27. Alexander
Chapter 27
Alexander
F or a brief moment, I forget about all the chaos and uncertainty happening outside these four walls. It’s Christmas Eve, and Chloe is in the kitchen baking cookies with my son while I’m tucked away in the bedroom wrapping presents.
It’s not something I’ve ever done in my adult life. Carmella always took care of that stuff for me, and though it’s not my idea of fun, I’m not exactly hating it. I’m looking forward to seeing Chloe’s reaction when she opens a particular gift I just wrapped for her.
These past two weeks, as stressful as they’ve been at times, have changed me. For the first time since my mother passed, I actually feel like I’m part of a family again.
I don’t want this time with Chloe and Giovanni to end, but it’s what lies ahead that scares me most. The uncertainty gets heavier with every passing day. We may be living in the calm before the storm, but it’s the storm itself that I fear. In my gut, I know we haven’t heard the last of the Mortellis.
It feels like we’re being lulled into a false sense of security, but I know better. I just hope Papa isn’t getting complacent with their silence. The moment we let our guard down, they’ll strike, taking advantage of our weaknesses. I should reach out to him. I don’t want them to take any unnecessary chances.
“Alessandro,” he says as soon as he answers the call. “Is everything okay, Son?”
“Yes, everything is fine here. I’m just checking in … things have been quiet, so I’m a little concerned.”
“You’re worrying unnecessarily,” he says, and like I was fearing, he’s being way too complacent.
“You know as well as I do that the Mortellis don’t fuck around. You killed their leader; there’s bound to be retribution … a lot more than Rocco dumped at your front gate.”
“If you’re so concerned, you should be here … it’s like you don’t even care about the famiglia anymore.”
“Don’t talk like that, Papa. I wish I could be there, but I have other commitments right now.”
“You mean that little bastardo ?”
“I’m getting tired of you referring to him as that, so please stop. He’s a beautiful kid … smart as hell?—”
“Where did I go wrong with you, Alessandro? I worry you’re not going to have the strength to take over when I’m gone.”
I exhale a long, frustrated breath. Sometimes, I really don’t know why I bother. “I’ve got to go. Buon Natale , Papa.”
“ Buon Natale , Alessandro.”
I hang up, feeling worse than I did before the call. I wish sometimes he could drop the bravado and just be the man … the father that I adored and looked up to when I was a boy.
“Merry Christmas,” I say as I slide my hands around Chloe’s waist from behind, making her jump with fright.
“Shit, you scared me,” she whispers, playfully elbowing me in the ribs. “And Buon Natale to you too.”
“Why are you sneaking around the cabin this time of morning?” I ask, burying my face in the crook of her neck and placing my lips against her warm skin.
“What does it look like?” she replies, rolling her eyes. I guess the arm full of presents she’s holding is a dead giveaway. “I’m playing Santa Claus.”
My hand slips down between her legs, rubbing her clit through her pyjama shorts. “If I knew Santa was this sexy, I would’ve started waiting up for him years ago.”
“Ha ha,” she quips, trying to manoeuvre herself out of my hold without dropping the presents in her hands. “Instead of trying to seduce me with those magical fingers of yours, you could help.”
“Magical fingers?”
“Don’t act coy, Mr Mancini; you know quite well you’ve got it going on.”
“Is that so,” I say, chuckling as I release her and retreat a step. When she turns to face me, I take the presents out of her hands. “Where did these come from?”
“Carmella packed them into one of the cars before the guys left to come here. She asked if I’d put them under the tree for her.”
She takes one of the presents from the top of the pile and drops to her knees. “While you’re down there,” I say, jutting out my hips. I bark out a laugh when she rolls her eyes again and crouches down lower.
“Oh, there’s already some presents under here,” she says .
“Santa must have snuck in while we were sleeping.”
“Are they from you?”
I lift one shoulder. “Maybe.”
“I feel bad that I didn’t get presents for anyone … you know, since someone kidnapped me and forced me to give up all my paying jobs.”
“You are all I need, amore mio. You’ve really made this Christmas for both me and Giovanni.”
“Did you hear what he said the other night when we were in bed?”
