Chapter Thirty-Two
NICO
THE ATMOSPHERE HERE in the apartment had certainly changed since our visit from Viktor yesterday. An invisible weight seemed to have been lifted from all our shoulders. It didn’t mean that we weren’t still going to be protective of Rosa, because I didn’t think that we would ever stop doing that. All it meant was we could now live our lives without the threat of Vincent. Everything was fine with the baby, which was also a relief, especially for Rosa and Gino.
I was glad he had come in with us to the scan. He knew there was no way he would be the biological father of the child, but as Rosa had said, this child would have three dads, each one fulfilling all of its needs, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
We were already making bets as to who the father was. It seemed that I was the only one out of us all who thought it would be Hudson’s and it would be a boy. I was certain of it, and I really hoped I was right. It was exactly what Hudson wanted and needed. We had decided that once we found out, we would make a decision on what we would do next. Rosa wanted each of us to have at least one child each, and I would be happy with that, especially if I had a boy. I wouldn’t care if I had a girl, though, because I knew she would be one of the prettiest girls to ever be born if Rosa was anything to go by.
She had spent the night with Hudson, leaving me and Gino together for the night. We had gotten into quite a routine between us all, made so much easier with the attraction between Gino and Hudson. It meant that unless we really wanted to, we always had someone to be with every night. There were times when one of us wanted to be alone, and then we would have a threesome or sometimes we would all sleep alone. It just worked. I looked back now and wondered why it had taken us so long to think about doing this, but then I guessed it was Rosa who kept us all together and in check.
Not to say we didn’t have our disagreements, because we did. However, it always seemed to be Rosa who would bring us all back together and make us sit down and talk, even if the original argument involved her. We had what many people longed for most of their lives: the perfect relationship. Yes, it was unorthodox, and many people would frown upon four people living together and sharing and swapping partners. However, it was our life, and exactly how we wanted to live it.
We had left Hudson and Rosa in bed this morning, allowing them to both get some rest. As usual, I was the first to get up. I had always been an early riser. However, now that I had Gino in my life, I tended to get up around eight o’clock and not six like I did for years on the weekend. I was down in the kitchen, having gotten everything ready for a long brunch. Now that Rosa had her appetite back, we always made sure there was enough for her to eat. I knew they said a pregnant woman shouldn't be eating for two, but I didn’t like to see her not eating enough.
Her bump was just starting to show now, and it made her sexier than ever. I could understand why men always said a pregnant woman looked sexy, because Rosa’s sex appeal was through the roof right now. Her libido had also heightened, which none of us were complaining about. I sat at the table in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee and just checking through my emails and messages. It was the first thing I did on a Saturday morning because since Rosa had come into our lives, I had decided that the weekend was solely for her.
I heard someone walking down the stairs, so I got up to make them a coffee.
“Why didn’t you get me up, bello?” Gino walked up to me and placed his arms around me, pulling my body to his, before pressing his lips to mine.
I melted into the kiss. To think we had both denied ourselves this for so long was unimaginable. He pulled away, his lips swollen and red.
“Well, that was an amazing good morning. I thought you might want some extra sleep. I mean, it was quite a long and energetic night, wasn’t it?”
I winked as I spoke, seeing his face turn slightly pink as he blushed. I chuckled at his reaction. For my underboss, Gino had a soft side to him that it appeared only Rosa could coax out. Now that she had, all three of us saw it most of the time. I loved this side of him and loved how caring he was toward me. He was the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle of our relationship, and he fit perfectly. We had learned that each of us needed each other for something. That we all filled a need for one another, and none of us could see life without us all being in it.
“Sit yourself down and I will make you a coffee.” I pressed a kiss to his cheek and finished making the coffee.
He walked over and put the TV on. Another tradition on the weekend was to have the news on while we were enjoying breakfast. Most of the time, we didn’t bother watching because it always seemed to be full of doom and gloom. Occasionally, though, there would be something that would pique our interest and would become the topic of the breakfast table. I placed the coffee in front of Gino and looked over at the time. It was nine-thirty, and I was sure that Hudson and Rosa would be up soon.
“I guess I’d better start cooking. I’m sure they will both be up soon. Although it did sound as though they had a heavy night last night.”
Gino started to laugh. “I’m surprised you managed to hear anything over the noise we were making.”
It was true, I couldn’t deny that. I had been waiting for them to come in and say something to us. But I guessed they had decided to try to beat us. It was lucky the only apartment below us was the one that Gino used, because that meant we weren’t annoying any neighbors.
“Did you need any help?”
I loved having someone cook with me. Especially Gino. We managed to move around the kitchen like poetry in motion. We never got in each other’s way and never argued. We worked so well together. I enjoyed cooking with Rosa as well, but we tended to get involved with what the other was doing, usually ending up with one of us walking out before returning and apologizing.
We beavered away in the kitchen, and it wasn’t long before everything was nearly ready.
