Chapter 15 - The Sweetest Bakery in Bellagio and a Giant’s Eternal Vow
One year later.
The morning sun over Lake Como sparkled like a blanket of diamonds across the turquoise water. A warm alpine breeze carried the sweet, intoxicating scent of blooming jasmine, fresh espresso, and cinnamon through the cobblestone streets of Bellagio.
Sitting right on the picturesque waterfront, with an outdoor terrace shaded by striped ivory awnings and filled with laughing tourists and locals, was Pasticceria Moretti.
Inside the bustling, sunlit bakery, the glass display cases were packed with artisanal sourdough, raspberry croissants, Sicilian cannoli, and multi-tiered wedding cakes decorated with handcrafted sugar roses.
I stood behind the marble counter in a clean white apron, dusting powdered sugar over a fresh tray of almond brioche, humming happily.
A pair of massive, warm arms wrapped gently around my waist from behind.
Luca pulled me back against his broad, solid chest, resting his bearded chin softly on the crown of my head. He had traded his three-piece tailored mob suits for a casual white linen shirt with rolled-up sleeves and dark trousers—though he still wore the gold Moretti signet ring on his right hand and his wedding band on his left.
"You've been on your feet since five in the morning, wife," Luca rumbled softly, his voice full of warmth and peace. "The doctor said you need to rest."
I turned in his embrace, smiling up into his handsome, scarred face. I took his large, calloused hand and placed it gently over my swollen belly.
Beneath his palm, our unborn child gave a strong, distinct kick.
Luca’s stormy grey eyes widened with childlike wonder. A soft, breathless laugh escaped his chest as he dropped to one knee, pressing his forehead against my stomach, whispering gentle words of Italian love to our baby.
"He kicks like a fighter," Luca smiled, looking up at me with eyes overflowing with pure, unadulterated adoration.
"Or she kicks like a baker who wants breakfast," I laughed, running my fingers through his dark, thick hair.
Outside on the sunlit terrace, Elena sat with my father, Robert Bennett, who had flown in from Chicago to spend the summer with us. They were drinking espresso and laughing over a plate of lemon tarts, completely at peace. The syndicate was secure, the borders were quiet, and the Moretti name was synonymous not with fear, but with strength, honor, and prosperity.
Luca stood up to his full, magnificent height. He cupped my cheeks in his large hands, leaning down to press a sweet, lingering kiss against my lips.
"Five women looked at me and saw a monster, Sophia," Luca whispered, his heart beating strong and steady against mine. "You looked at me and saw your home."
"You were never a monster, Luca," I smiled, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, standing on my tiptoes. "You were just waiting for someone who was clumsy enough to fall for you."
May you like
Luca laughed, lifting me effortlessly off my feet as the Bellagio church bells rang across the sunlit lake, sealing our eternal vow in the sweetness of a brand-new life.
The End
