“We’re okay.” I ran a hand over my stomach and smiled. “Nothing permanent.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and moved close enough to place his hand next to mine, staring down at my belly. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Sonny was my best friend and as much my family as Angelo. Even though he was part of my personal security detail, he was there because we’d invited him to share this special day with us.
Angelo slapped his hand on Sonny’s back, the corner of his mouth turning up into a wide grin. “We know,” he said, looking at Sonny. “That’s why we want you to be Faith’s godfather.”
Sonny’s eyes lit up with excitement. Being named godfather was an important role, one Sonny would take seriously. He covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat. “Of course. I’d be honored. Are you sure you don’t want to ask one of your brothers?”
“You are my brother,” Angelo confirmed.
Sonny glanced at me, then back at Angelo. “I will take care of Faith as if she were my own.”
“We know,” Angelo and I said at the same time, causing all of us to laugh.
Sonny hugged each of us, his face beaming with delight. It was so rare to so either of my men this happy. But Faith had a way of creeping into both of their black hearts.
We left the doctor’s office with Sonny holding my left hand and Angelo my right, knowing we would make it through whatever would come next. Because we had each other.
Part Two
"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."
William Shakespeare
Hamlet
Chapter Twenty-Three
Angelo
One Year Later
We have all done things we’re not proud of, though most people can look themselves in the mirror afterward. I wish I could say the same for myself. Born into a family of power, my father had my entire life planned from birth. I never had a choice. Or did I? I often pondered that question at night when I stared at my beautiful fiancée while she slept, or when I stood in the doorway of my daughter’s bedroom, wondering if they would forgive me for my sins.
I told myself I did this for them. The sacrifices I made were so they could have a future. Sometimes, the people we tried to fool the most were ourselves. As much as I wanted to believe I had a choice, my father never would have allowed it. He only led me to believe I had other options.
But I knew what I was.
A monster.
A cold-blooded killer.
A criminal.
A Mafia Prince.
A Morelli.
I was also a father to a beautiful baby girl and soon-to-be a husband. As I stood in the bathroom and fixed my tie, trying to be quiet, I hated myself for where I was about to go. I hated lying to Gia even more. She was always on my side, down for anything. But things were different once we had Faith. Our daughter would never have to repeat our mistakes. She would never become part of this world and the organization my father had built for our family. My future sons would never become Made men. I would make sure of it.
Bending down to kiss Gia on the forehead, bile rose up from my stomach, choking me from the guilt which consumed me every day. She rolled over on the mattress when I placed my hand on her bare hip and opened her eyes. Even in sleep, she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.
“Angelo,” she whispered, rubbing the corner of her eye with the back of her hand. Gia glanced over at the clock and shook her head, still out of it. “Where are you going at this hour? My alarm clock hasn’t even gone off yet. I’m not expected in the office for another two more hours.”
“I have to help a client.”
I was a lawyer and a member of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York Bar Associations, all of which were necessary because of my family’s business.
Gia threw the sheet onto my side of the bed, exposing her naked body. She slipped her fingers between mine and pulled me close enough my knee hit the mattress. “Get in here with me, Angelo. Come back to bed.” Guiding my hand between her thighs, Gia didn’t stop until my fingers were coated with her juices.
My dick was hard just thinking about being inside her. “Dio mio, woman,” I groaned.
She smiled up at me, all while rubbing my fingers along her folds, waiting for me to give in to her desires. “God can’t save you.”
Gia solved problems like a man. Every time we had an issue we needed to work out, my girl fixed it with her lips wrapped around my cock or my face buried between her legs. Not that I minded. But we never talked about the issues that bothered us.
Taking my tie in her hand, Gia tugged hard enough to pull me on top of her. She sat up and shoved my fingers further into her wetness. I kissed her, and she moaned against my lips, sucking on my bottom lip. She tightened her grip around my neck and rocked her hips against my hand.
Gia was everything good in my life. She was my first kiss, my first crush, and my one and only love. But I lied to her face, all because of my obligations to my family. She was part of my family. Hell, she was even part of our business.
I gave in when she pushed her tongue into my mouth, each kiss consuming me more than the last. She moaned my name between breaths and cursed at me in Italian before she came for me. Gia clamped down on my fingers, holding them in a vise, as our tongues tangled together. Riding out her orgasm, Gia bit my lip as her body stopped convulsing. She tilted her head back on the stack of pillows behind her and flashed a satisfied smile. I slid my fingers out of her and raised them to my mouth.
Watching me as I licked her juices from my fingers, Gia spread her legs wide enough for me to slip between them.
If only I had the time.
I had a problem to address. One that couldn’t wait, so I kissed her on the forehead. “I have to go. I’ll call you later. Go back to sleep.”
“Will you be home for dinner?”
I got up from the bed and shrugged. “It depends on how long this takes.”
“Talk to me, Angelo. What are you doing that keeps you out at all times of the night?” Gia folded her arms across her bare breasts. They were still huge from breastfeeding Faith.
“There are a lot of loose ends we have to tie up. Sonny will stay here with you and Faith.”
