•KINLEY•I rubbed my eyes as I woke up, there were a lot of raised voices coming from downstairs.I stuck my feet into a pair of fluffy slippers and made my way down to hear what the commotion was about.When my eyes landed on Billie shouting in Italian and pointing angrily in Lola's face I paused with a deep frown on my face.What exactly was happening?Barney saw me coming in first and he muttered something under his breath before turning away.Gianni turned to me, also looking concerned."What's going on here?" I asked.Billie pointed an angry finger in Lola's face again, "You better tell her what you did!"Lola looked around, a bit of fear in her eyes as I made my way over to Gianni."What's this about?" I asked again, trying to find out why everyone was so angry.Gianni sighed, "Billie is making some claims I would like to verify before involving you."Billie shot around, her anger now directed at Gianni, "No! She has a right to know right now!" I noted how strongly her Italian
•KINLEY•My foot bounced against the hospital floor impatiently. After I feinted we went straight to the hospital.I was sitting next to Gianni on one of the chairs, the baby was in Barney's arms.I was too scared to go anywhere near him. I was scared that I would allow myself to believe that he was my son, only for it to be proven he wasn't.I couldn't handle that pain, so I kept my distance."Billie is right. He looks like you."I raised my brows at Gianni, "Do you really believe that he could be our son?""Sí and I wouldn't be surprised if Lola did such a thing. She can be very cruel."I sighed, "I don't know how to feel about all of this. It's a big shock.""It is. But I will be happy if that is our child. It will be a miracle."I nodded, but couldn't find the words to speak. I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't even sure what I was feeling.We had been waiting for hours when the doctor finally returned with the papers."Mr. Esposito, we rushed things as you requested," he handed t
•GIANNI•My eyes were on Kinley and Renato as the two sat beside the pool on a blanket in the shade.Kinley held a fluffy toy airplane in her hands, whizzing it around for Renato who didn't take his eyes off it.I smiled as I watched them, I never guessed that my heart could feel so full. With Kinley in my life, I thought that was as good as it got. But now that we had our son, it was a different feeling. Something I could not explain, but only call magical."You look at them like they're your whole world," Barney spoke as he took a seat at the table."That's because they are. It's funny, I didn't even know Renato existed a few days ago, and now I would die for that little boy if need be."Barney smiled, "Parenthood is a strange thing, no?"I nodded, he was right about that."Barney, I've been thinking. I will handle the O'Clery but once that is done I won't be as heavily involved anymore. I want to spend more time with my family and start handling the legit businesses that I have. I
•KINLEY•I had no idea how exhausting being a mother was, but I was fast asleep the moment my head hit the pillow after spending the day with Gianni and Renato on the yacht.What I wasn't expecting was to be woken up to gunshots sounding off in the house.My first instinct was to get Renato, but as I approached his room I found Luca inside it."What the hell is going on?""I don't know who, but we're under attack," he was throwing things into the baby bag, "Gianni told me to get the two of you out of here. We'll use those tunnels.""Are they safer than they were the last time?""Yes, there are a number of men on guard there at all times.""Let me get my gun, I'll meet you at the wall." I hurried back to the bedroom to get my gun before rushing back out.I would have preferred to attempt to help Gianni, but my son needed to be my priority.I took Renato from Luca and we made us through the tunnels quietly.Once we arrived at the car and I strapped Renato into his car seat I turned to L
•KINLEY•"What the fuck happened?" Gianni asked in panic as he ran over to me, crouching beside me with concern etched on his face.He briefly glanced over at Matius but returned his attention to me."Your ex is what happened. She attacked me with a fire poker. I dropped my gun somewhere in the house when she hit me the first time.""My ex? Which one? Where is Renato? Are you okay? Where is Billie? And what happened to him?" He questioned while helping me to my feet."Jodie. I don't know what she did to Matius, I found him like this, but he's still breathing. Billie left with Renato when we heard something in the house. And no, I am definitely not okay. My arm is killing me."Luca ran in and frowned as he took in the scene around us, "Do I ask, or do I just start killing someone?"Gianni turned to him, "Find Jodie. Have Barney call an ambulance for Matius, and also have him call King. Call Billie and tell her to meet us at the hospital."Gianni had me leaning up against him as we walk
•KINLEY•When I woke up there was a change of clothes left for me on the bed with a note from Gianni telling me that he went to get breakfast for us, it also said Billie would be coming over with Renato.I showered and got dressed just in time too, as I was walking out of the bathroom, Gianni walked in with Billie and Luca. Renato in Gianni's arms."Hi!" I went over straight away to take Renato and hold him, "How was he last night? And how is Matius?" Billie smiled as we made our way over to the sofas, "He was an angel. We had lots of fun this morning when it was bath time though. Someone didn't want to get out of the tub." She playfully poked Renato, "Matius will be fine.""He loves water!"I leaned over to grab one of the tacos Gianni had plated and noticed Luca looking uncomfortable."Okay, what's going on?"Luca looked at Gianni.Gianni looked everywhere but at me."Guys!"I watched as Gianni ran a hand down his face, "Um, well, our house was torched.""What?" Surely I couldn't be
•KINLEY•We had viewed all the houses and I was pretty much sulking in the car."So, which one should we take?" Gianni asked me."They are all nice, so I don't mind."He sighed, "I know you're upset about the other house, but we can't do anything about that right now.""I know. I'm just... I feel like I've lost a part of me with that house. We have so many memories there." My vision blurred with unshed tears, the emotions getting too much for me."Baby, we made those memories. They go everywhere with us. They aren't in that house. And we have the rest of our lives together to make many more memories." He leaned over and kissed me, "I love you.""I love you too," I sniffled and wiped my face with my hand, "But really, any of the houses we looked at are fine. They're all really nice."We hadn't looked at any mansions, but that was fine with me. The houses were big enough for us without being too big. Each house also had a pool in the backyard.I wondered how Gianni planned on coping wit
•KINLEY•My nerves were bouncing through the roof as Gianni and I walked into the home of Noah O'Clery.A woman with a large protruding belly greeted us immediately with a warm smile on her face, "Hello, Gianni," she turned to me with the same smile, "You must be Kinley. Welcome."I smiled back but didn't trust myself to speak. I was still reeling from the fact that I had handed one of Noah's brothers over to King.A man cleared his throat down the hall and I had to fight the urge to hide behind Gianni as he walked toward us.He was older than I imagined, Fiona looked to be in her early thirties, but Noah looked to be in his fifties.His auburn hair had whisps of grey in it.His mouth was in a tight line when he greeted Gianni. When he turned to me, his eyes narrowed slightly."Kinley, my brother has told me a lot about you."I forced myself to hold his gaze, "Good."He smirked before turning back to Gianni, "Why don't we leave the women to tea while the two of us discuss business?"G