Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Gianluca
“Wow, Gianluca Mancini’s a dad.” Anthony Masterson, our pitcher chuckles.
I laugh. “It’s not something I thought would happen.”
“How are things going? When are we going to get to meet him?”
“My family’s bringing him to the game today, it’s his first live game. I wish I could sit out there with him.”
“Yeah, when my kids saw their first live games, it was fun because I could see them cheering. But at the same time, I felt like I was missing out on it with them. Now that they’re older, they tell me how much they love watching me play.
They’re who I play for.” Harrison Hendricks, our first baseman tells us.
Harrison’s new to the team and so far he seems like a really great guy.
He’s been my roommate when we’re gone for away games.
I see so many players step out on their wives when we’re on the road.
But not Harrison. He goes out with everyone, but never talks to the women that come around. And he’s always texting his wife.
“Does it get easier?”
“Yes and no. It makes me smile to see them cheering for me, but there’s times I still wish I could experience it with them.”
“Right now he’s so little that he doesn’t understand what I do. But he does like to throw the ball with me. So that’s been a lot of fun.”
“Kids are a trip and being a dad? Well that’s a whole different part of life, but you’re going to love it.” Harrison laughs.
I laugh as I nod. I already love being a papà to Giancarlo. We head out to the field to warm up. I’ll be able to spend a little time with everyone after that. I don’t know why I’m so nervous, but I want my son to have the best time at his first game.
“Papà!” I hear Giancarlo call out.
I smile and wave at him. I can see the smile on his face, he’s my heart.
“He’s a cute kid.” Harrison says as he’s waving to his kids too.
“Thank you. It’s crazy how I can’t imagine my life without him now.”
“Kids are like that. They worm their way into your heart and stay there. Even when they’re being little shits.” He laughs.
“I know how my siblings and I were growing up. I pray Giancarlo isn’t like that.”
“Oh just you wait. They say kids are worse than their parents.”
“I’m so fucked. Are your kids worse than you?”
“My youngest is a terror. The older three? They were fucking angels. But Lance keeps us on our toes.”
“Maybe I’ll get lucky. Because so far he’s a great kid. The only times he isn’t is when he’s trying to understand why his mama’s not around.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not an easy situation. But he looks really happy.”
“I’m lucky to have my family to help. I don’t know how it would be without them. Especially with our schedule.”
“That’s how I feel about my wife. She’s a saint. I don’t know how she does it, four kids. Under seven. Somehow she does it all. I help when I’m home but when we’re away? It’s all on her.”
“If she ever needs help, I’m sure my family would help.”
“Thanks. I’ll let her know, her family is in Maine. So we don’t see them often. And mine suck so yeah.”
“My family loves to take in new ones. You guys should come to one of our get togethers. I’ll let you know when the next one is.”
“That would be awesome, thanks.”
We finish up warm ups and head back inside the clubhouse.
We have a dedicated family area in our clubhouse.
It’s a place where the families can hang out during the game if they want to.
Most are in the stands during the games.
But it’s here in case they want to be inside.
And I’ve noticed that most of the wives get along well, so there’s never any issues.
I see my brother Salvatore and his wife, Raven in the family room with Giancarlo.
I head over to them as he runs into my arms.
“I saw you pwaying.” He giggles.
“That was called warm ups. The game hasn’t started yet.” I say as I kiss his face.
“Warm up is fun. Dere were odder kids yelling at their papà’s.”
“I heard them and I heard you. Did you make any friends?”
“Yeah. But I don’t wemember dere names. Too many.” He giggles more.
I laugh as I introduce Gianluca to some of my teammates. He’s loving all the high fives and I love the smile that hasn’t left his face. I look at the time.
“I have to get ready. You go with Zio and Zia. You listen to them during the game, okay? I love you.”
“Otay, papà. Pway good! I wuv you.” he says as he hugs and kisses me.
I wave at them as I head to my locker and get ready. Before I had Giancarlo, my pre-game rituals were simple. I’d stick my earbuds in from the moment we did warms ups until it was time to hit the field. But now? I listen to my music right before the game to relax and zone out.
The first thing I do when I get onto the field is look for Giancarlo and my family.
It’s hard to miss the group of huge men.
I chuckle as I wave at him and I can see him clapping as my papà holds him.
I want them to be at every game. I’m a switch hitter, which means I can bat left handed or right handed.
I’m also fourth in the line up for batting.
It’s where I’ve been since my first year with the Panthers.
I’ve had a few grand slams because of where I am in the line up.
Hearing my bat hit that ball is always the best sound to hear.
It’s the bottom of the ninth and we’re trailing my one run.
I grab my bat and watch Harrison hit a grounder to left field as he gets to first base.
I make my way to home plate, before I get settled, I make sure to look up at Giancarlo.
He’s my world and this ones for him. I get ready and let the first pitch go, the umpire calls ball one.
Second pitch is a strike. I grip my bat.
Fuck this, next pitch is mine. I track the ball and swing.
Home run, grand fucking slam. I run around the bases and before I step onto home plate, I wave at my family.
As I step on the plate, my teammates are surrounding me. I fucking love baseball.
Gabriela
The pilot lets me know that the flight will take us about nine and a half hours.
At the last minute, my papá sent one of his men with me.
Diego García is one of my papá’s personal bodyguards for as long as I can remember.
I don’t like that he’s with me, he should be with my family.
Helping to protect them. My papá said that the Mancini’s have bodyguards too.
And while I’m there, Diego will be mine.
I do feel safer with him around and at least he’s someone I know.
When we were little, we called him Tío. Uncle.
A lot of our personal bodyguards are more like family for us.
And from what my papá has said, that’s not normally how it works. But it’s how our family works.
“I’m sorry you have to come with me. I know you’d rather be back home helping them fight.”
“There’s no need to be sorry. I’m where I need to be. Your papá didn’t want to send you to the Mancini’s. But this is the best way he knows to protect you.”
“But why only me? What about my mamá? Doesn’t she need protection too?”
“She has protection and they need to show a solid front together. That’s why your abuelo and abuela are there now too.”
I frown. “That means I should be there too. I’m family.”
“You are. But again, both your parents want you to be safe.”
“You keep saying that. But who’s to say the Russians won’t come after me in Lake Renegade?”
‘They might come after you. But being around the Mancini’s, you’ll be safer than you would back home. They have a big family and those families protect each other. Please trust that we’re all doing what’s best for you.”
I continue to frown at him. I don’t understand why it’s just me that’s being sent away. It’s like they think I’m a helpless little girl. But I’m not and I don’t like that I’ve been sent away.
“What if something happens to one of them? How will we know?”
“You know that I’ll be talking to them daily. And I promise I won’t keep that from you.”
“Well I still don’t like it.”
Diego laughs as I glare at him.
“Why are you laughing? There’s nothing funny about any of this.”
“Your papá told me that you’d be like this. I know you’re worried, but remember that you need to take care of you right now. Your familia knows what they’re doing. Everything’s going to turn out okay.”
I don’t know how Diego can be so calm right now. I’m not and I won’t be until I’m back with my family. I don’t even know this Mancini family. All I know about them is what my mamà’s told me about them. She’s friends with Rosaura. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be safe with them.
I do my best to ignore Diego for the rest of the flight. Which is hard because he takes up a lot of room on the plane. I look at my watch, somehow only two hours have passed. We still have seven hours on the plane. Maybe if I sleep it’ll go by faster.