“Just one more question...” I pause and turn back around. “Do you have a clue who did it?”
“No, I don’t. He had a lot of enemies. I wouldn’t put it past anyone, but they deserve a fucking medal in my opinion. Have a great day.”
“Congratulations on your new son.”
“Thank you.” Giada hadn’t gotten pregnant right away. I wasn’t surprised that it took several months because she’d been malnourished for months, but Giada worried there was more to it. After seeing the doctor and reading up on all the medical articles and journals, we learned that after stopping birth control it can be hard to get pregnant right away. Since she hadn’t taken it for more than a year, we didn’t have to wait that long for the news that she was having my baby. Two days ago she gave birth and now my wonderful tiny family is resting. I think it’s time I joined them.
“Martin, I don’t want to be disturbed for the rest of the day.”
He grins, knowing that I’m greedy to hold my son. My father missed these moments, and I don’t want to take them for granted. “Yes, sir. What about dinner?”
“I’ll ask Giada what she wants. She needs her strength back.”
“Sounds good. I’ll let Rita know, but I can’t promise she’s not going to sneak up to see the little guy.”
“I know. I’m sure my mom is already up there with Giada.” He nods and walks away.
I open the bedroom door to see Giada on the bed, glowing as she nestles our son to her breast. My mother turns to look at me, and tears roll down her face. I walk over to her and pull her into my arms. “You look so much like your father. Sometimes it takes me by surprise. He’d be so proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m going to give you some time alone. I made Martin promise to take me to lunch.”
“Sounds great. Take extra security.”
“I will.” She gives me a kiss and then leaves the room, closing the door. I direct my attention back to my wife.
“How are you feeling, tesoro?”
“I’m wonderful. Even the residual pain can’t bring me down. Is everything okay?”
I kick off my shoes and climb onto the bed next to her. “Yes, I spoke to the reporters.” I brush my baby boy’s tiny fingers, amazed at this little miracle we made together.
“I’m sure they were itching for a story.”
“Of course. I gave them a little to stir the pot, but nothing to bring them back to us. I hope they don’t darken our doorstep with their bright lights and greed for gossip.”
“I’m glad it was you. I probably would have bitten their heads off.”
“You’re a sweetheart, but even you can’t hold back on your hate for him.”
“Any news on his other son?”
“Yes, Marie’s mother has custody of him. I’m going to see if we can liquidate all of Marchetti’s assets and then give it to them. It’s hard because he used a lot of it to pay his lawyers.”
“Well, I know that we don’t owe the boy anything, but I’d like to do something for him. It’s not his fault he got stuck with a shitty family.”
“You have the heart of an angel. I was thinking the same. I’m planning on setting up a small trust that he’ll have access to when he reaches twenty-one.”
“That sounds so wonderful. Have you ever met him?”
“No, but I hope he’s going to be okay. I’d hate it if he fell into the same path as Rafael.”
“Me too. It’s possible with the right role models that he can have a good normal life.”
“Have you spoken to his grandparents?”
“Yes, but they stopped talking to Marie two years ago when Rafael threatened them.”
“Oh.”
“They want him to stay completely out of the family business. Marie had been naïve and impressionable when she ran off at sixteen to New York, but Cara Mia, let’s just focus on our little guy for now. I don’t want these memories tainted with the past.”
“Of course, my love, but someone is sleeping.” She pulls him off her breast and covers herself up, to my disappointment. I love seeing her tits, which have grown even more as they fill with milk. “Getting your fill?”
“Not yet, but I suppose you can cover those delicious mounds.” I drop my head and kiss her lips. “I love you so much, Giada. Thank you for my son and your love.”
“I wouldn’t be here without you.” She softly chokes back tears.
It breaks my heart to see her cry. “I would have come for you even if it wasn’t that night.”
She mumbles under her breath, but I slide my hand under her chin and lift it to my gaze. I want to hear what she has to say. “What was that?”
“It would have been too late. I mean that in all seriousness. If you hadn’t kidnapped me from my room, they would have killed me. They told me that very day that if I got my period again, I’d come up missing. So every day I thank goodness that you had fallen for me.”
In that moment, I realized how lucky I’d truly been. I can’t even fathom the thought that I could have been too late. There’s no way I can picture my life without her. “I won’t let anyone take you from me. Ever.”
Giada
Four years later
I breathe in the warm, fresh breeze as the sun sets. Texas, I think I’m in love. It’s so wonderful here. I’m so glad Santino took us away from New York and moved his company headquarters to just outside of Houston. His mother lives on the same plot of land, but in her own home. With baby number three on the way, we need all the space we can get. Michael, Carlotta, and soon-to-be-born Gio are our loves. I rub
