Bound By Love

Gianna’s phone rang. “No, we’re still at home. Aria is too slow.”
I scowled at her. Slow? I was surprised I could walk at all the way my insides seemed to be torn to pieces.

“Shhh, princess, shhh. Everything is okay.” She quieted, big eyes trying to focus on him. “God, you are so small,” he whispered,

Sleep, principessa. I will protect you.”

“And Marcella,” she added, half-asleep.

“You and Marcella both, till my death.”

Luca shook his head and kissed me sweetly, eyes softening. “Nothing will happen to you or our baby, trust me.”

“It’s a girl. It’ll make things easier,” I added.

Matteo smirked. “If she’s as beautiful as Aria, then we’ll have our hands full keeping men away.”

My lips curled into a hard smile. “Let them come

I squirted a small amount on my palm, but Aria shook her head. “That’s not enough.”

“That’s double of what I’m using,” I said.

Her eyes darted up to my short hair. “If I had short hair like yours, I’d need less shampoo as well.”

“No,” I said with more force than intended.

“I need a shower but I’m worried I’ll faint,” Aria said. I led her toward the shower, then turned on the water and waited until it turned warm before I gently led Aria inside and took the shampoo.

, the strongest contraction rocked through my body. I convulsed, my eyes closing, and I released a small cry.

“You are strong, Aria,” Luca murmured against my forehead. “And I’m here for you. I wish I could take the pain from you.”

f. Luca towered inside and his worried gray eyes zoomed in on me. Without a word, he strode toward Matteo and took me from his brother. Luca held me against his chest as if I weighed nothing. He lowered his face and kissed me gently before he headed for the elevator. I could feel his heartbeat racing, but his face was calm and it soothed my own worries. With him at my side, everything would be okay.

Gianna pulled her own cell out. “Yes, it’s Aria,” was the first thing she said. Of course Luca knew it was because of me when Gianna called him. My text had probably sent him into a panic attack