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I push the double stroller with Maria walking beside me, it is still early in the day and the sun isn’t out fully so I thought both the babies and I could use some air, then we find a good spot on the floor in the gardens to spread out a fluffy blanket unstrapping the children Angelo is already swinging his legs and fist with excitement form being let out, Maria drops the basket of toys so they can play. I make a mental note to take them out on walks more often. For the next half hour, I lay on my side, my head popped up on my hand as I watched my children. My little loves. Angelo and Micaela have a grand time mumbling gibberish to each other giggling and fighting over toys, yelling loudly. I feel an unfathomable joy as I watch their interaction, Caela tosses something to the side the yells “Ma?” Pointing at the toy. I shake my head, trying to be stern “You threw it there you get it” She attempts a cry to get her way and I laugh under my breath, “Bring it to Mama baby” I h
** I nod. He was right, this wasn’t the time for a mental breakdown or to get overwhelmed by my thoughts. His hands leave my shoulders, “I saw Maria putting a cake in the oven on my way here, it’s been about an hour already, perfect timing if you ask me” he is smiling once more. I shoved what I’ve learned to the back of my mind. “Sure” I agreed. Some cake sounded nice. Nice one Lola, eat your feelings away. Gia texts to inform me the twins are still sleeping so I remain downstairs and gorge myself on chocolate goodness. Tommy leaves after an extra slice he doesn't mention our conversation in the gym, in fact, he acts like it never happened. For a moment I wondered if he let slipped on purposes, One might think Tommy was a blabbermouth because he was always joking and laughing, but he was no fool. He knows I know nothing of the nature of the family business, for him to let it slip like that? Nope. Especially knowing Niko prefers me to stay out of it. And after Eva
I went upstairs after that, was there anything more for me to learn, lost in my thoughts, Did I want to call Maria and question her within an inch of her life and finally find out what was going on in my own house? Yes, I did. Why was I the last to find out anything of substance around here? It was the same as when Valentina came around and dropped the union in our laps. It was as though everyone was expecting it but me. What was I doing wrong? It had to be something, to be so excluded in my family. I wanted nothing more than to line them up and get to the bottom of it all. They made it their job to inform me of the happenings of the family, most of the information they got in the form of gossip from the maids of other households. Apparently, all I was entitled to was petty gossip like who was sleeping with the servant and who fathered a bastard behind his wife, never anything truly meaningful. Gianna who hasn’t been to visit in a while Sebastian, her husband insisted it’s
“It hurt” I murmured into the darkness, answering my own question blinking back the dampness behind my lids. The tightening in my throat, that bitter taste on my tongue, the heavyness in my chest. I felt like I couldn't breathe. It hurts. I tried to steady my breathing, and pushed back the tears I felt brimming behind my lids. But it was hard. I just wanted to let it out. I didn’t want to think it, I didn’t want to feel this way but I couldn’t help it. Like Tommy said, he didn’t lie outright, but what difference is there? Puffing out a loud breath, I buried my face in my palms, massaging my eyes with the heels of my palms. It was one thing I never had to fear with Niko, he never lied to me, most often, when I asked him a question he would answer, or say nothing if he didn’t want to, no matter how unpleasant it was or upsetting, to the extent I tried not to ask some certain questions, knowing I wouldn’t like the answers, and now I wasn’t so sure. Didn’t he trust me…?
