35. Alexander
Chapter 35
Alexander
I reach for her hand, lacing my fingers through hers as we descend the stairs. She’s unusually quiet, and I’m kicking myself now. I hadn’t meant to say what I said. I was merely thinking out loud. I wasn’t lying when I said I was worried about tonight, but not for the reasons she may think.
My grip on her hand tightens as we weave through the house toward the dining room. When we round the corner, everyone rises from their seats, shouting, “Surprise!”
Chloe freezes, her body rigid. Her wide eyes slowly move around the room before locking onto me again. Then, without warning, she does the unexpected: she covers her face and bursts into tears.
“ Tesoro ,” I whisper, wrapping her tightly in my arms. It’s not the reaction I expected.
“How did you know it was my birthday?” she mumbles against my chest.
“I did a background check on you.”
She gasps, tilting her tear-stained face back to meet my eyes. “Why? ”
“I needed to know what I was getting myself into … to ensure there were no unexpected skeletons in your closet.”
Her eyes narrow just a little, but they are sharp with accusation. “Like a wife and child?”
I hear my idiot brother bark out a laugh. “Fair call,” I reply, smiling down at her.
Thankfully, Angelina approaches, saving the day. “ Dolcezza ,” she says, cupping her daughter’s face. “Do you know how hard it was for me not to wish you a happy birthday this morning?”
“I thought you had forgotten when it was,” Chloe states, and that admission hits me like a punch to the gut.
It leaves me feeling like a complete arsehole for asking her mother not to mention it. I thought keeping it a secret would make the surprise party I planned even better, but now that I realise she’s probably been spending the day agonising over it, I can’t help but feel like a jerk.
“It was the day I gave birth to you … the best day of my life. I could never forget that.” Angelina leans in, planting soft kisses on both of her daughter’s cheeks. “Happy birthday, baby girl. I can’t tell you what it means to be able to celebrate it with you this year. It’s like a dream come true.”
As she pulls away and steps back, the next surprise enters the room. “Happy birthday, Chloe-bear,” he says, his voice warm.
Chloe spins around, her face lighting up. “Daddy!” she cries, throwing herself into his open arms.
Giovanni is next. When Carmella releases him, he rushes toward her with all the enthusiasm of a child who can’t contain his excitement. I love the relationship these two share.
He throws his tiny arms around Chloe’s legs, hugging her tight. “Happy birthday, Chlo! We made you a cake, and I helped wrap all your presents. ”
Chloe’s eyes soften as she bends down to scoop him up, her hand gently cupping the back of his head. “Thank you, little man,” she says, her voice catching in her throat.
Through the slight tremor in her voice, she smiles, and I can tell that she feels more loved and seen than she has in a very long time.
When my brother saunters over with that smug fucking look of his, I know I’m not going to like whatever he’s about to do. I brace myself as he comes to a stop in front of her.
He reaches up, grasping either side of her face in his hands. “Happy birthday, darlin’,” he says, leaning in to place his lips directly over hers. He barely makes contact before I shove him back, but when he stumbles, I quickly lunge forward and wrap my fingers around his elbow, stopping him from falling.
“Do you have a death wish?” I growl.
“Until you put a ring on it, big brother, I’d say she’s fair game.”
That motherfucker. He knows exactly what he’s doing. I can feel the rage boiling as my nostrils flare, locking onto him with a glare that could cut glass.
He’s trying to back me into a corner—forcing my hand—but the truth is, he doesn’t have to. This has been brewing and simmering in my head for a while, waiting for the right time. And now … I think that moment’s finally here.
It’s my chance. And I’m fucking taking it.
Without a second thought, I turn on my heel and storm out of the room. When I return a few minutes later, everyone’s eyes are wide with surprise. But I’m focused on one person: Chloe.
I don’t waste a second. I walk straight toward her, drop to one knee, and open the small box in my hand, holding it out to her. Her breath hitches, and for a split second, everything falls away .
“I know our beginning was unconventional,” I say, my voice low but sure. “But from that very first night, I knew there was something special about you. Something I couldn’t ignore. A part deep inside me knew I wanted to keep you forever. I can’t say for sure that I loved you back then, but I do now. So damn much.”
I pause, feeling the gravity of it all, before voicing the words I’ve been waiting to say for so long.
“ Sposami, amore mio .”
Her eyes widen, and in the silence that follows, everything I’ve ever wanted hangs in the air between us.
Chloe’s eyes briefly dart to her parents, and when I follow her line of sight, I’m relieved to see them both smiling. Lina even wipes a stray tear from her eyes.
When her attention moves back to me, the corners of her lips curve up. “ Si ,” is all she says, and that one word was all I needed.
