His Light in the Dark

by L. A. Fiore

  “Of what?”

  “You.”

  My body tingled in response, but before I could comment he continued by touching the St Anthony’s pendant. “I thought you were an angel when you gave me this. The hell I lived in and this little kid takes off her own necklace and gives it to me, a stranger, just to offer me comfort. These tats, they represent you, my angel: my light in the dark.”

  My fingers brushed lightly over his left pec, my eyes stinging from the beauty of his words. “You’ve been my light too.”

  “I know.” His thumb brushed the rogue tear from my cheek. His fingers trailed down my neck to my shoulder. “Going to be marking you here later, we’ll have to call the concierge for a tat place close.”

  I laughed out loud, but leave it to Cole to change the mood so effectively. My body burned.

  He grinned before taking a pull from his beer. “What do you want to do tonight?”

  “I thought dinner and dancing would be nice.”

  “Any restaurant in particular?”

  “Prime Steakhouse.”

  “I’ll make the reservations.” He took another long drink before his gaze settled on me again. “Is Vegas everything you thought it’d be?”

  “More. Dad would have hated it and being here, I kind of think he only offered to come, showing such enthusiasm, for my benefit.” Turning to more fully face him, I added, “You’re not really impressed either, are you?”

  “I don’t get the appeal, no.”

  “And yet you came here instead of somewhere we both would have enjoyed.”

  “You wanted to see it besides my only agenda for this week is to fuck you as often and as varied as possible. I can do that anywhere.”

  Heat crept along my skin, a blush surely followed since Cole was now staring at my cleavage, which to my embarrassment flushed in color when I was turned on.

  “I’m thinking we need to find that cabana sooner than later.” He drawled.

  “I really hope the day never comes when I grow used to your crude mouth; perhaps it says something about me, but I really love it.”

  “I’ll just need to be more creative in my verse.”

  “Verse?”

  “See? More creative.” He finished his beer and placed the bottle on the table, leaned over, curled his hand around my neck and pulled me in for a hard kiss. His eyes found mine. “I’m going to the gym.”

  It took a minute for me to respond since I was fantasizing about the cabana now too. “The gym?”

  “Need to work the muscles.”

  A chill moved through me, my focus shifting to his scars. “Oh.”

  Touching my chin, he lifted my gaze to his. “Don’t like that look in your eyes. I’m fine, making it so I’m even better. It’s over.”

  “I know, but it’s still too fresh.”

  Gently he stroked my chin. “I’ll text you with the reservation time.”

  “Okay.”

  He kissed me again, this time softer, longer…perfect, before he strolled off.

  When I returned to the room, many hours later, Cole was already back, showered and changed. He was on the balcony, his back to me, and his attention somewhere on the horizon. I took a moment to enjoy the view because there was something to be said about a man built like Cole, wide shoulders and narrow hips, in tailored clothes. I’d never seen him dressed as he was, but I definitely would like to see him doing so more often.

  After a moment, I registered the manner in which he stood there, pensively. Cole tended to focus inwardly, his thoughts usually his own, but this was different. Dropping my bag, I walked out on the balcony, he turned to me as I did. My feet stopped moving when I got a good look at him; his expression was difficult to interpret.

  “Are you okay?”

  Wonderment best described what I was seeing and, if I wasn’t crazy, he looked almost happy. Cole didn’t show emotions, kept everything inside, but there was a happiness about him that created its own light.

  He said nothing, but took a step closer to me, the pad of his thumb brushing across my cheekbone. The knock at the door irritated me because I wanted to know what was putting that look on Cole’s face. Wanted to make sure whatever the cause, it happened as often as possible.

  “That’s for you.” he said, his voice was even off, thick as if from emotion.

  Confused, I absently walked to the door, felt Cole behind me. I assumed he ordered me something from one of the shops, probably a gown for our dinner. Yanking the door open, my greeting died on my tongue. Chills swept through my body even as it grew numb. Burning behind my eyes started the tears that filled them to roll down my cheeks. My heart pounded painfully as my mind desperately tried to explain the sight before me.

  And then he said, “Hey, kiddo.”

  My legs crumbled, as I struggled to pull air in between the sobs that racked my body.