I nodded, my lips now suddenly dry, I swiped my tongue once more, “I know that- I mean I think I do” I’m not making any sense, why was this so difficult? I've never had problems expressing myself or letting my thoughts known but when it came to him, I was tongue tied. I hadn’t planned on bringing it up at all or at least until I processed it. But now that I had, I just… I swiped my other hand down my face in frustration, “It’s just- for a time I felt we are that, a family, you and me. I felt connected, and I am with you.” the issue was him, I didn’t have to state that out loud, his eyes jumped from mine to my hands, as I bring them together, gesturing. My hands dropped to my lap and I let out a breath, “And then sometimes, sometimes, in a way, I don’t feel like your wife” “What do you mean? You are my wife?” “Sometimes I feel like I know you, we do well together, in bed, out of it, you are a good father to the babies, patient and attentive, and I’m so grateful to you for tha
** “No, don’t you- Ahh… who’s a good girl?” My baby burst into giggles as I tickle her tummy, when I go to take the ear bud from her to prevent it finding it’s way into her mouth she lunched into a cry, swinging her hands in protest. I roll my eyes and put her down, my baby girl obviously doesn’t agree with that as her tantrum increases, I hissed at the sharp pain. “Micaela!” I scold patting my neck with my fingers and brought them to my face half expecting to see blood. Now silent, Caela looks at me with large watery blue eyes, her lips parted mid cry. I scowl down at her “This child” leaning forward I hold the arm she flung at me and spread her chubby fingers, my frown increases at the length of her finger nails. A cry leaves her and she lunches herself into me, immediately the irritation bleads out of me “Don’t cry, I’m not angry” I shush her softly, petting her with a hand at the back of her head, “I guess it’s my fault for not clipping your nails” I muttered, still massagin
Angelo makes a loud noise, breaking my thoughts and I look down at him, holding him down with one hand as he tries to go to his father “I’m not done with him yet” I explain and Niko nods before moving to sit on a chair in front of us. I go back to clipping, moving as fast as I can, baby nails are so soft and fragile I have to be careful as I bring the sharp end close to his soft skin while Angel stares at me with what can only be described as a displeasure. At least he is no longer lunching himself to the other side of the room in an attempt to get away from me. “We’re almost done baby” I sooth over the sound of Caela mumbling baby words to her father, giggling on a toothless smile, he goes along with her. An easy smile on his face as she pat his cheeks with her small hands. Soon enough I clip in the edge of Angelo’s pinky finger, it’s so tiny. And so freaking cute. “Annndd we’re done everybody. Thank you for having us your highness” I toss the clipping into the lid of the kit I’d b
I spend the next few days planning for the dinner- gathering, whatever. I told the team of a new project but I would be handling it as it’s family related, a few of the ladies offered to aid me but I turned them down, nicely of course turning to Eva and Maria. With their help, it’s going along well, invites were sent out the day before, handwritten invitations I kid you not, in soft cream cards with a kind of golden ink Maria provided, I half expected her to hand me a quill seeing as we were going old school. Instead, there was a fancy fountain pen which she injected the ink into and we were good to go. The process has been quite enlightening, I’ve learned more about the families and territories just from that and the cards were addressed to each head of families personally. Now I know there are twelve main families of New York split into two. Six prominent and six lower families. I also realized that the Greco’s was one of the prominent families, now led by a distant cousin J
My uncle was right, everything will change from now on, the Grecos, Mendoza, and the Oriente arms of the New York Families are no more. Though we weren't particularly friendly with the other two, it wasn't required for the business. The Greco’s however have always been closely allied with the Salvatores, it wasn’t because of that friendship that Julio was my father's right hand and his father before him, as capo it was my decision to choose my right hand, but for decades, that honor belonged to the Greco’s, until Julio fucked it up. With them gone, there is a gap, in the prominent families, and someone needs to take over for the business to run smoothly. As things settled, I just wanted some peace to be with my family, my children, I already missed so much. It was something I would never retreat, I kept them safe. I did what had to be done, even though it hadn't been my Knife in their throat or my orders. My actions lead to their deaths. And their deaths created a power vacuum, one
**“We have to leave here, get to another safe house we don’t know who else- this place has been compromised” Arms wrapped under my arms trying to pull me away. I was staring blankly at the Man I'd grown so close with. I didn't know what to do.“We can’t leave him here” Tears spilled down my cheeks. “You think I want to leave him? He was like a father to me, but I have to protect you, he would want you to get to safety”“Miguel…”“Now Lola, Now." he shook me "We have to-“ a phone ringing cuts off the rest of his words. Miguel bends down and searches through Matteo’s jacket to retrieve his phone. I crawl back to him lifting his head into my lap, spatches of blood stained my jeans as I run my fingers through his hair. “Please Matteo open your eyes,” I begged softly.He couldn’t be gone. He felt warm despite the blood pooled on the ground beneath him, he couldn’t be gone. He couldn’t...“It’s Matteo…” I hear Miguel say to the other person on the phone “He’s gone” is all Miguel says
I straightened at the sound of a car pulling closer. I know it isn’t Miguel as he’s in the next room, slowly tiptoeing to one of the windows and pushing back the curtains, “Lola don’t do that-“ “It’s Matteo” I gasped in recognition at the dark hair and family face of the man that exists the drive's seat. “It’s Matteo” I repeated “He’s here!” I announced as my heart began to race in my chest. “Stay here, stay down” Miguel ordered, as he headed to the door a gun in hand. I remained at the window, clutching my rounded belly with a shaky hand, the other fisted around the thick curtains as I tried to listen to their exchange. It went on for about half a minute but it was too long and then Miguel crossed back to the porch, he disappeared from my line of sight, and I moved to the door. The bottom of my oversized jeans dragged on the floor over my bare feet as I had left the zipper undone to accommodate my large bump. I’m standing behind the door when it opens and Miguel says “It’
