Page 48 of Forbidden (Wicked Billionaires #1)
LORENZO
We fly home to NYC, and we take our time as we head north. It gives us time to catch up, and after landing on our helipad, we settle in. I was right, and the Peregrine looks like it wants to stick around. When not flying about NYC, it perches on top of one of the old eagle statues.
While watching over Manhattan, I figure, like us, it enjoys the city buzz, between weekends up the coast.
Storm and I build a custom sleeping hutch for it, where it can roost, and sleep.
The rooftop hutch fits in with the rest of the furniture, and penthouse, and it feels right.
Storm gets more design work, after she quit her library job. She is now completely free, to do what she wants, and when she wants.
I help her convert a large room in the oversized penthouse into a design studio, and she digs in fast.
After a perfect afternoon, and dinner at The Hamptons, I ask Storm to take a walk on the beach. She has no idea of my plan, but as she turns from the sunset, next to our mansion, she finds me on my knee.
The love of my life then agrees to marry me, and we hold each other under the sunset, and forming stars.
I am beyond words, and the armor I’ve built up to survive in this world, falls to the ground.
Together, we can do this.
Together we will be unstoppable.
A week later in NYC, I ask Storm to dress up. And I tell her we are going out. I put on my best suit, and one of the recently tailored ones that arrived from Saville Row in London.
We head downtown in the Bentley, and Storm eyes me wearily.
I arranged a private appointment in a Manhattan boutique, and today, Storm and I will see the finest Cartier diamonds in the world.
Storm walks in with me, her soft hand is in mine.
She is wearing a Givenchy dress, she looks classier than anyone in Manhattan. Only I know she is panty-less.
We take our time with the spectacular wedding rings, finally agreeing on an antique style of ring. Storm glows, as we exit arm in arm, and then our eyes meet as I open my sweetheart’s door.
On the way home, I have one more surprise.
We’ve only touched on it in light discussions, and we have not fully planned it yet. It just feels right.
After pulling up to NYC’s main dog pound, I watch Storm smile wide. We enter, and we are shown around by my contact.
It is touching, and hard to not want to take every dog home, but then we find the one.
The most amazing set of eyes belong to a large black Labrador, and he looks at us as we pass.
Storm and I share a look, and we crouch together.
Something feels right, too right .
Without hesitation, we ask about the dog, and we are let inside with him. The dog’s name is Night, and Night, is a male.
Night is slim, calm, graceful, and quiet.
The uniformed staff member explains Night was found alone in the city one evening. And that he was supposedly owned by a very old couple who had both passed, together, leaving him alone.
Night is likely heartbroken, and I feel his pain as I crouch. Night keeps his distance, and he just looks at me.
He then looks back at Storm, and her hand that is held out. Reluctantly, Night smells her, and then slowly, he wags his tail. He warms to Storm, and then to me.
As Night and I look at each other, it feels like we have some kind of connection. Maybe it’s because we need some healing, and we both have to understand rejection.
All I know is, I can help him, and helping him, may help me.
As Storm crouches at my side, and with Night in the middle, the old lab relaxes, and warms. As he accepts our gentle pats, it’s as if he can tell, we’re his family now, and he will always be safe.
“Well?” I ask turning to my fiancée.
Storm nods, and she wipes a tear as I stand. She is right.
“He comes with us. And now.”
As we walk Night slowly out of the penthouse elevator door, he stops and looks around. He then looks up and into our faces, he walks around and sniffs.
Thirty minutes later, he is running around the place, and a squealing Storm is yelling with delight.
They are soon chasing each other, and I realize I’m the only sane one amongst them. I then wonder how in hell my life has come to this.
Who am I kidding? I adore them, with all of my fucking heart.
Finally, we show Night upstairs, and he sniffs around the rooftop.
As Falcon watches the sun set, we watch Night wander around. For some reason, the dog and large Peregrine do not freak each other out.
