Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 108: Chapter 108

TERZO
We were having a baby. I knew the moment I saw her outside the elevator that something had changed in her. She still looked gorgeous, but she had that glow. When she clung to me, things clicked right away.
She must have been terrified finding out that she was going to be a mother alone. I had no doubt she would be a great mom. I just wish I were there with her.
Fuck. I was going to be a father. Papa would be so thrilled to hear the news.
Then a furry monster ruined my little moment.
“Hey. Be nice to Milo. He just lost his owner.” She came to pick up Milo and carried the cat like her child as she walked out of her bedroom towards the living room.
She had a pretty decent apartment, considering she could afford to buy this building owned by my uncle. So I guess she chose Istanbul to be closer to her family. Our family.
“What happened to his owner?” I looked at her sitting so domestically.
“The old lady passed away while he was at the clinic for treatment.”
“Uncle Lorenzo’s clinic?” I joined her on the couch. The monster lay pretty on her lap as she ran her fingers over his fur.
“Yeah. I volunteered to help when he didn’t want the rent.” She smiled at me. I knew why.
I scratched my two-month worth of beard. “I rushed to fly and followed Celestina.”
“I thought she was in Spain.” Oh, so she had been in Spain, and they kept in contact with each other.
“She visited me in Sicily and left the same day because I pissed her off.”
She chuckled. “I can see why.”
I moved close to her and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her to me. “I missed you, Dani. I’ve been in hell without you. I didn’t know what to do with my life than got drunk until I passed out.” I kissed the top of her head and inhaled the sweet floral scent of her shampoo, the same brand of shampoo she used when she was with me. “I need you, Dani.” My voice broke in the end.
“Honestly, I miss you, too. For days, I wished I would see you showing up until I just lost all hope that maybe you moved on, or you finally released me from your life.”
I lifted her chin and looked right into her eyes. “Never. I was crazy for letting you chase the freedom you sought, but I never gave up on us. I just didn’t want to break the words I gave you. I gave you time and space as much as you wanted. That was why I never reached out. I love you, Dani. You’re my Ariel, and I will always swim the ocean looking for you.”
Her face broke into a smile. “That Ariel thing, what is it exactly?”
I smiled and kissed her lips. “I was with Maverick, Lake, and Linden. They teased me, poked fun at me, so she told me to find a woman and get out of Sicily to Marettimo. Linden said, You just told him to bring a woman home. She then told me to just get a girl and fall in love. So I replied, yeah, right. I’ll go swim across the ocean and maybe swim into Elsa. They laughed at me, especially Linden, correcting me that it’s not Elsa. It’s Ariel the mermaid. And I did swim across the ocean to find you, sweetheart.”
“Yeah. You did.” She sagged into me and sighed. “I know you have a lot of questions.”
“No, but I have a lot to apologize for.”
“No, no. We’re not doing that.”
We stayed like that for a few minutes, her in my arms, and the cat, Milo, on her lap. I expected her to kick me out or fight with me, but it felt like coming home from a war, without the trauma. I felt welcomed because she was my home.
“Dani, will you come home with me?”
There was a long pause that made me nervous. When she left her gaze to look at me, she only answered me with a smile, and that answer was good enough for me.
“Guys, are you decent?”
I let go of a shuddering breath. “Couldn’t we have a little more time alone?”
“Come in,” Dani called out.
When the door opened, the first one to enter was my sister. “How did you find me?”
“We were on the same flight. I took commercial, but I was in a business class, and you didn’t even notice someone was following you. You did not see Marco and Gio.”
“Where are Marco and Gio?” Dani asked excitedly.
“Hotel.” My gaze landed on Aleksandr. “How the fuck are you here? Did your knee heal nicely?”
“I expected a thank you, Siciliano, but expect nothing from an asshole like you. Apologies, Miss Dani.” Aleksandr came to offer a handshake. “Nice to meet you again, Siciliano.”
I shook his hand. “Thank you for taking care of my wife.”
“Andrei, or do you prefer Terzo?” Dimitri did the same thing. “Thank you for what you’ve done. We owed you so much.”
“So the band is back together?” I smirked.
“Yes, sir,” Dimitri proudly said.
“Hey. We went out to buy food. I thought you were hungry,” Celestina told Dani as she looked at her pajamas. “But I guess he already fed you.”
“No. I’m still hungry. What do you have?” She sat straight as Aleksandr and Dimitri brought the plastic bags to the kitchenette.
“Sis, you’re gonna be an aunt.”
Celestina’s eyes widened. Her mouth hung open. “No way! Oh, my God. Really?” She went to Dani and hugged her tightly. “Why didn’t you even tell me when we literally talked twenty-four seven, bitch. Oh, my God. I can’t wait to be an aunt.”
“So if I told you, you were not going to tell your brother?”
She looked offended, but faded instantly. “No, unless you’re in trouble.”
“Hey, Miss Dani. Food is ready,” Aleksandr called.
I stood up and helped her to her feet after putting the cat on the couch. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her again. I just wanted to make myself believe that this was not a dream, that I was here with her, and she was in my arms. And we were going to be parents.
Her table was good for four seats. Dimitri and Aleksandr took a plate of food and left for the couch.
“Wow. Papa is gonna be thrilled.”
“He knew.”
“Knew?” Celestina and I said in unison.
I stared at her in disbelief.
“I’m surprised he didn’t break his promise. I told him I haven’t confirmed it, but I was already delayed. I also told him not to tell anybody, even his son, but I promised him that I would tell you when I’m sure and ready.”
I nodded in understanding, but was hurt at the same time. I grabbed a piece of lahmacun and shoved it in my mouth. “How far are we?”
Celestina smiled and shook me.“You’re so cool with this, brother. I’m proud of you.”
“So not a major disappointment anymore?” I arched an eyebrow at her.
“I’m sorry. I was just so furious, but you know I love you.”
“Forteen weeks.”
“When are we gonna know the gender?”
She smiled. “Eighteen.”
“Do you see a doctor here? You’re taking vitamins, right? What do you need, Dani? I’ll bring them for you. Just name it. And you should miss meals.”
“Relax.” She held my hand. “I’m fine. I got it covered. And yes, I have a doctor. Your uncle and his wife are taking care of me.”
“Uncle?” Celestina stopped. “Uncle, who?”
Oh, fuck. “Uncle Gian Carlo is alive.”
“What?” She rose to her feet and glared at me. “You knew all this this time, and you didn’t tell me? Does Papa know? For how long?” Then she turned to Dani. “And you never mentioned it to me, why?”
“Hey. Don’t blame her. Uncle chose to leave that life because it was dangerous. He came here with a new identity. He became a vet and got married. You have to respect that if he doesn’t want anyone from Italy to know who he is.”
She wiped her tears and smiled. “I understand. I wanna see him.”
“Of course. He owned this building.”
“Oh. Maybe I should stay here for a while.”
“Cee, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I haven’t told you that I went to him and told him that I found you, but I didn’t tell him where because he was losing his shit, Dani. He’s not himself for weeks. I mean, look at him. He looked like he hadn’t touched a razor since you left.”
Without uttering a word, she smiled, scratching my beard.