I feel chaos swirling around me. My father and Ricky both jump from their seats, Ricky is yelling but the words don’t process in my ears.
The gavel yelled out again, and again.
It was over.
I look up at my father who is yelling and clearly pissed off. I’ve never seen him look like this. Giuseppe is normally calm and collected. He never screams like this.
A hand lands on my shoulder and I turn to face my brother. Annie is hiding behind him with wide eyes.
“It’s okay.” Gian mouthed. At least, I think he mouthed it. I can’t hear anything but the ringing in my ears.
There are reporters, tons of them outside the courthouse yelling at me, crying for my attention as they lead me to the prison bus.
“Mr. DelGado!” They call. “Gio!”
I can see the headlines now: Providence Mafioso Denied Bail - Ganger goes to Jail.
Gian is staring at me.
Instantly I let go of him, I hadn’t realized I’d grasped onto the sleeve of his suit jacket. The thing probably cost as much as my car. I pull my hands away only wring them together.
I’m not sure what just happened, but I know it’s not good by the way his father is screaming at the judge.
“They’re taking him?” I ask Gian frantically. “Now?”
They’re denying him bail. It’s the ominous they. I don’t know who they are. The government? The people?
All I know is they showed up in the form of two guards dressed in black uniforms grabbing onto Gio and leading him from the courtroom.
I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. Or thank you.
“Come on.” Gian buttons his suit jacket and offers me a hand. He leads me from the courtroom. I’m still too shocked to process what just happened, but I know I have questions and I hope Gian has the answers.
He drives me back to the DelGado house.
“Come inside.” He tells me. My last two days have been like this, Gian and Giuseppe tell me what to do and I listen, too damn broken to do anything myself. I’ve never been taken care of before, so it’s weird to let two men take control, but it leaves me space in my mind to only worry about Gio.
Gian isn’t much for pleasantries since I came back from the failed job. He gives me short sentences and limited emotions, but that’s okay with me.
Gemma on the other hand laid with me all night as I cried. She says soothing things like “everything’s going to be alright” and “don’t worry about him”. I take comfort in her words. She also gives me clothes since I haven’t seen my apartment in days. I haven’t driven anywhere, done anything. I don’t want to.
“Gian,” I mutter as he leads me into the house. “I’m gonna-” I can barely get past him fast enough, through the grand entryway, and into the half bath on the first floor before I lose my stomach into the toilet. I’d been vomiting non-stop since the day of the robbery. My stomach is still in knots.
“Again?” I hear Gian’s voice from outside the bathroom.
“She’s sick.” This time it’s Gemma’s voice I hear.
“Is she puking again?” Giuseppe adds, he must’ve just gotten home.
“You don’t think…” Gemma’s voice trailed off.
I lean back against the wall, still feeling dizzy and nauseated. I have no desire to go back out there right now.
“Annie,” I hear Gemma’s soft voice penetrate the door. “Can I come in?”
“Yeah,” I reach up and unlock the door for her.
She enters slowly, giving me an empathetic look. She looks perfect wearing a pair of ripped jeans and pale pink sweater that hangs off her shoulders. “Babe,” she gives me a slight smile. “Is there any chance…” She trails.
Deep down, I know there’s a good chance. We were never careful. We’d gotten the Plan B pill one time, but I can’t remember if I took it or if it was at the bottom of my purse. My teary eyes lift to meet Gemma.
“I brought this.” She pulls a pregnancy test from her back pocket.
I take it from her. It’s still wrapped in it’s plastic packaging.
My grandmother would be so disappointed to see me like this now, crying over a boy in the bathroom of a gangster house.
A few months ago this version of me didn’t even exist, and even though I think I should be disappointed in myself, there's a bigger part of me that has no regrets.
It’s Gio.
I wonder how he’ll take it if I am pregnant. Would he be happy?
He’ll be an amazing dad, that I know. He’s thoughtful and considerate. He’s tough, but kind.
“What do you think he’ll say?” I ask Gemma, still holding on to the pregnancy test.
She slumps down beside me with her back to the wall . “Doesn’t matter.” She answers. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll support you.”
“Humor me,” I try.
She thinks over the question for a moment. “We had a happy childhood.” She finally says. “Dad worked a lot, but mom was always here, ya know? She loved the hell out of us.” She takes a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say here is Gio isn’t lacking love and even though he acts like a big asshole most of the time, he has a good heart. I think if you are pregnant, and you choose to keep it, he will support you and love the hell out of that baby.” Gemma smiles. “And I for sure will.”
I wipe away a stray tear. “Thank you.”
“I’ll give you a minute.” She pats my thigh and leaves me in the bathroom.
We stare at the stick for a full three minutes after I pee on it.
Two lines.
Pregnant.
Gio sits behind a panel of glass looking at me expectantly. His face holds days of stubble, more than I’m used to seeing on him. His eyes are glassy and colder than they normally look. I move my weak legs to the chair on the other side of the glass separating us and sit down.
I wonder why we’re separated by the damn wall of glass. He’s not a violent criminal, he’s not going to hurt me. I want to touch him, feel his skin against mine. I want that comfort again.
