Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 1021 : A little longer

*Leo*

For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. I felt that the fear of earlier today had truly driven me insane and now I was hearing the oddest things coming out of my fiancee’s mouth. I tilted my head, my mouth agape as I stared at Bianca utterly dumbfoundedly.

She met my eyes silently, still having that determined, bold look to her like she always did when she knew what she wanted. I knew Bianca well enough to know what that look meant.

“You...what?” I asked, needing to be sure I hadn’t misheard.

She sighed, giving me a look like I was a child she had to patiently coax through the simplest answer but I didn’t have the energy to unpack that. Not when I thought I was losing my mind.

“I want to be involved with the Valentinos,” She repeated slower this time but it didn’t make any more sense the second time either.

“Uh-huh,” I nodded slowly, trying to buy enough time to come up with any kind of response but I truly had nothing. It wasn’t often that I was left speechless but this was truly one of those times. “And by involved....you mean...”

“Not in the middle of the action, obviously,” Bianca explained further, fiddling with the comforter as she often did when she was nervous. “I just mean like maybe I can help work with some of the business side of things, the real estate business seems like a good way. I’m getting a business degree and the experience will help me while I can also help take some of the burden off you. And it won’t be dangerous if I’m just working on the sidelines–”

“Wait a minute,” I gently grabbed her hands as she picked at the blanket, pulling them towards me as she turned to face me. There was a look of hesitance on her face like she expected to be shot down, and considering our past experiences on this topic, I didn’t blame her one bit.

“Bianca,” I furrowed my brows in concern, searching her eyes for where this was coming from. “I’ve kept you out of anything to do with the Valentinos before at first because of your safety but then because you wanted to distance yourself from it. You were so adamant that we leave this life so what’s changed?”

Her eyes were unwavering, with no malice or disappointment but it didn’t make it hurt less as she slowly said, “But you’re not leaving the Valentinos.”

My heart nearly stopped in my chest.

“What...” I couldn’t even finish my sentence before Bianca smiled sadly, giving me a knowing look. She gently curled the palm of her hand against my cheek.

“I know how hard you’ve worked to do what I asked, Leo but I’m also not stupid,” She said, pursing her lips in displeasure. “You tried to hide it from me but I know you too well now. You won’t leave unless you’re sure you have a replacement. Darion’s brilliant but he’s also not ready. I know that just as well as you do.”

I shamefully avoided her kind but blunt honesty, her eyes shining with such love and trust even after I failed to do the one thing she asked me for.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, feeling like I didn’t even deserve how softly she ran her fingertips across my jaw. She lifted my chin, guiding my gaze back to hers as she slipped out from under the covers to slide into my lap. “I know you wanted me to leave and I didn’t discuss it with you but I didn’t want you to get your hopes up if Alessandro said no though I knew he wouldn’t agree.”

I held her waist gently, wanting to support her with her pregnant belly and she smiled sweetly as I adjusted so she was more comfortable. She leaned her head up against my chest and I breathed a sigh of relief. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

“I know you wanted me to leave and I didn’t discuss it with you but I didn’t want you to get your hopes up if Alessandro said no though I knew he wouldn’t agree,” I explained rapidly, hoping she wouldn’t pull away from me and luckily, she didn’t.

“It’s okay, Leo,” Bianca smiled down at her belly, rubbing it up and down so lovingly. “My love isn’t fragile. It was selfish of me to ask that of you and I realize that now. You told me over and over that the Valentinos are your family and I stand by what I said. Leaving the Mafia won’t make them any less of your family but I also realize that this is your way of paying them back. They’re your family so just like how you accepted my family’s craziness, I will accept yours. I owe them more than I could ever pay back anyway. Until you’re ready to leave, I’ll stay by your side.”

Her eyes shined with a sweetness, a deep love that made my fingers tremble just thinking about the depth of that emotion. How all of that love and trust was given to me so freely. Just a few months ago, she’d been riddled with anxiety, running away to Italy and her family convinced I would never put her and the baby first.

But like she said, her love was no longer fragile. I could see that in every look she gave me, the tender touch as she led my hands over where the baby was moving, letting me feel their little flutters in her belly. She had blossomed before I even knew it. Her trust in me was steadfast like iron in a lightning storm.

