Bound by my blood

Epilogue

Our love happened to us all at once

We had no time to think
— — —
1 year later:

Gently, I cradled my son in my arms, twirling slowly around the cozy room, my voice softly humming the lullaby that Nonna Rayne used to serenade me with as a child. The melody danced in the air, evoking a warm nostalgia. As I spun, Xavior's bright blue-green eyes sparkled with joy, and his laughter rang out like the sweetest chime, untouched by the sorrows that life could bring.

Xavior was a delightful baby by day. He rarely cried—his calm demeanor often left me anxious during those rare moments of silence, as if I had to check that he was still breathing. Most of the time, he radiated joy, with a constant smile playing on his lips and joyful giggles that filled our home with light. It was undeniable that he bore a striking resemblance to his father, yet there was a familiar spark of my own personality shimmering within him, including the same childhood fear of the dark that had once haunted me.

"Guaio, are you ready to go? We're going to be late for the reservations!" Vince's voice called from downstairs, pulling me from my reverie. I turned my attention toward the door, a twinge of uncertainty creeping in.

Perhaps I could concoct another excuse, just as I had done in the past. Would he really be upset with me? How could he be? My heart ached at the thought of leaving Xavior, our little bundle of joy who had only been in our lives for ten fleeting months. Neither of us had dared to leave him alone without the other present.

"Darling, he's going to be fine. Your mother and father are more than capable of taking care of him. Don't worry," Vince reassured me, his voice suddenly close, sending a gentle surprise through me as I hadn't heard him ascend the stairs.

"What if he needs us?" I asked, turning to fully face my husband. The hem of my red midi-dress brushed against his leg, a soft reminder of our closeness.

The dress wasn't new, but wearing it felt like a small victory, a step toward reclaiming a part of myself. It hugged my figure in all the right places and displayed just enough cleavage to feel a hint of confidence. I had simply thrown on the first outfit I found, brushed my hair, and applied a touch of red lipstick and mascara—a luxury in the whirlwind of motherhood.

"He won't need us, and besides, we'll only be 45 minutes away," he replied, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me in close with a care that made sure not to squish Xavior, who was now babbling joyfully between us.

Pressing my forehead against his, I searched his eyes for certainty, and he sighed softly, "Xavior will be fine, I promise. You look gorgeous, and we don't want to waste the time and effort you've put into this. It'll only be for a few hours."

I considered revealing that I hadn't spent much effort to achieve this look at all but chose to keep that to myself. Instead, I focused on the weight of his hands running down my arms, taking my free hand in his steady grasp.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I reluctantly tore my gaze away from our son. Vince squeezed my hand reassuringly, prompting me to gently hand Xavior over to him. The instant Xavior spotted his father, he squealed with delight, kicking his legs excitedly.

I bent down to retrieve his overnight bag, which I may have stuffed a bit too full, while Vince made his way toward the car. With a quick flick, I turned off the lights and unplugged the various devices around the room before following after him.

Inside the car, Angelo and a few guards were waiting, their presence making it unnecessary to lock the door, so I slid into the passenger seat without hesitation. Vince effortlessly secured Xavior in the backseat before joining me in the front. He placed a warm, reassuring hand on my thigh as he started the engine, pulling away from our home and down the long driveway. As we drove, the gentle hum of the engine lulled me, and I soon found my eyelids growing heavy. Before long, I surrendered to the soothing embrace of sleep, the world outside fading away as I nestled deeper into my thoughts, the rhythmic motion of the car lulling me into a deep, peaceful slumber.