Page 57 of Mafia and Protector

I frowned. “I thought you got contraception from the doctor?”

“I did. I started to take it, but then I stopped. Just getting those pills out every day brought back memories I didn’t want to think about. So I stopped taking them after a bit.”

“Don’t worry, it’s not a problem. I’ll get you the morning-after pill.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“You don’t want it?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice.

“No.” Her voice was firmer now. “I stopped taking the pill because of the memories, but I didn’t start taking it again once we were married because I want children.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I do. I’ve always wanted children. I know I’m still young, but I want to be a hands-on mom and be able to do things with my children. I know a lot of Società wives have nannies, but that’s not me. I want to be different from my own mother. I want to be closer to my children. I love children.”

I was taken aback. “You know, you don’t have to have children this way. Even if you want children and I need an heir, I don’t want you to feel you have to have sex with me to produce our children—there are other ways to achieve that like IVF. I don’t want you to have to do something you’re not comfortable doing.”

She smiled her sweet smile. “Getting pregnant this way is just fine with me. I enjoyed it and I think I’m looking forward to getting some more practice in,” she giggled, blushing at the same time. “But what about you? Would you be okay about trying for a baby already?”

A huge grin spread across my face. “I’d like nothing more. I’m already twenty-five and I want children. If you don’t want to take the pill, I’m fine with that. And when we have a baby, I’ll be more than happy with that as well.”

I was stunned. Maybe I had been wrong—perhaps we would be able to move past what had happened before the wedding, and perhaps Jess would be able to forgive me for not protecting her. I had thought that when the time came to needing to produce an heir, we would have to go through complicated IVF procedures and all the stress that would entail and all the memories that it might dredge up for Jessica.

As I looked at her, I thought that she really was a remarkable woman. And I knew how lucky I was to have her as my wife.

CHAPTER 18

RAFAEL

At work the next day, my phone rang. I looked down at the screen to see that it was Jacob. I sighed. I wasn’t his favorite person right now and I wasn’t in the mood to speak to my new brother-in-law.

I hit the call button. “Jacob, what do you need?” I said tersely, not bothering with pleasantries.

“I can’t get hold of Gabriel. I need one of you to come down to the Matrix,” he said, referring to one of our nightclubs.

“What’s it about?”

“I’d rather not say over the phone.”

What was this, a game of twenty fucking questions? “Is it about the business?” We had to be careful what we said over the phone as the Feds were always wire-tapping us.

“No, it’s not business. There’s a woman here to see Gabriel.”

“I’m not my brother’s fucking keeper,” I snapped. If Gabriel was having issues with one of his many women and they were now turning up at the club, it had nothing to do with me.

“You’ll want to hear this,” replied Jacob sharply. “And it’s better she doesn’t hang around, trust me. You’ll agree once you hear what she has to say.”

“For fuck’s sake, I’m in the middle of something here. Let me wrap it up and I’ll be with you in thirty.” I disconnected the call. I had a busy day ahead of me, and a cozy discussion with my brother-in-law and one of Gabriel’s floozies was the last thing I needed.

When I walked into the Matrix a while later, I saw Gabriel standing in the middle of the main floor talking with Jacob.

“You could have told me you no longer needed me,” I said curtly to Jacob. He was obviously trying to deliberately needle me. He was still pissed off about the situation with Jessica and he was still pissed off with me.

“Gabriel just got here two minutes ago. Anyhow, I think you should hear this too, given that it affects you and probably my sister as well.”

I couldn’t give a shit about what my brother did in his love life, and I couldn’t see how it affected Jess or me. But I was here now. “Where is this woman?”

“I put her in the office. She’s here with her daughter.” Her daughter? I hoped that Gabriel hadn’t got one of them pregnant.