Chapter 192 A WORKAHOLIC.
~~~LUCIANO.
I turned toward the dining room as Raina started ushering everyone inside, her hand lightly touching Gabriel's arm while she glanced back at Alessia and Viktor with a warm smile.
It was moments like this that made the house feel alive again, after all the darkness we'd clawed through.
But before we could take more than a step, Alessia's voice cut through the air, bright and a little nervous.
“We have something to tell you both!” She exclaimed it with that mix of excitement and hesitation she got when she was building up to something big.
Everyone turned back to look at her and Viktor, who stood there arm-in-arm, closer than they'd ever been in front of us before.
I watched them exchange a quick glance, like they were double-checking if this was the right moment. Viktor's jaw was set, but his eyes softened when they met Alessia's. Raina clasped her hands together, her face lighting up with curiosity. “Let’s have it!’' she said, eager like a kid unwrapping a gift.
The two of them stepped fully into the room, the door clicking shut behind them. Viktor cleared his throat, his deep voice steady but carrying a rare edge of vulnerability. “We are together. Alessia and I are together.”
“Fuck, no way!” Gabriel burst out, his hand flying to his mouth as if to catch the words. He looked between them with his eyes wide, and a grin breaking through despite the surprise.
“Oh my God!” Raina grinned too, her cheeks flushing with delight. She bounced a little on her toes, clearly thrilled.
My lips tugged into a soft half-smile, and I just nodded my head once, keeping it simple.
“Okay,” I said, nodding again, and turned to head into the dining room. The table was set perfectly with crystal glasses, silverware gleaming under the chandelier, and candles flickering low. I could already picture us sitting down, plates passed around while the weight of the past few months lifting just a bit.
“O… okay? That is all you’re going to say?” Alessia's voice came up sharp, laced with disbelief. She stepped forward, her eyes narrowing at me.
I paused, glancing back over my shoulder. “What would you have me say, Sia?”
“Anything, but not okay! Come on!” She threw her hands up, frustration mixing with her excitement.
Viktor shifted beside her, his arm still around her waist. “I know you must be mad at me, but I need you to say something,” His tone was careful, like he was bracing for a fight.
“Mad at you?” I chuckled low, shaking my head. The idea was almost funny. “You think I don’t know you’ve been sneaking off to my sister’s place every day after you leave here? Oh, come on. You’d have to give me something more mind-blowing,’' I raised a brow, crossing my arms as the room fell into a stunned silence.
“You knew?!” Raina and Alessia burst out together, their voices overlapping in shock. Raina's eyes darted to me, wide and questioning, while Alessia stared like I'd grown a second head.
I shrugged, keeping my expression even.
“And you never said anything about it?!” Alessia snapped, her cheeks turning pink.
“Excuse me, is that supposed to be on me?” I shot back lightly, though inside, a wave of protectiveness washed over me. I'd kept quiet for her sake, watching from afar to make sure it was real, and that it wasn't going to hurt her.
“How long have you known?” Viktor asked, his voice quieter now, searching my face.
“Viktor, you are a workaholic,” I said, breathing out a long sigh. I leaned against the doorframe, remembering all those late nights at the office when I'd have to drag him out. “I used to beg you to clock out every time, but all of a sudden, you’re off even without saying. You don’t even meet up on time anymore, so? How hard is it to know? You can’t hide things like that from me, you know.”
He nodded slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “B… but you never said anything. You… you don’t have a problem with it?”
Problem with it? Hell, I was overjoyed, in fact. But I wasn't about to spill that out like some sentimental fool. Not yet. Alessia had been through too much, especially with our father's shadow hanging over her since she was a teen, twisting her trust in men into something guarded and sharp.
I'd worried for years that she'd never let anyone close, that the walls she'd built would keep her alone forever. Seeing her with Viktor, though? It was like watching a piece of her heal, and it was the kind of quiet strength I knew he could match.
