Lodged (Kinsmen Billionaires #2)

Extended Epilogue

Ruin MacAllister

Three Years Later

Today’s the big day. I’ve been waiting for today since I decided to make it my mission in life to help others. With lots of effort, I was able to finish my degree in three years instead of four. I still need to get my counselor certificate if that’s what I want to pursue. Still, with my psychology degree, I can definitely start operating Serene Lookout, the very first haven for people who have gone through traumatic events in Azalea Creek. I was planning to sign up for the master's program in counseling and start it next fall, but the two pink lines on the pregnancy test in our master bath might have changed, or at least delayed, those plans.

“Ruin, are you okay?” Gio knocks on the door, and I decide to just tell him right away instead of thinking about an elaborate plan to share the news with him. After splashing water on my face, I rearrange my hair and grab the stick.

When I open the door, Gio is there waiting for me. A frown was on his face, and his arms were crossed on his chest. “Hey, baby girl. You got me worried. You usually don’t stay that long in the bathroom.” His face immediately transforms the moment his eyes land on me. From worry and despair to pure adoration.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Can we sit for a second?” I ask him as I grab one of his hands and walk to the balcony we have out of our room. We moved to our dream house last year after Miles had worked for almost fifteen months building it.

“Ruin, you know I love you no matter what. But you’re scaring the bejesus out of me.” I chuckle at his concern, but once he takes a seat on our balcony, I sit on his lap.

“There’s nothing to be worried about, I think what I have to say is good news.”

Gio squints his eyes, trying to find the answers in my face, but I guess I’m doing a very good job at hiding it because, after a few moments, he just huffs in defeat.

“Once I start talking, I’m sure you’re going to know what I’m saying. You’re a smart man.”

He nibbles on my earlobe, and I chuckle. “Ruin Bianchi, please take me out of my misery and tell me what’s going on.”

“This,” I say as I lift my hand with the stick on it, and his eyes grow wide.

“Are you really?” His voice raises as his chest starts expanding and falling rapidly—excitement oozing from his tone. I simply nod at him, and he lifts us from the chair and starts jumping up and down. “Oh my god, this is the best day of my life!” he says as he kisses me, and I can’t help but kiss him back as happy tears run down my cheeks.

When he notices I’m crying, he immediately stops kissing me. He sits me down in one of the chairs and squats in front of me. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Oh, I’m sorry. I’m just so excited.”

Before he continues to spiral, I cradle his face in my hands and give him a chaste kiss.

“Hey, I’m okay. It’s just happy tears.” He visibly relaxes as he releases a deep breath.

“How far along are you?” he asks, his blue eyes shining bright on this gorgeous summer morning.

“I’m not sure. My period is only a couple of weeks late,” I reply as he sprints up and gets his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m calling Penny. We need to find the best OBGYN in North Carolina. We need to get you the first appointment by tomorrow at the latest.” I chuckle at his excitement, but he’s not having it.

“I’m not risking you or our baby, Ruin. I can’t afford to lose you,” he says, his voice thick with emotion, and I immediately simmer down. I know what he’s referring to.

“Hey, Pen. What’s up?” He greets her and puts her on speaker.

“Nothing much, boss. Getting ready for the inauguration today.”

He pinches his nose with his thumb and pointer fingers, like he had forgotten we had that event today.

“Right. I’m sure you have a lot on your plate, but what I have to ask you is urgent and it goes without saying, extremely confidential.”

Penny is quiet on the other side of the line for a little too long, but then we hear some noise, like she’s getting out of bed. I widen my eyes at Gio and mouth, “Oh my god, is she with someone?”

Gio smirks and shrugs but goes back to his problem-solving mode.

“I need you to find the best OBGYN in North Carolina and make an appointment for tomorrow at the latest.” Penny’s gasp is heard across the entire mountain, and I chuckle.

“Are you guys making me an auntie?” she shouts, and as I say yes. She goes full-on crazy. I can picture her screaming and jumping up and down.

“But Penny, my family doesn’t know. Please, keep it quiet,” I ask her, and she immediately clears her throat, regaining some composure.

“Yes, of course. I wouldn’t want Rain to put me on her kill list.”

I cackle at that, but I know my sister would never forgive me if she knew we told someone else first.

“Thank you, Penny. See you in a little bit.”

As Gio is about to hang up, we hear a male voice say, “Come back, chiquita.”

“Oh my god, is that who I think it was?” I ask Gio, dumbfounded, and he raises his hands in surrender.

“I really don’t know, and I don’t want to know. The less we know, the better.”

The next day, after taking the helicopter to Chapel Hill, we greet Dr. De La Guardia in his office.

“Dr. and Mrs. Bianchi, good morning.”

Gio shakes his hand, and I do the same—a sheepish smile on my face.

“I wanted to apologize in advance, Dr. De La Guardia.” He frowns at me, and I chuckle before explaining myself. “Well, I’m sure you had plans today with your family, yet here we are on a Sunday,” I say as I give a pointed look to Gio, and he simply smiles.

“Oh, please, Mrs. Bianchi. It’s no bother at all. I can understand that with this being your first pregnancy, you’re excited to make sure everything looks good.”

I release a breath as he shows us to the examination room.

“Usually, a tech would do this, but since it’s a Bianchi we’re talking about, I’m happy to conduct the first sonogram,” he explains as he gets the machine ready. I lie down on the exam bed, remove my shirt, and unzip my pants. The doctor applies a warm gel on my belly and starts moving a wand around until he finds what he’s looking for. Gio is holding my hand in both of his, his eyes glued to the tiny screen.

“Oh, wow. Would you look at that,” the doctor says in a cheery tone, and I squint harder at the grainy image but can’t really tell what he’s talking about.

“You’re expecting twins,” he says as he circles the two tiny embryos on the screen. My jaw hits the floor as Gio turns to me, his eyes shining bright. “We’re having twins,” he whispers against my lips as I chuckle nervously.

“Aren’t you excited?” he asks, a frown appearing between his eyebrows.

“I am. I just think I’m in shock.”

The doctor continues to take some measurements on the screen, and after a few clicks, he declares I’m nine weeks pregnant.

“Do you have a history of twins in your family?”

“I’m a twin,” I say, feeling more excited about this news. The doctor nods like it makes sense.

“I’d like to continue to do the checkups here for the first trimester at least, but if there are no complications, we can do the checkups back in Azalea Creek.”

I nod at him with a thankful smile, and Gio shakes his hand as I sort my clothes back on.

“Congratulations, and I’ll see you in two weeks. You can call my office tomorrow and they’ll set up the appointment.” He then gives me a copy of the images we just saw of our babies.

“There you are, Ruin Bianchi. Continuing to make me infinitely happy when I think I’ve finally reached the happiest I’ll ever be,” Gio says as he hugs me in the helicopter.

“I can definitely say the same, Gio. Here’s to our family of four. Being completely happy.”