“Neverrrrrr!” Addilyn screams in a fit of giggles.
Valencia motions for her to take a left, the safer route. Oscar is hot on his sister’s tail. I take the right, well aware of my wife’s incredible stamina… Not today, darling.
She dashes between the tall hemlock trees, laughing. Just a little further, and we end up in the middle of our patio before the lake before she takes a right. There’s a dead end fence coming up soon and damn does she know it.
I continue on, sprinting behind her, watching that sculpted ass shake and her short hair sway from side to side. Valencia’s kept it this length and I cannot get enough of it—or her.
“You’ll never get me, honey!”
“Hmmm, I don’t know about that.”
She has the audacity to cast me a glance from behind and wink. “We’ll have to wait and see…”
Oh, it’s so on, baby.
Pushing forward, I run full speed and leap over our outdoor furniture like I’m in Frogger. I slide through trees and foliage until we reach the dead end that right now is my greatest victory.
A game of Tag has never felt so good.
Grinning, I come to a halt a couple of feet behind her. “Hmmm. It’s game over for you, isn’t it?”
“I still have a few seconds.” Valencia paces up and down the parameter of the black-stained cedar fence which marks the borders. Her smile expands. “And…breath to catch.”
I smirk, slowly approaching her with pure amusement in my eyes. She’s still scheming a way to save herself with her hands on those exquisite hips! I have a brave woman by my side.
I’m glad Valencia took up my offer to join Notti Designs permanently. It was exactly two weeks after Addilyn was returned to us that I found my wife in her art studio painting away. Ever since that moment, she’s had her own division in the company where she creates artwork for Notti Design clients and her own too. It makes her happy and that makes me happy.
We’ve surpassed hell together and now we get to enjoy the freedom.
We finally have our deserved epilogue.
“Time’s up!” I zone in on her until her back gently presses against the fence. “What are you going to do about it, Mrs. Giannotti?”
I still haven’t passed the tag. Not yet.
Valencia joyfully beams at our close proximity. The glimmer in my eyes expands as her hazel ones roll at her misfortune.
“I think this is the moment it becomes game over for you,” I murmur softly.
“You haven’t tagged me yet, so technically I’m still in the game.”
God, I love her voice.
“Not anymore, darling.”
It’s heaven when I kiss her. A moan escapes Valencia and it evokes my own. The passionate kiss electrifies me, leaving me to fall captive to her. My desire for the love of my life has me wanting her even more intimately right now.
This game we’re playing…I’ve already won.
I pull away, leaving both of us wanting more. “Tag.”
Lencia kisses me.
Just as I cup her soft jaw to pull her to me, she pulls back with a smug, “Tag right back, baby.”
She’s such a tease—The type that hastens every beat in my heart ever so beautifully.
I don’t mind it though, because we have our entire lives to continue playing this game of love. And we will continue to do so until we reach the stars above and even then I will never let her go. I love Valencia Giannotti and our incredible family unconditionally. I’ll love them forever.
Her irresistible hazel eyes tell me the same.
She’ll love us forever too.
“Tag. You’re it for me, amore.”
And then I kiss her. All over again. Sealing in every one of our merciful vows.
When Giulio and Valencia’s story came to mind, the words didn’t stop flowing. Their story consumed me completely and with the central theme of healing, their voices came at a time where I needed them the most. Letting go of Giulio and Valencia feels almost like separation anxiety in a way, but I am beyond grateful and happy they are out in the world and most importantly, glimpses of their story will continue in the following inter-connected novels in The Giannotti World!
I want to extend a big thank you to every single person who has been a part of my journey and encouraged me in publishing my debut novel. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I wrote this novel during a very dark time in my life where I needed healing. Grief never stops. It is a heavy weight that stays with you forever. It stays with you forever because you will never stop loving that person, and hence the hurt, delusion and agony in grieving is permanent.
Merciful Vows allowed me to breathe in some fresh hope, and while the small peace we learn to grasp with grief only covers a small fraction of the pain, I found a way to emulate those feelings of love and loss into my novel in a real-life way. My heart is in every single word of this novel, in Giulio and Valencia and in their story. It’s all from the heart.
Just as I reached my editor’s revisions for this novel, I was once again hit with yet another loss of a very close loved one. All the feelings I was already feeling doubled. Healing never stops, but gratefully for me words unlock a little peace for me. So, here’s to all words, to everybody who has supported me by always there for me during Merciful Vows and to many more years of novels!
There are so many people I want to thank for all the love and support.
To Mamma, for everything. I couldn’t have done this without you—my best friend, my greatest inspiration, my biggest cheerleader. You mean everything and more to me. I love you!
To Nonna and Nonno, for teaching me a love beyond words. I will love you both forever. Grazie per tutto.
To Kristen Portillo, Gemma Woolley, Stacy Blake and Tash
