Chapter Forty-Eight Leo
After three more days in the hospital, Drea and Luca were finally discharged. Drea had a long recovery ahead of her with the gunshot and the c-section, but she would be able to do it a lot more comfortably at home.
Besides Vittoria in the guest room to help, we had a Famiglia nurse who came twice daily to check on Drea. I’d taken a leave from work, so I could help out as hell. Whenever Luca woke during the night, I would get him so Drea could rest. I would change his diaper and get his bottle.
I loved these times when it was just the two of us. I’d rock Luca in the glider beside our bed. I loved the way he stared up at me as he fed. It was like our own little bonding moment.
We’d been home just two days when I officially got baptized by Luca. After his mid-morning nap, I was changing him on the side of the bed when he unceremoniously shot pee straight into my face.
Laughing, Drea replied, “Remember, you gotta point it south.”
“As someone with a cock, I should’ve remembered that,” I replied as I swiped the pee from my face.
After cleaning him up, I handed him to Drea. “Hello, my darling. Did you pee pee in Daddy’s face?” she cooed.
Luca kicked his legs and made his usual baby snuffling noises. “I suppose I should consider it the trifecta now that he’s already shit and puked on me.”
“Yep, you have a badge of honor.”
“I’ll go grab his bottle.”
“Thanks,” Drea replied as she kissed Luca’s forehead.
When I got downstairs, the front door buzzed. After Guilio opened it, Caterina and Maeve swept through the door with their arms laden with food bags and boxes wrapped with blue wrapping paper.
“We waited as long as we could,” Caterina said when I cocked my brows.
“You made it two whole days, huh?”
She grinned. “You know I can’t resist cooking for people.”
With a laugh, Maeve said, “And I was going into withdrawals not seeing Luca.”
Motioning to her baby bump, I said, “Are you trying to get some practice with him?”
She beamed as she patted her belly. “Between him and Julianna, I’ll be set when ours comes.”
“It’s Rafe who should be practicing. I’m clueless about babies.”
Caterina rubbed my back. “You’re doing an amazing job.”
“Thanks.”
To my surprise, Callum and Gianni stepped off the elevator with Rafe. “What are you guys doing here?”
“We’re here to lend our support to you,” Rafe replied.
Clapping his hand on my shoulder, Callum asked, “How are you surviving?”
“Barely,” I mused with a grin.
“I know just how you’re feeling. That’s why I told Rafe we needed to kidnap you today from the Estrogen Express for a little guy time.”
Although the idea was appealing, I shook my head. “I can’t be away from Drea and Luca.”
“What if it was just one floor up?” Rafe suggested.
“That’ll depend on Drea.”
Caterina waved me towards the guys. “She’s going to be too busy to even notice you’re gone. I’m going to help her with a bath and change her bandages.”
“You know we pay a nurse to do that.”
“And Drea would prefer it not be a stranger.”
“If you say so.”
“Go. Between Maeve and I, along with Vittoria, we’ve got it covered.”
In the end, it took the guys pulling me into the elevator to leave. “What do you guys have planned?”
Rafe grinned. “We’re ordering in pizza and wings and watching the Yankees.”
My eyes rolled back. “That sounds like fucking heaven.”
Even though I kicked back in a recliner in Rafe’s theater room, I kept my phone in clear view with the volume turned up in case Drea needed me. We’d demolished a couple of pizzas and dozens of wings at the 7th inning stretch when my phone rang, sending me jumping out of my skin.
Although it was an unknown number, I still answered it. “Hello?”
“Is this Leo Neretti?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I’m your son’s father.”
Every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop when I heard that declaration.
I’m your son’s father.
“We should talk,” the man suggested.
“Where are you?” I demanded.
“Philly.”
“I’ll meet you there in two hours. I’ll text you the address when I land.”
“I’ll see you then.”
When I hung up, Rafe and Gianni stared at me with concern. “Jesus, Leo, you’re white as a sheet,” Rafe declared.