“He does that every day, Angelo. Do you really think it’s fair for Sonny to have to babysit Faith and me? We don’t need a team of men surrounding us at all times.”
“Yes, you do,” I shot back, my voice growing louder. “After what happened last year, I have to know where you are at all times. I’m not taking any chances.”
“Keep your voice down,” she hissed. “Faith is sleeping in the other room.”
I sunk to the mattress and pulled Gia to me. “I’m sorry. But your protection detail is necessary.”
“Must I remind you I was kidnapped with Sonny in the house? I’m not saying it’s his fault, because they took him, too. It won’t matter how many men are watching over me, Angelo. If someone wants to kidnap me, they will find a way. We can’t keep watching over our shoulders for the rest of our lives.”
“We will never be safe, Gia. When will you realize that? What I do for a living puts all of us at risk. If I could stop right now, I would. But you know my father would never allow it. I will never be free, and by extension, neither will you or Faith. I will do everything in my power to protect you both, and if that means keeping a team of men at your sides at all times, then so be it. This is what we have to do to survive.”
“Answer me this, Angelo.” She stroked my hand with her tiny fingers. “Are we in trouble? Should I be worried?”
I stared into her eyes and told Gia the truth. “No, we’re not. But the threat is always there. We still have unresolved business with Enzo, Dante, and Big John. We’re not under attack. My dad smoothed things over for now, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to watch our backs.”
“Why did Dante take me? Why did he sell me if he was only going to hand me over to your dad? Does that make
any sense to you? I never understood that.”
“Dante had no idea who paid for you. My dad was the highest bidder. He entered the auction under a screen name, same as everyone else.”
Gia shook her head, annoyed. “But someone had to know.”
We had this conversation often. She couldn’t accept the fact my father didn’t have a hand in her kidnapping. It was easier for her to blame my father than to blame me—the real reason she was taken. To some extent, I agreed with her. I killed Antonio Mancuso. Blood had to be paid with blood. But Enzo didn’t kill Gia. That part I never understood.
Why didn’t he kill her?
Why was Gia held captive for over a week before I received the first text message indicating she was alive?
I’d searched for answers over the last year and came up empty handed every time.
“Can we talk about this later?”
She nodded, still not satisfied with my usual response.
I kissed Gia on the lips and pushed myself up from the mattress. It was time to finish my father’s bidding.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gia
I glanced down at Faith, who was fast asleep in the bassinet I kept in my office next to my desk. My baby girl was a tiny miracle. Somehow, I made it out of that hellhole so I could deliver the most precious gift Angelo and I had ever been given. We weren’t ready to become parents. Our lives were full of too much turmoil and pain to bring a child into this world, but fate had other plans.
I was convinced we had Faith for a reason. My mother was abruptly taken from me. Part of me wondered if my mom had a hand in sending Faith to us. I wondered if she was watching over me, helping me get through the tough spots.
Sonny strolled into my office, careful not to make a sound when he shut the door behind him. He sat in the chair across from me and slid a slip of paper in my direction with his finger.
I picked it up and scanned the list Sonny helped me prepare for the wedding. With all the negative vibes between the families, I wasn’t sure who to invite to our wedding. It was customary to invite the heads of the families from here to New York. A Made man, especially the son of a boss, would draw a lot of attention from the media, the Feds, and the other families. In our world, it was considered poor form not to include everyone in our big day.
“I can’t believe we have to invite these people?” I dropped the paper to the desk and sighed.
“Mr. Morelli smoothed over his beef with Dante,” Sonny informed me.
“Yes, I know. But it still doesn’t sit well with me. The man held me as his prisoner, made me watch him fuck Lucky, and then sold me on a private online auction. And I’m supposed to shake his hand and eat dinner with him. This must be a joke, Sonny.”
“I’m sorry, G. It’s not. The list came from Paulie, who got it from Mr. Morelli.”
“But this is my wedding.” I lowered my voice to a whisper, trying not to wake Faith. “Is this what Angelo has been hiding from me?”
Sonny looked at me, confused. “Who said Angelo is hiding something from you?”
“He’s been acting strange for months.”
“He’s under a lot of stress with the old man.” Sonny didn’t offer anything else. His gaze slowly fell from mine, and he checked his pocket to glance at the time on his cell phone. “I have to make my rounds. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Before he left, Sonny came over to Faith’s bassinet and leaned over, smiling down at her. Being asked to be the godfather of our child was a big deal that carried a huge responsibility, one Sonny took seriously. He loved Faith as much as he loved Angelo and me, if not more. Angelo and I knew if something happened to either of us Sonny would take good care of our baby girl.
“Faith looks like you,” Sonny said under his breath. “She has your curls.”
“But she has Angelo’s blue eyes.”
He nodded.
Faith had the best parts of each of us. She was an adorable baby, and I loved her more each passing day. Angelo was an incredible father, but I wished he were around more. He spent so much time apart from us. I knew it had to do with the debt he owed his father for bringing me back safely. I hated Don Morelli for taking Angelo away from us, even if he was the one who had brought us back together.
