Blu doesn’t seem to care that I’ve asked such a personal question. “I didn’t choose her,” he mutters and I frown, confused. “In life,” he adds, like that clarifies anything. “Everything came before her. Army, mostly.”
It sounds much like my dad and brother, the organisation before anything and anyone, although they’ll deny that and insist family comes first. “Does she have a new partner?” I ask tentatively, my curiosity getting the best of me.
He smirks, taking a drink of his hot milk. He screws his face up and looks into the cup. “Milk?” he asks and I nod. He places the cup on the bedside table and opens the drawer, pulling out a small bottle of whiskey. He unscrews the cap and takes a big mouthful.
There’s a longing in my heart for him as I stare. It shouldn’t be there, but it is, and it comes with ringing alarm bells. This man will break my heart.
I wake in my own bed. I crept from Blu’s room after he passed out. It didn’t feel right sleeping in the rocking chair. After our chat last night, I realised that I’m setting myself up for heartache and the only way to protect myself is to get out of this club and go home to face things there. I’m going to tell Vinn that I can’t marry Ricardo Donini because the blood running through my veins is Romano and I’ll never marry just because they think it’s a good business move. I’ve always done things my way and I don’t intend to stop now.
As I stuff my clothes into my bag, I feel relief flood me. I won’t be staring at the door, waiting to see if he appears by the window again. I won’t hold my breath whenever I hear the slightest noise, thinking he’s creeping into my room. And I won’t have to look at him across the breakfast table anymore because I’m going home.
When I go down for breakfast, I find Blu at the table with Molly, Blade, and Anna. I take a seat and reach for a pancake off the mountain in the centre of the table. The door opens and Riggs enters followed by Ziggy and Malia. They join us at the table and Ziggy’s eyes narrow when he spots Molly. She does the same and I stare back and forth between them, waiting for someone to speak up and ask what the hell’s happened between the kids seeing as Molly’s been in Blu’s room since she first arrived.
“It’s you,” hisses Ziggy and all eyes fall to him.
“You kids know each other?” asks Anna.
“The girl from the park,” says Malia with a big smile. She waves across the table and Molly waves back cautiously, glancing at Ziggy. “Molly goes to our school now, Mummy,” adds Malia. “She’s new.”
“She’s a pain in the ass,” grumbles Ziggy and Anna gasps at his choice of words.
“Ziggy,” she snaps, narrowing her eyes with disapproval. “Don’t use that language.”
“Don’t worry, Mummy, it’s only because he loves Molly,” says Malia with a shrug.
Ziggy looks fit to burst. His face reddens. “I do not,” he yells.
“Let’s calm down,” says Riggs. “Ziggy, Molly is Blu’s daughter. That makes her part of this club and you’ll be nice.”
BLU
“That the kid who gave you grief?” I ask quietly, smirking down at Molly. She nods her head. “Explains a lot,” I add.
“She’s bossy,” yells Ziggy, clearly distressed at being told by his dad what he needs to do.
“And you’re mean,” says Molly in an almost whisper.
“Take that back,” shouts Ziggy.
“That’s enough,” comes Frankie’s voice from the doorway. “Ziggy, go to your room and collect your goddamn mind because you seem to have lost it.” He stomps from the room and I smile down at Molly. “Christ, if it ain’t you males always starting shit at my breakfast table,” mutters Frankie, turning on the coffee pot. “Gia, Anna tells me you’re leaving us?”
My head snaps up at those words. Since when? She never said anything last night. I glare at her, but she smiles over at Frankie and nods her head to confirm she’s gonna fuckin’ walk on outta here without a care. My chest tightens.
“I was hoping you’d stay,” says Anna, faking a pout. “We love having you here.”
“I can’t escape my reality any longer,” Gia says and I narrow my eyes. What the fuck’s that s’posed to mean? Is her reality marrying that mob ass?
“I’m off to the hospital. I’ll take you home,” I say.
“No, I can get one of Vinn’s drivers to get me,” she says, adding an awkward smile.
“I said I’ll take you. Meet you out front.” I stand and lift Molly into my arms. “Ten minutes,” I add bluntly.
I watch from the car as the girls take turns hugging Gia. They’re acting crazy—it’s not like they’ll never see her again. She heads over and puts her bag on the backseat while I fasten Molly into her car seat. Since the accident, she’s been nervous about being in the car, so I’ve been driving extra slow. I turn on the DVD screen in front of her and play her favourite movie to help take her mind off it.
I drive for a few minutes in silence, fighting with myself on what I should say. I’ve had shit on my mind, but I know I don’t want Gia to leave the club, and I know I don’t want her to marry Donini.
“Break it off with Ricardo,” I say bluntly. I wince.
“What?” she asks. I feel her eyes burning into the side of my face.
“You heard. Tell your brother that you can’t marry him.”
“I was planning to,” she says, confusion on her face. “I told you, I’m waiting for the right time.”
“I’ve got to straighten out some stuff, but once I have, we’ll talk,” I say.
“What do you mean?” she asks. “Talk about what?”
“I have to get Hannah back on her feet. She’s pregnant
