36. Alexis

36

The minute the words leave my lips, I see Damian's expression shift from one of concern to utter joy. Before I can blink, he's sweeping me up into his arms and jumping off the bed, spinning me in delighted circles.

"A baby?" he exclaims, his eyes shining with an unbridled happiness. "Alexis, this is… holy fuck, this is incredible!"

I can't help but laugh, even as a wave of relief washes over me. How could I have ever doubted his reaction? This man—who has proven time and time again to be my steadfast protector—is overjoyed at the prospect of starting a family with me.

He suddenly stops spinning me and gently sets me down. "I need to be careful," he murmurs. "I don't want to jostle the baby."

I laugh again as his hands come to rest reverently on my abdomen. "You can't jostle the baby," I tell him. "He or she is pretty well protected in me."

"She," Damian corrects me, his voice thick with emotion. "But I don't want to do anything that could hurt you or our baby."

I'm struck by the depth of his devotion, the fierce protectiveness that radiates from him. This man—this Don of a powerful Mafia organization—is utterly captivated by the thought of our growing family.

And he's also convinced this baby is a girl. God help anyone who tries to harm her.

"I love you, Alexis," Damian breathes, his forehead coming to rest against mine. "With all that I am, I love you. And now…" His gaze flicks downward, a tender smile playing at his lips. "Now we have a child to love, too."

The confession—so raw and genuine—causes tears to well in my eyes. For so long, I've yearned to hear those words, to feel the weight of them as they settle into the very depths of my soul. To have Damian declare his love so freely is a gift I had scarcely dared to hope for.

"I love you too, Damian," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "So much."

The words spill forth, unbidden, as a few stray tears slip down my cheeks. This man, this fierce, unyielding force in my life, has somehow found a way to crack open the walls I'd so carefully constructed around my heart.

His eyes widen with delight, and in the next moment, I'm enveloped in his strong, familiar embrace. As I melt into his arms, I feel a weight lift from my shoulders, a burden I hadn't even realized I was carrying. Damian's unwavering devotion, the way he cherishes me, is a balm to my battered soul.

He pulls back slightly, his eyes shining with emotion. "Alexis," he murmurs, his voice thick with affection, "now that we have finally said we love each other and with a child on the way…" He pauses, a boyish grin spreading across his face. "Will you marry me?"

The proposal takes me by surprise, but I feel a surge of warmth spread through my chest.

"Where's my engagement ring?" I ask playfully. "A girl deserves to have a beautiful engagement ring and for the man to be on one knee."

Damian growls, but his dark eyes dance with amusement. "I'll get you the biggest fucking ring imaginable," he proclaims, cupping my cheek with his rough hand. "Just say the word and we'll go to the best jewelry store in Chicago."

He searches my face. "So, what's the answer? You can't keep me waiting."

I laugh again, my heart fluttering. "Yes, Damian. Yes, I'll marry you."

He lets out a delighted laugh, pulling me into another fierce embrace. "You've made me the happiest man, Alexis," he murmurs against my hair. "I can't wait to call you my wife."

As we hold each other, I can't help but marvel at the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. Just hours ago, I was facing unspeakable horrors, about to be sold to someone who would keep me a prisoner forever.

And now, here I am, pledging my life to the man I love, a child growing within me.

It's all so overwhelming, so breathtakingly fast. Yet, in the safety of Damian's arms, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. This is where I belong, with the man who has become my protector, my constant in the chaos.

We decide to find Nat and Edo to tell them the news. Edo was in the hotel lobby, phone pressed to his ear as he murmured something in a low voice, while Nat was at the bar, a drink clutched in her hand as she stared into nothing.

When we tell them, she nearly drops her glass.

"You're… you're pregnant?" Nat stammers, her eyes wide. "And you're getting married?"

Damian nods, his arm wrapped firmly around my waist. "That's right."

Edo lets out a low whistle, a smile spreading across his face. "Mio Dio, I never thought this would ever happen. Congratulations, you two."

But even as they offer their heartfelt congratulations, I can see the haunted look in Nat's eyes, the lingering shadows of the day's events. The loss of her family, the betrayal of her uncle… it's a wound that will take time to heal.

