Chapter 22

22

SCARLET

" W e need to get a baby room in order," Cristian said, his voice still weak but filled with determination. "Time for a new place of residence. We'll need to move from the apartment. A child should be raised in a proper home."

I stared at him, mouth agape. The monitors beeped steadily in the background, a reminder of how close we'd come to losing him. Yet here he was, making plans like nothing had happened.

I couldn't believe my ears. It all left me speechless.

Tyrone nodded, his dark eyes gleaming with approval. "Agreed. The penthouse isn't suitable for a growing family."

"Once Cristian's home, we can start looking at new places. Something with a yard, perhaps?" Julian mused.

My head spun. They were talking about this so casually, as if Cristian hadn't just been fighting for his life less than an hour ago. As if I wasn't still reeling from the shock of it all – the attack, the pregnancy, the gunshot.

"I can't believe you're all talking about this right as soon as he's woken up," I blurted out, unable to contain my disbelief any longer.

Cristian's eyes found mine, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths. "It's time to focus on life and the living, kitten. I'm not dead, why stress?"

His cavalier attitude both infuriated and amazed me. Here he was, lying in a hospital bed with tubes and wires attached to him, and he was more concerned about house hunting than his own recovery.

"You were shot," I reminded him, my voice trembling slightly. "You almost died protecting me."

Cristian reached out, his hand finding mine. Despite my frustration, I couldn't help but lace my fingers through his. "And I'd do it again in a heartbeat. But I'm here, alive and kicking. We've got a future to plan for now."

I looked around at the three brothers, their faces a mix of determination and excitement. It hit me then – this was their way of coping, of moving forward. They'd stared death in the face and come out the other side. Now, they were clinging to life with both hands, making plans, forging ahead.

"A house," I repeated, the word feeling foreign on my tongue. "With a baby room."

Julian squeezed my shoulder gently. "It's a lot to take in, we know. But we're in this together, Scarlet. All of us."

Tyrone nodded, his usually stern face softening. "You're family now. Both of you." His eyes dropped to my still-flat stomach, and I felt a rush of warmth despite myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. This wasn't how I'd imagined starting a family, surrounded by ruthless men in a hospital room. But then again, nothing about my life had been conventional since the day I met the Silvestri brothers.

"Okay," I said finally, surprising even myself. "Let's talk about this new house."

Cristian's face lit up, and I couldn't help but smile back. As crazy as it all was, I realized I wouldn't have it any other way.

"And my answer's yes, too," I added, smiling gently.

Cristian frowned for a second before it dawned on him. He lurched forward, ignoring his own injury as he pulled me in for a kiss and hugged me tight.

"You won't regret it, my love. The future Mrs. Silvestri," he breathed into my ear. "My queen."

"Damn, so we planning a wedding too?" Julian mused, and I scoffed.

"One thing at a time," I said as Cristian winced and laid back down against his pillows.

"Yeah, if we do the wedding, it'd have to be soon, or we wait until after the baby is born, let her have her body back to normal," Tyrone said thoughtfully, being mindful of how my body would change.

"You know we've only really known one another a little over a month, right?" I pointed out.

"And? Some cultures, people get married after three dates. Hell, some of the families arrange them. People meet for the first time on their wedding day," Cristian said with a shrug, which he regretted instantly as he grimaced.

"Sometimes you just know," Julian said softly.

"Really? Did you think that when I hit you over the head with the hairdryer?" I joked.

"I knew you were going to be a pain in my ass, one way or another," he retorted, but he stepped up beside me to sling his arm around my shoulders.

"Our life is a risky one, fast-paced and quick at times. This is just another part, and we're set on you, Scarlet," Tyrone assured me.

"You better be, especially if I'm carrying a little Silvestri," I added as I touched my stomach.

"Wonder if we'll be having a little prince or princess?" Cristian mused.

"Putting the cart before the horse, aren't we?" Julian smirked before kissing my temple.