And Viktor, he was solid. Loyal to the bone, and the kind of man who'd take a bullet for any of us without blinking. I'd trusted him with my life more times than I could count, from the streets to the boardrooms. So, if anyone deserved my sister, it was him.
“Dude, you are my brother,” I said, creasing my brows together in that way that said more than words. It was simple, but it carried the weight of everything we'd been through.
Viktor's lips pressed into a thin line, and he breathed out shakily, sweeping a hand through his dark hair. His eyes met mine, raw and open. “I love her.”
“I know. I do.” The words came out steady, but inside, relief bloomed. “So, can we please let’s have dinner now?” I pushed off the doorframe and started toward the dining room again, the group's footsteps following me.
But Viktor's voice stopped me once more. “We have something else to share with you all.”
I turned around, my eyebrows arched. “Oh, yeah? Have you picked a date already? So fast?”
Viktor moved closer to Alessia, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. She leaned into him, her hand resting lightly on his.
“We’re waiting,” Raina said, her voice teasing but impatient, crossing her arms with a smile.
Alessia's hands dropped to her belly then, a subtle gesture that hit me like a punch. I noticed it immediately, especially with the way she cradled it protectively. My brows raised as I met their eyes, flicking back to her stomach, then tilting my head in question.
“Oh?”
“We’re expecting,” Alessia said, her voice soft but steady, a smile breaking across her face.
My eyes snapped to Raina immediately. She gasped, her hands flying to her mouth, eyes widening in pure joy. But beneath that excitement, I saw the flicker, the shadow of our own loss, the baby we'd never hold and I knew this news would crack her open or lift her up. I watched her closely, ready to catch whatever came.
“What? No way!” She exclaimed excitedly, crossing the space between them in a rush. She pulled Alessia into a tight hug, their arms wrapping around each other as laughter bubbled up. “Oh my God, sis! That's amazing!”
Alessia's eyes glistened, hugging her back just as fiercely. “We found out this morning. I know I shouldn’t be breaking this to you after everything but…”
“Please, shut up, sis!” Raina hissed playfully, pulling back to cup Alessia's face. “This is happy news. Don't you dare apologize.”
Only then did I let the full smile break across my face. The room felt warmer, the tension from moments ago dissolving into something lighter. I moved closer to Viktor, clapping a hand on his shoulder before pulling him into a quick pat on the back. Then I shook his hand firmly, gripping it longer than usual. “Congratulations, man. You're gonna be a dad.”
He nodded, his usual stoic mask cracking with a genuine grin. “Thanks, boss. It means a lot.”
Gabriel, who'd been hanging back with wide eyes, finally piped up. “Oh, yeah. Someone took the family title so seriously,” he snorted, gesturing vaguely at the group and everyone burst into laughter. Raina's bright eyes were free, Alessia looked relieved, and even Viktor's deep chuckle joined in. It echoed through the foyer, chasing away the last remnants of surprise.
As we finally made our way to the table, chairs scraping and plates clinking, I stole a glance at Raina. She was beaming, helping Alessia sit before taking her own place beside me. Her hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently.
The chefs brought out the first course, steaming bowls of soup that filled the air with savory warmth. Conversation flowed easily now, questions about how they'd found out, when the baby was due, names they'd thought of. Alessia glowed as she talked, her hand never leaving her belly, while Viktor answered with that quiet pride I knew so well. Gabriel cracked jokes, keeping it light, and Raina leaned into me, her head on my shoulder for a moment.
“Did you suspect this too, Mr. Know it all?” Raina whispered to me later, as Alessia described her first symptoms, the morning sickness that had her glued to the bathroom.
I shook my head, smirking. “Nah, that one is on them. But it fits.”
She squeezed my hand again, her eyes meeting mine with that depth only she could pull from me. “I’m okay now, okay?” she murmured, like she knew where my thoughts had gone.
“Yeah,” I replied, kissing her temple. “I know.”