by Blue Saffire
“I’ll ride along anyhow,” Uncle Valentine says with an affectionate smile.
“Oh, but I was hoping you would stay behind,” Angela says in her dramatic way. “I’m still getting those strange calls I would feel so much better if you would stay close by.”
“Sure, sure,” Uncle Valentine waves her off. “I’ll stick around.”
Now I know my uncle well. I was his shadow for years after all. So I know that something is up. It is written all over his face and in the fact that he caved to Angela’s demands. Like me, my uncle has always seen right through this woman and hasn’t catered to one of her requests ever.
Uncle Valentine catches my curious gaze and gives me a slight wink. He does it in a way that only I would pick up on. I quickly school my features not wanting to let on that I know something fishy is going on. I have never trusted Angela but my bullshit meter is bouncing off the charts right now.
I have a special bullet for this bitch. She better watch it. The day my father shows one sign that she has upset him will be the day she breathes her last breath. I roll my eyes at her as she tosses her hair over her shoulder and sips at the cocktail in her hand. Drunk heifer. I take a pause at that thought.
Usually she is half in the bag by now. I frown to myself as I think over the night. Something is definitely up with her. I am pulled from my thoughts when my father reaches for my elbow to help me from my seat.
“I think we should stop for ice cream how about you,” my father whispers conspiratorially.
“I knew there was a reason I love you,” I reply.
~B~
“What the fuck is going on,” I hiss as I step out of the hidden passage that leads in and out of my Uncle Nicholas’s study. “And none of this bullshit about me marrying Valentina without permission. You and Don Vincent have been plotting this entire time and I want answers, now.”
I came straight here after I received a text with intel on the whereabouts of my mum’s husband. I knew the text was bullshit the moment I read it. I have known the prick’s location for over a year. I have just let him assume he is hiding from me. I have every intention of dealing with one problem at a time. As long as my mum is safe with me he can hide as long as he wants to.
The only reason I caved and let Valentina go to her father’s is because I wanted things to appear as normal and I had Valentine’s promise that he would keep an eye on her. I only came back to the States because Valentina had her heart set on have the baby born here with her family around her.
In addition, Pamela and Nathan have asked me to attend their wedding, which is in a few weeks. I would have had to miss the wedding if we didn’t return to the States now. I decided we would come to Chicago since this is where the majority of both our families live.
I sent a decoy in my place to the location the text had sent to me. I received a text just as I stepped out of the car that it was bogus. Now I want to know why someone wanted to get me out of Chicago and into Lansing, Michigan. So here I am for answers. Contrary to what the Giordanos may think I have not been running from them.
I have been keeping my wife out of the line of fire, because when I unleash the beast within all hell is going to break loose. Right now Valentina needs me more as she brings our little one into the world. I don’t want her in the middle of this and the cowards that the Giordanos are I know they will try to drag her right in.
I have only left them breathing upon my uncle’s request so now is the time for my uncle to give me the answers I need. I am done playing nice. This shit ends now. They picked the wrong man’s family to mess with.
“I have been expecting you,” Uncle Nicholas says. His expression is grave which sets me further on edge. “Have a seat.”
I take the seat in the chair he nods toward on the opposite side of his desk. Folding my arms over my chest I wait for him to start talking. My patience has worn thin, he better start talking soon because I am not responsible for what I do in the next five seconds if he doesn’t.
“You remember I told you that there were other parties responsible for Valentina’s mother and sister’s deaths?” I nod and he continues. “We had our suspicions all along, but somethings just didn’t add up. It just never fit right that Corrade ended up at the house. It seemed sloppy at first, not intentional.
“However, Valentine never bought that. He believed that Corrade was sent on purpose. Vincent and I just couldn’t believe that. You know we don’t do things that way. We don’t touch the women and children. Turns out Valentine was right,” my uncle grimaces as he tosses a file across the desk to me.
“The Giordano family ordered the unauthorized hit on Don Caprisi but it was altered by the one in that photo,” he continues as I open the file.
Not many things shock me but as I open the file and stare down at the pictures my eyes widen. I look up at my uncle sure he is joking. When the dark shadows don’t lift from his face I look back at the photos. Some are older, other seem to be more recent but there is no mistaken my so called mother in law in each and every photo.
She is with Gio Giordano’s lard ass in a few but in the more recent looking ones she is with Raphael Giordano. This woman that is now the wife of Don Vincent is the one responsible for the death of both Valentina’s mum and sister. My blood is boiling as I think of what could have happened to Valentina had she not been in hiding. I could spit nails as I think of what had become of her because of what she had seen that night.
How the hell did this happen?
“Angela’s father had wanted a match between her and Vincent but one look at Khayla and Vincent was gone. Any thought of an engagement between the two was forgotten, at least by Vincent,” he starts to answer the question I hadn’t realized I asked out loud. “Even back then Angela hadn’t kept it too quiet that she felt scorned. She was a full blooded Italian, Khayla was not. She had come from a connected family. Khayla’s family had loose connections.
