Page 101 of Dare To Free Us
Luca chuckled. “Someone got laid.”
I shook my head, trying not to smile.
“You want to head into the gym with me in a bit?”
“Yeah, no point in taking two vehicles.” Most days we rode together to our business, unless the other was caught up or had family plans.
“Agreed,” Luca nodded.
After our first kids were born, both Luca and I made plans to open a gym. Nothing huge or overstated, just somewhere we could both work out, keep our business minds busy and our bodies in shape. Luca and I also held kickboxing classes for local youths, while Becka provided physical therapy services. Arianna had painted the entire space with stunning murals.
After I left the states I had almost nothing. The last meeting I had with my men I’d given them nearly everything I had that O’Connell hadn’t taken. It amounted to about a quarter of a million a piece.
Some of the men were outraged at first, lost as to what they would do with their lives— seeking structure, most of them being younger. The older ones however, such as Steven and Vinny, looked at it as a way to start fresh.
In the end I made sure everyone had a direction to go in and the ones with families were protected. I didn’t even say goodbye to any of the staff at any of the businesses. They had been employees that I hired to do a job but I didn’t have the connection with them like my men. Through most of my career as Boss I’d tried to keep it as separated as possible, making it easier to walk away without a goodbye.
But that left me with not much to start a new life on. I’d walked onto the beach to find Arianna crying with hardly enough to buy a home, knowing I’d find some way to support us. Then Luca handed me a paper stating he’d transferred half the money he and Becka had left into a bank account in our names— the amount was millions. At first I refused. That money was a gift for his family when he’d left, it felt wrong to take it back. But he insisted fervently, to the point it almost came to blows. It meant a lot to him to help me even if it settled wrong in my stomach.
In the end I agreed to take it, not only because I realized it was a bit stupid to pass up the means to provide for my family, but also after he promised to invest some of it into opening a gym with me.
Working with Luca again was something I never thought I would have, and loved every second of it. Except maybe for when we trained together and he kicked my ass. Having my best friend around was the icing on the cake to the life Arianna and I had created.
“It doesn’t ever go away, just so you know,” Luca said.
“What doesn’t go away?” I turned to look at him but his attention was focused on his family at the water’s edge.
“The urge to look over your shoulder. I saw you earlier from my window, searching for a threat. It never goes away. And for us, it never should.”
I nodded my agreement. Spain was the perfect place for us because no one here had any connection to our past. Still we’d changed our last names for safety purposes and privacy to be on the safe side.
People knew I was alive but no one was looking for me. My biggest concern was Luca and Becka, but they had insisted the risk was worth the reward of being close again, when no one had any reason to look for us. I was completely disconnected from everything, I had no power, no mafia money or connections left, and no influence anywhere. I was of no use to anyone in that life anymore. My knowledge was the only thing hanging over my head, but my reputation kept everyone from pushing their luck. It was a safe bet to say no one would come searching for us. And if O’Connell kept up his end, everyone had a pretty good reason to forget I ever existed.
Arianna’s parents had sold out everything and retired. They spent their days traveling the world. They owned multiple homes in a different countries, which they insisted not only us but Luca and Becka use for vacation purposes. It was always a subject around the dinners we had together about how fun it would be to travel when the kids got older.
Alessio and Caterina visited often, which made Maria happy. They also gave us a huge amount of money to restart our lives. They said to think of it as a gift and at that point I was too tired to argue about it after the Luca fight. We tucked the money away but didn’t depend on it.
Luca and I sat in silence and watched our families play in the sand. Matthew sat at the water’s edge, where his chubby legs kicked out at the water trying to reach his toes, while Becka supported his back. Arianna was helping Maria and Levi build a sandcastle.
After a moment Levi reached over and gave Maria a big hug and kiss on the cheek. My protective daddy side flared up as the women ‘Oooed’ and ‘Awwed’ over it. It was ridiculous, they were just children and very close, but that didn’t stop my daddy instincts.
Luca checked my shoulder with his. “Calm down man.”
I didn’t say anything.
“I already overheard the girls talking about how cute it would be for them to end up together.” A smile spread across his face that said he knew how I would respond.
I grumbled under my breath.Damn women. My baby girl wasn’t even four and they were already playing matchmaker.
At least she would have the chance to find a good man. Something that would have never happened if we hadn’t gotten out. Knowing that allowed me to wipe the frown from my face.
“We have to get going.” Luca picked himself up off the blanket and headed toward the women to say goodbye.
I followed him to the water’s edge. Arianna stood to embrace me. I hugged her and placed a quick kiss to her lips, then bent down to kiss the top of Maria’s head. “Love you.”
“Love you, Daddy,” she said in her sweet, high pitched voice.
It was moments like that my heart felt full enough to burst. Enjoying the morning sun on the beach with my family and closest friends, I had to convince myself it was real. I never knew life could feel this good. I stood on shaky legs as the freedom I’d almost denied my family threatened to pull me into a panic. It was over and we’d escaped but it didn’t stop me from lying awake at night knowing I could’ve been the reason it never became a reality.