Ivy's Rebellion

  His dirty talk has the same effect it always does. “Take me home.” Not needing to be told twice, he picks me up and carries me away.

  I’m a lucky woman.

  Epilogue

  Sergio

  Three years later…

  “Baby, let me explain,” I plead as I enter the house. “It’s not how it looked.” Feeling I might be in the clear, I barely have time to duck before a shoe comes flying at me.

  “Sale de aquí singao, antes que te coja.” My wife is pissed and I’m thankful she didn’t throw anything heavier. When I get to the living room, the other one hits the wall beside my head, and all I can think is how she’s even sexier than the day I first saw her. Her curves are more prominent now that she’s round with my child and my mouth waters at the sight. But if I don’t do something to appease her very soon, she’ll have my balls. Since becoming a Suarez, she’s become quite assertive and refuses to take shit from anyone, including me. Asking once more for a chance to explain, she glares at me and asks, “You were talking to your dad, then disappeared for three hours without saying a word. Just because you knocked me up does not mean you can put me in a glass house. There are no secrets between us, yet you’re acting squirrely all of a sudden.” Closing the distance separating us, I wrap an arm around her, her belly cushioned against me. She’s pretty far along and very temperamental with the hormones hitting her hard. Not that it bothers me any, I like a good tongue lashing from her. She gets so heated the make-up sex is ten times hotter because her aggressive side come out and she takes what she wants from me. It keeps our marriage fresh and she can take as good as she gives.

  “Mi amor, tu sabes que eres todo para mí. Yes, he called, but at my mom’s insistence. She’s worried about you as is your own. They want to be there when the baby is born and were verbally chastising me for keeping you in Georgia for three weeks.” Taking a deep breath, I make the confession that’s sure to get her going once more. “But I have been keeping a secret.”

  She furrows her brow, ready for another fight. God, I love this woman. “I have a surprise for you, which is why we haven’t gone home yet. Trust me, okay? And stop throwing shoes at me. Once you have the baby and the swelling goes down, you’ll want to wear them again. Now come on. We have an appointment and I don’t want to be late. I promise you’ll love it.”

  “We’ll see, but I’m still not happy with you.”

  “You will be,” I say confidently. Driving through the quiet streets, I steal quick glances at stoplights, still unable to believe she’s mine. At one point she stops looking out the window and catches me staring, and her smile becomes radiant, letting me know she’s no longer upset. We’ve had spats through the years as all couples do, but I’ve never let her go to bed angry with me. She’s my whole world and I wouldn’t change a thing.

  When we pull into the parking lot of Tattooed Vixen, her eyes instantly move toward the sign and she begins fidgeting in her seat. It’s become one of the best tattoo shops in the country and she’s wanted to check it out for a while now. Not only are the artists top notch, but the owner also helps a good cause, one I know my wife will want to get involved in as her aunt Rosa recently survived cancer.

  “Is this what I think it is?”

  “We have an appointment with Star Sinclair. I want a design that celebrates us, and for you to help design it.” It may be the hormones, or the fact she’s always been fascinated by my tattoos, but tears start falling down her cheeks. It’s only fitting I add the three people that completed me. Yes, we’re expecting twins and I couldn't be happier. Getting out and hurrying to her side, I help her out and sweep her into my arms.

  “Don’t cry. This is long overdue. I’ve been so caught up in our life it slipped my mind.”

  “I love you, Sergio.”

  “I love you more than reason, baby.” Taking her lips in a passionate kiss, I easily get carried away and have to force myself to stop. She protests with a soft moan and I know she’s about to say something to set me off.

  “Can’t keep your hands off me, Daddy?” She teases, her words having the desired effect as my cock lengthens, and I have to adjust myself before we can enter the building.

  “Do not tempt me, I’ll throw your ass in that car, and lock you in our room until you beg for mercy,” I vow, smirking when goosebumps cover her.

  “You realize that’s not really a punishment, right?”

  “Doesn’t stop me from wanting to do it.”

  Knowing I’ll do it and we’d miss our appointment; she composes herself and declares, “Let’s get our asses in there, then you can make good on your threat.”