“Vincent was torn up after losing his wife and daughter. Angela stepped into his life at just the right time to slip in without him noticing something was off. After all if not for Khayla they would have been married.
“See as I figure it, Gio was looking to impress his father back then. Taking down Vincent would have been big, authorized or not. Only we all know Angela is one crazy bitch and it all seemed to back fire. I for one have always known it was Gio, Vincent knew it too. He’s just been waiting out the other party. We now know that party is Angela.”
There is no small amount of disgust in my uncle’s voice. Suddenly the pieces all fall into place. I should be pissed but I smile at these old men trying to use me as a pawn. I sit back in my seat tossing the offered folder back on his desk.
“So was my marriage a part of the plot or did that just happen to help your little plan along?” I lift a brow at Uncle Nicholas.
He gives me a slight smile. “I knew you would be good for her. Her father agreed as well. We decided to kill two birds with one stone. You are your own man, but you are the best man for this. We just needed to give you a good reason to decide this was worth your wrath,” he says smugly.
“You and Don Caprisi are lucky to be family. You have brought this down on my wife’s head. They came to my home in London and tried to kill her,” I hiss.
“That we were not expecting. I truly felt sick when I first heard. To be honest I don’t think they were going to harm her. Kidnap yes…harm her no,” he shakes his head as if to clear it.
“I will take care of this problem but not for Don Caprisi or you. I will do this for my….,” my words are cutoff as my mobile starts ringing.
Annoyed I look at my phone and see a restricted number. Feeling in my gut something is wrong I answer. “I bet you never saw this one coming. No one will think you are so great now. I want you to know how it feels to have something that was once yours taken away,” a voice says into the phone before hanging up.
I know that voice. I may have only heard it a few times but I know Raphael Giordano’s voice w
hen I hear it. My heart seizes up in my chest. Valentina.
~B~
“This ice cream is good, no,” my father says from beside me with a broad grin.
I nod my head because my mouth is busy with my ice cream, causing us both to laugh. Uncle Valentine chuckles from the front seat. At the last minute he slipped from the house and hopped in the front passenger seat of the car. I laughed so hard at that tears leaked from my eyes.
I knew my uncle wasn’t going soft in his old age. There was no way he was staying behind because of Angela. A part of me believes he came along to spite her.
My father turns to me with a bright smile. “Did you text Uri to let him know we are taking you home,” he asks.
I palm my forehead, because I totally forgot as I do most things these days. I go to pull my phone from my bag and that is when all hell breaks loose. Gunshots ring out, glass shatters, voices are bellowing and my father has pulled me to him and thrown his body over mine to shield me before I even have time to react.
The next thing I know the SUV is on its side and Uncle Valentine is calling my name to insure I am alright. All I feel is pressure and the weight of my father’s limp still body covering me. A sharp pain shoots through my back.
“Oh God no, my baby,” I whimper.
CHAPTER THRITY SIX
“Where the hell is my wife,” I bellow in the face of the male nurse that is saying everything but what I want to hear. I can barely contain the anger seething through me.
They have gone after my wife not once but twice. There is no amount of restraint that is going to hold me back from finishing this once and for all. I have gone too soft in the last year. What I thought I was doing for Valentina’s good has put her in danger.
A man like me never gets to let his guard down and I should have handled this my way. I never should have conformed to my uncle’s request. I could strangle him and Don Vincent for this.
Speaking of Don Vincent at that exact moment he ambles through the elevator doors with a bandage on his head and a sling on his right arm, looking around frantically. I have never seen this man look so disheveled. The sight twists something in my gut. Valentina has to be okay. Our little one cannot be harmed. I will not survive the loss of either of them.
When Don Vincent’s eyes land on me his body relaxes and I release the breath I was holding. I push the idiot nurse aside and rush over to my father in law.
“She is asking for you,” Vincent rushes out, his raspy voice sounding more hoarse than usual. “They say my body shielded her for the most part but the accident sent her into labor. My brother is still in surgery. He took those pieces of shit out but not before taking a hit. His leg was trapped when the truck flipped as well.”
I hear everything he says but the most important part is that Valentina is in labor. She isn’t due for at least another four weeks. I am in motion towards the elevator he exited from before my mind registers I am moving. Vincent hobbles alongside me as fast as he can, just managing to keep up with me.
When we get to the labor and delivery floor Vincent leads the way to Valentina’s room. When he doesn’t move fast enough I pass him. “What number,” I growl over my shoulder for her room number.
“This one right here on your left,” he says strained. I know he must be in pain.
I hear Valentina before I see her. “No, this is not happening like this. I want my husband,” she cries out making my heart squeeze in my chest. I should have been with her. I never should have let her out of my sight.
Valentina should never have left her father’s house without me. I didn’t think Raphael could get to her. I had eyes on him, but now that I know Angela Caprisi is involved I know how they were able to get to her without me or Valentine being two steps ahead. I will have that woman’s head on a platter.
“I’m here, Love,” I say as I rush to step into her view and push my way to her side.
