Chapter 49

Brody appears in the doorway and points at me with a stern frown. “I’m serious, Elena. Put down the paintbrush.”

“I’m almost done.” I splash more light blue on the wall with the roller. I lean in, my arms tired, but there are only a few bare spots left. “You have to quit worrying.”

He grunts and walks over. I’m not fast or strong enough to stop him when he takes the roller away and finishes the last bit of the room on his own. Then he glares at me.

“I absolutely will not have my pregnant wife doing manual labor. I told you to wait until I got home to finish this room.”

I roll my eyes at him and kiss his cheek. “I’m four months pregnant. I’m fine, Brody. Would you relax?”

“Absolutely not.” He smacks my ass and drags me out of the room. “You’re coming downstairs. You’re sitting on the couch and kicking your feet up while I cook. And you’re not going to complain.”

I sigh, pretending to be all annoyed, but that does sound great. The house is pretty much done and only the nursery needs some final details. It took me forever to choose what color I wanted to paint on the walls since I don’t plan on finding out the sex before the baby comes, but I figure light blue is fine either way.

Brody busies himself in the kitchen while I get comfortable. Since I can’t drink, he’s been mixing up these mocktails like it’s his job, and they’re actually pretty fantastic. I don’t complain when he puts together this exquisite watermelon cucumber thing, and gets started on dinner. I sink down into the couch with a sigh, closing my eyes.

Things are good. Mom and Dad are out of their self-imposed exile, and while it’s still tense with Simon, I think the baby’s kind of easing everything a little bit. Dad’s lawyers got the charges argued down to hefty fines and probation, which everyone’s relieved about. Brody had to cash in even more favors to make it happen, but he didn’t think twice, just said that’s what family does, and moved on. Which is why I love that man.

“Dinner smells amazing,” I call out with a big content smile on my face. We live in our own house together most nights and while I’m not totally used to it yet, I have to admit that it’s really nice. And I’m so close to the oasis that it’s barely a big deal to head over there whenever I want.

When he doesn’t answer, I turn around and peer over the couch. He’s standing near the stove with his phone to his ear, a big frown of concentration on his face. He says something quietly, turning his back to me, before hanging up.

The look he gives me makes my heart flutter.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, and a thousand things rush through my head. The baby, Simon and Dad, the Waterfront project, a dozen legal issues.

Brody comes over and sits next to me. He takes my hand in his. “Don’t freak out,” he says.

“You’re going to make me freak out if you don’t spill it. Who was that on the phone?”

“That was a friend who works at the prison. It hasn’t been announced yet but—” He takes a deep breath and blows it out. “Your brother Angelo’s parole was approved.”

My mouth opens and my brain goes blank.

Then I wrap my arms around him and hug him so tight I’m afraid I’m going to break myself on his massive body.

He laughs, hugging me back.

“Angelo’s coming home?” I ask, barely able to breathe, I’m so happy.

“He’s coming home, baby.” His grin splits his face. “Want to pick him up?”

I leap to my feet. “Fuck yes.”

He laughs and pulls me back down. “Tomorrow, baby, tomorrow. Can you wait that long?”

“I’ll try.” I lean into him. “I love you. And I can’t wait for my brother to get home.”

“I love you too, baby.”

He holds me like that for a little while and I let myself bask in the glow. My family’s growing and my brother’s finally getting out of jail.

For the first time since Angelo went away, the Bianco Famiglia will be back to its full strength, and I absolutely cannot wait.

“In the meantime, how about you feed me whatever you’re cooking? It smells great and I’m starving.”

“Whatever you want, baby.” He nuzzles me and stands, and I let him take me to the table and sit me down, and I let him pamper me a little bit, because I don’t have to be the one helping everyone else all the time.

Once in a while, it feels good to be taken care of.