  He dropped down in front of me and pulled me into his arms; his scent, that I had missed, surrounded me. Without thought, my arms wrapped around his neck, my hold like a vice for fear that this was all a dream. The word ripped from my throat, “Daddy.”

  “Mia.”

  Burying my face in his neck, I completely fell apart. I couldn’t believe I was feeling his arms around me, hearing his heart beating in his chest, the familiar sound of his voice washing over me. I didn’t know how much time passed that I just stayed curled in my dad’s arms, tears drenching his shirt, but I feared if I moved, I’d wake up.

  “Mia, goddamn I knew this was going to be hard, but damn.”

  No words would come; I didn’t want to pierce the magic of the moment. I felt arms around me, knew they were Cole’s, who lifted me into his arms only long enough to walk me to the sofa, where he handed me back over to Dad. I felt like a little girl again and I so didn’t have a problem with that. I was still convinced I was dreaming until I saw Cole, standing over me with tears in his eyes.

  “You knew?”

  “Just found out.”

  “That was why you looked as you did.”

  “Yeah.”

  My attention turned to my dad, a face I never thought I’d see again. Tears still falling, I touched him because I needed to make sure he was real. He was crying. I had never in my life seen my dad crying. I wiped the tear that rolled down his cheek.

  “You’re really here.”

  “Fuck.” He buried his face in my neck, his arms closing around me to hold me close. “Had to do it, Mia, had to stop that fucker.”

  “Stein.”

  “Yeah. Didn’t know the shit we were getting into, but couldn’t get out once I was in.”

  “He threatened you?”

  “Threatened you.”

  “Tell me.”

  His head lifted, the tears had stopped but so much anger looked back. “Thought I was looking for a prostitute, stumbled into something so much bigger. And then Crane approached me.”

  “Crane, when?”

  “That night he was parked outside the house. Came to ask for help.”

  “But you were pissed when you came back inside.”

  “Pissed that he pulled me into it.”

  Shifting my focus to Cole I asked, “Did you know too.”

  “I didn’t tell Cole. Crane told me to keep it to myself since the fewer who knew he was undercover, the better it was for him. I helped ferret out information, Cole helped since he had an inside into many of the places I needed to get into. It was all pretty harmless stuff and then I really looked at those pictures.”

  “Why didn’t you turn them over to Crane?”

  “Wasn’t sure I trusted him, so wasn’t going to hand him the smoking gun.”

  “And Bruce?”

  “I didn’t know he was dirty. That fucker broke bread with my family.”

  “Where have you been?”

  “Witness protection. After Stein put a hit out on me, Brian learned of it, so he arranged 'my death'. He used a body in the morgue, had the ME fudge his report.”

  “Which explains t
he inconsistencies Kevin’s expert caught in the ME’s report.”

  “Yeah. Brian wanted the inconsistencies, wanted Stein to believe it really had been a hit and not an accident. He even cut a deal with someone in custody to claim credit for the hit.” The man Kevin had mentioned. Dad's hold on me tightened. “I only agreed to it because the shit had to stop. Stein’s bad news and he wanted my garage. He may have eventually moved on from that, but me finding out about the laundering being done at my garage, Stein couldn’t have that. And I hadn’t realized that as I watched, I was being watched because I was making Stein very nervous with my unwanted attention. If he didn’t believe me dead, he would have come at you to get to me. I didn’t think it would turn to shit and as fast as it did. Thank God Cole and I had already taken the steps to make sure you were covered.”

  Dad’s focus turned to Cole. “Thank you.”

  Cole nodded.

  “It was the fucking longest year of my life, waiting until Brian and Terence built their case. Being away from you and Dee, Cole, knowing you believed I was dead.”

  “So you didn’t know about Dylan’s betrayal.”

  “Not until Brian secured me away. Smart, because I would have killed him. His betrayal was bad but putting you at risk, I’d have ripped his fucking head off.”

  My head lowered because even though Dylan had not been a friend to my dad, he was dead. “He’s dead.”

  He lifted my chin, forcing my focus on him. “He made his bed, Mia.”

  “I’m sorry he did that to you.”

