Hearing Val say our unborn daughter’s name filled me with calm and joy. It had from the first moment we’d decided on it. She who makes happy was the meaning of the name. It couldn’t have been more fitting. She came into our life when everything was in shambles and we seemed to have come to an impasse and showed us that the future still held many wonders and opportunities.

“You’re young,” I said, stroking her back.

Val gave me an amused look. Then her expression became tight as we entered the lodge and followed the voices into the vast living area with the floor-to-ceiling windows sandwiching a fireplace between them and with a majestic view over the lake. It was too warm outside for a fire though.

Anna and Sofia huddled together on the sofa, talking animatedly, and Leonas showed his new Swiss knife to Samuel. Pietro had his arm wrapped around Ines. My sister had lost weight. Her eyes met mine.

She peered up at Pietro who rubbed her upper arm in encouragement. Ines walked over to us. She smiled at Val and touched her belly. “My God, you’re already so big.”

“I know!” Val said then pulled Ines into an embrace.

I went over to Pietro and shook his hand then Samuel’s. “She’s forgiven you,” he said quietly.

I glanced back at Val and Ines. “Because of the wedding?”

The wedding between Remo Falcone and Serafina a couple of months ago had been the scandal of the year.

“She had already forgiven you before that, but the Cavallaro pride kept her from admitting it,” Pietro said.

Ines looked my way and for a moment neither of us moved. In the past it had always been Ines who’d made the first move, getting over her pride more easily than I did, but this time I walked over to her. Val stepped back and greeted Pietro and Samuel.

“Ines,” I said quietly. “I’m glad you agreed for our families to spend our vacation together.”

Ines rolled her eyes. “Don’t sound so official, as if we’re distant acquaintances.”

“In the last few months we were hardly more than distant acquaintances,” I said.

She nodded. “I’m not mad at you anymore. I’m still mad at the situation, but not at you.”

I didn’t say anything. Ines stepped closer and hugged me. “I saw the photos. Fina looked so happy in them. I don’t understand. I never will.”

I touched her back. “Me neither.”

Samuel had taken a couple of photos while he’d attended the wedding. It had been a risky move, one he’d insisted on making. He’d been certain Remo’s feelings—whatever nature they were—would protect him, and they had. Samuel had returned unscathed and with interesting insights into the dynamics of the Falcone clan.

He’d stayed true to his word and not gone behind my back, even if I could guess how difficult it must have been for him to admit Fina had contacted him. Maybe he would have kept it a secret if Remo hadn’t reached out to him as well.

It was a mystery to me what went on in his twisted brain, and I didn’t waste time on it anymore. While war with the Famiglia and Camorra was still going strong, we all resorted to obligatory attacks on our delivery trucks or outposts—for the time being. It was a respite that wouldn’t last forever.

We all had something to lose. Wives, children.

Ines pulled back. “I’m happy for you and Val. I can’t wait to hold my niece in my arms.” She smiled bravely. “And what do I hear about you having political ambitions.”

“Not me. I’m not good at schmoozing others.”

“You prefer to give orders and have them obeyed.”

I tilted my head. “But we’re making efforts to establish bonds with the political elite.”

“It’s just another shark tank, isn’t it? Intrigue is their form of public torture.”

I smiled because Ines hit the nail on the head as usual.

“Dad, can Samuel show me how to shoot a crossbow?”

Val’s eyes widened. She always worried about Leonas but I was glad he was daring. “Sure.”

“Be careful!” Val added as Samuel and Leonas walked outside. Anna and Sofia followed curiously, their heads together as they whispered excitedly.

Val hurried over to me. “A crossbow?”

I chuckled and rubbed her side. “He’ll be fine.”

“Why don’t we settle on the porch and watch the spectacle?” Pietro suggested.

Val didn’t need to be told twice. She wanted to keep an eye on Leonas. We settled in chairs outside but Val practically perched on the very edge. “Don’t stand so close, Anna, Sofia!”

The girls took a few steps away from Samuel and Leonas but Val moved closer. Her pregnancy had made her even more protective.

“She’s overprotective,” Pietro said. “I’m surprised she agreed to have Anna go to school.”

“It was actually her idea. She wants our daughter to grow up normally, or as normal as is possible. And Santino will be with Anna at all times.”

Pietro’s gaze settled on Santino who sat with the other guards in front of their cabin. “I’m surprised you chose someone that young to guard your daughter.”

“He’s one of the best. An attacker will have a hard time getting past him.”

“Still. He’s a good-looking guy.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “He’s ten years older than Anna and she’s a kid. He’s good at his job.” Not to mention that he knew what would happen to him if I ever caught him looking at my daughter with more than professional interest.

Pietro shrugged. “Your age difference to Val is bigger. Danilo made his point very clear when it came to choosing Sofia’s bodyguards. They need to be my age, and he insists she’s being homeschooled, which we’d wanted to do anyway after the thing with…” He trailed off, pain flashing in his eyes.

“Understandable,” I said, allowing Pietro to gather himself. The wound of Serafina’s loss was still fresh. Maybe it would never heal completely. “Anna will probably be promised to Clifford Clark.”

Pietro looked surprised. “Really? His father agreed?”

“He’s open to the suggestion. His wife and father are in favor of the bond, and he enjoys spending the money we gave him as an incentive. It’s not going to be official for a while. We have to see how things go between us but it’s a possibility.”

“I never thought you’d consider marrying Anna to an Outsider.” It was a difficult decision, one I still wasn’t entirely comfortable with, but Val had made a valid point. Anna would be safe in a marriage with a politician. She’d grown up among Made Men, she’d be able to handle a mere Outsider and it would open many doors for her. She loved art exhibitions and music. As the fiancée of a politician’s son who would undoubtedly follow in his father’s footsteps as well, she’d have the opportunity to study art or music.

Anna laughed when Leonas missed his target by several yards and as usual, it filled me the sense of peace that had been absent from my life so often in the past.

Beatrice was born on the hottest day of the summer, in the last few hours of August. As with Leonas I had gone full term.

Returning home with our daughter filled me with relief and joy, especially when I saw Anna’s and Leonas’ excitement over the newest addition to our family. Leonas was relieved over not being the youngest anymore, and Anna was just excited about having a little sister she could potentially dress up.