A Heart Caught In Crime

Chapter 20 - Manhattan Homecoming

The familiar skyline of Manhattan came into view as our plane descended, a forest of skyscrapers piercing the clouds. My heart raced, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through me. We were home, but it felt like we were entering a whole new world.

Christian's hand tightened around mine as the plane touched down. "Welcome home, mia cara," he murmured, his blue eyes searching my face. "You okay?"

I nodded, mustering a smile. "Just a little overwhelmed. It's silly, I know. It's not like we've been gone that long."

He shook his head, tucking a stray curl behind my ear. "It's not silly. Everything's different now. We're engaged, we're expecting. It's a lot to process."

As we disembarked and made our way through JFK, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were stepping onto a stage, about to perform in a play we hadn't fully rehearsed. The hustle and bustle of the airport faded into background noise as my mind raced with all the changes ahead.

We breezed through customs, Christian's family name opening doors as always. A sleek black car was waiting for us outside, a burly man in a suit standing at attention beside it.

"Welcome back, Mr. Lovius, Miss Natasha," he said, nodding respectfully.

"Thanks, Tony," Christian replied, helping me into the car before sliding in beside me.

As we pulled away from the curb, I leaned into Christian's side, seeking comfort in his solid presence. "Your family knows we're back?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Christian sighed, his arm tightening around me. "Yes. My father's expecting us for dinner tonight."

I swallowed hard, nervousness fluttering in my stomach – or maybe that was the baby. Christian's father and the head of the Lovius crime family, was an imposing figure on the best of days. The thought of facing him with our news was daunting.

"Hey," Christian said softly, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. "It's going to be okay. They're going to be thrilled."

I wished I could share his confidence. While Christian's family had been surprisingly welcoming to me, the Georgia peach who'd stolen their heir's heart, I knew our news would change things. An engagement was one thing, but a baby? That made everything real in a way it hadn't been before.

The car wound its way through the busy streets of Manhattan, and around the bend to the long curving drive way to our house that over looked down town, finally pulling up in front of the house – a luxurious palace almost, that still took my breath away every time I saw it. As we rode up to the gate, I found myself fidgeting with my engagement ring.

"Home sweet home," Christian said as we stepped into the garage door. The space was immaculate as always, thanks to the cleaning service that came in regularly. But after our cozy hotel room in Tokyo, it felt almost too big, too pristine.

I wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the city spread below us. From up here, New York looked almost peaceful, the chaos and danger hidden by distance.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Christian asked, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

I leaned back against him, drawing strength from his presence. "Just thinking about how much has changed. A year ago, I was a small-town girl trying to make it in the big city. Now I'm engaged to you, carrying your child, about to become part of... all this." I gestured vaguely at the opulent mansion, the view, everything that came with the Lovius name.

Christian was quiet for a moment, his chin resting on my shoulder. "Do you regret it?" he asked softly, an edge of vulnerability in his voice.

I turned in his arms, meeting his gaze. "Not for a second," I said firmly. "I love you, Christian. You and this baby are my world now. It's just... a lot to take in sometimes."