I grab her hand and scan her body with my eyes. She has a bruise on the side of her face and her left wrist is wrapped in a bandage. A growl rips from my throat as I take the damage in. I turn to the doctor in the room and begin to demand answers.
“How is she? How is the baby? What is going on,” I riffle off.
“As I was just trying to explain to your wife, Mr. Donati, I need her to push. This little one is not going to wait and nor can we,” the doctor says firmly. “I’m sure you want to stay with your wife so please follow the nurse here, we need to get started.”
I nod my head and follow the nurse’s instructions quickly. I return to Valentina’s side instantly and give her my attention. I lean over to kiss her forehead. “I need you to do this for me, Love. I’m here now. Now we need to make sure our baby enters this world safely,” I say soothingly.
“But I’m not ready. I don’t know if I can do this,” Valentina sniffles. Once the words are out of her mouth she grimaces and tightens her hold on my hand.
“Valentina…Mrs. Donati, please I need you to push,” the doctor pleads with her.
I have never seen her this vulnerable and it is tearing me apart. I know she has been nervous about giving birth and about being a good mum. All of this is just rushing her fears to the forefront. Usually when Valentina shows weakness you can still see that sparkle of defiance in her eyes. Right now all I can see is fear.
“Listen to me,” I command. “You will do as the doctor says. Our baby needs you.”
She bites her lip and nods. I see that spark return to her eyes at the mention of our baby needing her. I love this woman so much and to know we are just moments away from meeting our first baby has my entire being buzzing. I live for her and this baby.
“Okay, here we go. Push,” the doctor orders and my little warrior starts to push our child into the world. I brush the soaked hair off her forehead with my free hand.
She is absolutely gorgeous with her eyes shut and her full lips pressed. The fine hairs around her temple are drenched in sweat causing them to lay flat and slick against the veins that are starting to pop from her exertion. I don’t think I have ever seen a more stunning sight.
“You’re doing good, Love. I’m so proud of you Baby,” I encourage her.
We keep at it like this for nearly twenty minutes before the doctor tells her that the head is in sight. We are so close to meeting our baby. My heart swells with pride and I am already thinking of making the next baby. Valentina would probably try to run me through with a hunting knife at this moment if she could see or hear my thoughts.
She looks exhausted. She falls back against the bed shaking her head. “I can’t. I just can’t do this,” she whimpers.
I place a kiss to her nose then her lips and then her temple before moving my lips to her ear. “You have taken numerous lives without thought or much effort. Now it is time for you to give life. You will bring our baby into this world now. Push Valentina, I want to hold my son,” I growl lowly.
She pulls away to look up at me with defiance and determination in her eyes. Just the reaction I was looking for. “It is not a boy,” she snaps. “And she and I will be looking for a big apology when she gets here.”
“If that is the case you and my princess can have anything you want. Now give me my baby Valentina,” I order her with a smile on my lips.
Seeming to find her second wind Valentina grits and bears down. My heart stutters to a stop as a piercing wail fills the room. I blink back the moisture that threatens my lashes.
“Well it seems our mother was right. Congratulations you two. You have a gorgeous baby girl,” the doctor announces.
I surprise even myself with a fist pump in the air before cupping the back of Valentina’s neck and pulling her lips to mine for a long hard kiss. “I love you, Baby,” I murmur for just her to hear. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Say that in eighteen years when I manage not to screw her up,” she laughs.
“You are going to make an amazing mum, just like you are an amazing wife, Love. You are perfect,” I reassure her.
My breath is taken away and one defiant tear escapes. I brush at it quickly before anyone notices. Reaching down I nudge the towel away from her face to get a better look at my little Bella. Wow!
A wide range of emotions run through me. Her little face is so serene. You would never know her world was turned upside down literally, just a few hours ago. I feel a fierce protectiveness wash over me. It has just hit me that Raphael Giordano meant to take both my wife and daughter from me.
This I cannot allow. The need to keep my friend and God daughters safe has intensified tenfold when it comes to my wife and our little girl. With a shaky hand I run my fingers over her mass of dark blonde curls. When her eyes slide open at my touch I suck a breath in. I had no doubt she would end up with blue eyes but to see her mama’s blue orbs staring back at me from her tiny beautiful face is a powerful feeling.
“You did well, Valentina. Very well,” I tell my wife with pride.
~B~
I’m physically and emotionally exhausted. Uri was able to get an update on Uncle Valentine for me before I finally passed out, unable to hold my lids open for a second more. The last thing I remember was Uri cradling our baby girl in his arms singing to her in Italian.
If I wasn’t so exhausted I probably would have been brought to tears. The song he sung so beautifully to our daughter tugged at a memory of my mother singing that very same song to me. I could also remember my father’s raspy voice as he tried to sing me the same song once after my mother was gone.
I fell asleep thinking that I am one of the luckiest women in the world. I have a beautiful little girl and a husband that I love with everything I am. I was able to sigh in relief when Uri said that Uncle Valentine is expected to make a full recovery. He will just be in a wheelchair for his broken leg since he took a bullet to the shoulder and will not be able to support his weight on crutches.
