I nodded and took another bite of food. I quickly chewed and sighed. “Like I said, he wasn’t a nice man. I never made it to the compound I was supposed to be sent to. I was at some holdingcompound, but the guys there beat, drugged, and raped us. It was pure luck we were rescued by the council when we were.”
“I’m sorry, Abel. I didn’t know. Marcello did, obviously, but your story hasn’t been shared with the coven.”
I shrugged again. “It’s okay. I mean, it’s not exactly a happy story to tell.” I picked up a strip of bacon and had it gone in three bites. I moaned and closed my eyes at the deliciousness of it. It wasn’t too crispy, but not soggy either.
“Why didn’t the council do something about your father?”
“I was always told he went into hiding. I’m not sure how Marcello found him, but I guess he did.”
Mazzi snorted. “This coven can find people. It might take some time, and it sometimes has negative consequences, but Master Vincent is incredible at finding people.”
I nodded. Marcello had told me about Sandro’s brother, Vittorio. That was right after he’d scented me. Then they’d lost one of their own, and it hit them all hard.
“I’m sorry about Vittorio,” I said.
“I didn’t know him either. I do know Sandro, and before he left, he did try his best to help me. He loved his little brother very much, and he’s fighting demons that we can’t help him fight.”
I nodded in understanding. “I wish the council was more understanding. I mean, I get it. This coven doesn’t exactly obey rules, and they do some not-so-legal things. But the council has four really great psychologists that help us. All of the omegas, and sometimes alphas, that are rescued are offered therapy, and it really helped me. I had zero issues with things happening between me and Marcello.” I made a face. “Well, except for the fact that he’s in a mafia family. There was that issue.”
Mazzi laughed. “I understand. My family had issues with that as well.” He sighed. “It’s why I have nothing to do with them anymore and never will. You aren’t supposed to come between fated mates or Ones, and they tried.”
I sighed. “Yeah, that’s what Master Edison and Master Ambrosius tried too. I mean, I get it. They were trying to protect me, and they didn’t know I was fated to Marcello.”
“I’m sorry about that,” Mazzi said. “We shouldn’t have taken you like we did.”
I shrugged. “Eh, it’s all good. It worked out, and I know you were trying to help Marcello. I appreciate it.” I reached down and pressed on my stomach, where one of the twins was pushing outward. I was due in three weeks, and the babies were already out of room.
“Are you all right?” Mazzi asked, suddenly concerned.
“I’m good.” I took a deep breath when the baby finally stopped stretching. “One of the twins is stretching or something because he or she is very much trying to press on my diaphragm and my bladder at the same time.”
Mazzi winced. “I know what that’s like, but at least I only had the one.”
I nodded. “Knowing my luck, I’ll end up always having twins.” I sighed. Not that that would be terrible. That would mean two pregnancies, and I’d be good. I only wanted three or four babies anyway. That was a good number. But then again, so was two. One for each daddy. Even numbers.
I took another strip of bacon and ate it.
“Mio angelo? I will be home soon,”Marcello said suddenly through our bond. He’d been quiet for a while now, and my emotions were all very confusing. I loved Marcello. And my father absolutely wasn’t a good man. Marcello had described him perfectly. Uriah Barns was a rotten soul, and really, Carla Barns wasn’t much better. She had let my father and brothers abuse me for years.
“Marcello is on his way back to the villa,” I told Mazzi. “I guess that means it’s done.”
Mazzi placed his hand on my arm. “Are you all right?”
I looked at the warlock and smiled. “I am. Really. Any love I would have ever felt for my dad was dead long before he shoved me in that trunk. There might have been a little bit of hope, but yeah, I’m okay.”
Naldo returned to the room, but Tulio wasn’t with him. I assumed that meant the little guy was sleeping after his bottle, but that was expected. He was only three weeks old.
I glanced between the two and suddenly felt like I was intruding. “I should go,” I said as I started to stand.
“But you haven’t finished eating,” Mazzi said.
I picked up the plate. “I’ll take it with me and leave the plate and silverware in the kitchen. That’s where it came from, right? It looks like the same set.”
“Yes, but don’t feel like you have to leave.”
“I don’t. But I also don’t want to interrupt any alone time the two of you have. I know it’s precious when you have a newborn, and you probably could use a nap or…something.” I leaned down and gave Mazzi a one-armed hug. “Thank you for breakfast. It’s perfect and delicious, and way better than what I had the other day from the kitchen.” I was still trying to get used to the differences in cuisine, but it was slow going.
“You’re welcome. You are more than welcome to stay and wait here for Marcello.”