When I remove the ten-carat solitaire diamond ring from its cushion, the flawless facets catch the light with every subtle movement. The ring is set in a classic platinum band, and the diamond sits high and proud, commanding attention with its brilliance, just like Chloe does.
It cost me a small fortune, but only the best for my future queen.
My eyes flicker to my brother as Chloe gazes down at the ring that now adorns her finger, and I give him a smug, satisfied grin.
“There’s a ring on it now, arsehole, so if you touch her again, you die.”
He folds his arms over his chest, and when he beams at me, I know with absolute certainty that he knew precisely what he was doing. Every move, every word was all a part of his calculated plan .
I should’ve seen it coming, but I’ll always be possessive of her … and her heart, because it holds the key to my happiness.
I blow out a long breath when Sophia finally picks up. “Do you ever answer your calls?” I grumble down the line. “I’ve been trying to get in contact with you for weeks.”
“Obviously,” she says, sarcasm lining her voice. “I’m talking to you right now, aren’t I? What do you want, Alexander?”
I inhale deeply through my nose, the air filling my lungs as I fight to keep my cool. I’ve always been weary of her dubious behaviour at times, but one thing I never doubted was her love for Giovanni … until now.
“Do you even care about your son?”
I’ve heard nothing since that one call telling me she was extending her stay in Italy. Not a word. Not even a fucking message.
“What kind of question is that?” she screeches, her voice rising with defensive indignation. “You know I do.”
I’m done with the excuses. “I bought him a phone for Christmas, and I’ve noticed he’s tried to call you a few times. Why didn’t you pick up? Or at least call him back?”
Her response comes across as weak, almost desperate. “I’ve been busy.”
I want to shout, to call out how hollow that excuse is.
Busy?
With what?
Her new guy?
What about her child ?
As much as I adore Chloe, I’d never push my son aside for her, and I know she wouldn’t let me. It’s been the three of us since the moment he came to stay with me, and I love her all the more for it.
“Has something happened? Is he okay?”
“He’s better than ever,” I answer honestly. “He’s thriving at school and loving life with us.”
“Us?” she mutters, clearly irritated.
“Yes, us. My fiancée, her parents, my brother, and Carmella. I have a house full of people now … we’re one big happy family.”
“You got engaged to her ?” she gasps.
“I did. She’s the love of my life; there was no way I was letting this one go.”
“How sickeningly sweet. It’s a shame you never felt that for me.”
“I barely knew you, Sophia. And what I thought I knew turned out to be a lie. You deceived me in the worst possible way.”
“You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”
“You told me you were pregnant with my child when you knew all along it was someone else’s.”
“Whatever,” she spits, the defensiveness clear in her voice, but she knows I’m right.
“I didn’t call to rehash the past.”
“Well, why did you call? I’m not in the mood for your bullshit today.”
I give myself a moment, trying to quell the inner fury that only this woman can bring.
“I want you to answer your son’s calls next time. Imagine just for a moment how that poor kid feels. His mum fucks off overseas for months on end and doesn’t bother to check in on him once. ”
She should be more concerned about her child’s happiness than her own.
“I told you I’ve been busy.”
“If that’s the best you’ve got, then you don’t deserve him.”
“Fuck you, Alexander.”
“If you stopped thinking of yourself for once, you’d know what I’m saying is right.”
“I’m still young, I deserve a break … I deserve happiness too.”
“Then give him to me.”
“Not a chance in hell. And while we are on the subject, how come you’ve stopped depositing money into my account?”
“Because that money I give you is for Giovanni, and since he’s living with me now …”
“Temporarily.”
“When he’s back with you, I’ll start making the deposits again.”
The thought of him going back to her … not being able to see him every day, weighs heavily on my heart.
“Good.”
I ignore her snarky reply.
“I’m applying for a passport for Giovanni,” I state. I had planned on discussing it with her first, but now I’m just going to go ahead and do it.
“Why?”
“I’m bringing him to Italy.”
“You can’t send him here. Luigi doesn’t even know I have a kid.”
You’d think, as his mother, she’d be dying to see him after being apart for so long.
“Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with you. Chloe and I are planning to get married over there … we want him to be part of it. I’ll need your permission to take him out of the country.”
“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before being an arsehole.”
“Either you give me permission, or I’ll get it another way.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“No, I’m just telling you how it is. He’s been in my care for months, and I’ve been funding his life—and yours—since he was born. That has to count for something. I also have the resources to get the best lawyer money can buy, so I’ll get a court order if need be.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
She blows out a puff of air in defeat. I rarely play hardball with her, but I’m done with this woman and the constant bullshit she throws my way.
“What do you require from me?”
