tend to. Finish that hack, then get to work on the bakery website. We can’t delay with the back end on that one. Our front end team is waiting for us to finish the backlog.” Micah’s orders are heeded with a nod, and James waves her off as I take her hand and pull her toward the door.
One thing is certain. I am a better man thanks to this woman. Our families are thrilled for her to be pregnant, as am I, and none of us can wait to see the little heir be born. Best of all, my enemies are weak, and I am the head of the largest and strongest Family in this city. Never in a million years did I think my life would turn out this good.
I think my father is looking down on me from above, making sure the dice land in my favor.