Page 60 of The Best of Us (The Costa Family #4)
Constantine
Later That Fall
“Whatcha got there?”
At the sight of my intern, Blair, setting a file on my desk, I folded Bianca’s note and returned it to my wallet. I still liked to read it on occasion. However, after our brief moment in Heaven together, I was far more at peace now whenever I looked at it.
“Don’t you knock?” I flicked my wrist, waving her away with a smile.
“Mm, only when your wife is here. Never know if you’re . . . you know .”
She wasn’t exactly exaggerating. The number of times my wife had visited me while I was at the office, both this one and my security firm, and we’d wound up having sex? More than I could count.
Just last week, she’d sat on my desk wearing high heels and nothing else. I’d spread her legs open, dropped to my knees, and eaten her out. Best fucking meeting of the week.
“I’m cutting out early, by the way.” Blair saluted me. “You should, too.”
“Yeah, will do. After a few more emails.” I gestured for her to shut the door on her way out, then settled back in my seat, staring in a daze at my screen.
I really should just go now. Steal a moment with Juliette before our place became crowded for dinner.
Alessandro was in town with Callie and Elijah, and Juliette had invited them over. Izzy, too, but without Hudson. Hudson was currently in D.C. with Enzo for work. His side venture—one I’d also invested in—to help eradicate drugs from our streets was going damn well.
Of course, Colin had sent the invite to his girlfriend and her mother, too.
Lennon’s mom worked here at the office as an administrative assistant. She was doing great, and I was happy for her and Lennon.
I was also relieved not to have two teens under one roof that I had to worry about getting into trouble. The one gave me quite enough.
Colin and Lennon were happy and in love. So, if Colin was over the moon, then I was for him.
A few weeks ago, they’d decided that when Jamie and Daniel were released from prison, they should be given a second chance. In Dublin, though, not here, and under the watchful eye of The League. Although knowing my son, he’d still keep a close eye on both men himself.
The kid really was like me.
Despite being in a new school, he’d already wound up in a fight. Just last week, but it wasn’t his fault. He stepped in for someone who couldn’t defend himself. But unlike his old principal, this one understood that.
Back in the spring, I may have also chatted with the school board at his last private school. I may have also ensured that the principal lost her job. She deserved it. What woman allows another woman to grovel for a male chauvinistic asshole in her office? Good riddance.
Said male chauvinistic asshole—a.k.a. Zach’s father—didn’t get off as easily. I’d done my damnedest to “turn over a new leaf” and behave by only threatening him, but the idiota had decided to run his mouth about my wife as I was walking out.
I shut his office door and tossed my business card on his desk.
“What’s this for?” he’d asked, picking up my card.
“My number. For the lawsuit after you charge me with assault.” I’d rounded his desk and snatched his jacket. “This will be worth every cent you try to squeeze from me.”
A ghost of a smile crossed my face at the memory of the beatdown I’d given him.
From what I’d heard, it had been almost as bad as the one he received shortly after my visit. That time courtesy of Giuseppe. At least that mafioso had kept his word and let me have at him first.
I really hadn’t changed that much, I supposed. Still a work in progress, but one Juliette loved and supported. She was even okay with my “side gigs.”
At the sound of a notification on my phone, I looked down to see a message from Hudson, pulling me back to the present and the fact I was still at my office instead of getting my ass home to my wife for a quiet minute alone.
Hudson: You’ll never guess who I ran into today.
Me: Don’t tell me if I don’t want to know.
Hudson: LOL
Hudson: Ryder Lawson. Remember him? Delta Force. Now works for Delta Shield Security. Oh, and ya know, friends with Carter.
Me: Of course he is. At this point, who isn’t? eye roll emoji
Hudson: Aren’t you two best friends now? winking emoji
Our paths had crossed at my wedding in June when he’d shockingly accepted my wife’s invitation, attending with his wife and son. But I wasn’t sure if I’d consider us in friend territory yet.
Hudson: Kidding, kidding. Not allowed to replace me. winking emoji
Me: I swear, man, you’re becoming softer than I am.
Hudson: I see you want to spar when I get home. We can settle who’s tougher in the ring …
Hudson: Still owe ya some mat time for not telling me about Aruba in the first place. You told Alessandro? Really?
