Bound By Blood Anthology

“How are you feeling?”

“Good,” she said then amended. “Better than yesterday anyway. I thought about Luca’s offer all night and about what it would mean for us… and I think it’s the best possible solution for everyone.”

I stroked her bare arm. “Aria and Luca will take great care of it, and we’ll get to watch it grow up.”

Gianna’s brows furrowed. “Yeah.” She searched my eyes.

“If you’re absolutely sure, we should tell Aria and Luca so they can prepare for the new situation,” I said.

“Are you sure?”

“Like you said it’s the best solution for everyone,” I said. I wasn’t sure how things would change once the baby was there and I had to watch Luca be its dad. I couldn’t really imagine myself as a father either, though. I liked the general idea of being a dad. The fun things, but just from watching Luca and Aria I knew there were plenty of hard moments as well.

“Okay, then I’ll call Aria.”

“I have a meeting with Luca today anyway. I’ll have a talk with him then as well.”

Gianna stayed in my arms for a few more heartbeats before she pulled away and stood to grab her phone from the kitchen counter. I headed over to the railing and let my gaze wander over New York. We’d said yes to the baby, but at the same time no. I was relieved but at the same time worried.Luca and I met in his office in the Sphere to discuss a few alarming developments with the Tartarus MC. Since Luca had annihilated their chapter in New Jersey they had laid low for years but now some of the other chapters, especially their mother chapter in Texas, had sent out scouts into the area.

Luca suspected they were rebuilding a New York and New Jersey chapter. Right now they were still a scattered assortment of drunkards and idiots.

I took off my helmet as I strolled through the bar area toward the hidden backrooms. Luca sat behind his desk chair, his open laptop in front of him. He closed it the moment I entered.

“Any new developments?” I asked.

Luca narrowed his eyes. “Business can wait.”

I sighed and plopped down in one of the comfortable leather chairs.

“Gianna told Aria this morning that you two decided to give us the baby.”

Give them the baby. It sounded like handing over car keys. I nodded. “It’s the best possible solution for everyone.”

Luca sat back in his chair, watching me with his annoying scrutiny. “All right. You realize that while we take the baby off your hands, Aria and I can’t spare you the pregnancy. That’s for you and Gianna to handle, and it comes with responsibility.”

Was he trying to piss me off on purpose? “We know that, don’t worry.”

“No alcohol, no sushi, less caffeine…”

“I get it, Luca. And trust me, Gianna gets it too.”

Luca shrugged. “You don’t want your lives to change but they will, at least in the next eight months. After that, you can have your old life back and Aria and I will take over.”

“Can we talk about business now? The more you talk the more I feel like skinning someone, and I have a feeling a few fuckers from Tartarus might just be the balm for my bloodthirst.”

Luca sighed but he nodded. “Aria invited Gianna and you over for dinner tonight. Your wife agreed, so be there at six.”

I stifled a groan.When I returned home in the late afternoon, Gianna was already downstairs, perching on a barstool at the kitchen counter. She drank coffee and was reading a yoga magazine. In her tight black jean shorts and black wife beater she looked like the Gianna I knew. Tough and hot as hell. She slanted me a look. Her makeup covered up the last traces of yesterday’s tears. My eyes darted down to her flat belly. It seemed unreal that she was really pregnant, that something as monumental as a baby in her belly wasn’t yet visible for the eye.

She raised her cup. “Decaf, in case you’re wondering.”

“Did Luca give you a lecture of all the things you’re prohibited from consuming and doing?” I asked wryly as I strolled over to her and kissed her full lips.

She grimaced. “No. But Aria bridged the subject in a subtle but unmistakable way. As if I’d just keep drinking alcohol and espressos. I’ll make sure it’s safe until it’s in their hands.” She shook her head.

“Do you want to cancel the dinner with them?”

Gianna considered that. “No, I’m really grateful for what they’re doing.”

“Me too,” I said. “How was yoga today?”

“Great. I could blank out everything for a little while. Luckily I can keep working out during the pregnancy. I just need to tone it down slightly.”

I squeezed her hip. “See. This pregnancy will be over before you know it and then we can party the night away again.”