“Do you want me to go and wake them up?”
I was just about to suggest the same thing when Hudson walked into the kitchen. He went to Gino first, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and then over to me and did the same.
“We were just about to come upstairs and see if Rosa had suffocated you during the night. I thought she may have had to with the noise the pair of you were making.”
“You can fucking talk. You weren’t exactly quiet yourselves last night. I wasn’t sure at one point if you were enjoying it or killing each other.”
We all looked around and burst into laughter. It was a strange situation for us to be in. Almost like being at college and sneaking your boyfriend or girlfriend in, but failing dismally at keeping quiet.
“I guess the news we all received yesterday just allowed us to blow off some steam. I’m sure tonight will be more of the same.”
We both turned to look at Gino as he spoke, amazed. He was coming out of his shell the more time he spent with us, and I liked it a lot. I walked over to him and placed my arms around his waist. I leaned into him, my lips close to his ear, and spoke, just loud enough for Hudson to be able to hear as well.
“I think living with us is having a bad influence on you. But I fucking like it.”
Before he could reply, Rosa walked in.
“Is breakfast ready? Munchkin is starving and making it known in a big way.”
Gino quickly pulled out of my embrace, his face a lovely shade of red, and walked over to Rosa. He guided her over to the table and helped her to sit down.
“We were just about to serve, tesoro. Would you like a drink?”
I could see Rosa looking at him and then Hudson and me with a suspicious look in her eyes. I knew she wouldn’t say anything immediately. She never did. She would play along for a while, and then when none of us expected it, she would ask and we would be caught off-guard and give her an honest answer, instead of the one we had decided on.
“I’d love a coffee. Decaf, before any of you say a word.”
Gino made Rosa her coffee and then started to help me put everything for breakfast onto plates. During the weekend, we would just put everything in the middle of the table and help ourselves to whatever we wanted. It was our time to enjoy each other’s company and have a leisurely brunch. We placed everything in the middle of the table and all started to eat.
“So, what are our plans for the day?” I asked.
I hadn’t thought of anything we could do today, especially as we were so close to Thanksgiving and the weather was changing rapidly as winter started to hit New York. I knew we had so much to plan for the arrival of Munchkin, but I guessed all three men were worried about taking over. Well, perhaps Gino and I were. If we left it to Hudson, then there would be far too much stuff. A crib in every bedroom, clothes for every day of the year, times three just in case. I was already trying to calm down his ideas, as I could tell it was starting to get on Rosa’s nerves and we had only known for three weeks. We still had just over five months to go.
“I’d love just to spend the weekend here relaxing,” Rosa said. “I know Thanksgiving is next week and we will be doing that then as well, but I just want to enjoy the peace and quiet before this little one arrives and turns our world upside-down. If you all want to go out and watch a football game or something, I don’t mind. I know you haven’t been out on a guys’ day in ages. I’m sure Antonio or Luca will stay here with me.”
There was our thoughtful and selfless Rosa. Always thinking about us and not herself. It had been months since Hudson and I had spent a day together. However, now that we had Rosa in our lives, we didn’t feel the need to go out like we had in the past. Even our drinking days were almost over. We hardly touched a drop now, which could only be a good thing for us both.
“Gaby, you know we enjoy your company,” Hudson said. “Don’t think you have to suggest that we spend time together because you are worried about us. Because there is no need. Unless, of course, you are just trying to get rid of us for the day?”
“Well, the idea of spending a day with Luca does sound fun.”
I couldn’t believe it when Gino immediately turned around to her.
“No. Absolutely not! If Hudson and Nico want to go out that’s fine, but I’m staying here.”
We all looked at him in shock. I was finding out so much about this man today. Things I never knew about him. Including how possessive he’d become of Rosa. He knew Luca had no feelings for Rosa – in fact, he was happily married himself – but still, Gino argued the case.
Rosa smiled at him and placed her hand over his. “I think I need to speak to Nico. You seem to be losing the quiet and submissive side that both Hudson and I like.”
Again, seeing the change in Gino when Rosa spoke was hysterical. From full-on alpha to a blushing wreck. I loved him so much. I went to continue to eat, but noticed some breaking news on the TV and turned it up to listen.
Breaking news.
We have just received reports that a disfigured body was found by police on the outskirts of the city at an abandoned warehouse earlier this morning. Contacts close to the scene have suggested that it is the body of business tycoon Vincent Forbes-Stuart, who has been missing for the past two months from his home in Detroit Michigan.
A formal identification is due to take place later this afternoon, we understand, and the police are not ruling out that this was a drug-related attack.
We are now going to our reporter, Charles Lucas, who is outside the Forbes-Stuart residence in Detroit.
I turned the volume back down as we all sat there in silence. Rosa’s ordeal was finally over. Viktor had kept his promise and put Vincent down into hell. We could finally look forward to never having to mention his name again.