38. Alexander
Chapter 38
Alexander
W ho could have known, a year ago, when Chloe sat on my lap that Christmas morning in the main room of my cabin, watching Giovanni tear into his presents, that twelve months later, we’d be doing the same thing again?
The difference this time is that everything has changed. I remember pretending last time that we were a real family, even though I knew deep down that wasn’t true.
As much as I loved my time with them that morning, I couldn’t ignore the ticking time bomb hovering over my head. That my fleeting moment of happiness was just that … fleeting .
There’s no more uncertainty, no more wondering if I’ll ever get to do this again. Chloe and Giovanni are mine to keep.
As soon as filing the parental rights was completed, Chloe began the adoption process. In the eyes of the law, we are officially his parents now. And next year, we will welcome another child into the fold.
Life is good. It’s better than good.
Sophia returned to Australia a few weeks after we did, sans Luigi. She never asked for Giovanni back—not that I would’ve handed him over—but she did reach out. She wanted to know if she could stay at the house where she and her son used to live until she got on her feet.
I was still angry with her for what she did—more so for how she went about it—but a part of me couldn’t help but feel bad for her. I’m not the arsehole she insists I am. I agreed to let her stay there, but made it clear that my financial support would stop.
I’d continue to pay the rates and insurance on the property since it was in Giovanni’s name, but I told her it was time for her to get a job and stand on her own two feet.
A few months later, I offered her the chance to see her son, but only under the condition of a supervised visit. I did it more for Giovanni than her, but she declined—her loss.
Giovanni never asks about her anymore. He’s settling in well and thriving in his new environment here with us, enjoying school and all that comes with it.
Chloe has also found her own rhythm, becoming good friends with one of Giovanni’s classmates' mothers. The four of them often have playdates together.
Our son is surrounded by everything he needs, especially our love and time. With us, he’ll never want for anything. His biological mother, though … I’m not sure what she is looking for, but she’s going about it all wrong.
A fool searches for happiness far and wide, while a wise man nurtures it right where he stands. Home will always be wherever my heart is; that’s here, with these two … soon to be three.
I move my hand from Chloe’s hip to gently caress the small baby bump my beautiful wife is now sporting. Knowing my child is growing inside her fills me with something I can’t quite put into words.
She’s sexy as fuck swollen with my child, and I haven’t been able to keep my hands off her since she began showing. This woman does it for me in so many ways. As soon as she pops this one out, I’m going to fill her with another.
She turns her face towards me, reaching up to hook her arm around my neck. “ Buon Natale , Alex.”
I lean in and place my lips against hers. “ Buon Natale a te, amore mio. ”
Our eyes remain locked, and the air crackles around us. That undeniable chemistry we’ve shared right from the beginning still burns strong.
“This one’s for you, Mummy,” Giovanni says, breaking our moment. His eyes are wide with excitement as he climbs to his knees and hands Chloe the wrapped gift in his hand. “It’s from Daddy.”
This is just one of many gifts I’ve placed under the tree for Chloe this year.
This particular present doesn’t carry much monetary value, but to me it’s priceless. It holds deep personal meaning for me and was made with her in mind. I’m a little nervous she might think it’s cheesy; I’m not exactly the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. I went back and forth on whether to give it to her at all.
But Chloe is different; I would do or be anything for this woman. I want her to know every single day how much she means to me. With her, I find myself doing things I never imagined. I guess that’s the power of love. It inspires you to step outside your comfort zone and take chances, to express parts of yourself you didn’t even know were there.
“Oh, Alexander,” she whispers, her eyes soft as she gazes down at the glass heart in the palm of her hand. The heart has been fastened into a pendant with a small wish charm attached. “Is that part of a dandelion encased inside the glass?”
“It is.” I clear my throat, bracing myself for the confession I’m about to make. “It was the only seed left on a dandelion I once made a wish on. I’m not sure why I kept it, but I did. I put it inside an envelope, where it sat until a few weeks ago.”
She looks up at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and tenderness. “What did you wish for that day?”
I pause, feeling a tad uncomfortable, but I still manage to answer her as simply and truthfully as possible. “You. I wished for you, bella. ”
She gasps. “Was this before or after we met?”
“The morning after our night together … before I found you again.”
Her fingers gently curl around the heart. “You wished for me?” she whispers.
“From the moment I saw you gazing through my hotel window, a part deep inside me knew you were special. When you walked out of my hotel room hours later, I’d already decided that I was going to make you mine.”
“I love it,” she says, her eyes welling with tears. “I love you.”
I wrap my arms tightly around her when she settles against my chest with a breathy sigh. My chin rests on top of her head as my eyes move back to Giovanni, who’s now tearing into another present.
This year, we have a bigger tree—a real one. We went to the Christmas tree farm, and Giovanni picked the one he liked best.
Even though we can afford the best decorations money can buy, he chose to make homemade ones again: colourful paper chains and popcorn garlands. It feels like Chloe has started a new tradition for us, and honestly, I love that.
As a kid, Christmas was pure magic, but that changed when my mum passed away. So, it means so much to me that Giovanni—and all our future children—will experience that same wonder with a mother like Chloe.
They spent last night making cookies, another tradition. I just sat on the kitchen stool and watched them have the best time together.
It’s the little things that I’m starting to appreciate the most.
I lift Chloe off my lap when I hear a knock at the door. We’re not expecting anyone, but I did extend an invitation to my brother, but he never confirmed whether he was coming or not.
I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about being back at the house on the first anniversary of our father’s slaying; I’m guessing not great.
Since returning from Italy, he’s been living in Griffith. Although we have talked on the phone a few times, I haven’t seen him since he brought Giovanni back to us.
My gut tells me he’s returned to living the lifestyle he wanted, but I’m yet to ask him openly. I think deep down I’m scared of the answer.
He’s a grown man, free to make his own choices, but I can’t shake the fear of him getting caught up in that world. I almost lost him once, and I don’t know if I could survive going through that again.
When my father’s will was finalised, the lawyer split everything down the middle, including numerous businesses. The hotel and one of the clubs were always mine, but we divided the rest. I am entirely legitimate now. I have no idea if Dante is still laundering money through his establishments, but again, the less I know, the better.
It was crucial for me to distance myself from all of that. I now have a family to consider, and I refuse to do anything that could threaten them.
When I open the door, the first thing I see is his smiling face. He looks good, healthy … happy . His arms are laden with presents, so I reach out, taking a pile off the top and lightening his load. I nod once at the two men standing behind him, his security, before focusing my attention back on my brother.
“You came.”
He lifts one shoulder nonchalantly. “Christmas is a time to be with family …” His words trail off, but the meaning behind them is clear. We are all each other have now.
I step aside. “Come in; Giovanni and Chloe will be happy to see you.”
He glances over his shoulder for a moment, adjusting the gifts so they balance in one hand before slipping his other arm behind him. When he tugs slightly and a pretty brunette steps out of the shadow of his body, my eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
This is very unlike my brother. He’s had no shortage of women in his life. I’ve seen him leave the club with one on each arm more times than I care to count, but he’s never once brought anyone to a family gathering before.
“You brought a date?”
He smirks. “No. Alexander, this is Arabella … my wife.”