“That he wishes you were his mummy?”
“Yes. It’s been weighing heavily on my heart. That bitch has a lot to answer for.”
“That she does,” I reply.
“I wish we could keep him.”
Her confession has my heart squeezing in my chest. “I wish that too, bella , but unfortunately, he is her money train. She’s not going to give that up.”
“I know she’s his mum, but I feel like he’d have a better life with us.”
Us.
I find myself desperately wanting there to be an us.
I kneel down, place the presents I’m holding on the floor, and reach for her, cupping her face. “I know it’s only been a hot minute since I made you mine, but I already know I want to keep you. I also know you said that you didn’t want kids of your own?—”
“Only because I was struggling to keep my own head above water, and bringing a child into that kind of life didn’t seem fair.”
“Your life is different now … maybe one day you might consider starting a family with me.”
Her eyes widen. “You want to have kids with me?”
“I want it all with you. Ti amo, bella. ”
She gasps at my confession. “You love me?”
“Yes. Do you have a problem with me loving you?”
When I see tears rise to her pretty whisky-coloured eyes, I lean in and place my lips against hers. “ Ti amo ,” I repeat.
“ Anch’io ti amo ,” she replies, and I feel like all my Christmases have come at once.
She loves me back.
Chloe is perched on my lap as we sit and watch Giovanni open all his presents. “Santa really is magical,” he says as he rips into another one of his gifts. “I didn’t even get a chance to tell him I was going to be here this year, but he knew.”
“Santa knows everything,” Chloe replies.
“Oh, look, Chlo,” he says. “Santa got me a phone just like your one.”
I bought her a phone for Christmas since she no longer had one. We’ve definitely moved past that captor-prisoner dynamic we shared at the start of our relationship.
Now that her father has completed his first month in rehab, a period where he was cut off from the outside world, she’ll finally be able to speak with him more regularly. I’ve actually planned a surprise for her this morning. He’ll be calling her new phone around nine to wish her a Merry Christmas.
“Wow,” Chloe replies. “That’s so cool.”
“Mummy said I’m not allowed to have a phone.”
“I’ll talk to her when she gets back from Italy,” I tell him. “If she’s okay with you keeping it”—which I’ll make sure she is—“we’ll be able to talk to each other all the time when you’re not with me. ”
“I don’t want to go back there,” he whispers, bowing his little face. “I want to stay here with you and Chlo, forever.”
Chloe’s gaze shifts to me, her expression pained. This is the first Christmas morning I’ve ever got to spend with him, and now I feel like I’ve ruined it.
I’d keep this little boy in a heartbeat if I could. But I know Sophia would never allow it. He’s her leverage, her bargaining tool, and she has been using that to her advantage for years.
“We will always be here for you, little man,” Chloe says, sliding off my lap and joining him on the floor. “Never forget that,” she adds, skimming her hand over his hair. “We love you, but so does your mummy … she needs you in her life as well.”
“I guess,” he replies as a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips. “I love you too, Chlo.”
And just like that, all is right with the world again.
Giovanni opens a few more presents before he stumbles across another one belonging to Chloe. I’ve mixed them in with his to add to the suspense.
“Here’s another one for you, Chlo,” he says, holding it out to her.
So far, she’s gotten the phone from me and a handwritten book of recipes from Carmella, which she hugged to her chest the moment she opened it. It’s her appreciation of the small things that I love about her the most.
“Oh,” she says, taking the small rectangular-shaped gift from him. Her eyes briefly flicker to me as she carefully unwraps it. “Alex,” she breathes as she flips the lid on the black velvet box to reveal the diamond bracelet inside.
“I’m sure it’s not as extravagant as the jewels you lost, but you are my queen and deserve all the pretty things.”
“You mean my make-believe jewels … the ones you denied even existed. ”
“Right, I forgot about that,” I reply with a chuckle.
Her eyes are slightly narrowed as she climbs back onto my lap and leans in for a kiss. “It’s beautiful, thank you. I feel bad that I have nothing for you.”
I nuzzle her neck. “You can give me a blowjob later,” I whisper.
