by Belle Aurora
“You do?” she breathed, and in that moment, I knew it was what she needed to hear, what she prayed to hear from me. If I’d told her I’d never wanted to hear his name spoken, Nikki would delete Happy’s number and pretend the last five years of her life never happened. I, however, was not so cruel. This was my issue to deal with, not hers.
“I do, babe.” And I meant that. “I mean, I wouldn’t make it easy on him.” When she let out a soggy laugh, I smiled. That smile fell as an awkward silence ensued. “Talk to him, Nikki. It’s okay. I want you to.”
My best friend was silent a long moment, but when she spoke I felt those words deep in my soul. “I love you, Lexi.”
“I love you too, Nik Nak.” I blew out a long breath, putting a hand to my forehead as my eyes closed. “And as soon as I know what the hell is going on, we’ll talk, okay?” Before I hung up, I asked, “How’s Dave?” At her scoff, my face bunched. “That good, huh?”
She hesitated. “He’s... uh... upset.”
I couldn’t help the soft laugh that bubbled up my throat. Knowing Dave, upset was the biggest understatement of the century, and when I heard Nikki’s responding laughter, the hilarity increased. It was such an unbelievable situation. That’s what made it all the more comical.
It felt good to laugh in the face of despair. I was pretty sure I was treading the thin line between sanity and hysteria.
When we finally got ourselves under control, I chuckled. “Well, I’m going to go now and try not to think on the fact that my ex just returned from the dead, lives across the street from me, and is trying to insert himself back into my life.”
Nikki gasped loudly. “He lives across the street?”
Ugh. I was not talking about this. “Okay, so bye.”
“Wait!” she called, but I already had my finger on the end call button.
I did not have the strength to deal. Not today.
Chapter Thirteen
Lexi
“Can I come in?”
My cold eyes roamed the small woman, and when Manda held up her hands in a conciliating way, she uttered quickly, “I found out by accident. I was never meant to know. I swear it.” She inhaled deeply, and carried on through an exhale, “Our dad doesn’t even know yet.” Her face bunched at the thought. “And, shit, is he going to be pissed at me.”
I studied her a moment. Old habits died hard and curiosity had always been my failing. I mean, look at where it got me with Twitch. Pregnant by a criminal and alone in the world—that’s where.
Truth was, I wanted to know the facts and I needed to talk to somebody who knew what the fuck was going on here. Manda might just be that person. Lord knows I didn’t want Twitch anywhere near me right now.
Without a word, I stepped aside and with a tight smile, she moved past me, into the house. I gently shut the door behind us and followed her into the kitchen. When Manda saw A.J., her smile beamed. “Hey, you.” But A.J. barely spared a smile for his aunt before walking into his room, and Manda frowned. “Is he okay?”
No, he wasn’t.
I folded my arms across my chest. “He wants his daddy.”
Manda nodded in understanding, and I was thankful for her not offering her advice in this uncomfortable situation.
Molly stood from the kitchen table, staring Manda in the eye before peering at me. “I’ll get him ready for bed.”
“Thanks, Molly.” She really was a godsend. When I walked toward the fridge, I spoke along the way. “I take it you’re here to talk.”
At least she had the grace to look uncomfortable. “Yeah. I thought I should come bridge the gap.”
I brought out a bottle of white wine and held it in my hand. “I guess we’re going to need this.” But before I left the fridge, I twisted back to her and uttered, “How bad is it?” At her clear grimace, I reached into the fridge with a sigh and pulled out a second bottle, while muttering, “Rock ‘n Roll.” Bumping the fridge door shut with my butt, I jerked my chin toward the cabinet to the left before slipping on my Pikachu slippers. “Grab a couple of glasses, will ya? Let’s sit on the porch.”
When we were both seated, I opened the wine and filled our glasses.
