Paolo
“You didn’t forget the diapers, did you?” I ask as soon as Louis opens the car door, and he holds up a bag with the grin of a proud uncle before climbing on the seat next to me.
“Of course not. I didn’t know what size she sports now, so I got two and three.”
He digs into the bag while I check the parking lot for any unwanted eyes and drive away from the shopping center. I hate those places-they are always crowded and provide a perfect hideout for a spy. Trust me, I know how it works. But Jacinta needed new diapers and a pack of hot chocolate as soon as possible, and I didn’t have time to stop at the local store.
I probably shouldn’t worry about it anymore, though. For the last few months, things have been smooth and peaceful on our territories. The Russian Bratva became some sort of ally thanks to Elena, and the Mexicans switched their attention to other criminal mobs on their level, allowing me to take care of Jacinta and our baby in peace.
Luna.
God, she’s the most wonderful tiny creature in the universe, and I still can’t believe that I took part in her creation. I am responsible for her life, safety, and happiness. I am her father, and the thought still shakes me to the core. But at the same time, it fills me with so much worry, love, and desire to protect her that I often lose sleep-which I don’t really have enough of in the first place-just thinking about the dangers of our lives.
Maybe Gerardo wasn’t that crazy, after all. I don’t mean his obsessive desire to keep Jacinta locked in her room and away from
everyone else, of course. But I do understand his urge to be extra careful and protective when it comes to family. My family.
“Oh, also, I’ve got a new mobile for Luna’s crib,” Louis exclaims, pulling me out of my thoughts, and pulls out a set of rattling wooden flowers from the shopping bag. “She’s gonna love it, and look! It has a butterfly in the middle!”
I glance at the mobile and Louis’ excited grin and turn back to the road in front of me with a chuckle. “She doesn’t know what a butterfly is.”
“But she knows it’s pretty.”
“Well, she can’t see the colors, so…”
I shrug and glance at him again, hiding my smirk. I have to admit that it’s fun to tease Louis, and with his childish excitement around Luna, it’s been increasingly easy these days. He’s always been the one to laugh
and joke around in our family, so take it as my chance to get revenge for all thirty-two years of my life.
Louis purses his lips and huffs with a grumble, putting the mobile back in the bag, “She’s gonna like it, you’ll see.”
But he is a good uncle, excited and genuine in his affection for Luna, so after a moment I exhale and tilt my head toward him. “Even
without the colors, the patterns can be very…engaging. Thanks, Louis.”
I don’t have to look at him to see the pleased smile in the corner of his lips.
We keep quiet for the rest of the drive home, only exchanging a few words when I receive a message from Riccardo. Even with Mexicans and Russians under control, there are still other gangs thinking themselves powerful enough to steal our money and people. But they’ve never been anything more than a nuisance, so it doesn’t really stay in my mind- especially when I see a car in the parking lot of my house.
“Expecting guests?” Louis looks at me with raised eyebrows, but I only purse my lips and grumble under my breath.
“More like a family gathering.”
Yeah, it’s hard to confuse this car with any other.
As soon as I open the entrance door with Louis just behind me, I hear Gerardo’s loud and croaky voice speaking over quiet music and Luna’s crying. “I’m telling you, you have to cover her with a blanket. Poor girl… look, her feet are cold!”
“It’s August, Dad. She’s not cold, she’s just tired…” Of you, Jacinta doesn’t say, but I hear enough exasperation in her voice to know that it’s exactly what she means. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.
If Gerardo was too much as a father, he’s even worse as a granddad.
I find them in the living room, huddled around Luna’s blanket on the floor. She’s lying on her back, carelessly looking around with swollen eyes and an unhappy grimace, while Jacinta is kneeling next to her with a no less unhappy expression on her face. Well, apparently, Gerardo has managed to piss off both of them.
He’s standing next to Jacinta with his arms crossed and an overly serious frown on his face, looking as annoying as ever, and I clench my jaw. He knew I wouldn’t be at home, didn’t he? That’s why that moron showed up today.
“Another visit without a warning?” I tell him instead of a greeting, entering the living room, and as soon as Gerardo turns to me his expression shifts into one of mocking politeness.
As you can probably guess, my relationship with my father-in-law isn’t the best, to say the least.
“Paolo! Finally. We’ve been waiting for the diapers, did you bring them?”
“You have been waiting?” I quirk an eyebrow before turning away to kneel next to Jacinta and press a kiss to her cheek, squeezing her shoulder. She smiles at me and presses her forehead to mine. “How are you, princess?”
“I’m fine, just tired.” Jacinta pointedly glances at her father with a grimace of displeasure, and I squeeze her shoulder tighter. Damn it.
Gerardo is always so noisy and overwhelming, I should’ve been here to keep him away.
“Don’t you know that you should be invited before barging in?” I say in a low voice and turn to look at Gerardo, but as always, he plays innocent.
“Ah, but it was just a surprise! Besides, I don’t think I have to wait for an invitation to be able to see my daughter.” He looks me in the eyes with a silent reminder, and I purse my lips and turn away.
Yeah, it was a part of the truce-that Gerardo would be able to see Jacinta at least twice a month. I guess today is the second one for August- but that means that we’ll be free of his presence for the next ten days.
But as soon as I hear Luna whimpering, I leave all of my frustrations behind and focus on her. She has the cutest cheeks and the prettiest brown eyes that concentrate on my face for a second before her face distorts into a cry. She must be tired of her granddad’s endless
complaining-or she just needs a fresh diaper.
