60

Alessio
Gianna organized Simona’s first birthday party in January, baking a cake and decorating it with balloons. My family came around tea time. Simona had already taken her first steps and followed Gianna around like a puppy. She was too young to remember her mother. For her, there was only Gianna. Faro, his wife and two children were also invited. She joined me in a quiet moment.
“She got Daniele talking again.”
I nodded, following Gianna with my gaze. She straightened the sunflower in Simona’s hair. My daughter’s dress also had a sunflower print. It looked lovely, so I stopped protesting.
“She did. She is good with children.”
“And good with you,” Faro said with a suggestive smile. I squinted my eyes.
“Come on, Alessio. It’s as if you have fallen into the fountain of youth and are less irritable than before. I’m happy for you.” I said nothing. “Your father approached me.” From the change in Faro’s voice, I could tell I was not going to like what he had to say.
“What did he want?”
“He asked me to talk to you about having a child with Gianna. He thinks you have to be prepared for any eventuality.” “The eventuality that Daniel is not my son?” I gritted my teeth. Faro clutched his shoulders.
“It is an option, and not an unlikely one.” “I don’t need another son, and I certainly don’t need you or my father meddling in my affairs.” Faro raised his arms. “I didn’t want to meddle. That’s why I told you. But your father will not give up soon. He’s worried.”
“If he accepts that Daniel and Simona are my children, he might stop worrying.”
“You tell him.”
I headed toward my parents, who were talking to Mia, who was cradling her newborn son in her arms. She looked exhausted.
“Stop it, father.” She knew what I wanted to say without me having to elaborate.
“I’m trying to think about your future.” I nodded to Daniel, who was holding Simona’s hand that was still a little unsteady on her legs. “Here is my future. End of story.” My mother touched my forearm.
“We love them, but…”
“No, but.” They exchanged a glance, then nodded reluctantly. Mia turned a proud smile on me. I hoped the matter would be settled once and for all. The more my father kept digging, the more likely it was that word would spread about this.
After everyone left, Gianna and I played a game of pool. I needed a distraction, and she had gotten very good at distracting me.
“Tomorrow you have to take Daniel to preschool orientation. I made an appointment a few days ago.” Leaning over the table, Gianna froze. Then she straightened up.
“What? Why?”
“I want him to be with other children. This kindergarten only welcomes children from our circle or our business associates. Daniel will be at the side of his future soldiers. He will learn to assert himself among the other kids. If he is only near you, he may become too soft.”
Anger crossed his face. I shook my head.
“That’s a fact. You can’t do without him. And I only spend evenings and weekends with him. He needs to fight and meet unruly boys.”
“Don’t interrupt me. You don’t even know what I was going to say.” His tone made me nervous. After the thing with my father today, I was looking forward to a fight.
“Then say what you want to say.”
“You should have discussed your plans with me.”
“My decision is made. Daniel needs to change.” Gianna tapped her finger against my chest.
“Even so, we are a family. I am your wife. I deserve to be involved in such a decision!”
“They are my children, Gianna.” Her pain struck me unexpectedly.
“No,” she replied proudly.
“They are our children, Alessio. I told you before and I will tell you again. I love all three of you.” I stood and watched, my anger slipping away faster than quicksand.
“What?” She nodded, looking furious.
“You heard me. They’re not just your children. They are also mine. You cannot call them yours when you see fit. They are always ours, yours and mine. Maybe not by blood, but I would still bleed for them. So don’t talk to me as if these two boys mean nothing to me when they mean everything. Just like their stubborn, idiotic father.” It was the first time Gianna had insulted me. The first time she had become loud, almost shouting. Her anger did not ignite mine as it had with Gaia in the past, because Gianna’s words were the best thing I had ever heard. My thoughts piled on top of each other.
Still, a small sliver of doubt remained, as if my messed-up mind could not accept that someone as good, kind, loving as Gianna was really mine. Fuck, I loved her, even those bangs I hated at first, even those hideous sunflower dresses, even when she disrespected me by rolling her eyes. God, especially then. I grabbed her cheeks. “I love you too.” She blinked. Now it was her turn to be stunned.
“What… What about you?”
“Do you have to ask?” She peered into my face with the same disbelief I had felt only moments before. “Say it.” “I love you.” “Again.” I giggled. “I love you.” “I love you too.”
I kissed her, holding her close. Finally, she pulled back.
“Are these my children?”
“They are,” I said.
“Then let me decide with you.”
“I didn’t say how many days Daniel should spend in kindergarten. They have several options. How about we discuss it tomorrow with the teachers and then decide together?” “Deal.” He smiled.
“Do you really love me?” I kissed her bangs.
“Really.”
Faro and I met in my cigar lounge for our weekly check-in. Things in New York had been difficult at best, and getting information on the matter was even worse.