There were no words to describe what I was feeling. No way I could express just how much her unconditional love and support meant to me, especially right now. So I didn’t try to say anything.

I held onto her tighter, burying my head into his shoulder as I breathed in her sweet scent. Embracing her light as she stroked my back gently, letting me absorb the warmth that she exuded.

She was right...she was always right.

And I loved her for that.

Once I felt calmer and easier to think, I pulled back as I laid my hand over her own on her belly. I frowned, thinking about her request more logically. “You’re going to give birth in less than a month, Bianca. You’ll be taking a break once the baby is born so right now may not be the best time to get involved in something like that. You and the baby will be vulnerable and I don’t want-”

“Of course not right now,” Bianca laughed, grinning at me like I was ridiculous. “The baby will need us after they’re born and I’ll be worn out from shoving your melon-headed baby out of my vagina.”

I grinned at her description and despite the glare she sent at me, I heard nothing but pride and love out of her voice as she caressed her belly full of that same ‘melon-headed baby’.

“Sorry my baby has a melon-head,” I teased her, kissing her neck sweetly. “But I bet it’s because they’ll be just as smart and beautiful as their mommy.”

“Don’t butter me up,” Bianca pouted but didn’t push me away as she tried to stop her lips from pulling into a grin. “I’m only mentioning it now so we can prepare before the baby is born. Once the baby is stable and no longer needs me, I can go back to school and then I want to start helping you with the real estate business. You said Darion has no interest in it right? Well, I do.”

“You do?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. “You haven’t even finished your degree yet and now you want to be in charge of a whole business?”

“Not entirely,” Bianca rolled her eyes, grinning as she intertwined our hands and began to describe the future she envisioned. “Mia said it’s better if Darion takes over slowly, right? So while he works on taking over, I’ll start by helping you at the real estate office. You show me what needs to be done and I take some of that work so you can focus on training Darion.”

“You have it all figured out, huh?” I asked, grinning at how logical and confident she sounded.

“I’m going to be your wife, Leo,” Bianca said proudly, gently turning over our hands so the engagement ring on her hand was visible to us. “Your burdens will be mine to share, Leo. Once you put this ring on my finger, you gave me the right to meddle all I want.”

I laughed at her shameless grin and dived to press a kiss to her lips. It was hard to think about anything other than how soft, warm and inviting she felt, but I broke off the kiss once we both needed air. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

After debating about it silently in my mind, I decided she was ultimately right. Like usual.

I grinned, nibbling at her ear sweetly. “Okay then. We’ll do that. But first, you need to take it easy until the baby is born. We have less than a month left. I don’t want any stress put on you for the time being.”

“Deal,” Bianca grinned, leaning into my chest as she grabbed my hand and played with it gently. Her small little fidgets were something I adored about her so I let her do what she wanted as I thought about the future ahead of us.

The nursery was all built and ready to go, stocked up thanks to Al and Mia though we had more coming once Amara threw the baby shower. All we needed to worry about now was making sure Bianca was safe and happy for the rest of the pregnancy. Any little bit of stress could affect the baby negatively.

And I wanted to leave no chances.

“Don’t worry so much,” Bianca said when she noticed my dark expression, leaning up to press a kiss to the furrow between my brows. “I promise I’m going to be more cautious in the future. For the baby and for you.”

“You better,” I growled playfully, “Or else.”

“Or else what?” She challenged, knowing exactly what she was doing by the smirk on her lips. I obliged her as I pressed my lips against hers, my hands diving to caress her sides as she leaned into my touch as if she were begging for more.

I dipped my hand under her shirt, tracing her waist up to her swollen breasts, my favorite part of the pregnancy. I lost myself in her taste, ready to have her right here when she let out a loud gasp.

My hand, still intertwined with hers on top of her belly felt a harsh kick straight against our hands and I reeled back with wide eyes.

“Shit,” Bianca gasped painfully.

“Baby isn’t happy,” I frowned, a little annoyed at my unborn child for interrupting. I rubbed her belly over where I’d felt the kick, hoping to soothe the baby so it wouldn’t cause Bianca any more pain. “You be good for your mama.”

My attempt to scold the baby ended up sounding too sweet even to my own ears. I flushed as Bianca laughed loudly.

“Daddy is right,” She winked at me playfully, then stared down at her belly to coax our child, “Hold on a little longer, baby. Just a little longer.”