“Uncle Sonny will be back soon,” he whispered to Faith, clutching the top of her bassinet.
He was so cute with Faith it made my heart melt. It pained me to think that at one time I thought Sonny was responsible for my kidnapping. Sonny was a lot of things—a Wiseguy, a murderer, a pervert, and a thief—but he was a decent man. Like Angelo, he had a lot of good in him, even if the bad sometimes outweighed the good.
After Sonny left my office, Faith woke up, crying for me to feed her. I’d just finished tucking myself back into my shirt and cleaning up after Faith when my phone rang. Holding her on my right shoulder, I leaned forward to grab the phone on my desk. The Caller ID read Philadelphia City Hall.
“Hey, Dad,” I said, answering after the second ring.
“Hey, sweetie. How’s our baby girl doing?”
I looked down at Faith and smiled. “I just fed her. She’s already dozing off again.”
“She’s a good baby.”
“I wish Mom could have met her,” I confessed, getting choked up. Her death was something I would never get over. She would always be a part of me, as she was a part of Faith.
Dad let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “Me, too. She would have loved Faith. I wish I could say this is a social call, but I could use your help, sweetie.”
“What do you need?”
I was still working for Carlini Construction since I was the CEO of the company and hadn’t found a suitable replacement. My dreams of becoming a legitimate lawyer went out the window the day my dad decided to run for Philadelphia City Council and later for mayor.
“I agreed to sell a few plots of land to Angelo. The files are in the locked cabinet in my office. They have sticky notes on them with Angelo’s name.”
“Are they plots owned by Carlini Construction?”
He sighed, frustrated. “Yes, I bought them a long time ago. I was holding onto them for something special, but…” his voice trailed off as if he’d said too much.
With Angelo Sr., one favor was never enough. I had no doubt my father was selling the land to Angelo for next to nothing because he paid the asking price for my freedom. Over the past year, we had liquidated a lot of land and stock owned by my company, all at my father’s request.
“You need me to grab the files from your office?”
“Yes, if you can run upstairs and messenger them over to Paulie. But I need you to sign them. They’re in the company’s name, and as the chief officer, they require your signature.”
“Dad, please tell me this is legal.”
He laughed but didn’t answer my question. “I have to get off here. My other line is buzzing. Let me know if you have any issues. Ask Angie to check my calendar. We should do dinner later in the week.”
“Sounds good, Dad.”
I shook my head, irritated, and then hung up the phone. Angelo was keeping secrets from me along with my father. The only thing both of them had in common was their debt to Angelo Sr. I gritted my teeth in anger, wishing all of us could get away from this corrupt world we lived in.
By the time I gathered a few things for Faith and threw them into the bag I slung over my shoulder, Sonny was back in my office. He looked good in his expensive suit, with his wavy hair slicked back off his forehead. The second he laid eyes on Faith, his entire face lit up. Angelo reacted in the same fashion whenever Faith was in the room. Other than me, she was the only girl in both of their lives who made their black hearts less dark.
Sonny came over to us and took Faith from my arms. “There’s my favorite girl,” he said in his baby voice, holding her out in front of him. He kissed her on the forehead and pulled her back enough to make a funny face that made her giggle.
I smiled so wide my jaw hurt. They we
re a sight together. Sonny hugged Faith against his chest, cradling her at his hip. Even if I didn’t want or feel the need to have a protection detail, at least Sonny was a good babysitter. He took excellent care of Faith when I had to leave her with him for meetings.
“Perfect timing,” I told Sonny. “I have to run upstairs for a few minutes. Can you watch Faith for me?”
“We could come with you. Angelo doesn’t like it when I leave you alone.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I thought the same thing last year, Gia, and look where you ended up.”
“You couldn’t have predicted that, Sonny. Stop blaming yourself. Between you and Angelo, I don’t know who’s worse. I don’t blame either of you for what happened to me. I survived because that’s what I do. That’s how you make it in this family. No one is going to steal me from this building.”
“I thought the same thing about your house,” he countered, with more force behind his words. “We are coming with you. End of story.”
I blew out a breath of air, annoyed. “Fine. Whatever. Suit yourself. I’m running up to my dad’s office to grab a few files. It’s not a big deal.”
“You always have to fight, even when one isn’t required.”
I shrugged. “It’s in my nature.”
He smirked, extending his arm out in front of him and holding Faith in the other. “Let’s go, princess.”
Faith made a gurgling sound, similar to a laugh. Sonny looked down at her. “I wasn’t talking to you,” he cooed. “Different princess.”
Sonny called Faith his little princess all the time. So did Angelo. It was weird seeing macho men like them fall apart when Faith was in the room. But I loved it, and their love for Faith made me love them even more.
We rode the elevator up to my dad’s office with Sonny signing a song to Faith to make her laugh. He made my life easier. I couldn’t deny that fact. Having Sonny around was a huge help. I had no idea how to be a mother when mine was never around. Angelo and I learned on the fly and adapted as we went along.
The Ultimate Sin (Sins of the Past Duet Book 2) Page 12