In unison we pick up the phone that connects us, and allow us to hear each other's voices.
“Annie,” he greets, his voice is hoarse and raw but I still relish the sound. “I’m glad you came.”
My eyes fill with tears as I look at him on the other side. The man in front of me looks rough, not like the man I fell in love with. “I’m sorry.” I whisper.
“For what?” He asks. “You think you should be here instead?”
I have no words so I just meet his eyes. We both know the answer, yes, it should be me in there.
He looks down, and then back up at me with an intense gaze. “No.” He tells me. “Don’t ever think like that. You will never be the one in this chair.” His words cut through me like fire. “Say it to me now Annie. You will never be the one in this chair.”
“I will never be the one in that chair.” I mumble half-heartedly.
“Annie,” He starts. “My little thief, you know I love you and I will always protect you and I will never let this happen to you.
Now I can’t stop the tears from falling. Of course the first time he says I love you is behind bars.
“Why are you crying, Annie?” He asks, reaching out to press his large hand against the glass.
“I’m pregnant.” The words leave my mouth quickly before I can lose my nerve.
His eyes light up.
“You’re what?”
“I’m pregnant.” I whisper this time.
For the first time since I walked through those doors a smile appears on his face. “Damn.” He whistles low. “A baby? My baby?”
I return his smile. “Yes, your baby Gio.”
Laughter lights up the gloomy block of people talking to their loved ones through glass cages. “Yes,” He says enthusiastically. “Yes, Annie! This is our baby and I will love him so much.”
“Him?” I ask smiling. “What makes you so sure it's him?”
“Of course it’s a boy.�
�� He says with confidence. “The DelGado bloodline runs strong.” His pride makes him look like a gorilla beating his chest.
It makes me laugh.
In my heart though, I know it’s a little girl.
A dad.
I’m going to be a dad.
Suddenly there is nothing more important in my life than my baby and Annie. “I’m going to marry her.” I tell my father when he comes to visit me.
Giuseppe sits across the table in the room reserved for attorneys and their clients. He wears a pressed pin-stripe suit, Italian leather loafers, and a clean linen shirt. He looks perfectly polished as usual. “I would expect so,” he sighs. “We need to get you out of here first though.”
Next to Giuseppe sits Ricky, headphones covering his ears as he doodles on a legal pad.
“Dad,” I look at my father, he’s graying and getting older but still the man that raised me. “If anything happens-”
“Gio-” He tries to cut me off.
“No, listen to me.” I continue. “If anything goes wrong, anything happens to me you have to take care of her and the baby.”
“I know, Gio.”
“No, I love her pops. I really do. I don’t want her to go without anything. Anything she wants she gets, ya know? Be there for her, she doesn’t have family so you guys will have to protect her.”
He nods. “I know son, I will take care of her.”
“Promise me.”
He gives me an easy smile. “I promise.”
“Good.” I lean back into the cool metal chair.
As long as Annie is taken care of.
It took six months.
Six long months for Ricky and my dad to get the case thrown out on a technicality.
Six long months behind bars waiting to touch my girl, see my family, and meet my baby. Well, the baby isn’t born yet, so at least I haven’t missed that.
But I’ve missed so much else, and that kills me.
I wanted to see every second of Annie’s pregnancy. I wanted to be there every time she was sick or had a weird craving. I wanted to be the one driving to the store at midnight for pickles and ice cream.
I’m thankful for my family though, who have been doing all those things in my place. Apparently Gemma has a whole wardrobe purchased for the kid. Gian did all of the midnight snack runs, and my father brought Annie into his home. That last one was at my request, I couldn’t stand the idea of her being alone right now. Her brother is still in rehab and she’s alone in that apartment downtown. I needed to know she was safe, so staying with my family was the best way to do that. Plus, they adore her.
“Sign here.” Tasha, one of the guards, handed me my release papers. A few signatures and I was out the door wearing a fresh suit Gian dropped off for me.
I feel good.
A little exhausted. Tired from sleeping with my eyes open, eating shitty food, and having to guard myself in the shower, but mostly good.
Jail was no vacation, but feeling the fresh air in my lungs and the hot sun hitting my face I feel free for the first time in a while.
I can’t wait to see my girl, take a hot shower, and never leave the bed.
A minute later the gate opens revealing a black BMW with my brother leaning against it.
“Good to see you,” Gian pulls me in for a hug. “You look better like this, orange wasn’t really your color.” He grins.
“Ha-ha.” I hug him back. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s get you home.”
The “home” he takes me too is my father's house, where Annie is.
“Hey,” he grabs my shoulder before I can open the door and finally see my girl. “I got you the thing you wanted.” He tosses me a black velvet covered box.
“Thank you.” I pocket it for later.
“Surprise!” She yells when I enter, throwing her arms out. My eyes lock on her, blocking out everything else. Her blonde hair is longer now, her ankle mostly healed and the bootie is gone, and her bright smile is infectious as she walks towards me. She’s wearing a pastel pink dress with the leather jacket I bought her over it. She has a bump, a very big bump, but she looks absolutely amazing. Better even. I might love her more with my child inside her, I didn’t even know that was possible.