Manda started, “Well—”
But I cut her off with a click of my tongue. Inhaling deeply, I spoke a hushed, “Let me prepare,” and lifting my glass, I put it to my lips, tipped it back, and swallowed over and over again until its contents were gone. Manda’s eyes widened at my unladylike hiccup, and I poured again. “One more.” I emptied the second glass then smiled. “Okay, I’m good. Lay it on me.”
“Where do you want to me start?” she offered slowly.
What a question. “From the beginning, of course.”
“I don’t go back that far, I’m afraid,” she said with a sad smile. “Like I said, I only found out my brother was alive by accident, and I can only tell you what I know. So how about I start with a bit of background on our family?”
Sure, why not? “Proceed.”
Was I already tipsy? Felt like it.
“Okay,” Manda started. “Well, let’s begin with the most senior member of the Falco family, Antonio Falco Senior, or Papa Tony as he’s referred to on the streets.”
“The streets?” I blinked. At her blank stare, my shoulders drooped. Ah, heck. “Your dad’s a mobster?”
Manda’s lips pursed before she motioned toward the bottle and feigned a smile. “Drink up.”
All right then.
Looked like I was going to need it. Taking her advice, I drank from my glass and she refilled it without judgment, and at that moment, I loved my sister-in-law.
“Papa Tony had been a high hitter his entire life, working his way up from nothing. He was a part of a firm called Occhi Bianchi, as his father was, like his father before him.” She sipped her wine. “My dad was young when he married my mother, Angela Rossi, and like most arranged marriages, neither of them were happy about the situation.” She shrugged. “Long story short, my brothers were born days apart at the same hospital. Mom knew Dad screwed around and didn’t really care, up until Zep was born. I don’t know what happened to her, but something changed and she asked my father to be faithful to her so they could show their children how a family truly loves.” Manda’s eyes set on me. “You should know my father loved Tony’s mother. He loved her a lot. But he was married, and although he honored his wife’s wishes to remain faithful, he gave his name to his bastard son. Of course, he never saw the boy again.”
How sad. I listened intently.
Manda went on. “When I was born, my father refused to give me his name.”
My brow bunched. What the shit? “Because you’re a girl?”
“No. He did it to protect me,” she said carefully. “He gave me my mother’s name and sent me to live with her sister. I grew up in another state, away from my parents, and this was done because my father’s status had elevated a great deal over a short period. Everyone wanted to be connected to Antonio Falco, even if it meant marrying his children. My father didn’t want that for me. He knew one day Zep would likely marry for alliance, and he wanted at least one of his children to marry for love.
“Unfortunately,” she went on with a smile, “by an awful stroke of luck, I happened to be living a life away from the sleazy underworld my father was so heavily involved in when, by chance, I was working the late shift in an ER in Chicago and I was kidnapped by a couple of thugs. The same kind of thugs my father tried desperately to keep me from.”
Putting a hand to my mouth, I gasped loudly. “No way. How did they know who you were?”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “They didn’t. It was pure dumb luck that they’d chosen me, and when I arrived at the mansion, I was dragged into a room with a heavily bleeding man. He had multiple gunshot wounds. I had no tools, no equipment. Hell, I didn’t even have bandages.” She sipped at her wine then inclined her head slightly. “It was then I was told if that man died, so would I.”
“Oh my God.” I was positively
enthralled and leaned in to her. “What did you do?”
“Whatever I could to keep him alive,” she told me. “He lost a lot of blood, and although I removed the bullets I could find and sealed the wounds, I wasn’t seeing the improvement I was hoping to see. After a whole lot of cussing and some wild convincing, I managed to talk one of the thugs into letting me back into the hospital for supplies. By the time we made it back, the man’s condition worsened and I thought I’d lose him, in turn losing my own life. So I did the only thing I could.”
I leaned in, wide-eyed. “What’s that?”
“I told him if he died on me, I’d bring him back and kill him all over again.”
I blinked at her a moment before a shocked laugh left me. What a wild story.