Me: Never gonna let me live that down, are you?
Hudson: Hell no.
Me: Asshole.
Hudson: See. You’re the soft one, not me, man. Speak for yourself.
Me: Yeah, yeah, yeah … Just tell me something else. Something I actually need to hear.
Hudson: I have a feeling Ryder might need an assist soon. Trigger finger itchy?
Me: HFY. Count me in if he calls.
Hudson: Are you learning to text from your son?
Shit, he had a point. I was.
Hudson: Anyway, how are things there?
Me: Your wife is keeping mine busy with the shopping and baby shower planning.
In fact, I hadn’t had sex in two days. Not the norm for us. Juliette had been exhausted every night. So much so, she passed out before we could make love.
Hudson: Sorry about that.
Me: All good. It’s worth it since you’re giving me another nephew.
Izzy had found out she was pregnant four weeks after we all returned from the Italy-Ireland-Scotland trip. Another miracle.
Hudson: I’ll be back tomorrow. I want to see Alessandro and the family before they head out.
Right, about that. The emails can wait. If I left now, maybe I could make love to my wife before everyone arrived.
I closed my laptop, shoved my phone in my pocket, and hurried home, hoping I wasn’t too late and that my brother hadn’t already beaten me there.
The second I walked through my front door, I tossed my keys and jacket and went to find her. “Babe?” I called out.
The house was quiet, but I knew Colin wouldn’t be back until closer to dinnertime. He’d texted an hour ago that he was taking Lennon out for a spin in his new Dodge Ram before dinner.
I loosened the knot of my tie as I made my way to our bedroom, then went still in the doorway when I spotted her quietly sitting on the bed, hand covering her mouth, eyes on the floor.
“Hey, you okay?” I rushed over to her and dropped to my knees. “What’s wrong?” My eyes widened, nerves taking over as I took her hands.
She slowly lifted her head, tears slipping down her cheeks.
I swallowed hard, waiting for her to speak to help get my heart rate dialed back down before that organ jumped free and clear from my chest.
“I know why I’ve been so tired lately, and it has nothing to do with helping Izzy with the baby shower planning and all the shopping.” She pulled her hands away from mine and swiped at her tears before reaching for something under the closest pillow.
A small blue something. The Tiffany’s box?
“Open it.” She sniffled, working her lip between her teeth.
I wasn’t sure why my hand was shaking as I lifted the lid. I dropped back onto the heels of my dress shoes at the sight of two tiny yellow socks inside. “Are you trying to tell me . . .?”
“I took a test this morning, then snuck off to the OB this afternoon. I wanted to know for sure before I told you.”
I held up one of the socks, which was so small compared to the size of my hand.
“Those were Colin’s. Now they’ll be his brother’s,” she whispered, tears flying down her face as a few worked down mine.
I returned the sock to the box. A shaky exhalation later, I set the box on the bed and stood, drawing her hands inside mine to have her rise as well. “Wait, uh, what if we’re having a girl?” Colin will lose it.
“She’ll have a ridiculously overprotective brother to have her six is what.” She laughed through a teary smile, then pulled her hands free from mine to hold my face and whispered, “Boy or girl, they’ll have the best dad in the world. I know this because Colin already does.”
I looked up at the ceiling, and a feeling of warmth and peace flooded me as I sent a thank-you above for being so blessed. Returning my gaze to my wife, the woman of my dreams, I brushed my thumbs over her cheeks as I murmured, “Best parents in the world.” My voice cracked, and then I lifted one shoulder into a shrug before winking. “ Colin’s words, not mine.”
“Well, he is a smart kid.” She beamed with pride.
“I agree with that.” I pulled away and scooped her into my arms. “Tell me, does the mother of my children have the energy to make love with her husband before dinner?”
She hooked her wrists behind my neck as I took a knee on our bed before laying her out. “Ohh, I think I just might have plenty of strength for that. But do me a favor?”
I removed my tie and tossed it, staring at the angel before me. “Anything,” I breathed out.
“Don’t go worry mode on me, treating me like glass, worried I’ll break because I’m pregnant. I know you, mister.” She fisted my shirt and playfully lifted her brows. “In your arms, hard or gentle,” she said softly, “I’ll always be safe.”