Sammy was right to stick to his instincts. Lovie has gained all our respect on a new level. The Bellas have proved they can bend, but they are never to be broken.
“Aye, come have a drink with me.” Logan comes over with a grin on his face and a bottle in his hand.
“I thought you weren’t going to drink too much tonight. What happened?”
“Ach, apparently our wedding wasn’t enough. She wants another wedding.”
I roar with laughter. “You already caved, didn’t you?”
“Aye, she and your wife are going to start planning when we get back to New York. They have my black card.”
“Da, I think they planned this,” Misha grumbles as he comes over with a bottle of vodka in his hand.
“Ach, wouldn’t put it past any of them.”
Misha snorts. “Milanie want to be flower girl. How can I tell them both no?”
I laugh. “A house in New York and a wedding—sounds like your wife has you by the balls.”
“Aye, that she does,” Logan chuckles.
“Da, laugh now. When she wants to shop, whose wives will she call?”
I shrug. “I let my wife shop. I love the fashion shows I get after. I never complain.”
“Aye, this is true. After what they have done for the Alliance, I wouldn’t deny her a thing.Ach, I’m looking forward to our wedding.”
“Da, I didn’t do enough first time. I owe her more,” Misha says thoughtfully.
“Aye, from what I heard, you’re lucky she’s married to ya at all,” Logan laughs.
I turn and move for the table we were sitting at earlier. “Come, let’s toast,” I call over my shoulder.
Uri and Micheal appear and have a seat with us. Not even a full minute later, Czar, Vlad, and Alexei join us as well. Lively banter surrounds the table and my heart swells.
We were put to the test and made it out of the fire, not even smelling of smoke. My smile widens when my son comes over and takes a seat beside me. Sammy is the sharpest dressed twelve-year-old I know. His tailored three-piece suit looks good on him.
The kid has his own personal tailor now. I shake my head as that thought enters my head. Val has designed a shoe collection just for him.
The S-Locatelli does well too. I’m proud of my boy. I’m proud of all my sons.
Paulie has gotten better. However, I know it’s only because he’s gotten wiser and doesn’t allow himself to get caught. I’m not going to punish him for being smart.
At this point, I can only teach him right from wrong and hope someday he grows into an honorable man. My daughters amaze me each day as well. I’m a very proud father.
There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about my youngest, Lucia.
I wish I had more time with her. As my heart begins to ache, I wrap an arm around Sammy’s shoulders and tug him into me. He looks up at me and gives me a smile. I tighten my hold and smile back down at him.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yeah, I’m having a great time. All my family is happy and safe. You can relax, Dad. I’ve got it from here.”
I wink at him and chuckle as his words sink in. Something deep within tells me I can hold on to his words. I kiss the top of his head then give him a tighter squeeze.
When I look up, I find my wife on the dance floor having a good time with a smile on her face. This is what I do it all for. My family is everything to me.
Tasha
