Page 100 of Shackled

We walk out of the room hand in hand. I’ve learned that in some respects, it is better to ask my wife. The push and pull between us is something that thrills me. I never want to lose that spark, that fire. But Isabella knows her mind and I love that about her.

“Let’s see,” she says thoughtfully, as we walk toward the kitchen. “Baptism, of course. It’s a very significant event in my country. We have the ceremony and follow it with a large reception.”

I nod. “Done.” I pull out food and arrange it on the counter while she chops up lettuce.

“We do have baby showers.”

“Of course.” I take down plates and fill two glasses with water.

“In Columbia, we select the godparents fifteen days before the baby is born. We’ll have to talk about that, though, Lev.”

I put out silverware and nod. “You want Renata to be the godmother?”

She slides the chopped lettuce into a bowl and takes it to the sink to wash. “I do.”

Renata is still being held in captivity by Ollie. Though Isabella has said she trusts her, she didn’t argue when we told her we’d have to vet her thoroughly. That tells me she wants to be sure her best friend isn’t compromised either.

“Fair. I can make that happen.”

She takes out a container of rice and beans and begins to heat it up. I’ve gotten used to rice and beans around here, a staple of her diet and a nod to her heritage. “I’d like traditional foods at the baby shower. Empanadas, tamales, and arepas, please. And I’d like to help prepare them.”

“Makes sense. It’s important you help me understand what and how you want to celebrate your family’s traditions.”

She plates rice and beans for both of us. “Of course.” Reaching across the table, she squeezes my hand. “Thank you. I guess I must forgive you, hmm? Your groveling really is quite touching, mi querido jefe.”

I take my hand away and roll my eyes. “Is that so?” She’s not wrong. A man does not screw around with a woman’s birth control, knock her up, and go about his day like he didn’t majorly fuck up.

We’ve made peace with it all, though. We fought long and hard to get to where we are and we will still, but we’ve made it this far. She’s pregnant, and no longer furious at me for putting her in this position. She talks about the baby’s coming with excitement. She’ll be such a good mama to our baby.

We’ve united our two families. And while we still have a long way to go when it comes to outing all our enemies and putting an end to the threats against us, we both know this: we’ll always have to be vigilant. There will always be another threat, another danger. But with our families joined together, we’re so much stronger than we’ve ever been before.

“Any drama?” she asks, taking an ample bite of her lunch.

“Always. Ollie and Renata are like a powder keg, waiting to explode. He still doesn’t trust her.”

Isabella frowns. “I’ll have to have a talk with her. But you know…” she taps her chin thoughtfully. “There’s potential there.”

I stare at her, unblinking. “You’re kidding, right? You thought we were like oil and water? They’re like gasoline and a lit match, Isabella.”

She shrugs and takes a sip of her water. “Meh. It’s not like I didn’t expect that. We Columbian women like to spit fire. And a little drama is just part and parcel.” She smiles sweetly.

I shake my head. “I won’t argue with that. Expansion is a good thing, though. Clearly.”

Isabella nods, her eyes sparking with excitement.

Uh oh.

“Speaking of which, how do you feel about expanding our little empire? I’m thinking some place tropical. I hear Hawaii is just ripe for a little business.”

“Hawaii.”

“Mmm,” she says thoughtfully. “There’s so much potential.”

“I’ll give you potential.” I shake my head.

She wiggles her brows at me and slowly pushes up from the table. Apparently even with her nonexistent baby bump, the woman can still run.

I don’t care, though. She can run all she wants. She can even hide.

I will always chase her.

I thrill at the capture.

Isabella Morales Romanova is mine and always will be.

THE END