Chapter 11 Gio
GIO
Ilean over Enzo's mahogany desk, spreading out the blueprints for the new warehouse. Marco lounges in the leather armchair beside me, whiskey in hand, while Enzo paces behind his desk, phone pressed to his ear.
"If we move the security detail here—" I start, but the study door swings open with force, slamming against the wall.
Enzo's wife, Livia, rushes in, her face flushed and hair disheveled. In her arms, their baby wails at an ear-piercing pitch.
"Enzo, please," Livia pleads, shifting the baby in her arms. "I've tried everything—feeding, changing, rocking. He won't stop crying."
Enzo cuts his call short, tossing his phone onto the desk. He reaches for his son, and the second the baby lands in his arms, the crying becomes more of a whimper.
"Thank God it's working," Livia exhales, collapsing onto the couch.
She looks exhausted, dark circles under her eyes.
"I swear, lately, he only wants you, Enzo.
He cries with everyone else. You're the only one who can calm him down," she says and brushes the hair out of her face. "Sorry for interrupting, guys."
"Don't worry about it, Liv," I say and exchange a look with Marco, who's trying not to laugh. Our fearsome Don, leader of the Bonventi family, is now swaying gently with a baby in his arms. The sight would be comical if it weren't so damn endearing.
"Even the nurses can't settle him?" Marco asks, setting his glass down.
Livia shakes her head. "No one. Just his father." She leans forward. "I don't know if I should be relieved or offended."
Enzo smiles as he looks down at his son. "He knows what he wants. Like a true Bonventi."
I lean back against the desk, watching my brother with his child. Something I've been doing a lot lately now that his kid is here. It stirs something in my chest—something I quickly push away. "Better hope he doesn't inherit your temper too, Zo."
"Oh, he already has," Livia mutters. "You should hear him when he's hungry. Sounds just like Enzo in a bad meeting."
Marco laughs. "So… every meeting?"
Before Enzo can respond, the baby lets out a tiny whimper and his face scrunches up and he starts wailing again. Livia sits up, alarm flashing in her eyes.
"On no," she mutters. "Enzo, what do we do?"
Enzo hesitates, shifting the baby in his arms.
Marco snorts. "And here I thought you had the magic touch."
I push off the desk, reaching a hand out. "Here, give him to his favorite uncle."
Enzo gives me a skeptical look but hands him over. The second I settle him against my chest, the baby snuggles in and lets out a tiny sigh—completely at peace.
Livia stares. "You have got to be kidding me."
Marco bursts out laughing. "Well, would you look at that."
Livia shakes her head, blinking as if she can't believe what she's seeing. "You mean I could've been sleeping this whole time instead of pacing the hallways? You're telling me all he wanted was Gio?"
I smile down at the kid, who's now gripping the fabric of my shirt in his little fist. "Can't blame him. I'm a pretty likable guy."
Livia groans and flops back onto the couch. "That's it. I give up." Then, after a beat, she smiles. "So Gio, when are we going to see your heir enter this world?"
I snort. "Not anytime soon, Liv."
"Oh, come on," she presses. "Wouldn't it be nice," she says, gesturing the baby. "Another strong Bonventi boy to carry on the legacy? Or maybe a Bonventi princess to adore?"
I look down at my little sleeping nephew.
Livia's words hit differently than I expect. A child of my own. I've never really thought about it. I was always too focused on the family business, on protecting what we already have. But now, seeing how Enzo is with his son and our recent talks of fatherhood.
"Never really thought about it like that," I admit, my voice low.
Livia laughs, oblivious to the heavy thoughts her words have dropped on my shoulders. "Well, you should start thinking about it! We need more little Bonventis running around, don't we, Enzo?"
Enzo looks up from his son. "Can't argue with that, cara mia."
Shit, now I'm in my head. Our family name, our legacy—it's everything. And what am I doing to ensure its future?
The question leaves me deep in thought for a moment before I shake it off and hand the baby back to Enzo. "Alright, now that we've established I'm the favorite, can we get back to business?"
Enzo nods. "Livia, why don't you head to bed? I'll keep him with me while I finish up here."
Livia exhales in relief. "Thank you." She kisses Enzo on the cheek, then the baby's forehead, and straightens. "Goodnight, boys. Try not to plot world domination too late into the night."
Enzo leans back against his desk, still rocking the baby. His expression shifts. "So, how are things going with the Carvello woman?"
I tense. "Fine. Good." Shit. Why am I getting flustered? "Things are moving along."
Enzo's gaze sharpens. "You still think she's got answers?"
I nod. "I'm convinced there's something wrapped up in her story.
We haven't found anything on her dad yet, but we're looking.
Even the Greeks are helping out. Niko's been checking into the shipments that were coming through the dock regularly for months and then just died off suddenly right before the hit on Marco. "
"And the woman herself?" Marco asks.
I shrug. "She's fiery, that's for sure. Fights me at every turn. But I've got her contained."
Marco raises an eyebrow. "Is that what we're calling your obsessive surveillance now?"
I glare at him. "You want answers about who tried to kill you or not?"
"I want answers," Marco says. "I'm just not sure if you're still looking for them or if you've found something else to focus on."
I clench my jaw.
"Easy," Enzo says. "Stay the course, Gio."
The meeting wraps up, and as I head to my car, my mind is elsewhere.
Not on the job. Not on revenge.
It doesn't surprise me, then, that I drive a little faster than usual to return to my apartment across the hall from her—just so I can check the cameras to make sure she's alright.
For her benefit. Not for mine, of course.