CHAPTER SIXTEEN #3
She nods enthusiastically, beaming with stars in her gorgeous eyes. My nieces and nephews are the most important things in the world to me. They make me wonder how it would be like to have a child of my own someday.
Fatherhood has always been a pursuit I’d hoped to embark on someday. Losing Tara derailed it but I’d very much like a daughter like Isabella that looks at me with the same adoration.
I wonder if Liliana wants kids.
The thought sneaks into my head nearly without my consent. It’s only been a night and I’m already thinking about having babies with her. I just might be screwed.
“Why are you up so early?” I ask my niece.
“Making breakfast with Papa,” she informs me. “Mama and Nico are still asleep.”
“That’s sweet of you, princess.”
I carry her towards the kitchen where my brother has on apron while holding a rolling pin. The sight is hilarious, mostly because I never in a million years would have thought Salvatore Vitale would end up so domesticated. Love has a way of sneaking up on you though, changing people for the better.
I would know.
My eyebrows are raised as I take the Don in. If only our enemies could see him now.
“Matteo got here two minutes ago and is already in the office,” he informs me gruffly, daring me to comment on his appearance. “Go on. I’ll be there in a minute or two. I just need to get one of the cooks to finish up here.”
“Make sure to wash up first, Sal,” I say, grinning. “You’ve got a bit of flour on your cheeks.”
I leave Isabella with her father while I head upstairs to our meeting location. The home office is stocked with a bar that’s tempting, but it’s too damn early in the morning for some whiskey, and I need my brothers to take me seriously.
In a couple of minutes, all three of them are present and ready to hear what I have to say.
“Go on, Raf. And considering you dragged me out of a bed that had a gorgeous Nubian chick with a nice rack, this had better be good,” Elio mutters, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Your promiscuity worries me,” Matteo says with a frown, prompting a laugh from I and Salvatore. Elio simply flips him off.
As soon as the humor dissipates though, I’m exhaling a hard breath.
“Alright, so first things first, I have to know how the meeting with Navarro went,” I start.
“You said you didn’t care,” Matteo reminds me.
“Things have changed.”
His gaze hardens, “What does that mean?”
“It means I have absolutely no interest in letting that slimy old fart get his hands on her.”
Elio sits up, his eyes widening. Matteo looks disappointed.
“We talked about this, Raf. You can’t let your fleeting attraction towards her compromise this chance to take down the biggest drug lords in the city.”
A muscle ticks in my jaw, “It’s not fucking fleeting.”
Salvatore folds his hands together, expression thoughtful.
“Matteo informed me that you seemed to care for Liliana Navarro. But he also seems to believe you aren’t interested in taking it further. Are you saying that’s changed?”
“Yes,” I bite out.
“Why?”
“Am I supposed to start pouring out my fucking feelings to you guys right now? I like her. That’s it.”
“Not enough,” Salvatore states, shaking his head.
“Who knows what the fuck that bastard will do to her?” I burst out in frustration. “She wants to be with me. I said I’m not letting her go, end of discussion!”
“You weren’t at the meeting with Navarro, Raf,” Matteo speaks up. “He seemed really heartbroken that his daughter had been kept away from him for so long. He won’t let it go, and he sure as fuck isn’t going to leave her in our hands.”
My fists clench. “There has to be a solution.”
I can see the wheels turning in Matteo’s head as he works out an angle.
“Alright, how about this? It’s pretty simple really. Navarro meets his daughter on the designated date. We take her to him as agreed upon and he fulfils the terms and signs the agreement. Then we leave the rest in Liliana’s hands.”
I frown, “What does that mean?”
“It means we let her choose if she wants to go with her father. Like I said, I don’t think he means her any harm.
Perhaps, he’ll be satisfied with meeting her that day and a promise from her that there’ll be subsequent visits.
She’s the key to all of this; there’s no reason why she can’t stay with you and still pursue a relationship with her father. ”
I nod in understanding, “Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.”
“Does it?” Salvatore rumbles.
“What?” I question, looking towards him.
“You’re going to base this decision over her choosing you, Rafaelle. What if she doesn’t?”
“Why the hell wouldn’t she?”
“One mistake and we lose our bargaining chip. I’m sure you can understand the risks.”
“I do.”
“And you still want to go forward with it?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then. We’ll see how it goes. And for the record, I am proud of you for wanting to take this step with someone, little brother,” he smiles. “It shows growth and who knows, maybe I’ll be walking into your home to find you making breakfast with your own kid soon enough.”
I roll my eyes, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Sal.”