As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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A year had passed since the day Chiara had walked down the aisle and changed my life forever. It was hard to believe how quickly time had flown, and yet, with each day, my love for her only deepened. Chiara was seven months pregnant now, her belly round and perfect, carrying our child—a reminder that we’d created something beautiful out of our own imperfect story. Every time I looked at her, I felt like I was falling in love all over again.
Today, we were gathered with our closest family and friends, sharing laughs and the warmth of a lazy Sunday afternoon at our place. Chiara sat beside me, her hand resting on her belly as she chatted with Fiona and Sofia, her eyes sparkling with laughter. Watching her, it amazed me how strong, resilient, and full of life she was.
Matteo and Fiona had tied the knot six months after us. Seeing him married to someone who matched his fire was a joy I hadn’t anticipated, and the two of them had this harmony that was impossible to miss. They were playfully bickering in the corner, something about whether or not they should get another pet now that they’d settled into their new life.
“You’re going to spoil him if you keep giving in like this,” Matteo was saying, though his smile gave him away.
Fiona rolled her eyes, nudging him. “Oh, come on, Mr. Tough Guy. Admit it, you love our little fluffball.”
“Only because you do, Mrs. Romano,” he replied, grinning as he leaned in to kiss her. I couldn’t help but smile, happy for my friend, who’d found someone to balance his fire.
Not far from them, Antonio and Sofia sat together, their conversation quiet, their laughter gentle. Over the past months, their friendship had grown into something deeper, and though neither of them had made it official, we all saw the way Antonio looked at her, the way he softened when she was near. Sofia, in turn, seemed to light up whenever Antonio was around.
I caught Matteo giving Antonio a look that said he knew exactly what was happening, and he elbowed him. “So, Sofia’s been coming around a lot more often, hasn’t she?”
Antonio tried to keep a straight face, but his smirk betrayed him. “What can I say? She’s good company.”
Matteo chuckled. “Yeah, I’m sure ‘good company’ has nothing to do with those flowers you keep bringing her.”
Antonio shrugged, glancing toward Sofia, who was blushing slightly as she listened. “Just trying to brighten her day.”
Fiona leaned in with a knowing grin. “Or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to see her?”
Sofia turned red, giving Antonio a playful nudge. “He doesn’t need an excuse. I’m here whenever he wants.”
Their laughter echoed around the room, and I shared a knowing glance with Chiara, who was watching them with a smile.
Meanwhile, Gio sat across from us, glancing at his phone, his gaze flickering with an unusual hint of anticipation. He’d always kept his personal life under wraps, but lately, he’d been acting… different. Every so often, I’d catch him looking down at his screen, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth before he quickly put the phone away.
Chiara noticed it too and couldn’t help herself. “Gio, if you keep checking that phone, it’s going to explode.”
Gio rolled his eyes, shoving his phone back in his pocket. “Not all of us have our lives on display for your entertainment, tuono.”
She grinned, leaning in with a mock-serious expression. “Oh, come on. You’re not hiding anything from us, are you?”
He sighed, clearly trying to keep his cool. “Chiara, I don’t go around prying into your business—”
“Actually, you do,” she interrupted, her smirk widening. “It’s practically your hobby. So, spill. Who’s got you looking at your phone like a lovesick teenager?”
He scoffed, shooting her a look. “Oh, please. Like I’d tell you even if there was someone.”
I couldn’t hold back a chuckle. “Gio, maybe you should. Otherwise, she’ll just come up with theories, and believe me, you don’t want that.”
He groaned, tossing his hands up in mock defeat. “Fine, fine. But don’t expect any details.”
Chiara winked at him. “We’ll get them out of you eventually, little brother.”
Gio just rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that only made Chiara laugh harder.
I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head, loving the way her laughter filled the room. Our lives had become this beautiful, chaotic family, and it felt like everything I’d ever wanted without realizing it.
Later, as the day wound down and everyone started to say their goodbyes, Chiara and I found a quiet moment together on the patio, the cool evening breeze brushing against us as she leaned back against my chest. I placed a hand gently on her belly, feeling the life we’d created stirring within her.
She smiled, placing her hand over mine. “Can you believe it? In a few short months, we’ll have a little one to chase after.”
I looked down at her, my heart full. “I still can’t believe it sometimes. I thought I knew what love was, Chiara, but then I met you… and now this,” I said, brushing a gentle kiss over her cheek. “You’ve given me more than I ever thought possible.”
She turned, her eyes shining with unshed tears, but they were happy tears. “Gabriel, you are my whole world. Every step of the way, I’ll be here, for you, for us, for our family.”
I leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. It was tender, filled with every promise, every ounce of love that had grown between us. When we pulled back, I held her close, just breathing her in, letting the warmth of the moment settle around us.
“I love you, tuono,” I whispered, my voice steady with the depth of what I felt.
She smiled, resting her forehead against mine. “I love you, Gabriel. So much.”
As the stars began to twinkle above us, we stood there, our hearts full, excited for the life we were building and the new chapter that was about to begin. The journey hadn’t been easy—our love had been forged in flames, but those flames had only made us stronger, more resilient.
And now, as we looked ahead to the arrival of our little one, I knew that the best was yet to come.
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So that's it for Sinful Flames. I'm going miss Gabriel and Chiara so much. The OG power couple. Gio will have his seperate book. Stay tuned.
Please check out the other books The Red Thread The London Spice