“I will email you the paperwork you need to sign. I want a prompt reply.”
“Fine.”
With that, she ends the call.
Bitch.
“Here you go,” I say to Dante, dumping a black suitcase on his bed.
“What’s that?”
“Two million dollars. It was in Dad’s safe.”
“The fuck?”
“I know.”
“Shouldn’t you be taking half? ”
“I don’t need it. I’m sure you’re not struggling, but over the years, I’ve built up a nice little portfolio for myself. You’ve always lived your life on the edge … like you were here for a good time rather than a long one, so I’m gathering I’ve got more than you.”
“Okay, wow. Thanks.”
“Can I suggest you invest it or buy some real estate or something?”
“What do you think the house in Griffith is worth? Maybe I can use it to buy you out of your half.”
I swallow thickly. As expected, he had no idea Dad had left everything to me. He’d be gutted if he knew the truth.
“I wanted to talk to you about that. I was hoping you’d agree to sell it. Given everything that happened there …” I let the words hang in the air. He knows exactly where I’m heading with this.
“Fuck that. I want to keep it.”
“Why?”
“It’s the only home I’ve ever known … it’s where all my memories are. Of Mum … us.” He bows his head, then adds softly, “Papa.”
“Those memories will always be here,” I say, my fist tightening into a ball as I tap my chest. “The house is just bricks and mortar.”
“I’m not selling it. I don’t care what you say.”
I tilt my head back, staring up at the ceiling. It’s not about the money. If he wants the house, he can have it. It’s what that place represents that gets under my skin. The last thing I want is for him to return to that life. He’s lucky to be alive; he might not be next time.
“I was hoping you’d stick around here and help me run the other businesses.”
“I’m not cut out for that shit,” he grumbles. “I miss my old life. I’d go out of my mind if I had to sit behind a desk all day like you do.”
“I do more than sit behind a desk.”
“You know what I mean. I want that fast-paced lifestyle, the thrill … like the one I used to have.”
“And look where that life got you.”
“It will take more than a couple of bullets to keep me down.”
I throw my hands up in frustration and spin on my heel, storming out of the room.
I can’t just stand by and watch him destroy himself. I have to find a way to stop him from slipping back into that life. He’s the only blood relative I have left.
It’s some ungodly hour when my father’s jet finally touches down on the private runway at Vincenzo Bellini Catania Airport in Sicily. It’s been years since I’ve been back here, but something about this place still feels like home—a sense of familiarity that never quite fades.
A fleet of black cars waits on the tarmac, ready to take us to the family estate. My father’s home here feels more like a castle than a residence, but there’s enough space to accommodate us all.
Personally, it’s not the place I would’ve chosen; it was my brother’s idea. He said he had some business to attend to while we were here. I didn’t press him for details because I feared the answer.
I know my father had a lot of connections here in Italy, so my gut tells me it has something to do with the Cosa Nostra , but the less I know, the better.
He’s a stubborn man, so I can offer all the advice I want, but ultimately, it’s his decision to make … his life to li ve. I hate it, but I can’t stand in his way if he chooses this.
Taormina is just under an hour’s drive from the airport, along the east coast. My father’s home is perched atop a cliff, offering a breathtaking view of the Ionian Sea below, its clear, turquoise waters stretching out to the horizon. It will be a fabulous backdrop for our wedding ceremony.
We’ve planned something small and intimate, just our nearest and dearest. Giovanni, Dante, Angelina, Theodore, Carmella, Antonio, and his wife will all be there to celebrate with us.
I can hardly believe I’ll be married in a few short days, and Chloe will be mine to keep forever.
This trip has been two long months in the making, though most of the decisions were left to Chloe, with a bit of help from her mother. I wanted the day to be perfect for her, so I handed over my credit card and told her to spare no expense. As long as she’s mine to keep by the end of all this, nothing else really matters.
I glance at Chloe, sitting with her head tilted back and eyes closed, my sleeping son nestled in her lap. My heart feels so full it could burst.
Who would’ve thought, when I first showed up at her house that day—and her father and I set our plan in motion—that everything would fall into place like this? That we’d end up here?
Certainly not me.
It turned out better than I could’ve ever imagined, and not a day passes that I’m not grateful to have this woman by my side.
When I gently brush the hair from her forehead, she opens her eyes and a soft curve tugs at her lips.
“Did I wake you?” I ask.
“No, I was just resting my eyes. ”
“We’ll be there soon, amore mio ,” I whisper. “You can shower, change, and sleep when we arrive.”
“Hmm, sleep,” she hums, her eyelids fluttering closed again. I sit there, watching her, basking in the quiet marvel of my fiancée.