Chapter 34 #2
“Because some things… Some people…are worth fighting for. I should’ve fought harder against your father back then, but if I had, you wouldn’t be happily married now.” He smiled, taking his seat.
“No, she would have been. Anastacia and I were put on this earth for one another. It just took us a while to see it.” I took her hand in mine, placing a kiss against her knuckles as the smile that brightened my life every single day graced her face.
A few days had passed since my mother shared the news of her and Artem. I had to admit, Ana took him returning well. He’d paid more attention to her in the last few days than her father had in years, but then again, Victor always was a cunt.
I stood in the doorway after returning from the basement gym, admiring her for a moment before she clocked me. She always knew when I was near. She wore a pair of my boxers and one of my T-shirts. She never looked so damn beautiful. She caressed her stomach, humming a gentle melody to our twins.
“I can feel you staring, you know.” She laughed without moving her gaze an inch.
“I do know, but since when is it a sin to stare at my wife?” I teased, stalking over to her. “Happy Valentine’s day, mi amore .” I smiled before I pressed a soft kiss against her lips.
I breathed her in. The new perfume I’d gotten her for Christmas complimented her perfectly. The sweet smell of Jasmine filled the air around us. It reminded me of our very first date night in Sicily.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, husband.”
I lowered myself to my knees, flattening my hands on her bump.
I could feel our babies kicking and wriggling around.
I never thought too much about it before she was pregnant.
I never thought how it would be to feel them kicking, to hear their heartbeats, or to see my wife’s body changing.
Nothing would ever compare to any of it.
“I hope you’re not giving your mama too much trouble in there.” I chuckled against her stomach.
“Mama cannot wait for them to come out.” She half smiled. I knew she was exhausted. She tossed and turned most nights, unable to get comfortable with or without that full body pillow. I never thought I’d ever be jealous of a pillow, but I was.
“Anytime now, wife.” I beamed, rising to my feet. “Are you sure you’re okay if I head to the club today? I need to meet Rox to go over those new numbers, but just say the word, and Red can deal with it.”
“Lorenzo, go. It’s fine. Nicolo is staying here with us, anyway,” she reassured me, but it didn’t make me feel any better.
“And you’re sure?” I asked yet again.
“Do I need to push you out the door for you to believe me?” She laughed.
“Alright, alright, less of the threats,” I teased. “I’ll pick you up some fries and ice cream on the way back.” Her favourite craving this whole pregnancy was that combination, and as vile as I thought it sounded, it was actually pretty damn good.
“You better make that two lots. I’m not sharing with you.” She relaxed back on the bed as she spoke, taking the weight off.
“Okay, I’ll get three lots then, and we can have extra.” I smiled.
“I knew there was a reason I loved you.” She giggled, unable to hide her amusement.
“You love me for many reasons, mi amore .” I leaned down to her, brushing my lips against hers. “Call me if you need me, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
I relaxed back in the booth of the dimly lit VIP room as I waited for Rox to arrive. He had never been one to stick to the time, and my patience was wearing thin.
Red, ever the joker, leaned in with a wink. “So, what are your Valentine’s Day plans?”
“I’m going to let Ana pick a movie while she eats what she’s craving, and hopefully, she’ll get a better night’s sleep.” I smiled, my mind drifting instantly to my wife.
Gino chuckled, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Ah, guys, they grow up so fast, don’t they?” The joke was met with a swift swat on the back of his head from me.
“You’re a funny fucker, aren’t you?” I scoffed.
The door creaked open, capturing everyone’s attention. Rox sauntered in, his cheap aftershave announcing his arrival. His gold canine tooth glinted in the dim light as he flashed a grin. “Lorenzo, how wonderful to see you again! How’s the wife? I heard she’s pregnant.”
“My wife is none of your business, so how about we get on with ours, as I’d rather not be here all day.” My tone was firm as I narrowed my eyes at Rox. He took a seat opposite me.
“Wow, don’t you trust her home alone?” Rox’s smirk widened as my hand twitched. The urge to draw my blade almost overwhelmed me.
“Remember who you’re fucking talking to,” I snapped. “I won’t hesitate to finish what I started last time if you make one more smart ass remark.”
Rox’s smirk faltered, his posture shifting as he backpedaled. “I apologise. I didn’t mean any offence.”
“Sounds like you never do, stupid prick,” Red chimed in from beside me, clearly unimpressed.
