Tempted By The Mafia Boss

CHAPTER FORTY

Charlotte

Six weeks later…

Warmth tickles my cheek as I stir against something furry.

My eyes flutter open and I sit up frowning at myself for falling asleep again.

I tried harder this time. I even put on an episode of The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills thinking the drama those women got up to would surely keep me awake.

But no it didn’t work.

My nine week pregnancy body had succumbed to tiredness. At least it was better than having morning sickness all the time. That had calmed down a lot.

It was just the constant sleepiness and sleeping which didn’t help when you were trying to take care of a man who was supposed to be resting.

I could hear him now outside arguing with one of his brothers. I was guessing it was Salvatore because he’d barely left his side since Gabe got home from the hospital. The other two were trying to act tough by making calls, but where they failed was that either Vincent or Nick would call every half second.

No one was however worse than his parents in regards to him who decided they were going to stay for a week when he came home.

No one was worse though than my parents and Cordelia who were always here.

Everyone was offering their support and love in one way or another and it was nice. I couldn’t even be annoyed at the persistence because it wasn’t that long ago when life for me was very different. Very different to what it was now.

Today I just wanted to stay awake long enough to make my man and his brother a nice meal.

I grabbed my shawl from the edge of the sofa and wrapped it around me then made my way outside to see what the guys were arguing about this time.

The garage door was open and the two were inside working on one of Gabe’s old cars.

Gabe’s arm got broken and he has a cast on it. He’s supposed to have it in a sling too but he keeps taking it off.

He broke a few ribs too and fractured his leg. He was in hospital for a week and was actually meant to stay longer but discharged himself early to be with me.

“Prick, you aren’t modifying my car. Drives fast enough,” Gabe snaps at Salvatore.

“It’s slow as shit,” Salvatore counters. “Oh my God Gabe, you are going to drive me bat shit crazy.”

“You?” Gabe hisses giving him an incredulous glare.

I bite back a smile. It’s funny to watch them argue. Funny to see they haven’t changed one bit over the years.

Salvatore throws a fist in Gabe’s shoulder and he sees me just as he’s about to retaliate.

“Goddess, what are you doing up?” He comes to me and slips his arm around me as if me walking around is some kind of hazard.

“Gabe, I’m fine,” I assure him.

“If you need to sleep you’re supposed to.”

He’s been like this the whole time and even when he was in hospital he made sure people were around me tending to my every need.

“Gabe, she has to wake up sometimes.” Salvatore laughs at him.

“Hey, don’t encourage her. We’re going back inside.” Gabe ignores the wild stare Salvatore gives him and ushers me right back in.

He sits me back down on the large sofa in the sitting room. Out of the two of us he’s more in need, but he insists on taking care of me.

He had a cast on his leg up until last week when he took it off himself, deciding he’d had enough of it. He also walks with an occasional limp that has gotten better but I worry that he’s not resting as much as he should be.

“There, that’s better.” He smiles placing my feet up.

“Gabe, you do realize I’m going to have to do more than sit down for the next seven months. Right?” I laugh.

He had a fit the other day when I went to school.

I’ve had more than enough time away for a person who just started and decided I want to be there as much as possible before the baby comes.

He pulls up one of the wooden chairs and sits in front of me with a smile on his face.

“Goddess, minimal, you will do minimal. Save your energy for the important stuff. Like when this comes off next week.” He nods and taps his cast. It makes a hollow sound.

“Gabe, that cast is supposed to come off in four weeks.”

“Screw that. no one has time for that and not for the plans I have for us.”

Plans?

My interest piques.

“What plans are these?”

“Number one.” He raises a finger and his smile brightens. “I haven’t asked you to move in with me properly yet. Place needs fixing up and modification. It needs your stuff and a nursery.”

That does sound exciting. I straighten up and look him over.

“So is that what you’re going to do? Ask me to move in properly?”

He nods and brings himself closer to take my hand. He looks at my hand and smiles.

“I’m going to ask you to move in with me properly but I plan to do a little more than that.” A wicked smile brightens his face.

“What?” What is he planning?NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“We’re gonna get all set up here so business and school is taken care of then we’re heading to St. Lucia for the summer.”

My lips part in sheer surprise. “What? We’re doing what?”

“That’s as much as I’m gonna tell you now, baby. Don’t want to spoil the rest of the surprise.”

“Gabe what surprise? Oh my gosh you can’t do that. I’m sure there’s some rule somewhere about not keeping a pregnant lady in suspense.”

“Don’t worry, Goddess. This is the good kind of suspense. Food for the soul.” he leans forward and kisses me, then lowers to kiss my stomach too in the habitual way he’s developed over the last few weeks. “I love you.”

“I love you,” I answer. I will never, ever grow tired of telling him that.

He stands when Cordelia comes in with a little bag that looks like she’s brought me pastries from the coffeeshop.

He smiles when he sees her and makes his way back outside to Salvatore.

Cordelia joins me on the sofa and hands me the bag.

“All your favorites,” she bubbles.

I shuffle to give her a hug. “Thank you so much. You are the best.”

“You okay?” Her eyes sparkle as she looks me over.

Am I okay?

It’s such a simple question but it hold so much meaning for me.

These days when I’m asked that I think about the meaning of it.

There’s no one who wants to take me away and the only man who wants to own me and make me his is the man I’ve always wanted.

There’s no Tobias. There’s no Antonio, there’s no one who wants to hurt me in any way.

I look forward to the future with hope and happiness because of Gabe.

I’m safe no matter what happens. I know I will be safe with him.

We belong to each other, and that’s everything I could possibly want.

“I’m okay,” I answer with a smile and relish the feeling of being complete.

I can’t wait to see what plans Gabe has in store for me.