“That puta was whoring around dirtying the family line-“ she gurgles, choking as red spills from a thin line across her throat. A hand flew to her neck eyes wide in shock. No one was allowed to speak of that, I took pains in ensuring it remained that way. The consequences would be devastating. I look at the blade in my hand then swipe the napkin beside her tea set to wipe the little blood at the end. I turned around and came to a stop at the dark figure at the entrance. Fuck. “Is it true what she said?” I observe his stance, the pistol hanging loosely at his side, my brows furrowed as I tried to figure out how long he’s been standing there, how much he heard, I let out a sigh, “Tommy…” He sucked in a deep breath, his empty hand clenching into a shaky fist. “Did you know?” Tommy asked calmly. I grit my teeth and wipe the blade once more, then I return it to the sheath strapped to my wrist, soothing down my sleeves to keep it hidden. I turned to my brother fully and asked “Wh
Bang! Bang! Bang!!! Gunshots sound as I make my way down the hall of an Italian-styled penthouse. The enemy tries to return fire, but they are quickly overwhelmed by my men. Martino Greco led me to Valentina's hideout like a mouse to the cheese. Pained grunts and shocked yells followed by the thuds of bodies heating the ground, and then quiet. Hmm. I walk in smooth strides past pools of blood, bodies littering the polished wooden floors noting the soldiers Valentina called from her mansion in Italy, I frown at the sight of a falcon tatted on one of the fallen men’s forearms, seems she hired some mercenaries also. Splendid. Last night Valentina sent her men to Mendoza and Orinete households while they slept and took them out in one swell move. It is why I can break in with little to no resistance, half of her man power is gone. Danilo inclined his chin at me then motioned up silently a gun in hand, corked and still at the ready. Chase and Emilio stand beside him each o
I stared out the window on the ride back. Like the two times we’ve gone out, I remain in the car while he checks the property, when he signals all clear I open my door and move to the back to get the kids. Miguel goes around the other side and gets started on Angelo’s seat, he undoes the strap holding the child to the seat and then unhooks the chair fully so he can take it inside. “Want to tell me what happened at the clinic?” he questions as we walk. I shook my head nothing. “You don’t really expect me to believe that do you?” “What makes you think I did anything." “Excluding the fact that you looked guilty as hell when we got back, there’s a tear glued to your lashes" he pointed one end of his bottled water at me, "Why were you crying” We entered the cabin and I unstrapped the kids to let them run free. “I just needed to use the bathroom quickly” I paused helping Angelo to his feet. “I called him” I admitted. His expression remains unchanged. “You don’t seem surprised
NIKO That evening I left using one of the hidden exist. There's a car parked under the bridge, I pull up behind it, leaving the engine still running as I look out the window, moments later a male form, wearing a black oversized coat blowing the wind takes long steps in my direction as far as his short legs can carry him, the side door opens and he drops down beside me, the smell of tobacco that follows him where ever he goes fills the car. I make no effort to his my frown. Excluding the fact that it was a shitty habit that kills the liver, I imagine it would make stealth impossible if they can smell you from a mile away. And I preferred to leave no traces, unless it was a warning that is. I have half the mind to ask him to exit my vehicle before he saturates it with his unpleasant smell but I need him tonight so I decided to play nice. “How did it go?” Martino Greco smacks his lips once, “Just as you expected boss, Maxim sent another offer, I did as you said while showing some
LOLA I’ve been teaching my twins simple words and pointing out items around the house for them. I once read that kids need contact with other people and other kids to stimulate growth, and I’ve been doing what I can to fill that role. "Nana" Angel mumbled pointing at the banana when Miguel walked past eating a banana last night.It is also his favorite fruit. Micaela liked peaches.I also roped Miguel into watching some soap operas airing every evening with me so I’d have something to look forward to and someone to discuss with. Soap operas were always better when you had someone to discuss them with. He acts like he hates them but I swear he secretly enjoys them. He finds it hard to understand the motives of the main antagonists and often wonders why the ‘good guys’ give so many chances.No one is that inherently good. Miguel had said when the main female character got played for the fourth time in twenty episodes. It's plain stupidity. he added his two cents, I shook my head with
NIKO -Months later... “Who can we count on?” Tommy asked his chin on his jaw. In front of me at the other side of the desk Matteo cleared his throat and the other turned to him, “Brenadi, Orisi, Ajello, the Sances are a given" he tips his head. With Chase one of my trusted enforcers the head of the Sances family, it was a given, I trusted him to keep his house in check, the others however, "The others will need more convincing" Matteo added voicing my exact thoughts. “That’s four out of twelve” Vincent grunted unable to hide his displeasure. “How can Valentina have eight over us, the bitch has been in Italy for almost three decades," Tommy growls. “Exactly, lots of families owe her favors, she ran this family before us with an iron fist and she never fully removed her claws while my brother was capo, that’s nearly four decades of loyalty from the New York families. "Enough time to amass a fortune's worth of secrets and debts to call in, moreover, a number of the men are too sca