  “He did it to all of us.” His face changed again, a rage that stole my breath. “They hurt you.”

  He knew, my heart dropped. Lowering my eyes, I couldn’t look at him, but he lifted my gaze back to his.

  “Brian didn’t tell me that until we were heading home because he knew there wouldn’t be enough people to keep me from finding all of them, every last fucking one of them, and killing them with my bare hands. They took my girl, hurt her, terrorized her, forced her to take a life—blowing the prick’s dick off, even if he was unconscious, was absolutely justified. I’d have killed them and there will always be a part of me that will want vengeance, but Mia you fought back. You didn’t let them make you a victim. I’m proud of you.”

  My heart swelled, my head came to rest on Dad’s shoulder, my arms tightening around his waist. “I moved back home.”

  “I know.”

  “What happens now?”

  “I don’t know. I could probably get the garage back, if I wanted, but I’m thinking I’d like a change.”

  “Such as?”

  “Maybe a little place in Bucks County.”

  That was my dream, never really thought it’d come true though since I wouldn’t leave Dad or Aunt Dee. Aunt Dee.

  “Does Aunt Dee know you’re alive?”

  “Not yet.”

  “We have to tell her.”

  “She’s on her way.” Cole said which only served to confuse me.

  “Why is she on her way?”

  My dad moved, sliding me from his lap and taking Cole’s place across the room as Cole moved closer to me. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.

  “She’s on her way, as is Janie, because you and I are getting married.”

  I probably looked like a dimwit in that moment because I just wasn’t making any sense of his words. I’d had too many shockers for one night. “Sorry?”

  “Married, you and me.”

  He hunched down in front of me and reached for my left hand. The emerald-cut diamond ring he slipped onto my finger was gorgeous. My interpretation of a guppy was not lost on Cole or my dad as both men started to chuckle. “Married?”

  “Yeah.”

  Jumping to my feet, I almost knocked Cole on his ass. “You didn’t ask. How do you know I want to marry you?”

  He stood, pushing his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Never questioned it.”

  “That’s arrogant.”

  “But right.”

  “Are you seriously not going to ask me?”

  “Why? I know the answer.”

  “Oh my God. I can’t believe this, one of the most important moments of my life and you aren’t going to ask me the question because you already know the answer?”

  “Mia focus, I’ve already answered that.”

  I wanted to kick him in the shins.

  He moved, threading his fingers through my hair, pulling me close. “I love you and we’re getting married. You want it as much as I do, so stop being difficult. Besides you already agreed to marry me when you told me you wanted to have my kid.” Tenderness swept his expression when he added, “You asked me if the club was what I wanted to do with my life. In part, it is, but you are my life. I want my ring on your finger.”

  God, I love this man. Should I have expected another kind of proposal from him? No. “I love you.”

  Brushing my lower lip with his thumb, he said, “Still want kids.”

  “Well then you’re in luck because I’m pregnant.” I had only found out a few days ago. I had planned on telling him tonight at dinner. His expression was priceless in response, dazed. “Speechless, have I rendered a Campbell speechless?”

  And then his expression darkened, “You’re pregnant and you taunted Bruce, focusing his anger on you?”

  Maybe not so speechless. Shit, I was in trouble.

  “You know what this means.”

  “No.” My ass started to hurt, phantom pains apparently.

  “Afraid so.”

  “Dad, tell him no.”

  But Dad looked to be in shock.

  “Unavoidable, Mia.” My mouth opened to issue yet another protest but Cole took the opportunity to seal his lips over mine, his tongue pushing into my mouth. I was fairly brain dead when he wrapped his arm around me and turned us to my dad, who was still looking a bit glassy-eyed.

  “I’m going to be a granddad?”

  “Yeah.”

  He moved from across the room and scooped me up into a hug. When he dropped me to my feet he turned to Cole, but he didn’t offer his hand. He pulled him in for a hug and Cole didn’t hesitate to hug him back. Taking a step back, Dad eyed Cole and me, who had wrapped his arm around me again, a grin tugging at Dad’s mouth. “Donati and Campbell, always liked the sound of that.”

