220

Isabella

George knelt in front of me in the gazebo. I had given Alessandro the go-ahead to let him come to the mansion. He came accompanied by three more people that I didn't recognize.

"There was a mistake, Princess. If I had known…”

“I know you think that I am a benevolent figure of never-ending kindness that might accept you. But you must understand that given my position, I simply cannot forgive you right off the bat.

 You have to prove yourself to me. You have to prove yourself to the city. You have to prove your loyalty, and it will cost you more than it did the last time," I found myself saying.

Shortly after that, I left the men alone and made a beeline for the nursery where I felt my son squirming and crying in his cot. The maid I had instructed to stay with him was trying to keep him calm, but she was failing miserably, making me laugh.

I stretched out my hands, and just as she placed him in it, the infant settled down. Shortly after passing him and singing to him, I felt arms close around my waist and pulled me into a hug.

 Damon kissed my neck and then reached around to kiss Marcelo's head. I turned around to look at Damon and found him exhausted.

He had to be exhausted over the past few days as he had been desperately searching for Valentino.

 "Alessandro thinks he has left the city. And what do you think?" I asked as I sat in his lap just moments after he sat in the rocking chair.

"I think he's hiding somewhere. Your cousin is too heavily pregnant for her to start traveling. And I think they have a relationship together. Good, that's disgusting," I said, but Damon shrugged.

 "It doesn't matter; they're both sociopaths. One of them is mad with greed and wants to take over the city for no reason, apparently.

The other one thinks she's always right and that she cannot do any wrong whatsoever. She believes she is entitled to rule everything. The more I know, the more I think that your uncle did a poor job raising a little monster like that," I laughed softly and felt Marcelo squirm.

"Then we'll promise to do a better job with our son," Damon looked at me with tender eyes.

"We'll do a similar job to what your parents did with you. But how do you feel about having another child?"

 I felt my eyes go wide, and the blood left my cheeks.

 "No," I said as I shook my head.

 "We have children because we need children. One major issue I had with your parents is that they had one child.

One child they put all their hopes and aspirations into—one child, you. I don't have any issues with you; I mean, you're perfect," his eyes changed as they moved down towards my breast and then back to my face.

"I don't want more than one child, Damon," I told my husband, who didn't look convinced.

"Let's talk about this later," he said as he fell silent for a moment.

"I have a visitor. Do you want to come with me?" he asked in a tender and silent voice. I shook my head, already feeling exhausted from the earlier events of the day.

 "I think I'm going to sleep after this," I said. True to my promise, I fell asleep and woke up when I felt a slight stir.

Damon climbed into bed beside me and pulled me into his chest.

"You're coming for the next meeting," he said, making my heart skip a beat.

 "And I think he's big enough to come along with us," I added, hoping my husband would agree.

 "It's perfect," he said. "The meeting is supposed to be you declaring yourself as the new ruler as queen. And what better way to include the next prince. It's perfect," he said as he nuzzled my neck.

***

 The meeting happened two weeks later.

I picked a slightly loose dress that let my body breathe underneath but at the same time was feminine, soft, and adorable.

At least I thought so until my husband couldn't stop rubbing his crotch against my ass. I was almost out of recovery, but even I couldn't help the impatience I felt.

After I managed to pry myself from him, we reached the van fully equipped with a car seat and a number of baby supplies. After tucking my child in and sitting down next to him in the back seat, we were on our way after what felt like an eternity of being in town.

The hotel was the same as always when we arrived. I walked behind Damon while

Alessandro insisted on carrying my son. He didn't stop smiling the closer we stepped to the door that led to the meeting room. Damon entered first and closed the door behind him after shooting me a wink.

 "How is she?" I asked as I turned towards Alessandro.

"Miranda's doing much better. How much better? After the surgery, she's been in recovery and is said to be discharged pretty soon," Alessandro said with a smile that lit up his face.

 Suddenly, he looked focused and opened the door. I took in a deep breath and walked into the room with Alessandro walking in behind me. I told him to stand just out of the threshold of the door as I signaled for him to wait.

 I looked at Donatella, whose eyes moved over my form before settling on my face. I turned to the rest of the members of the council.

"Effective immediately, this Council is disbanded. As promised, I will take my rightful place as the Mafia Queen of this city of Avalia. The next in line to the throne is not going to be my husband, you can be rest assured… I believe this is being televised?" I asked Julio, who gave me a nod of approval.

 "Perfect," I said.

 "Just as I have introduced myself to you now as Queen Isabella Montenegro, I also introduce the first prince, the first-born child of me and my husband Damon Montenegro. Marcelo Montenegro, named after my father.”