“Wow, this is the first time someone voluntarily stepped down from their position. Like, ever!” Carol exclaimed as she approached. Gianna was with her, staying silent by her side. Gia gave her brother a disapproving look.
“Right, Dad? This is a first in history, isn’t it?” Their father nodded. He still seemed surprised by what was happening and couldn’t get over what he had just heard.
“When did you decide to step down, Gioseffo?” Uncle Morgan asked in a formal tone; he’s the father of Taddeo and Arcel. “You didn’t even inform us.”
“I wanted to surprise everyone,” Gio replied. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, Uncle. I want a simpler life. I’ve also talked to Dad.”
“What did your father say?” Uncle Alford, Raffaele’s father, asked.
“I said okay,” a deep voice chimed in, cutting everyone off. Dad approached us with Mommy. Mommy smiled at us. “Under a few conditions, of course. He will still help the organization, but not as the boss anymore. That position demands too much time. He gave me valid reasons, which swayed me, so I agreed. I also like the idea of him devoting his time and attention to my future grandchildren. If my son wants to be just a husband and a father, so be it.”
Dad patted Gio’s shoulder, and a small smile appeared on his lips. I felt a warmth in my heart witnessing this interaction. Both of them were usually cold and reserved, but when it came to their family, they didn’t hold back their emotions.
“The question now is, who will be the next boss?” Mikaella, Raffaele’s sibling, asked.
“Forget that!” Raffaele suddenly swore, looking like he wanted to hide under the table to avoid being seen.
“I’m happy with my position as the second-in-command,” Valerio said. “You can choose from the other two underbosses.”
“Technically speaking, the underboss and the second-in-command are the same position. It’s the heir. But in our family, we have more than one underboss to avoid power struggles and to distribute authority evenly over the organization,” Uncle Fred Gio’s uncle, explained. We turned to him, and my eyes widened at the sight of Gio’s Uncle Fred.
“Sorry, my bad. I mean, your family. I cut ties with your last name a long time ago.” Valerio jokingly responded.
“You thought you could slip through, Valerio, huh?” Carol teased.
“Just a moment, my husband is turning pale,” Chloe joked about Raffaele’s current appearance. He was surely nervous about where this discussion might lead.
“Raffaele should be the eldest among Valerio and Arcel,” Taddeo suggested. Raffaele scowled at him. Taddeo just grinned.
“I’m passing, Uncle. I’m fine here. I’ll give it to whoever wants it more,” Valerio said.
“I object!” Raffaele declared. “Me and responsibilities? You can’t put us together. If you don’t want this organization to be the last generation, then you should spare me the position.” I couldn’t help but chuckle as Raffaele dramatized his words. It was as if he was trying hard to convince everyone of his incompetence for the role.
They all turned to Arcel, who had been quiet on the sidelines. The friendly and easygoing energy that was usually associated with him had disappeared. He seemed oddly annoyed.
“I’ve been quiet, and you still managed to notice me?” he sarcastically remarked.
“You’re not opposing the idea, Arcel. I assume you want the position?” Dad asked him.
Arcel’s expression remained unchanged. “I have plenty of objections, Uncle Aga, but I don’t have the energy to enumerate them. So, if you choose me as the new boss, it’s your decision. Underbosses like me are put in this position for such matters. I can’t argue with anything. It’s not a matter of what you want but a matter of obligations and responsibilities. The moment you accepted the position of an underboss, you agreed to be the heir and a boss when something happened to the current head.”
“I agree with Arcel,” Taddeo added. “I have no objection to working with my brother. That will be discussed soon with other officials of our organization.” Uncle Agatone let out a deep breath. “For the time being, I will take the helm again and serve as the acting boss of the family until an official appointment is made.”
Valerio and Raffaele seemed to breathe easier after that.
After the celebration, I saw Gio talking to some acquaintances. He also had a conversation with Grigory Sokolsky. I thought maybe Gio hadn’t forced him into anything; it might just be his expression.
“Gio,” the Hudson siblings approached. I sensed an unusual heaviness in the atmosphere.
“Ash, Yves,” Gio greeted them formally.
“You know how much I respect you. You are, indeed, Uncle Agatone’s son. And I thought one day, we might cross swords, or guns, once I succeeded my father’s position. But I think that day won’t come after all,” Ash said.
I gripped Gio’s arm, unable to ignore the tension in the air.
“Why would you say that?” Gio asked, mimicking Ash’s cold tone.