“Luca has been particularly volatile these past two months. He has killed multiple men. Traitors, bikers, Bratva soldiers. People worry that if he makes a wrong move, Luca will finish them off too.” “People who have nothing to hide don’t have to worry.” Faro grimaced. “Exactly, but we both know that you haven’t told Luca the truth about Andrea and Gaia. In his current state of mind, that could be your death sentence.”
“Only you and my father know that. Father made sure of that.” Father had killed the cleaning team and Dr. Sal after Gaia’s death without consulting with me. Sometimes he forgot that I was now Underboss and did not need his meddling.
“What about Gianna?” I frowned.
“I trust Gianna.” Faro shook his head. “After Gaia, you shouldn’t. What if she mentions something to her brother or God forbid to her father? Felix will use his chance to blackmail you or tell Luca so he gets bonus points.”
“Gianna won’t tell anyone.”
“They are her family. She is a woman. They tend to overlook the shortcomings of their loved ones.”
“A fact we should be grateful for, otherwise neither you nor my wife would put up with us.” The shortcomings didn’t even begin to cover my faults. Gianna accepted them. From the first day of our marriage, she had taken care of Simona and Daniel selflessly, despite her young age. “Talk to her,” Faro insisted. A knock was heard and Gianna poked her head in.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but Christian is here and says he needs to talk to you.”
“All right,” I said slowly.
“Let him in.” Faro gave me a meaningful look. Christian intervened.
“Faro. Alessio, may I have a word alone with you?”
“As my counselor, Faro will stay.”
After the December incident, I no longer trusted Christian. We had never been friends, but he had been a good resource. It was a shame that our working relationship had suffered because of my unreasonable jealousy. I was not an apologetic man, and I doubted that Christian would accept one. Christian nodded. He did not approach the room again. Instead, he stayed by the door. “I talked to Luca…” Faro gave me a sharp look, but I was not overwhelmed by his panic. I kept thinking that Gianna hadn’t said anything to her brother. Perhaps Christian had his suspicions, but he knew better than to spread rumors that were not based on solid evidence. I was on the level with Luca. It would take a lot to convince him otherwise.
“I will work in New York with him for the next few years until I take his place in Baltimore.” Fury coursed through my veins, but I restrained myself. “Didn’t you consult with me first?”
“I’m not really one of your soldiers, Alessio. I’m the son of a sub-chief. Only Luca can give me orders at the end of the day. He agreed to let me work under him.”
“Did you tell him why?”
“I said we both have personalities too strong to work well together.”
I squinted my eyes, wondering if that was all he had said. He had been smart to contact Luca first. That way he could make sure I wouldn’t get rid of him. Not that I was going to kill him. I had done enough damage in the past and I wasn’t going to risk Gianna’s love by killing her brother. “Good luck with your new venture. Just remember that Luke does not hesitate to kill anyone he considers a threat.” Christian’s smile was strained. “I think you and he are very similar in that respect.” He tilted his head, then walked away. Faro shook his head, frowning. “This is not good.”
“You’re reading too much into it.” “The truth has a bad habit of coming out. You should have told Luca everything from the beginning.” My phone rang. It was Luca. Faro seemed to have considered booking us on the next flight to Colombia to disappear. “Luca, what can I do for you?”
“I assume Christian has spoken to you?” No bullshit as usual. Luca always cuts to the chase.
“He did. I always thought his work under me would be temporary. Now that he’s my brother-in-law, things have gotten more complicated.” “That’s what I guessed.” He paused. “Is there anything I should know?” My pulse quickened but I didn’t let it show. “About what?”
“About Christian. You’ve been dealing with him for years.” “He’s effective. Tough. He knows how to handle himself. He’s nothing like his father. You won’t regret taking him in.” “Good. That’s all for now.” I hung up. Faro raised his eyebrows.
“All right.” “Let’s hope it stays that way. If he ever finds out, he’ll tear us all down: you, your father and me. And it won’t be pretty.”
I stopped near the cigar lounge after Christian entered. After Alessio almost killed my brother, I worried that they were in a room together, even though they had been working together for the past two months.
Gianna
My shoulders slumped in relief when Christian finally came out. “What is it? Is everything okay?” He nodded.
“I’m moving to New York to work with Luca.”
“Oh,” I said, disappointed. We didn’t see each other often, but it had been nice to know that he lived in the same city. “Because of what happened between you and Alessio?” Christian laughed.
“Damn right. He accused us of having an affair. That’s too much bullshit for my taste. And working with Luca will allow me to build better connections with the people who matter.”
“Is there no other way? Can’t you make peace with Alessio? I don’t want you to hate my husband.”
Christian looked at me with obvious astonishment.
“You worry about him.”
“Yes. I know it’s hard to believe, but he’s good to me.”
“I’m glad, but things between Alessio and me are too tense. Someday we’ll have to work together again, but right now it’s better if we don’t see each other.”
“I understand. When are you leaving?” “Tomorrow.” I hugged him. “Don’t be a stranger and call me.”