Page 82 of Always Meant To Be

My father nods, emotions running across his features before he jokes, "Does this mean I can finally hold my grandson?"

I raise a brow at Romeo because he looks a little serious. My husband grins despite how tired he looks, and he confirms, "Not for at least a week. It's how long I got to hold him; she deserves the same."

Papa groans but has a big smile on his face. I look down, my eyes going to my son.

I'll never allow anyone to hurt him, even when he becomes the next Don, if that's what he chooses. I'll always stand by him and ensure he knows exactly how loved he is.

I feel Romeo's lips against my forehead, and I close my eyes. An image of my sister flutters through my mind.

I know what I did, and I know I didn't want her to die. I thought I'd knock her out, but I remember her head hitting the corner of my desk.

I'll never forgive myself for killing her, always having her blood on my hands. I just hope I can live with the guilt, knowing if I leave, so does my husband….

Twenty-Nine

Romeo – Four Days Later

I smileas I watch my wife from where I’m sitting near the window, as she gently rubs her hands over our son’s belly.

Our son is eleven days old and fucking perfect, and seeing him in my wife’s arms….

Fuck, I can’t wait to knock her up again and again.

Luca coos, making El smile wide, her white-blonde hair up in a messy bun, and her face makeup free. She’s wearing my shirt from yesterday, demanding it from right off my back, and a pair of sweats.

She’s beautiful and doesn’t even need to try….

“Are you just going to sit there and stare?” she questions as she grabs a diaper.

I smile. “Pretty much,farfalla.”

She hums, wiping our son’s bottom, and then replacing the diaper. “You’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

I press my lips in a firm line, the image of her lying on the floor in her classroom always at the front of my mind.

“Five weeks, El…” I rasp, and she looks my way. I admit, “I let the monster out after a week. Seeing you lying there, blood near your head, it was too much.”

Her eyes soften before she looks at our son again, gently getting him dressed in another onesie, this one dark green.

Mamma had gone out and got all the things we needed, knowing I wasn’t in the right frame of mind at the time.

I’m just glad his nursery was already set up.

“You’ve still got to work, though, Rome,” she says. “Antonio can only take over for so long, and we both know he never wanted your position, and he still doesn’t.” Gently, she picks up our son, placing him over her shoulder as she gently rubs his back, and looks at me. "He’s called several times this morning alone.”

I shrug. “I don’t care,farfalla. I spent four weeks unleashing my monster, ensuring our family was safe and that the men’s livelihoods weren’t taken from them by our enemies. If I want a few weeks break to spend with my family, then so be it.”

I stand, and walk over to her, never breaking eye contact.

I lean down and gently peck our son’s head, then press my lips against hers before admitting, “I always need my eyes on you. I can’t get you lying there on the classroom floor out of my head, El, and it’s killing me.”

Her eyes tear up, and she kisses me, before pulling back and maneuvering our son. She gently passes him over to me, and I take him willingly. I smile as he sleeps in my arms.

He’s been so content since El woke up. Beforehand, he’d cry endlessly; he needed his mamma.

“He needs you, Rome,” she whispers, and I look back at her. Slowly, she stands, and I go to move to help her, knowing she’s unsteady on her legs, but she puts her hand up, smiles a little, and adds, “Ineed you.”

I tilt my head. “You’ve got me,farfalla, you both do.”