“Ugh,” she groans, playfully slapping my leg.
There are still a few gifts under the tree for her—including a pair of diamond earrings to match her bracelet—but it’s the pièce de résistance, tucked away at the back, that I’m most excited for her to unwrap.
When Giovanni opens his final gift, he looks around at all the things he’s gotten and smiles. “This was the best Christmas ever,” he states, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.
Chloe goes to rise from my lap. “I’m going to get a start on breakfast.”
She’s been cooking all of our meals since we arrived here. She’s no Carmella, but I’m impressed with her culinary skills nevertheless. I’m sure with more practice, she’ll be rivalling her in no time.
“Wait,” I say, grasping her hips. “There should be one more gift under the tree.”
Giovanni crouches lower before reaching underneath. “Oh, there’s one pushed right to the back.” He grabs it and looks down at the card. “It’s for you, Chlo.”
“Me,” she squeaks. “I’ve already been spoilt enough.”
“I think you’ll love this one.”
“I love everything you got me.”
“And best of all, you love me too, which was the best gift you could’ve ever given me,” I say, lifting her hand to my face and placing a kiss on her knuckles. “Open it.”
When she pulls back the corner of the wrapping paper to reveal the blue velvet, she audibly gasps. With a ferocity she didn’t show when opening her other gifts, she rips off the rest of the paper and flips open the lid.
“My jewels,” she whispers as tears flood her eyes. “How?”
“Will you get mad at me if I tell you?”
“Well, based on that question, I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t care how you got them. I’m just grateful to have them back.”
“Let’s just say I borrowed them for safekeeping.”
“So my dad didn’t take them?”
“No. I did. He knew of their existence and where they were hidden. He also knew you’d offer them in exchange for his life, so I simply removed them from the equation. You were always going to get them back.”
“That is diabolical.”
“I know,” I say, beaming.
“I’m a little mad, but also thankful to know my father didn’t pawn them to fund his gambling habit. I think that is what I struggled with the most.”
“He’s made some mistakes in his life, bella , but never underestimate how much he loves you.”
And as if on cue, her phone begins to ring. “Daddy,” she squeals when she answers his call.
“Merry Christmas, Chloe-bear!”
“I’m stuffed,” I say as I slump back in my chair and run my hand over my abdomen. “Lunch was amazing, amore mio .”
“It was the best, Chlo,” Giovanni agrees.
“Thank you,” she replies as her smile moves from Giovanni to me. “Oh, is that your phone ringing? ”
My heart drops into the pit of my stomach as I rise from the chair. “It is.”
As I head toward the main room where I left my phone, my first thought is, I pray it’s someone ringing to wish me a Merry Christmas.
I grab the phone off the side table, my knees nearly giving out when I see Lina’s number on the screen. She’s never called me before, so this can only mean one thing: something’s happened.
My feet start moving toward the back door before I even realise it, but just as the phone stops ringing, it starts up again. The sound does nothing to calm the growing panic tightening in my chest.
I step out onto the back deck that overlooks the lake and close the glass sliding door behind me.
“Lina, what’s happened?” I ask as soon as I answer. The blood-curdling wail that follows sends a chill down my spine, and every hair on the back of my neck stands on end. “Lina,” I repeat, my voice shaking as the panic hits full force.
“I came up to the house to get a start on dessert after lunch, and as soon as I entered the kitchen, I heard the first shot. They just kept coming,” she cries. “I don’t know what to do, Alessandro. Your father warned me never to call the police.”
“Who was there?” I ask.
“Your father, brother, and some of his men. They were all sitting around the table laughing and drinking when I left them. There’s deathly silence now.”
Deathly silence.
“Did you go back out there and check?”
“No, I’m too scared. What if the gunman is out there waiting?”
“Fuck. ”
“We ate lunch by the pool … I can’t see anything from the kitchen. I’m currently hiding in the walk-in pantry. I’m scared they might come into the house looking for me.”
They probably waited until she left before launching their attack. Innocent women and children are off-limits in the Mafia world.
“Stay where you are. Hang up and call triple zero. Make sure the front gates are open so they can get in. I’m heading to the chopper now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”