"Rest, Cristian. You need to heal if you're going to be a father and take on that role. I believe we'll all think of ourselves as their father, whether or not we're actually the biological. That can be something we figure out at a later date," Tyrone said as he rested one big hand on Cristian's blanketed leg. "I'm glad you're awake."

"Yeah, I'm glad it wasn't too long. Wasn't too keen on another coma for months on end," Julian said with a heavy sigh. "The weightloss alone is frustrating as shit."

The air was thick with things unsaid, and I knew there were plenty of other things that had affected him after his last coma. He was likely just grateful he was still himself, and he'd not lost anyone close to him.

"You know what I'd kill for right?" he said, and I arched a brow. "Some brownies, that'd be epic."

Weeks blurred by in a whirlwind of change. Cristian came home after a few more days in the hospital, his recovery progressing well. Somehow, I found myself thrust into the role of house hunter, poring over listings the brothers presented to me.

"Which one do you like best?" Cristian asked, his eyes bright with excitement despite the lingering fatigue from his injury.

I flicked through photos of sprawling mansions and palatial estates, each more opulent than the last. The sheer size and luxury of these places left me stunned. "They're all... overwhelming," I admitted.

Tyrone's hand rested on my shoulder. "Don't jump at the first one, Scarlet. This is to be our forever home. Take your time and look through them all."

One property caught my eye – a grand house with a massive library that made my bookworm heart skip a beat. But when I saw the price tag, I felt dizzy. "Jesus, that's..."

"Don't stress about it," Julian chimed in, waving away my concerns. "We've got it covered."

I watched as Julian helped Cristian back to his room to rest, his movements careful but not overly coddling. It was a delicate balance he and Tyrone had struck, supporting him while still treating him normally.

"He's recovering well," I commented to Tyrone once we were alone.

He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his usually stern face. "He's tough. Always has been."

Tyrone moved towards me then, his large hands gripping my waist. In one fluid motion, he lifted me onto the kitchen counter. I found myself eye-level with him as he stood between my legs, his gaze intense and searching.

"What?" I asked, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his scrutiny.

He didn't answer immediately, just continued to look at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. His thumbs traced small circles on my hips, and I felt a familiar warmth spreading through me.

"You're really here," he said finally, his voice low. "You're staying."

I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. "I am."

His forehead rested against mine, and I closed my eyes, breathing him in. This man, who could be so ruthless and cold, was now holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.

"I never thought..." he started, then trailed off.

I understood. None of us had expected this – me least of all. But here we were, planning a future together, a family.

Tyrone's eyes softened, a vulnerability I rarely saw in him shining through. "I never could have seen things turning out this way," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "From you being my pet to becoming my future wife..."

"I know," I whispered, running my fingers through his hair. "It's crazy, isn't it?"

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Completely insane."

"But the legalities..." I started, my practical side kicking in. "How can I be married to more than one man?"

Tyrone's lips quirked into a small smile. "Don't worry about that. We'll handle it. You won't legally be married to us all, just one, technically. On paper, anyway, but between us and our circle, you would be our wife."

He leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that made my skin prickle. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with emotion. "I've never cared so much about a woman before," he confessed. "Apart from my own mother, and that was different."

His fingers found their way into my hair, gently combing through the strands. The tenderness of the gesture caught me off guard, coming from a man I knew could be so ruthless.

"Sleep with me tonight," he said softly. It wasn't a command, but a request. "In my bed. I want to hold you and our growing baby."

My breath caught in my throat. The way he said 'our baby' sent a rush of warmth through me. Despite everything, despite how we'd started, I found myself nodding.

"Okay," I whispered, letting him help me down from the counter.

As he led me towards his room, I marveled at how much had changed. From captive to lover, from pawn to partner. And now, carrying a child that bound us all together in ways I was only beginning to understand.

We climbed into bed, and he pulled me against his body, holding me close, his giant arms wrapping me up with a sense of safety as he nuzzled me.

We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, the weight of our new reality settling around us.

I wanted to be close to him, finally feeling more comfortable than ever before with the three of them. My lips found his in the semi-darkness of his room, and his arms tightened around me. The kiss was a spark, igniting a fire that had been smoldering between us, waiting for the right moment to flare up.

