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“Roman, you’re here! You…” She saw the little girl hanging around my neck and tilted her head. “You’re not alone.”
“No, I’m not. Romina, please say hello.”
She looked up and waved at no one in particular, but all eyes were on her. Everyone stopped – even little Enzo settled and was sucking very peacefully on his pacifier. They were all looking at her face, her features, her eyes, and one by one they started to see the resemblance. I didn’t have to say anything because they could see she was a Stefani. Romina Stefani. My daughter.
“Wow.” Vincenzo whispered, but I still heard him.
Ignazio was the first one to crack the silence.
“Muse, the young prince is falling asleep. I will put him down for you.” Muse gave him a nod. “Maybe the young lady would like to come down to the kitchen with me and we can grab a soda for her?”
He was buying me some time.
“Romina,” I asked her, “would you like to go with Ignazio and get a soda?”
“Umm,” she shrugged and nibbled on her lip.
“It’s ok, you can go. Ignazio is a very good friend, ok?”
“Ok, then, I would like a soda.”
When I handed her to Ignazio, I made a sign to him to keep his mouth shut and he understood quickly what I meant. The second the doors closed behind them, Catherinelle came to me and took my face into her hands, forcing me to look straight into her blue eyes.
“What did you do? Is she…? She can’t be, right?” She looked over her shoulder at Gino and Hugo, but they were pretty shocked too. “Roman, is that kid like a niece of yours or something?”
The last part was a ridiculous question since Cat knew my entire family very damn well and I had no nieces.
“Catherinelle, she is my daughter. Romina is my kid.” I clarified what they already knew from the moment they saw Romina. “Her mom calls her Remy, she is six…”
“What the hell, man?” Gino stepped towards me. “When did this happen? How did this happen? You’re always careful with your women.” That was an understatement. Ever since Salva left me, I haven't seen any other woman. Except from my dick going inside them – with a wrapper, of course – there was no damn contact. I didn’t lose my head in a woman and come inside her ever since…well, I guess since Romina was conceived.
“Her mom?” Gino stopped and thought about the words. He wasn’t stupid. Surely, I didn’t have to explain that to him. “It’s her, isn’t it?” The displeased undertone didn’t escape my ear.
“Salvatrice, yes.”
“That’s why you went away on your own. You traced that bitch who…”
“The mother of my child, don.” I growled before giving him the chance to go any further.
“The woman who turned you away from your family, from your oath, from us, and then left you without a second glance.” And there it was. I guess it had to be addressed.
Gino, Hugo, and I were brothers. Raised together, sworn into the famiglia together, and we’d probably die together. We didn’t share the same blood, or the Nucci name, but we shared brotherhood. The only part of my life that didn’t involve Gino and Hugo was the time I shared with Salvatrice, for obvious reasons. I wanted my brothers to meet the woman I loved, but I couldn’t throw her to the wolves. She hated this part of me and the life that came with it. First time I met Salva, she was still cut open; the child that watched her parents being killed by people that looked exactly like my brothers and me.
I would have done everything to protect her, that’s why instead of bringing her into my family, I told Gino and Hugo that I wanted out. For good. It’s been a long time, but now old wounds were being opened and it seemed like the boss man still carried some resentment for my decision to walk away from him. Fuck it, that was his problem.
I tightened my fists, but forced my voice to remain level.
“Ok, Gino, enough. I didn’t look for Salvatrice, but somehow, she was there in Portofino with a child in her arms. She was there, brother. Now look into my eyes and tell me that’s not a fucking sign.” He’d been to church enough times to know that sometimes God showed himself like that. “What was I supposed to do, turn my back on my daughter? She doesn’t even know I’m her father yet, but I want her so bad.”
“Of course not, fratello. The child is a blessing, but I’m looking out for you. That shrew of a woman almost cost you everything once.”
“Enough!” I raised my voice at Gino, which had never happened before. Not because he was the boss, but because he was family. “You’re holding a grudge against me for wanting to leave the famiglia, I get it. If you want hold that against Salvatrice, go ahead, no one gives a damn. I’m not asking you to like her, but you will respect her, brother.”
“Watch it, Stefani.”
His ‘don voice’ never worked with me, especially now when I was ready to punch something.
“Stop acting like dick, man. This is not a business meeting, so cut the boss bullshit. This is my family I’m talking about, and I meant every word. Salvatrice and I have a child to raise – together – so you have to suck it up because she will be in your life, Gino.”
