Bound By Blood Anthology

My phone rang. Usually I would have turned the sound off during a meeting with my Capo but Lily could be giving birth any time now. She was already five days overdue.

Lily’s name flashed across the screen.

I jerked to my feet and picked up. “Lily? What’s wrong?”

Luca and Matteo both fell silent.

“I’m in labor. I don’t think it’ll take long.”

“Where are you?”

“At home. My doula is here. I’m waiting for you.”

“I’ll be there soon. Hold on.”

Lily laughed. “All right.”

I hung up, flustered.

“I assume Liliana is about to have your baby?” Luca asked.

I nodded shakily. “I should—”

“Go ahead. Your wife needs you,” Luca said.

“Good luck,” Matteo said with a wink.

I turned and rushed to my car. I usually wasn’t someone who disregarded traffic regulations as a sport like Matteo, but today I raced through traffic, cutting lines and taking red lights where I could.

When I arrived at home, out of breath and ready to carry Lily to the car or call an ambulance, I was surprised to find her sitting on the sofa, with her doula, the wife of a soldier, behind her, massaging her back. Lily was breathing heavily, her face twisted in pain.

After a moment, her eyes settled on me and she gave a shaky smile. “You are quick.”

“I hurried,” I said. “Should we head to the hospital now?”

Lily looked at her doula. “We can wait another hour, I think.”

I shook my head. I knew Lily trusted the woman but I’d rather have a doctor close by. I walked toward her, causing the doula to stand up and give us some privacy. Sinking down beside Lily, I kissed her hand.

“Let’s get you to the hospital. I want you and our daughter to be safe. Next time we can discuss having that homebirth you want.”

“Next time,” Lily said with a smile.

I helped her to her feet and slowly guided her to the car, glad she’d agreed.

Less than two hours later, Sara was born. She was as beautiful as Lily with big brown eyes and soft light brown hair. Lily nursed her with a tired but loving smile, and I held her in my arms, admiring her strength.

“She’s so beautiful,” Lily said again.

I nodded, stroking Lily’s bare arm. Protecting others had been my job for a long time but now it was suddenly part of my life, because the people who needed my protection were my life.LilianaSara was asleep in her room so Romero and I had some time for us. This happened rarely. Sara kept us busy and so far, I couldn’t bring myself to let anyone else watch her overnight or in the evening, even if Aria had offered to babysit several times.

When I walked back into our bedroom, the lights were dimmed and the door to the bathroom was ajar. As I stepped into the doorframe, my heart swelled with love. A dozen candles cast their warm glow on my surroundings and soft jazz music played in the background. Romero waited beside the bathtub, a box with my favorite chocolate truffles in hand and a bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine on the edge of the tub. He was only in tight boxers. My eyes took in his muscled chest and strong thighs, feeling a familiar tug between my legs. Since Sara’s birth, our love life had taken a hiatus and still hadn’t picked up where it had been before my pregnancy.

“This is beautiful,” I whispered as I walked toward him and pressed up to his side. Now I wished I’d put on something sexier than a T-shirt and panties.

“Is there a reason?”

There wasn’t always. Romero was a romantic at heart and loved to surprise me with candlelight dinners or relaxing evenings in the bathtub. Still I always asked because my brain was frayed since Sara’s birth. Neither of us had ever forgotten an important occasion and I didn’t want to be the first.

“The anniversary of the night that I made you mine,” he murmured before he left a lingering kiss on my lips. I loved remembering our first night together, the moment I’d known my heart irrevocably belonged to Romero.

“That’s a good reason to celebrate,” I said, smiling up at him.

“Why don’t we relax a bit?” His eyes reflected the desire slowly kindling in my belly as well. His hands slid under my T-shirt and helped me pull it over my head before he tossed it away. Despite the warmth in the room, my nipples pimpled. Romero’s fingers next hooked in my panties and slid them down slowly. His eyes never left mine, practically devouring me. How could I have worried Romero would care that I wasn’t wearing sexy lingerie? I hooked my hands in his boxers and pushed them down. My desire burned even brighter seeing Romero completely naked.

He helped me into the tub and I sank into the hot water with a moan, feeling my tense muscles relax. Romero climbed in behind me and poured us the sparkling wine before handing a glass to me. We clinked glasses, and I settled against his chest and took a sip of my wine. Closing my eyes, I released a soft sigh. “I could fall asleep like that.”