The air in the room grew heavier as Rox poured himself a bourbon from the bottle on the table. “How about I apologise over a drink?”
“I’m not drinking.” My jaw clenched, my refusal more than clear.
Rox’s eyebrows rose, as if to challenge me. “Too good to drink with me?”
This asshole was on thin ice, and my patience was wearing thin. “It isn’t about you, as much as you wish it were. I won’t drink while my wife is pregnant.”
“Exactly, your wife is pregnant. You’re not.” Rox’s grin returned, his tone mocking. “She’s not here. She’d never know.”
“Maybe not, but that isn’t my style. My wife could go into labour any day now which means she’ll need me. I can’t drive her anywhere if I’m over the limit. I will not risk her life or our babies lives for alcohol, got it?” I hissed. I’d already had enough of this bastard.
“Fine, you win.” He held up his hands, giving up completely.
“I did win, yeah.” I wasn’t talking about the drink, but he didn’t seem to know that. I had won in life. The second Ana became my wife, I’d won, and when our babies were born, I’d win again. I’d always win at life with the three of them.
“You know, you’re a lucky man, Lorenzo. Not many can balance this life with a family.” Rox smiled.
“Many aren’t me, though.” I strummed my fingers on the table. “Let’s begin.”
The meeting proceeded with a tense silence, my knife laid flat on the table, its presence a silent warning to the man sitting opposite me with a shit-eating grin.
Rox’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he glanced at it, his earlier bravado replaced by a cautious respect.
Gino and Red stood by my side, their presence a reminder of the unity that bound us.
“So, everything is exactly the same, and after that slip up, we’ve been satisfied with the weapons. We want to extend the contract.” I paused. “For now.” My smile was faint, but genuine, as Rox snatched the pen from my hand, his eagerness evident.
“And for the future, I’ve learnt my lesson.” Rox cleared his throat, but only time would tell if he had.
The door to the VIP room burst open with a force that made everyone in the dimly lit booth turn their heads, including mine.
Finn rushed in, his face flushed and his tie askew as if he sprinted through a storm to get here.
“Lorenzo! Boss!” he gasped, unsure of what to call me as he stopped just beside me.
I jumped to my feet, my brow furrowed in confusion.
“It’s Ana!” Finn panted, his words tumbling out in a rush.
The room fell silent, the usual hum of conversation and clinking glasses halted as all eyes fell on me.
“What the fuck happened to Ana?!” My voice was sharp, the authority I held cutting through the tension like a knife.
I didn’t wait for an answer. I started moving towards the door.
I clocked Rox from the corner of my eye, relaxing back in the booth with a glass of bourbon in hand, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes.
“Her water just broke,” Finn continued, his voice trembling slightly.
“She said you didn’t answer your phone, and she’s panicking.
” I froze mid step, my hand hovering over the doorknob.
I frantically patted my pockets, my heart stopping as I realised it must have slipped out of my pocket in the car.
“Fuck! Fuck!” I muttered, my composure cracking for the first time in years.
“Nicolo’s getting the car ready with her bag and the babies’ stuff,” Finn added, trying to keep up with my panicked pace.
“Call Nicolo and tell him to take Ana straight to the hospital. I’ll meet them there,” I ordered, trying to remain as calm as possible despite the chaos swirling inside me. I paused, turning to Rox, who was still sitting there but had at least set his glass down. “Rox?—”
“Lorenzo, I’ve got it from here. Just go and be with Ana,” Gino demanded with a smile. “Me and Red will meet you at the hospital when all is done here.”
The amount of time it took me to reach the car was a new record. I couldn’t think of anything or anyone else other than my wife. Fuck, she needed me, and I was with that twat upstairs.
I had never driven so fast in my life. The streets of the city blurred past me as I navigated traffic with a recklessness that bordered on madness.
I tried to call Ana, but it went straight to voicemail.
My heart sank at the thought that she could have the babies before I even fucking arrived.
She was closer to the hospital than I was, and the traffic was fucking dire.
I dialled Nicolo’s number, the dial tone echoing through the car’s speakers. “We’re nearly at the hospital. How are you doing?” Nicolo’s calm voice came through, a stark contrast to my racing thoughts.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be there. Ana, mi amore , are you okay?!” I was almost shouting, my voice cracking with desperation. But I did my best to remain calm for her.