Still, in this moment, I see a glimmer of hope, a promise of a future worth fighting for. With Damian by my side and our child on the way, I feel a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to forge a life filled with love, security, and the chance to right the wrongs of the past.

In this child—in this union—I see the chance to break the cycle of darkness that has plagued us all.

"I also have good news," Edo says. "I was able to track down Katie's parents. There's a manhunt for her. We can take her home on our way back to Chicago."

I let out a shaky breath, relief flooding through me. "What about the other women? Were you able to rescue them all?"

Nat nods solemnly. "Yes, we got them all out safely. They're all going to be reunited with their families. Most of them were just innocents who were caught up in this against their will."

"Thank goodness. I'm so glad to hear that. Those poor women have been through enough."

Nat nods and looks down at her hands.

I remove myself from Damian's embrace and move closer to Nat, gently touching her arm. "Are you okay?"

Nat inhales sharply and her eyes meet mine. I can see the pain lurking in her dark orbs. "No," she says abruptly. "But I'll be okay. Eventually. Today was just… it was a lot."

She tips back her drink into her mouth before slamming the tumbler down.

I pull Nat into a tight hug, ignoring her squawk of surprise. "I'm here for you, Nat. We're all here for you."

Nat tentatively returns the embrace. "Thank you, Alexis. That… that means a lot."

After coordinating with the authorities, we're able to safely return Katie to her overjoyed parents. The moment they see their daughter, they rush forward, pulling her into a fierce embrace as tears of relief stream down their faces.

"Oh, Katie!" her mother cries, showering her with kisses. "My baby!"

Katie sobs into her mother's shoulder, her small body trembling.

Her father looks up at us, eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much. We can never repay you for bringing our little girl back to us."

Katie turns to me, her eyes wide and shining, "You're my guardian angel!" she declares, throwing her arms around me.

I blink back tears, hugging the child tightly. Somehow, this has healed some part of my inner child, knowing I was able to fulfill a promise. "I'm just happy you're safe now, sweetheart."

Damian steps forward, clearing his throat. "We're glad we could assist to bring Katie back home to you."

The child pulls back, beaming up at him. "Will you come visit me? And can you bring Biscotti next time?"

Damian laughs, a broad smile on his handsome face. "Of course, Miss Katie. Biscotti would love to meet her new friend."

As Katie's parents usher her away, their heartfelt gratitude and overwhelming relief are palpable. I watch them go, my heart swelling with bittersweet joy. We may have been able to rescue Katie, but there are still countless others still trapped in a living hell.

But for now, this small victory is enough to give me hope.

We finally get back to the Iacopelli compound, and my heart swells as I see the familiar mansion come into view. I'm finally home.

As we enter the foyer, I stop in my tracks when Bobby Shields emerges from the shadows.

Damian hisses and glares at his head of security. "What the fuck? How was he allowed in?"

I don't hear what the head of security stammers out as Bobby's gaze immediately zeroes in on me, his expression unreadable.

"Alexis," he says, his deep voice rumbling. "I need to speak with you. Alone."

Damian immediately stops bitching out his security, and I glance at him, bracing myself. I know my father won't leave until he's had his say, and the look in his eyes tells me this won't be an easy conversation.

Damian steps in front of me protectively. "I'll join you," he insists.

I place a hand on Damian's arm, shaking my head. "No, it's alright. I can handle this."

Turning to Bobby, I speak in a measured tone. "I'll speak with you. Alone."

Damian doesn't look convinced, but a sharp look from Bobby and a nod from Nat convince him otherwise. "Fine," he grumbles, "but if it lasts longer than ten minutes, I'm busting down the door."

I guide Bobby into the sun room, softly closing the door behind me.

The tension in the air is palpable as we face each other, the years of distance and unspoken history weighing heavily between us. I gaze at his face, finding traces of myself in him—the hazel eyes, the slope of our nose, the high cheekbones…

I'm not even sure where to begin with this man. I haven't seen him since I was a small child. But he seems to sense my hesitation, and he takes the first step.

"You look so much like your mother," he says, his deep voice tinged with emotion. "Your mother… I loved her more than anything in this world. And you…" He pauses, his brow furrowing. "You were the light of my life."

The raw sincerity in his words catches me off guard, and I feel a lump forming in my throat.

"Why don't I remember you?" I ask in a whisper. "You… you weren't around."