“After you stepped down from your position as the boss, I figured out I can’t battle someone who is beneath me-”
“Ashton!” Beatrice interrupted when she heard what Ash was saying. For a moment, Ash fell silent, but he couldn’t be completely silenced by Beatrice.
“You’re like a warrior who has removed his armor and chosen to lay down his sword, a general who became an ordinary man for the sake of…” He eyed me but didn’t finish the sentence. “I still respect you, though. I just hope you didn’t sacrifice your position.”
“Enough, Ashton! You’re being rude,” Beatrice stepped in between Gio and Ashton.
I could sense Gio’s tension. It felt like he was holding back, and even though he didn’t show it, he didn’t like what Ashton Hudson was saying.
Ashton is considerably younger than Gio, perhaps in his early twenties, around 22, I think, but he acts as if he’s superior to everyone else.
“I don’t care about your opinion of me or my decision, Ashton,” Gio said as he approached Ashton. Although Ashton was tall, Gio was taller. “But don’t disrespect my wife in front of me. I haven’t formally filed my resignation yet. If you want to challenge me, we can do it now. Let’s see whose fang is sharper.”
Ashton seemed unfazed. It’s rare to encounter someone who isn’t afraid of Gio.
“I am not disrespecting your wife. On the contrary, I am fascinated, albeit not in a good way. It’s still your choice, and I may be disappointed that a great commander decided to end his war now, but the respect I have for you and your accomplishments still remains,” Ashton responded.
I clung to Gio. I felt like he was about to engage with Ashton, not because of what he said about him but because of how he had looked at me earlier, as if belittling me.
“Gio, I’m sorry about my brother. He just holds you in very high regard and admires you. He might have been taken aback by what happened,” Beatrice addressed the Hudson brothers again. “Yves, you go first. Go ahead, take Ashton with you.”
“Why? I wouldn’t mind watching someone die today.”
“You don’t want me to get mad at you, Yves,” Beatrice said, and Yves shrugged before they left.
Even after the Hudsons were gone, I could still feel Gio’s tension and anger. Beatrice apologized to us again. She mentioned that her two brothers had a tendency to be that way.
After all of that, Gio quickly made plans for us. He never forgot to ask what I wanted.
~*~
After a few months, I gave birth. We had a boy and a girl, just like Gio and Gia. Giving birth was a challenge, especially when they found out I had to have a heart surgery during the process. Fortunately, I pulled through.
“I want to see them,” I said to Gio.
When my two children were brought to me, I couldn’t help but cry again. I gazed at them and then at Gio.
Since Gio had completely stepped down from his position, our life had become incredibly peaceful. The life I had once only dreamed of was now being slowly realized by Gio.
His undivided attention was focused on me, especially in the final months of my pregnancy. He never left my side and was always there for me.
Before, I cried because my father always made me feel pain. There were times when I never thought I’d see the light. Gio is my light. Despite what others may say about Gio being darkness and destruction, to me, he is my light and my savior. I don’t think I could survive this life without him. He completes me.
Now, I was crying tears of joy.
Our love story with Gio isn’t perfect. He has shown me many facets of his love. We’ve had our share of hardships, but we’ve both learned from them. Every day, we continue to learn and grow together in our relationship.
“Did you name them according to our agreement?” I asked. I was too weak earlier to name our twins, so Gio took care of it.
“Yes,” Gio replied.
I looked at our twins with a wide smile. I couldn’t hold back from calling them by their names.
“Hello, my angels. Hello, Abigail Grace and Alexander Grant Locatelli. It’s your mommy! I’m so happy to finally see you.”
I cried even more when our two children moved. I glanced at Gio, and my tears continued to flow.
“Thank you, Gio. Thank you.”
He came closer, kissed my forehead, and said, “No, Millie. Thank you. Thank you for being my family and for giving me this happiness I never knew I needed in my life. Thank you for these two angels who have given a new meaning to my life. Thank you for giving me another chance to prove myself. I love you.”
Our love isn’t perfect, and it’s not a fairy-tale romance. It didn’t start with me meeting my prince charming because Gio wasn’t one. But it’s a love full of learning that helps us become the best versions of ourselves. We still have a lot to learn, but this time, we will learn together, hand in hand, without letting go of each other’s hands. It’s a love that forgives and sacrifices.
If I were to go back in time, I would still choose this life. I would choose Gio again, the same way he would always choose me.