Page 116 of Die for You

“What do you have there?” I ask her, dropping to a squat.

The outside of the box reveals that inside is a pair of LED light-up roller skates.

Lenny walks in a second later, carrying many bags in both hands.

I arch a brow, looking at him.

He smiles innocently.

“Is Lenny spoiling you again?”

Lettie sits on the floor, tonguing her cheek as she rips open the box. Lenny places the bags beside her and stands behind me, watching.

He doesn’t want to crowd her as we’ve agreed it’ll be too confusing for her if we just dump that he’s her biological father. She still calls NicoPapa, which kills Lenny. But we’re all trying to get along for Lettie’s sake.

When she’s old enough, we will tell her the truth, but for now, we’re all one big happy family.

I couldn’t just expect Nico to go back to Italy and forget about his family because that’s what we are. Although the circumstances have changed, I’ll never forget what Nico did for me. Eventually, he’ll have to return to Italy as his visa will expire, but until then, he lives with us.

Lenny has been surprisingly good about it. I think he respects Nico, not that he’d ever admit it. Nico protected us when Lenny couldn’t. So, in his eyes, he owes Nico.

But that’s the sacrifices one makes for their child. Lenny can see how much she loves Nico, and Nico isn’t pushing for any parental rights.

Lenny has put him behind the register at the store. He has no idea he’s selling drugs inside those crystals. Not all the customers are buyers, however. It gives Nico something to do and to practice his English.

Our household isn’t divided.

We sit at the same dinner table together.

We take turns looking after Lettie.

The only thing we don’t do together is share a bed.

Lenny has made it very clear that Nico was welcome here, but he was to understand that I was Lenny’s, and blah, blah…all that alpha shit which…yawn.

Nico respected my decision. Besides, he isn’t lacking any female attention. The moment women hear his accent, they’re a goner.

But I need to remember, just because I’ve checked out, that doesn’t mean he has. I’m trying to be sensitive to his feelings, but it’s a little hard when I finally have my HEA with the man I’ve loved for as long as I can remember.

Things are surprisingly…good.

It’s surreal, to be honest.

After the very public display of cutting off Gianna’s head, the orphanage was inundated with donations. No doubt hush money. But I’ll keep to my word because I never want to see or deal with any of those assholes again.

I work closely with the sisters to ensure the kids are safe. The money has come in handy as the orphanage is undergoing a facelift. The kids will never go without ever again.

I visit Elena weekly. I wish I could adopt her, but I won’t until I figure out what my future holds. It’s a lot to take in and change must come. It makes sense to stay here, but it’s hard not to feel like the “other woman.”

Lettie asks Lenny to help her put on her skates. He attempts to hide his excitement that she asked, but fails miserably.

I leave them to daddy-daughter time and decide to go for a run.

Grabbing my earbuds, I decide to make the most of the day. Spring is coming, my favorite time of the year. It’s time for new beginnings and rebirth. Seems fitting.

Selecting a playlist, I commence a slow jog around the gardens. Lenny’s home is beautiful. But it’s not my home. This is the home he built with Bria. Her spirit lingers. I can feel it. Her ghost roams the halls, and sometimes, I catch her from the corner of my eye.

I know it’s just my guilty conscience playing tricks on me, but I feel uneasy here. Even sleeping in their marital bed at first gave me nightmares. She’s haunting me. Or rather, what I did to her is.