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I glance at her, marveling at the hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth. “One thing about us, we’ll never bore each other.”
We change into our pajamas and spend the night playing board games, eating junk food, and watching movies. Our dedicated chef even prepared a specialty hot cocoa for us. When we can barely keep our eyes open, we snuggle in bed with Jinx between us. I never knew I needed a family of my own or how full my heart would be to have Jinx and Zakiya with me.
For so long I feared being like my father, for thinking I could never find what my brother found in his unconventional family. But fear is the furthest from my mind when my wife and daughter curl toward me, and the two kittens curl up at Jinx’s feet. Who needs heaven when I have something not even heaven could surpass?
As my eyes drift closed, a tiny voice says, “Thank you for being my mommy and daddy.”
My eyes pop open to see Zakiya tearing up with a hand to stifle her sobs.
I swallow the emotions clogging my throat and kiss Jinx’s head through her bonnet. “Thank you for being mio angioletto.”
Zakiya stretches her arm over Jinx’s body to embrace the two of us. “I love you, baby. I always will.”
Jinx yawns but doesn’t acknowledge either of our responses, which is a good thing because I’m having a mini-meltdown, in awe of my daughter’s first words to me. I have to talk myself outof making a big deal about her talking, but fuck if I’m not on a high right now. And all of it is because of Zakiya.
I take my wife’s hand from my waist and kiss her knuckles as the tears she valiantly fought to withhold slide down her cheeks.
She’s never been more beautiful, and my heart has never been fuller.
EPILOGUE
Sansone
“I can’t believe this is how we’re spending our one-year anniversary.” I step onto the porch of Zakiya’s murder cabin as I wait for her to join me.
The crisp night air flirts against my skin and the owls’ periodic screeching within the trees marks the late hour. Stars twinkle in the sky, putting on a light show pyrotechnics would envy. I take a deep breath of the fresh air after hours of dealing with another child trafficker. Although I could have assigned someone to accompany Zakiya when she gets the notice from Omari, I don’t. I never will.
“Sorry, we had to cancel your plans.” She locks the door and joins me to star gaze.
Rescuing children and seeking justice on their behalf is important to my wife, and if I can play a minor role in ensuring she meets her goals, I will. I treasure any time I spend with her. We’ve been together for a year, and I discover new things about her every day and fall deeper in love with the woman as we share our new life together.
I circle her waist with my arm and pull her against my side. “The night isn’t over.”
She rests her hand above my heart and leans against my chest. “True. The new nanny doesn’t expect us until tomorrow.”
Thanks to my brother, I hired a real nanny. With the therapy sessions and a school that actually takes Jinx’s trauma and coping mechanisms into consideration, my daughter will now speak in certain situations. She’s selective about the people she engages with verbally, and we knew we chose the right nanny when she said hi instead of signing.
The woman is a godsend because she gave Zakiya the chance to take the role she secretly wanted from the beginning but thought she didn’t deserve. As Jinx’s mother, she gains all the authority inherent in the title. We even made it legal through adoption. No one will question her in the future, not that they do when they see her and Jinx together. I should have known from the moment I saw them at the entry of my home I was destined for Zakiya. Thankfully, I came to my senses and she did, too.
We leave the cabin, and I make calls to the chef I flew in for the occasion. She used to run the best food truck in Douglas, then she moved to Serenedad to be a private chef for a Japanese family. Now she has her own restaurant and has gained notoriety for being the best, and my ragazzaccia deserves no less than the best.
On the way to our destination, Zakiya laces our fingers together over the center console. “Have you noticed Leo is no less infatuated with Jinx than from a year ago?”
“Don’t remind me.” I bring our joined hands to my lips and kiss her fingers. “It looks like he’s Jinx’s best friend. You know they have a secret sign language?”
“I’ve seen it. I don’t understand it, either.” She shakes her head with a laugh. “But as long as Leo never betrays her, I’ve got no problem with him.”
“Hmph.” I’ll keep my eye on him, regardless.
We pull up to my restaurant, Mio Cuore. I shut it down for our special night, but after calling Kori, the staff returned. They escort us to the Amanti room, decorated to be the most intimate dining room in the establishment.
Low lighting and soft music cast a romantic hue over the soft, plush furnishings. The room is divided into sections based on the dining experience. For the apéritif and antipasti dishes, a low table with a rotating top sits before a chaise longue built for two to recline and eat like Roman emperors. Another section boasts a table with an inlaid grill for table-side preparation and service for the main dishes. Last, there’s a section of pillows on the floor to enhance the sensual dessert portion of the meal. Instead of a traditional table surrounded by chairs, small side tables frame the lovers’ circle.
Although Kori’s specialty isn’t Italian food, she’s a fusion genius. I usher Zakiya to the chaises and lie with her, spooning her from behind. I reach over her and dip a wedge of Pallone di Gravina cheese in Tujia honey and bring it to her lips. She moans as the flavors hit her tongue.
“Taste good?” I ask.
She pauses her chewing to say, “Amazing.”