My fucking child.
I grin. I can’t keep her out of my arms a second longer. I wrap my them around her bringing her into my grasp and hold her like that for a long while. Inhaling her flowery scent and admiring her beautiful body.
Damn, I love this woman.
“Don’t be mad.” She gives me a sheepish look.
“Why would I ever be mad at you, sweetheart?” I meet her blue eyes, how I missed looking into them, and plant a kiss on her forehead.
“Gemma wanted a party. There are people outside.”
I look up, noticing the party decor and my sister smiling behind her.
“Couldn’t stop her.” Gian throws up his hands. “Sorry, man.”
“It’s small.” Annie tries to tell me.
“Come on!” Gemma whines, “We have people waiting to cut this cake.”
“What?”
“It’s a reveal.” Annie fills me in. “We cut the cake and the color tells us the sex of the baby.”
“Huh,” I mused. “So you don’t know?”
“Oh,” she blushed. “I know.”
“No one else does though.”
Gian chuckled beside me.
“Well…” She looks away from me.
“Annie?”
“I mean, not many people…”
“We all know.” Gian claps a hand on my shoulder. “She can’t keep a secret.”
“So I’m the only one who doesn’t know the gender of my own baby?”
“Come on,” Gemma whines again. “If you cut the cake you’ll finally know.”
I heave a sigh and follow her outside. The party is more than small, there are at least fifty people out in our backyard drinking beers and eating. They cheer when I walk out, I’m not mad, it feels good to be acclaimed.
“Where the damn cake?” I ask.
Gemma leads me over to a decorative table with a small cake on it. She hands me the knife and a plate. I take Annie under my arm.
“Ready?” she asks.
“Ready.” I tell her, and we slice into the thing.
“I have a gift for you.” I tell Annie, who is reclined on the couch with her feet lifted on the to ottoman. She’s tired after being on her feet and talking to so many people, but she’s a champion about it.
“What’s that?” She smiles.
“Well, you have to get up to see it.”
She groans in response. “Come on,” I tell her.
It takes a few minutes to get her off the couch and into my car. It feels good to be behind the wheel of my Porsche with Annie next to me. I drive her downtown to the historic district in the city.
“What are we doing here?” She asks as we get out of the car.
“You’ll see.” I wink.
I lead her down the sidewalk to one of the houses. Once upon a time she told me this was her favorite house on this street. “What do you think?” I ask.
She looks confused. “I mean, it’s cute.”
It’s a brick house with an arched doorway and crescent moons cut out of the shutters.
“It’s ours.”
Her face spins to meet mine. “What?”
“It’s ours. It’s the one with the crescent moons in the shutters. You told me you loved those.”
She looks at the house again. “I do… But Gio, did you just buy me a house?”
“Us,” I clarify. “Me, you, and the baby.”
Her eyes turn glassy and tear rolls down her cheek.
“Baby,” I wrap an arm around her. “Don’t cry.”
“I love it.” she whispers.
“I have one more surprise for you.” I tell her. She is still wiping off the tears that are escaping her eyes.
For this one, I get down on one knee and
pull the velvet box out of my pocket. “Annie Grace Byrne, we found each other in a weird way. You were something I never expected to have, something I never thought I deserved. That day you walked into my bar was the best day of my life. You have given me more than I could ever ask for, but I’m going to ask for one more thing now. I want you to be by my side for the rest of my life. I want to live in this house with you and wake up every morning with you next to me. I want to love you, the way you deserve, every fucking day until I die. Annie, will you marry me?”
She’s crying now, tears steaming now her face.
I flip open the box to reveal a rose gold band covered with small diamonds and in the center the perfect pink diamond surrounded by more small diamonds. The perfect ring to represent our crazy, not normal, relationship.
She hiccups a sob.
“Yes!” she says. “Yes, Gio.”
I take her to my apartment next. It feels strange to be back in this place after so long, but there's no one else I would rather be with.
“I love you.” She whispers as I drag the dress over her head, leaving her in nothing but a nude bra and panties showing off more of her baby bump. I run my hands over her stomach, feeling every line and stretch mark, admiring every inch of her smooth skin.
“I love you.” I return.
I press my lips to her, kissing her soft and sweet at first.
“I want you, Gio.” she tells me.
“Yeah? Have you missed me.”
“You don’t even know.” She gives me a wicked grin.
I wrap my arms around her and lead her back to the bed, lying her down.
Cupping a hand against her hot sex, I find her already wet for me. “I can tell, baby.” I slide her panties down her legs and off. Taking my time I kiss every inch of her body, up her legs, her stomach, her breast, her neck, her mouth. I savor every bit of her.
“Gio,” she pleads, my favorite sound. “Please.”
I make my way back to her soaking pussy. Genty, I stroke a finger along her folds, opening her up. I lick her next, devouring her, breathing in her sweet scent and tart taste. I suck her clit, causing her to moan. I tease her until I can hear her panting, begging for a release, then I press a finger in her. “So fucking tight.”
Gio: The DelGado Trilogy (An Enemies to Lovers Romance) Page 16
