His Tesoro (Empire of Royals, #1)

by Emilia Rossi

This had been a shit day on top of a shit week on top of a shit month.

real

Sofiya Ivanova was the most stunning woman I’d ever set my eyes on.

“Wait, a week? I thought it took forever to get a custom wheelchair made.” Angelo snorted. “You don’t get it yet, do you? You’re married to the Don. Normal rules don’t apply.”

Almost as much satisfaction as seeing her in my passenger seat when I rounded the car, her cheeks pink and lips smiling like she was happy to be with me.

“You are my wife and I’m your husband. You’re in pain, so I’m going to fix it.”

I’d done my best to keep distance between us, but with each passing day—passing minute—Sofiya twisted me further and further around her finger. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I wanted my wife.

He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to my forehead. Then he straightened, took my hand in his, and we made our way through the park.

“Don’t argue,” I said, giving her a stern look. “You won’t win this one.” “I’m glad you know I’ll win most of our arguments,” she said primly.

“I’ll take being shot at every day if it leads to this,” I said, snuggling deeper into Matteo’s embrace.

He sighed. “How about I promise to hold you every day if you promise not to get shot at?”

“There is something I need.” “What? Anything,” he said seriously. I bit my lip, my heart racing. The adrenaline from earlier must have addled my mind because there was no way I was actually going to say it out loud. “A kiss.”

“Now, my beautiful wife, talk to me.”

🥰

“I’ll give you what you need. But one day, you’ll know that the safest place for you to be is in my arms.”

Sofiya. My Sofiya.

A soft smile tugged at her lips and it was like the sun breaking through the clouds.

But I’ll protect you. I promise.” “You already protect me better than anyone.” My heart twinged at her words. I gathered her to my chest, hoping to God they were true.

“But what if… what if our baby is like me?” He stroked my hair and pressed a kiss to my forehead. “We would be so lucky if the baby was like you.” I opened my mouth to clarify what I meant, but he cut me off. “And if our child had EDS, we would make sure they received the best medical care possible.”

Hearing him defend our future child, defend me as a wheelchair user, meant everything. I snuggled further into him.

“I’m trying out new cookie recipes and I invited them in to be my taste-testers,” Sofiya said. I looked down at my beautiful wife. Her hair was braided in a crown around her head, and her eyes were bright and happy. Killing three men in our kitchen probably would make her unhappy.

I closed my eyes and breathed through my rage. These bastards came into my home, spent time with my wife, and now they ate all of my cookies? My hand twitched towards the gun tucked in my waistband. “Just kidding!” Sofiya said with a giggle. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“If they ever eat my baked goods, made for me by my wife, I can’t be held responsible for their murder.”

She grinned. “Feeling impatient, husband?” “Don’t toy with me, wife,” I growled.

I nodded as I looked around the room, my heart bursting when I saw a dog bed in the corner. “You got a bed for Noodle?” Matteo said nothing, but I thought I caught the slightest blush on his cheeks.

when the scary mafia don has a sweet spot for his wife & dog 🥰🥰

“Baby, I need you to spend at least fifty thousand a month. Preferably closer to a hundred thousand. If you don’t, it looks like I’m not providing for you as your husband, as Don. Do you understand?”

I wanted to show her off, wanted everyone to know how goddamn lucky I was to have her as my wife, but I also wanted to keep her to myself. It was the only way to protect her, and to keep men from looking at her.

My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her.

“I hate that you could think for even a second that I would be ashamed of you. You are the most beautiful”—I kissed her forehead—“sweet”—I kissed her nose—“perfect wife.” I kissed her lips.

“It’s been a long time since I was out in public like this… at a party. Are you sure I belong here?” Matteo pulled back enough for me to see his disapproving expression. “You belong by my side, wherever I am,

“I’ll be more than happy to show anyone here who thinks I’m less powerful because I adore my queen the error of their ways.”

I would take whatever pieces he was ready to offer because I loved him. I loved him.

“So good,” he murmured against my skin. “So brave, so beautiful.” His words filled that hurt place inside me that never felt like enough, healing the raw edges of the wound I’d carried for so long. I didn’t fully believe that I was brave or beautiful, at least not yet, but I would never tire of hearing him say it.

🥲

Tucked behind the tiara was a note. I picked it up with trembling fingers. For my queen

“I will never say it enough. No words will ever be sufficient to describe your beauty.”

It’s you and me, forever.”

Sleep was pulling me under, but just before it did, the words I’d held back for so long spilled out of me. “I love you.”

She loved me. Loved me. Everything was the same as it had been a few minutes ago, and yet nothing was the same. The universe had shifted and I had been transformed. I was a man loved by Sofiya Rossi.

I would never get enough of this, of her. I craved her every waking moment, my mind even seeking her out in sleep.

Sofiya. My love.

“I’m so sorry for hurting you and for failing to protect you. You are so precious. I love you so much.” My words came out slurred.

I hadn’t truly recognized what a treasure she was until it was too late.

“You have to be here for me.” Her voice broke as she added, “And the baby.”

my husband. My heart skipped a beat. He’s here. He’s here.

The part of my soul that belonged to him longed to run into his arms.

as Nikolai put his arm around Mila, I realized she wasn’t alone anymore, either.

You are the best thing in the entire universe.”

I need you to know I will work every single day to give you the life you deserve.”

It haunts me every night… at least every night you’re not by my side.”

It would take time to heal the pain between us, but I felt hopeful that we could both be stitched back together.

Matteo loved me. He loved me. His love was precious, especially now that I understood fully what it cost him to give it.

I’d tried grand gestures, extravagant gifts, fancy dinners, but I slowly realized that what Sofiya really needed was me showing up consistently. Keeping my promises. Sharing my feelings.