•GIANNI•The room smelt of dampness and mildew, and the chipping concrete floor had matches of wetness from the leaking roof.I was used to dumps like this. But I would have rather been anywhere else.There was nothing in the room but a steel table and a chair; it dipped to the side slightly on the uneven flooring.Barney had arranged this place. He knew there was no reason to concern ourselves over style.We were here to get a job done.A messy job to say the least.One of our newer recruits who worked with our men in Italy sat on the chai, a deep crease on his brow and tiny beads of sweat beginning to mist over his face.He knew why he was here, although none of us told him.He was found to be stealing our product. The drugs were going missing. I stepped over to the table, his eyes stared up at me with worry in them.Barney and Luca stood on either side of the sealed door. They both knew I had no need or desire to involve either of them with this.Theft and betrayal enraged me. Bu
•GIANNI•"So should I find a replacement for Roberto?" Tony asked me.He sat on the opposite side of the table, Barney and Luca along the sides.I was distracted and kept checking my phone to see if Kinley had texted me.I hadn't heard from her since the previous day and it was starting to bother me."NO. Barney verified his story. No need to replace him."Tony looked at me as if I had grown a second head, "But he stole from you.""To pay for his wife's medical bills. Move along, this isn't up for discussion." I glanced back down at my phone."Would you like to reschedule?" Tony asked."No. I'm waiting for a call from my wife.""Kinley."My head snapped up, "How do you know my wife?""Purely coincidental. I met her a few months ago when she just moved to Italy. We became friends."I didn't miss the way Barney and Luca glanced at me."And you didn't think to mention that to me before?"He shrugged "I didn't realize who she was. I only placed the pieces together yesterday when she menti
•KINLEY•I sat rather awkwardly on the jet.Luca offered me a cold greeting when they had picked me up before coming to the airport, and Barney offered me a brief nod.I could tell both of them were annoyed with me, not that I could blame them after what I did to Gianni.I looked over at them while they discussed strategies. Gianni wanted to go in guns blazing and rescue his men, and Luca wanted to scope the place out before making any moves in case it was some sort of trap. And Barney wanted to negotiate.I decided to throw my input in, not that my opinion was asked for."Why don't you combine all three aspects?"Gianni turned to me, his expression looked as if he wasn't sure he had heard me, "Combine the three?"I nodded, "Yes. Scope the place out to make sure that's where they're being held, and see how many of their men you are up against. Once you have that knowledge you can go in. But, instead of just rushing in there, send Barney to the bosses to discuss negotiations, that way
•KINLEY•I tapped my nails on the steering wheel impatiently while I waited for Barney's signal.I was parked across from the diner and he was sitting at the window seat so I could see him clearly.The plan was that he would signal me when I should go over to Luca and Gianni who were blending in with the passers-by outside of the building where they believed their men to be.Luca had driven the van there with Gianni, but Gianni would be leaving with me, while Luca took most of the men and got to safety.I had my phone on my lap, the speaker loud with Gianni on the other end, waiting for the go-ahead to go in."Has he not arrived?""No. Barney is still alone.""They're late."I glanced down briefly at the watch on my wrist, "I know. There's no sign of anyone mafia looking around either." Just as the words left my mouth I noticed an SUV type of vehicle pull up at the corner.I frowned, not hearing anything Gianni was saying, trying to figure out why they were stopping so far down."Shit
•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