His hands were on me, exploring every curve as if it was our first time. I arched into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips as he rolled me onto my back. His body pressed against mine, the heat of him seeping into my skin, making me crave more.

He kissed me deeply, his tongue dancing with mine in a battle for dominance. I could feel the restraint in his movements, the way he held back to savor every second. It was a sweet kind of torture, one that had me writhing beneath him, desperate for more.

His fingers worked deftly at the buttons of my shirt, peeling away the fabric to reveal the lacy bra beneath. He made a sound of approval low in his throat, his eyes darkening with desire as he took in the sight of me. My nipples hardened under his gaze, aching for his touch.

He didn't disappoint. His lips trailed a path down my neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin until I was a panting, trembling mess. He freed me from my bra, his mouth closing over one pebbled peak while his hand teased the other. The sensation was exquisite, sending jolts of pleasure straight to my core.

I fumbled with the hem of his shirt, eager to feel his skin against mine. He helped me strip it off, our hands momentarily tangling in the process. The sight of his bare chest, all hard muscle and warm skin covered in ink, made my heart race with anticipation.

His pants followed next, and then he was as naked as I was, the evidence of his desire pressing against my thigh. He reached between us, his fingers sliding through my wetness before finding my clit. I gasped at the contact, my hips bucking off the bed as he teased me mercilessly.

"Tyrone," I breathed, my voice barely more than a whisper.

He seemed to understand, positioning himself at my entrance before slowly pushing inside. I felt myself stretch to accommodate him, the sensation of fullness overwhelming in the best possible way.

He stilled once he was buried inside me to the hilt, allowing me to adjust to his size.

Then he started to move, each thrust slow and deliberate. It was different from the frenzied passion we had shared before, the hungry need and displays of dominance. This was tender, a sweet lovemaking that spoke of the bond we were forging, of the promises we had yet to make but already felt.

His eyes never left mine, communicating everything he couldn't say with words. I clung to him, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he made love to me in a way that took my breath away.

I felt cherished, adored. Every kiss, every touch, it showed me the depth of his feelings for me. And when I finally reached the peak, it was with his name on my lips.

"Fuck yes, Tyrone," I moaned as my body trembled with my climax.

He followed me over the edge shortly after, his body shuddering with the force of his release. We lay there in the aftermath, our hearts beating in sync as we clung to each other, unwilling to break the spell that had been cast over us.

Rolling onto his side, he took me with him, our bodies still intimately connected. I nestled against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart as it slowly returned to normal.

"I… I think I love you, Scarlet," he murmured into my hair, making me freeze.

Love. Was that truly possible right now? With everything we'd gone through? Sure, I felt strongly for all three of them now, but I'd not really said it. I did care for them deeply, but would I go so far as to call it love?

I lifted my head to look at him, my mind a mess.

I wanted to say it back, to show him I cared too, but I didn't want to say it until I was positive that was what I felt.

"You don't have to say it back," he said softly. "Just know that I mean it. The thought of not having you around, of losing you, I can't do it. And that tells me that what I feel is strong."

"I… I think…" I started, and he just smiled.

"It's hard for you to say, which is fine. You chose us, and how things started, love won't be easy for you to give. But I hope it comes, with time."

"You know you're crazy, right? Falling for me so soon?" I said with a soft laugh.

"Some people fall sooner than others. I feel like I recall hearing something about a three month rule or something," he said with a smirk.

"I'm not one of those, it takes time for me," I admitted.

"And that's fine. We're in no rush for such words. You've already agreed to marry us, to be a Silvestri. you're carrying our child. The words themselves are just words. You've shown how you feel for us, how things are growing for you." He stroked my face softly, and I swallowed. I didn't need to say the words; he could see the truth in my eyes.

"Roll over, let me hold you close," he said gently, and I did as he asked, loving how he spooned me so tightly.

"Sleep well, Scarlet. We have a house to hunt down for this family," he said as his hand moved to rest on my stomach, making my throat tighten once more.

No matter what the future held, we would face it together.