“Countless IVs and days later, the man regained consciousness, and when he looked into my eyes, something happened to me. It was like a spark—faint, but it was there.” Manda smiled softly. “I spent weeks at that mansion looking after the surly man. Day after day, he cursed me as I cared for him, and I couldn’t wait to be out of there. Only, the day I was finally allowed to leave—” She looked at me, melancholy. “—I didn’t want to go.”
“Ugh.” I held a hand to my heart. “You fell in love?” At her slow, dejected nod, I asked, “What did you do?”
Manda grinned then, holding out her left hand. “Married him, of course.”
I looked down at the sparkly platinum ring then back up to the woman herself. My brow knitted. “You are out of your mind.”
“I know,” she said, beaming. “But the right man will do that to a sane woman.”
Sheesh. Didn’t I know it?
Preach, honey.
“So, I became Mrs. Evander MacDiarmid. My husband is the don of Highland Steel, and,” she drawled, “he’s so fucking hot. I swear to God, all he needs to do is talk in that Scottish accent and I’m tearing my damn clothes off.”
Her admission was so unexpected that I laughed out loud, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Manda.” Dirty girl.
I liked this woman. She was pretty damn cool.
She grinned, and I saw so much of Twitch in it my heart panged. “Sorry. It’s been weeks and I miss him.”
Weeks?
Bitch, please.
I scoffed. “Try six years.” When she blinked in shock, my brows arched as I lifted my glass in cheers before downing the contents in one gulp.
Yeah. Take a seat.
“You never...?” She trailed off.
I shook my head, and spoke quietly, “No.”
“Why not?” Her brows furrowed in question.
Because I loved your brother so much it still hurts.
Because when I lost him, I lost myself.
Because when he told me I’d never want anyone else, I thought he was just being arrogant.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t.
“I don’t know,” I lied easily enough. “I guess being a mom just kept me busy.”
As we sat in the open air in a comfortable silence, Manda spoke and she did it gently. “You’ve got to talk to him, Lexi.” When I chanced a glance at her, she added, “If nothing more than for closure.”
I remained silent, sipping my wine, but after some time passed, I replied, “I know. I’m just not ready yet.”
Not a second passed, before she uttered, “He saved Ana’s life, you know.” At my confused glance, she nodded. “I was there.” Her eyes turned bleak. “She was dying and Tony saved her.”
Wait. Ana had lived in my home for months. She never mentioned this. “Did she know?”
“No.” Manda shook her head. “She does now. She’s grateful. Julius, even more so, even though he doesn’t want to admit it.” She peered over. “It’s only a matter of time before he’s accepted back into the fold by his brothers.” Why did that sound so foreboding? “I don’t know my brother like a sister should, but I’m getting there, and from what little I do know, I can guarantee you something, Lexi.” Her expression was grim. “He’s not going to give up his son.”
You know what? No.
I sat up tall, my back rigid. “He doesn’t have a choice on that front.”
Manda twisted her body to me, her eyes imploring. “Listen to yourself. Do you even know who you’re talking about here? We’re not talking about a regular guy trying to get partial custody over his kid. We’re talking Antonio ‘Twitch’ Falco. If you don’t give him something—” She let out a soft sigh. “—I’m concerned he’ll take it without asking.”
Okay. Maybe she did know a little about her brother. “I’ll deal with it.”
Soon after, Manda left, and as I sat alone in my bedroom, my anxiety rose when I pondered how long I would have before Twitch started to take without asking.
I didn’t know what time it was when the knock sounded at the door, but it was still dark out. Waking with a jolt, my heart thumped when the knock sounded again, this time louder than the last.
Sliding out of bed, I slipped on my Pikachu slippers and shrugged on my silken kimono before heading out my room and down the hall. I heard Molly approach from behind, and when I peered out of the frosted side window, I sighed at the familiar hooded shadow before opening the door. “Go awa—” The statement died on my lips when I spotted the bundle he was holding.
“You lose somethin’?” Twitch asked sleepily, holding A.J. in his arms.
My heart stopped.
I blinked in confusion, my lips parted, and when I reached out for him, Twitch pulled back.