  Janie arrived first. Timothy was with her. He helped her from the cab, her eyes moving to me as a smile touched her lips, no doubt because Cole was standing behind me, his hands on my stomach in an undeniably protective gesture.

  “Mia!” She hurried toward me until she noticed my dad just to my left. Her feet faltered, her eyes bugged out and then she shifted her focus from Dad to me and back again.

  “Mr. Donati?”

  “Janie.”

  “But…”

  The tears came then, streaming down her face but she was unaware of them. She didn’t know Dad very well; her tears were for me because I had gotten my dad back. In the next second, her arms were wrapped around me. We stayed like that for a while, so long that Dad and Cole helped Timothy bring Janie’s luggage to their room. She had six bags.

  Trying to lighten the mood I asked, “How long are you staying?”

  Stepping back, but apparently still needing the contact, her hands came to rest on my upper arms. “Don’t make me laugh.” And yet she chuckled. “Your dad is alive.”

  “Long story. Once Aunt Dee arrives, we’ll fill you in.”

  Her hold on my arms tightened. “Your Aunt doesn’t know?”

  “Nope. She’s on her way.”

  “Oh my God, I can’t wait to see that reunion.” Her lips turned up into a tender smile. “I wish I had seen yours.”

  “I’m still in shock. My dad’s back from the dead, Cole told me we were getting married.”

  “Wait, he told you?”

  “Yeah, he said there was no point in asking a question he already knew the answer to.”

  Janie’s laugh came from her gut. “God, I love h
im for you.”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Her expression softened, her eyes drifted down to my stomach. “Congratulations, Mia.” Her hand pressed to my belly. “You are one lucky little baby. Mia for your mom, Cole for your dad, Dee for your grand aunt and Mace for a granddad.” Her eyes moved back to me. “The Donati clan, together again.”

  Aunt Dee arrived an hour later. She texted me that her cab was pulling up to the doors, but instead of Cole and me greeting her, Dad stood there. When she stepped out of the cab and saw Dad, she had a similar reaction as mine. She dropped to her knees in uncontrollable sobs. And as he had done with me, Dad dropped to his, pulled her close and held her until she stopped crying.

  She wasn’t quite steady when Dad pulled her to her feet, so he kept his arm around her until she reached Cole and me and then she enveloped me in her arms, her sobs returned, her voice barely audible. “He’s alive, Mace is alive.”

  My tears prevented me from speaking, but I didn’t need to. I knew exactly how she felt, was still feeling the same. Her sobs quieted, her head lifted and a smile touched her lips. “So I guess the wedding was a ruse?”

  “No, we’re getting married.”

  “You are?” Her eyes moved from me to Cole.

  “I have to make an honest woman of her.”

  Aunt Dee’s gaze jerked back to me, lowering to my belly. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yeah.”

  And then the sobbing started again, more happy tears.

  Cole and I stood before the minister in front of the fountains at the Bellagio. Not very original but I wanted it there and not some Elvis chapel. Cole didn’t care where we got married, he even suggested just having the minister come to our room so we didn’t have far to go to consummate the marriage. Yeah, Dad would have loved that and yet the idea did have appeal.

  Aunt Dee stood with Dad, her arm around him, his around her. Janie and Timothy had moon dog eyes for each other and I had a feeling they too would have tied the knot, but fear of her mother’s wrath of being denied a wedding kept them from doing so.

  My gown was one Cole picked, a pale silvery-blue sheath with silver beadwork that hugged my figure and brushed the floor. He was dressed in his black suit. While we dressed earlier, Cole had appeared in the doorway of our suite with a shoebox in his hands. It wasn’t just any shoebox either, but a Christian Louboutin. Without speaking a word, he removed the lid to reveal the most beautiful pair of shoes—crystal encrusted platform pumps. Tears leaked from my eyes because Dad must have told Cole about our conversation when I was younger about getting married and wearing shoes like this. He then dropped to his one knee, pulled a shoe from the box, and lifted my foot. And then in a Cole interpretation of Prince Charming, he kissed my foot, his tongue running along the arch and up to my toes before he slipped the shoe onto my foot. We were a little late getting to our own wedding because he fucked me, up against the wall, while I wore nothing but my sparkly shoes.