much. I’ll take care of it when I see it.”
He glanced down to my stomach. “How are things with him?”
My hand immediately brushed over my stomach. “He’s doing well. He’s a bit feisty with his kicking, but he’s good.”
He nodded. “Maybe he’ll be a football player.”
I chuckled. As long as he wasn’t a drug dealer, I would be happy.
“I’ll see you later.” He left the office.
Once he was gone, the sorrow settled into my bones. I was happy in Rome, and more importantly, I was safe in Rome. I had a life I’d always wanted, to run my own hotel and have a family. But losing Hades was like losing a piece of myself. I loved that man and always would. I doubted I could ever love anyone else in the same way.
We hadn’t spoken much since I left. He didn’t try to get me to stay, and he didn’t try to halt the divorce filing. He let me go with resignation, and that told me he knew this was the best thing for me, that it was the only way I would be safe.
Even if it was the right thing to do, it didn’t make it easier for the two of us. But we knew we needed to give each other space because if we talked all the time, it would make the separation more difficult.
I knew Hades would always be in Andrew’s life…but he wouldn’t necessarily be in mine.
Maddox had ruined my life. Even if decades passed and I remarried, I would still hate him with every fiber of my being.
He took my husband away…and I would never be whole.
At five o’clock, I left my office and walked out of the hotel. While I was constantly aware of my surroundings, I wasn’t paranoid the way I used to be. No one was out to get me. No one wanted me. There was nothing to worry about—and that was a good feeling.
“Hey, pretty lady.” A man came to my side and kept up with my stride as I headed down the sidewalk.
I wasn’t alarmed by the sudden company because I recognized the sound of his voice. It was similar to Hades’s. I stopped and turned to Ash, my brother-in-law—my former brother-in-law. “What are you doing here?”
He used to be so dark and formidable, but now he was much more cheerful. The old hostility he used to show to Hades had disappeared. He usually had jokes up his sleeve. “I was in the neighborhood. Thought I’d stop by.”
I hadn’t spoken to him since the divorce started. I hadn’t really spoken to anyone since we’d signed the papers. My world came crashing down, and I removed myself from society. I was so depressed, I didn’t think I could go on. If I weren’t having Andrew, I probably would’ve caved and gone back by now, but I had to do the right thing for my son. He couldn’t live in a world where he was always in danger. I was happy to see Ash, but I really didn’t know what to say. He looked similar to his brother, and that hurt my heart a little bit.
His eyes slowly softened with sorrow. “How are you?”
My hand glided over my stomach. “Andrew is healthy, and I’ve kept busy.”
“So, my brother told you his real name.”
I nodded. He shared everything with me.
“That’s a good name. Ash would’ve been better…but it’s good enough.”
He successfully got me to smile a little bit.
“Can I walk you home?”
“I only live a few blocks away.”
“Good. Because I hate to walk.”
Together, the two of us walked down the street and headed to the three-story home I’d bought for my mother and me to live in. My mom had a few friends in the city, so she stayed busy socializing. She even came to the hotel and worked with the decorators to keep the ambiance fresh.
There was a lot of silence because I didn’t know what to say. I liked Ash, but being around him only reminded me of what I’d lost. I had to move on with my life, move on from Hades, but that was impossible if I had to spend time with his brother. But since I was having Ash’s nephew, I would always be connected to both of the Lombardi brothers.
I took control of the conversation. “How are you?”
He shrugged. “You know, all sex and money.”
“So, things are good?”
“Very good. What about you?”
“You already asked that.”
He gave me a serious look. “And you never really answered the question.”
I