“Hi, cutie,” I murmur and lean down to press a kiss to her belly.
Luna immediately kicks her legs and arms, but at least it stops her from crying. She looks unsure now, and I can’t help a chuckle. “Do you want to cry? Do you want to complain about the grumpy old man in our house?
Daddy’s ready to listen.”
“Is that how you are going to raise her?”
“Oh, Louis, hi!” Jacinta finally notices him and, completely ignoring Gerardo’s comment, gets up to greet him. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Still alive.” Louis chuckles at his favorite joke, and I roll my eyes without turning to him. “I’ve brought you diapers, hot chocolate,
and a bunch of fruit. You like strawberries, right?” “I love them! Thank you. Paolo, do you-”
But Luna interrupts her with a cry. Yeah, she made up her mind, and now she goes all out. I pick her up and try to sway her a little, but it doesn’t help. It breaks my heart to hear her cry like this even though I know it’s probably nothing important. Or is it? Wait, what if she’s in pain? Did something happen?
“Sorry, it’s time to feed her.” Jacinta appears next to me a moment later and, still chewing on a strawberry, takes Luna out of my hands. “Yes, baby? Yes? Oh, I know, I know, let’s go to the kitchen. Mommy has plenty of milk for you, so let’s try again without a bottle, okay?”
With cooing and funny faces, Jacinta goes past Gerardo to the kitchen, and I follow her only to stop next to him. He knows that now,
without his daughter nearby, there’s nothing keeping me from kicking him out of here. So as soon as I turn to him, Gerardo straightens his shoulders and gives me a fake smile.
“I guess it’s time to go.”
“You bet,” Louis grumbles, leaning on the wall in the hallway.
“It was nice to visit you.” He waves a hand and moves to the door, but then, as if remembering something, he sharply turns around. “Oh, and
Jacinta showed me your photos from Europe. Looks like you had fun there, huh?”
“We did.” I nod, still frowning. What does it matter to him?
“Well, good for you. Hope you understand that you put your wife and my daughter in danger whenever you-”
“She’s always safe with me,” I growl and step toward him, getting more and more aggravated by his presence in my house. “I take care of
Jacinta the way she deserves. Something she never had when you kept her locked in your goddamn prison.”
Suddenly, I feel Louis’ hand on my shoulder, and it makes me stop and breathe out. There’s no point in arguing now. Jacinta will be upset if we start fighting again, so I look Gerardo in the eye and gesture at the door.
“I think you’ve used enough of our hospitality, Senor Escarra. See you next month.”
“Very well.” He smiles and tilts his head, but I can see that his jaw is clenched and his shoulders are tense. Of course, Gerardo hates me just as much as I hate him. “Give my regards to your family.”
Since when does he care about them? I frown harder, watching through the glass door as he walks down to his car. Everything about him is nothing but a farce! But he is my damn father-in-law and the guarantee of the truce between our families, so I have to put up with his weird-ass manners. Which doesn’t mean I’m happy with it.
God, how much I wish I could just punch him. I breathe out sharply and turn away-only to see a frown on Louis’ face. What?
“Did something happen?”
“Kinda, yeah.” He glances at the glass door behind which Gerardo’s car is leaving our parking lot. “Matteo just texted me. It was the Mexicans who organized the raid today.”
Oh. So that’s what they’re playing now. I hum, listening to Jacinta’s cooing from the dining room. I can’t say I’m surprised.
“It’s been almost a year now, hasn’t it?” I pat Louis’ shoulder and chuckle, shaking my head. The situation isn’t funny-but at the same time, it fits Gerardo’s childish demeanor perfectly. “I guess they’re losing their patience.”
“Does that mean that the truce is over?”
“No, but I’m sure they’re trying to find a loophole.” I look into his grim eyes and shrug, feeling careless. “But that’s how it always is. We can’t have our peace forever.”
I turn away from him, moving to leave, but Louis grabs my arm. “So what are we gonna do now?”
Isn’t it obvious?
“We’re gonna get ready.” I look at him over my shoulder. “And then, we’re gonna fight-and we’re gonna win again.”
This time, Louis does let me go, and I make my way to the kitchen.
I find Jacinta in her favorite chair by the counter, munching on a piece of mango with Luna peacefully napping in her arms. It looks like they had a filling dinner, and the scene fills my heart with tenderness. I can’t believe how lucky I am just to have these two girls in my life.
Jacinta notices me from the corner of her eye and turns in her chair with a smile. “Did you kick him out?”
“Yeah.” I walk closer and wrap my arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her hair. “You should text me next time he shows up.”
“He didn’t even give me a chance!” Jacinta pouts, glaring at me with offense, but it’s all just a performance, and a moment later she leans on me with a sigh. “It’s always such a mess when he’s around. I’m sorry, Paolo. I wish things were easier.”
“Well, it can’t be easy to have you as my wife,” I murmur with a theatrical sigh, but as soon as she looks up at me, I smile and lean to her lips. “But I’m ready to face everything when you’re with me.”
“Ah, you’re so cheesy.” Jacinta giggles, holding Luna closer to her chest, and I see little sparkles of happiness in her eyes. “But I still love you.”
God, I’ve heard this phrase so many times-but it still makes something in my heart bloom, filling me with the warmest feeling in the
world. And I can’t help the wide smile growing on my lips. I touch her nose with mine and lean forward to press a kiss to her lips.
“I love you too, princess.”
***** THE END