Bobby sighs, suddenly looking much older. "It was dangerous," he admits. "As the Don, I have a target on my back at all times. That includes my loved ones." He meets my gaze, his hazel eyes filled with regret. "I was trying to keep you and your mother safe by keeping my distance. But I never stopped thinking about you, my darling girl. Not a day went by that I didn't wonder how you were, if you were safe and happy.

"When I was told you and your mother had died…" Bobby shakes his head, a pained expression crossing his face. "It devastated me. I thought I'd lost everything."

I open my mouth, wanting to ask the question that's been weighing on my mind. "But how could you have believed Vincente? Without even seeing…" I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.

Bobby grimaces, his jaw tightening. "The grief," he says simply. "It clouded my judgment. I never looked closely at the body of the child Vinny produced. I just… assumed it was you."

I feel a shudder run through me at the implication. To have lost us so completely, only to find out later that it was all a lie? I can only imagine the pain and anguish he must have felt.

"But The Brotherhood," I say, something about this not adding up. "How do they play into this if Vincente was the one who started the rift between Invicta and the Iacopellis?"

A ghost of a frown plays across Bobby's face. "Vinny Iacopelli and Mario Rafa have been conspiring for years," Bobby says. "It's why they pushed Damian and Scarlett to be together."

My heart lurches at the mention of Scarlett Rafa, her cold blue eyes and twisted smile flashing in my mind. I can almost feel the cool knife blade on my tongue as Scarlett taunted me, threatening to cut it off.

"When your foster family tried to sell you…" Bobby spits the word out as if it were poison. "Vinny Iacopelli was there and let Mario know who you were. That's why The Brotherhood pursued you so badly. They knew having you would bring me to my knees."

My head is swimming with all this new information. "But how did you find out I was alive?"

"Our intel heard about this girl The Brotherhood was pursuing. Some fucking Brotherhood soldier couldn't keep his mouth shut. Once I saw your picture, I knew who you were and I did my best to find you."

I freeze, remembering how the gun felt against my temple. "The soldier…" I whisper. "He–he was trying to rescue me?"

Bobby scowls, his face turning truly thunderous. "No," he says shortly. "No. That soldier was disloyal and has been eliminated."

The thought should terrify me, that the soldier was planning on doing something horrible to me, but I find that I'm more annoyed than anything else.

"Good," I finally say. "It's better to cut off the diseased tree than try to treat it."

Bobby cocks his head at my response, his expression serious. "You have what it takes to become the next Donna of Invicta."

My eyes widen, and I nearly choke on my saliva. "A Donna? But… is that even possible for a woman?" I ask hesitantly.

Bobby gives me an odd look. "Of course it is," he replies matter-of-factly. "There have been powerful women leading Mafia families for generations. Don't sell yourself short, my girl."

I take a moment to process his words. The weight of the responsibility he's offering me is daunting. "I–I appreciate the offer, but I…" I pause, steeling myself. "I don't think I can accept it. I'm not a killer. Even though I've taken lives, I… I don't want that to be my path."

Bobby is silent for a long moment, looking contemplative. Finally, he speaks again. "What if we used Invicta for good, Alexis? To clean up the streets, to protect the innocent?" He looks at me intently. "You have a good heart. Perhaps together, we could make a real difference."

I contemplate my father's proposition, the idea of using Invicta's power for good rather than the ruthless violence I've witnessed intriguing me.

"That's an interesting idea, Bobby," I muse. "But what would happen to The Brotherhood?"

Bobby's expression darkens. "Anyone still loyal to Scarlett's methods would be executed," he states matter-of-factly. "The rest would be absorbed into Invicta and the Iacopellis."

His words hit me as I realize the full implications of his plan. The child I carry would one day potentially be the head of Invicta and the Iacopellis as well—a combined criminal empire under my child's control.

A wry smile tugs at the corner of my lips. My child will have everything Vinny, Scarlett, and Mario so desperately wanted—power.

Bobby studies me closely, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. "Alexis… may I?" He extends his arms slightly, silently asking permission to embrace me.

I consider his offer for a moment, still not quite ready to call him "Dad". But I nod, desperate for some parental affection.

As he envelops me in his strong arms, I can't deny the healing warmth that spreads through me—a part of me that's been festering for fifteen long years.