Before I could think, I hissed, “Give me my son.”
His face darkened, and he cradled our sleeping son in his arms as he spoke low. “I know you’re pissed at me, and I deserve that, so I’m gonna let it fly the way you just threw an accusation at me. I know you’re mad, which is why I’m not gonna mention that my son somehow got out of his room, out of the safety of his fucking house in the middle of the night with two grown-ass women inside who are meant to be keeping him safe. I’m also not gonna mention how he crossed the street in the dark, where he could’ve been hit by a car or snatched up and taken away without a fucking trace.” Shit. He looked furious. I hated that he had a right to be. Without hesitation, he handed me my son and I held him close, shutting my eyes and breathing him in as I stroked his head and rocked him. And Twitch watched me closely. “I know you’re upset, and that’s why I’m not gonna mention any of that shit tonight.” He took a step back, away from me, but his eyes spoke volumes. “But tomorrow, we’re gonna talk.”
He turned and strode back across the street barefoot, wearing nothing but boxers and his hoodie, and my entire being hummed in fright, because there was no getting out of it.
Tomorrow, we would talk.
Dread had me on edge, and I was sure that was the only reason I did what I did that afternoon.
Coming home from work, I looked forward to seeing my little man after the stern talking to I’d given him that morning. Waking as I did the night before was the scariest thing I’d ever experienced in my life. Waking to find my child out of bed, knowing he’d slipped out of the back door and walked around the house to find his father in the middle of the night was a terrifying thought.
All the things that could’ve happened to him played in my mind on repeat, and I was ready to talk. Or so I thought.
So when I came home to an empty house, I started to panic. My feet took me from room to room and found A.J.’s schoolbag by his bed. My heart picked up pace. Molly always let me know if they were going somewhere, and after last night’s scare, I was petrified at the thought of where my son could be.
I reached into my bag and pulled out my cell, dialing Molly’s phone.
My brow lowered when I heard it ringing in the kitchen.
Oh, God.
My panic quadrupled.
Where are they?
My hands shook as I searched the house once more, including the back yard, and came up empty. By the time I was finished, stone-cold dread ate away at me. Taking my keys into my shaking hands,
I jogged down the hall and out of the house just as A.J. and Molly exited the house across the street. I don’t know what they were doing or why they were there, but immediately, I fumed.
They spotted me and Molly waved while Twitch kept a watchful eye on me.
My anger rose with every step, and by the time I reached them, I snatched my son’s hand out of Molly’s and held it tightly in mine then got into his father’s uneasy face. “I’m only going to tell you this once, Twitch. You stay away from us. From me. From A.J.” My voice rose. “You stay away.”
My heart was thumping so hard I could barely hear myself over the persistent thud. Without giving him a chance to respond, I all but dragged my son back home, and as he cried, my heart ached.
“No, Mummy. No!” My heart raced, as A.J. shouted, “Daddy, don’t leave again. I want to be with you!” When he screeched, “Daddy,” at the top of his lungs, I could hardly breathe.
I pulled my son into the house, and when the door closed behind us, I turned on Molly. “Where were you? I called and your phone is in the goddamn kitchen. What a shitty, irresponsible thing to do, Molly!”
Molly blinked in shock. I’d never spoken to her like that before. “We were there for five minutes, Lex. A.J. made something for his dad at school and couldn’t wait to take it over.” Her brow furrowed and her voice turned quiet. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”
I spoke over A.J.’s piercing cries. “Well, I do! Jesus, Molly. You scared the crap out of me.” My bravado started to fail. “Do you know how it felt to come home, no note, unable to call you after last night?” My voice cracked. “I was terrified.”
It hit her then, and Molly’s face fell. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t,” I stated, walking A.J. into his room. When I knelt in front of him, gripped his upper arms, I spoke softly. “Honey, you can’t do that. You can’t just leave whenever you want. You have to ask Mommy.”
A.J. spoke through the tears. “I want Daddy.”