After Storm introduces them to each other, she tells me the falcon has to have a name.
“His name is Falcon,” I say, as if it’s final.
“That’s stupid, like me calling you, Man. We need to choose a name, so get thinking.”
As we sit on the white sofa, we watch Night explore the roof top, statues, plants and helipad. As the falcon looks down from one of the statues, it flaps its wings, the golden light glinting on its feathers.
Ten minutes later, we are down to three names.
We know the falcon is a male, and we are down to Comet, Steel and my favorite, Sword. We stupidly do paper, scissors, and rock, and I lose.
“Saber!” Storm yells in triumph.
I shrug as Night walks over, and he looks to me for a pat. “Us men need to stick together,” I say rubbing his ear. Night looks back at me, and then he climbs carefully onto the sofa with us.
I shake my head, as if saying “no,” but I know I’ve a weak spot. I ruffle his neck, as he rests his head on my leg, and looks up.
“He likes you,” Storm says sweetly.
“That’s good,” I say. “Because I like him, more than you.” Storm’s eyes pop, then she tickles me and laughs loud. Night barks playfully, and we all wrestle, laugh and bark.
It feels good.
Who am I kidding?
It feels perfect.
Our mini family has doubled from two, to four, in weeks, and as we walk slowly up to the Peregrine, we tell him his name.
Saber gives zero fucks, and he cries out like the wild predator he is. Night watches him closely from below, and then he barks.
As I shake my head at the madness, I wonder what the hell the dog is trying to say to the falcon.
“Maybe we should contain the speed of our growing family,” I say.
“Maybe you should go with it.” Storm says, turning to me. “And be less of a dick.”
I raise a brow.
That was well worth a spanking, but right here and now, not the right time.
As I look over my city, Night leaps up near the statue Sabre is on. I pat him and we look across Manhattan, and towards the Hamptons. “Welcome to the circus, boy.”
Night looks up and we share a moment. “Just be careful of Mom. She has a naughty tongue on her. Like me.”
Storm leans against me, and I wrap an arm around her. She then looks up. “That a promise?”
It is, and tonight she will find out the hard way.
Over the next few days, we tell our small tribe about the engagement. I inform Dante, Ryan, Troy, Chris and an older friend Rhett, while Storm informs her pal Madison, and Anastasia.
We then fly south, and we meet Martha, and Storm’s mother in person.
They take it well, and I assure them I will protect Storm, with my life.
Storm and I start to spend our weekends in The Hamptons, and we two recluses, become four recluses. Our conservative neighbors often look at us in horror, but it is natural the old judge and I do not see eye to eye.
The sleek chopper is hardly a station wagon, but these are modern times. I am also proud of my family, and I will protect them with my life.
As I spend more time with Storm, Saber and Night, my energy stabilizes, and I focus on my late business responsibilities. Finally, I catch up on all, and I have to time to think.
As I consider my life pre-Storm, I try to work out who I was, and what I was doing.
My work was my life, but now, things are different, and I feel blessed.
As we spend time up the beach, I begin to read more, and I enjoy it. Especially history, and ancient history.
At the same time, my hot nerd wife to be, starts to outline a novel she wants to write. Storm has always loved books, and loved being surrounded by them. She has, also, at times mentioned the idea of writing.
As we walk along the beach, with Night running in the water, and Saber flying ahead, I finally feel content. I’ve never felt it before, but here and now, there is nothing I lack. I then slow, and realize this is our time.
Storm looks back, and she takes my hand. “You okay?”
I nod, walk with her, and I lace my fingers in hers. She then looks up into my face and she looks curious.
Don’t ask.
“What are you thinking about?”
I sigh deep, and I don’t know what to say.
“You,” I say, as we walk on, “and we need a child.”
Storm walks along in silence, and then her fingers tighten ever so slightly. Several seconds later, she stops in front of me, and we hold each other close.
The love of my life looks up, and my heart melts.
“You’re right, baby. We do.”