  Inside we’re greeted by the receptionist, followed by our artist and within an hour, we’ve chosen a design. I’ve also arranged for Ivy to speak to Felicity, the owner, as my wife not only admired the work done here but the charity behind it as well, so much so that she wants to support it. While she’s no longer next in line for her family’s charity, she does have a lot of say on who they decide to support.

  Halfway through my tattoo, the Suarez and Valladares crests with our names intertwined in it, along with those we’ve picked out for our children, a redhead joins us. She’s very much pregnant and having a hard time walking, and Star’s eyes go directly to her, filling with concern.

  “I told you to stay home, baby, as did the doctor. You’re going to pop any minute now,” Star says to the newcomer and I instantly recognize the scowl on the other woman’s face. It’s the same one I get when I tell my wife to slow down. My new friend is in for it and I’m thankful it’s not me.

  “Do not tell me what to do. This is all your fault.”

  I stifle a laugh, but my wife hears me and gives me the look that tells me I’m in trouble, too. Apparently, pregnant women stick together and Star and I are the enemy.

  “I’ve come to tell Mrs. Suarez that Felicity is ready to speak with her.” Then she turns to Ivy and speaks directly to her as if they’re the only two in the room. “Come on, they obviously don’t understand. If she fusses one more time I’m going to scream. She’s been like this since we found out.”

  Ivy simply smirks and glares at me, stating, “Tell me about it.” They’re accompanied by Felicity when they return as my session is over. I show Ivy the tattoo before it’s covered, and she loves it, then drape my arm over her shoulder and say, “Ladies, thank you for seeing us.

  Ivy adds, “And for letting us donate to your cause. We’ll be in touch to do more.” Helping Ivy into her seat, I shut the door and hurry to my own, then rush home to cash in on our earlier conversation.

  Epilogue

  Ivy

  Fifteen years after that…

  “Ma’, where are you?” I hear my daughter shouting for me. She’s been driving me crazy all weekend, and I can’t help but laugh because she’s so fiery and I see so much of both of us in her that it scares me. She’s tall like her dad, and, according to him, looks just like me. He’s an overprotective dad, and having one myself, I can now appreciate the reasoning behind it after becoming a mom. To Sergio, anyone who comes within an inch of his little girl will get a bullet through their skull. Now that my in-laws have semi-retired, we’ve taken over operations almost completely. While some of our businesses have turned legit, wanting to leave something of substance for our children, I still have a gut feeling in the pit of my stomach. My husband tries to deny it, but we both see the way Isabel Christina carries herself. She has the same fire within her that my parents failed to recognize in me. Our son, who is more into numbers, is a genius and has been accepted into four of the top universities at the age of fifteen. He could’ve enrolled already, but he refused to be apart from his sister, wanting to finish high school together. They’re so vastly different, yet are extremely close. For example, she asked her dad to take her to the gun range, then they followed it up with a museum visit for her brother. They remind me of the bond Eco and I have, even though we now live in different parts of the country.

  “Isa, I
’m in here,” I tell her and she smiles wide, warning me she’s about to ask something I won’t like. She loves to push buttons, especially her dad’s, and I have to butter him up so she doesn’t get into too much trouble.

  “Mami, you know how much I love you, right?” She says looking directly at me. If it wasn’t for heels, I couldn’t look her in the eyes as she easily towers over me.

  “Will it cause your father to go insane?” She reaches for the food my mom and mother-in-law dropped off, knowing I’m not a cook. It’s Isa’s own quinceañera and they wanted to spoil her with all her favorites.

  “Don’t freak out, but I invited Alana and Ron. You know dad will go ballistic, but I’m fifteen now and want to dance with my crush.” Her pleading eyes do me in and I know I’ll be soothing my husband tonight.

  Sergio still wants to murder Daniel, the new governor, after all these years for daring to look at me when I was younger. Yeah, this will go over well.

  “You’re going to give me gray hair, and that’s saying a lot considering everything I get myself into,” I inform her to which she follows it with a smartass remark.

  “But it looks so good on you.”

  “Get out before I smack that butt of yours.”