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"I also mean well, if I gouge anyone's eyes out today."
"Actually, stabbing with forks is Emilio's job," Enzo replied, catching another nasty look from me.
"You know, and actually, this," I said, gesturing to my belly, "is your fault. Maybe I should take my frustration out on you?"
"If that involves you sitting on me…"
Emilio snorted. "Your son will be born with psychological problems."
I shoved a forkful of cake into my mouth and shrugged. "The son is a daughter, and if she gets anything from me, she'll rip your asses up to the ribs by the time she's a year and a half old at the latest."
As casually as I had dropped this information, it took a few seconds for either of them to react. Enzo was the first to realize what I had said and promptly turned in my direction, only to scrutinize me from top to bottom.
"What was that just now,maga?"
Again I shrugged, continuing to be more concerned with the cake than the sex of my child. "You're having a daughter, not a son," I repeated.
Emilio apparently had enough where Vincenzo was at a loss for words. "Merda, this changes everything! Who's going to look after her? Make sure nothing happens to her?Why the hell didn't you mention this before?"
I rolled my eyes. "Because she'll be fine. She's going to be just fine. Excellent. Even without a whole gaggle of worried uncles watching over her like a pack of lion mommies."
Casually, I let my free hand slide to Enzo's. His was trembling slightly. I stroked it with my thumb. "She's going to befine. I know she will. Besides, you've got plenty of time to think of a name on your own now, Vince. After all, no one else will know she's a girl until the birth." Meaningfully, I looked at Emilio.
He nodded, obviously respecting my wish.
"Would you leave us alone for a moment?" Enzo asked his brother, who promptly disappeared.
I put the fork aside and put my hand on Enzo's cheek. As if by itself, his found its way to my belly in a protective gesture. "You could have mentioned this earlier, you know."
"And risk you not letting me out of the house because it's more dangerous with a girl in your belly than with a boy? Out of the question."
"We both know who is overprotective in this family and who is not." His gaze slid to his sister and Emilio.
I shrugged. "Does it change anything? The gender? It's still your kid."
"Actually, it just means that I get the opportunity to see a smaller version of you grow up. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it."
Smiling softly, I pulled him closer so I could kiss him just as gently. His family would become a plague, that much was certain. But also that Enzo would become an incredibly good father. And to experience that, I would put up with anything.
VINCENZO
"Are you sure you want to take her with you?" Emilio asked, frowning and looking outside.
"What's wrong with that?" I replied, crossing my arms.
It didn't matter if I left or took her with me; the worry would remain the same. The only difference was that in one of these scenarios, I left her in the care of my siblings, and in the other, I ensured her safety myself.
"So far, no one knows of her existence. You could…"
"Let her grow up the same way as Carlotta?" I gave Emilio a dismissive sideways glance. I certainly wouldn't subject my daughter to the same childhood my sister had gone through.
"At least you never had to worry about her."
"Until you had to," I muttered, shaking my head. No, leaving her here with the others was out of the question. "I have no problem showing her the world. And if she knows what's lurking out there, she'll approach the whole thing with more sense and respect than Carlotta ever did."
Granted, none of us were predisposed to keeping our own mortality in mind when we put ourselves in danger, but Carlotta had overstepped the mark a few times. I often wondered if it was her way of making up for the years she had spent in the villa's safety, away from prying eyes.
"At her age, she's unlikely to understand what this is all about."