“Who the fuck was that?”
“Luca’s father.”
“Holy shit,” Gianni murmured as Rafe shook his head back and forth.
“How the hell did he find you?” Callum asked.
“Vincent must’ve sent him the photo and told him he had a kid, and gave him my information.” Glancing between them, I shook my head. “I have to go.”
“We’re coming with you,” Gianni said as Rafe nodded.
“I can handle this on my own.”
“Like hell. You have no idea what you’re walking into,” Rafe argued.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
As we started down the elevator, Callum asked, “What do you need from me?”
“Will you stay here with the girls?”
“Absolutely. If anyone asks where you guys are, I’ll tell them you had a business emergency that couldn’t be helped.”
“Good thinking.”
“Should you tell Drea the truth?” Gianni asked.
“Absolutely not. I don’t want to worry her.” At Gianni’s hesitation, I said, “When I take care of it, I’ll tell her.”
“I hope so,” he replied.
***
When we landed, I sent a text to the man with the address to Drea’s gallery. I’d called in two bodyguards on the plane to be waiting for us. When we arrived, we went in through the back.
I couldn’t help being overwhelmed emotionally. It was like returning to the scene of a crime. I’d confronted Drea here and almost ruined my life forever.
With the lights on and the front door unlocked, I sat at the counter in the middle of the gallery. I’d instructed Rafe and Gianni to wait in the back.
It seemed like an eternity passed before the bell over the door tinkled, and Luca’s father walked in. With his blond hair and blue eyes, I realized how strong Drea’s genes were. Of course, Luca had inherited his height and build since the guy was tall and muscular.
When his gaze met mine, he nodded at me. “I’m Mitch.”
“Leo.”
“Just so you know, my friends know my location. One is also outside with a camera in case this goes south.”
With a chuckle, I said, “None of that will matter if I decide to end you.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously at my declaration. “Why would you want to do that when I haven’t even told you what I wanted yet?”
“I assume you want the rights to your son.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to be tied down to a kid from a bitch I barely know.”
Before I could stop myself, I was off the stool and in Mitch’s face. “Watch how you talk about my wife,” I snarled.
Mitch held his hands up. “Okay, okay.”
After sucking in a harsh breath, I asked, “If you don’t want Luca, why did you call me?”
“Some guy sent me a letter saying I had a kid, and you would make it worth my while to keep quiet about it.”
My chest clenched. “Vincent contacted you?”
Mitch’s brows furrowed. “No. It was some guy named Caruso.”
Holy. Fucking. Shit. Edoardo had betrayed me. Not only me, but Drea. He was a dead man now.
“Look, I don’t give two shits if you tell the world you’re Luca’s father. It won’t change anything for me.”
Mitch’s face fell. “But he promised me you’d pay. I got into UPenn on a football scholarship. I wasn’t like the other rich assholes at that party where I met Danielle.”
“Drea,” I corrected with a growl.
“Right.”
I stood at a crossroads of what to do with Mitch. I could make him disappear, or I could find a legal way to make him disappear.
“There is a way I’ll pay you.”
“How?”
“I want you to relinquish your biological rights to Luca.’
Mitch’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, sure. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“I’ll have the necessary paperwork drawn up, and we’ll sign it in my attorney’s office.”
Nodding eagerly, Mitch said, “I can do that.”
“Once the contract is signed, I’ll wire one million dollars into your checking account.”
“Holy shit,” Mitch muttered.
“That money ensures you never, ever try to seek Luca out. You are as good as dead to him with your signature.”
“That works for me.”
I closed the gap between us, standing toe to toe with him. “And should you ever try to go back on your word, you’ll be dead for real. Do you understand?”
His face paled. “Yes, Mr. Neretti.”
“Good. Now get the fuck out of here and wait for my call.”
Mitch didn’t have to be told twice. He practically sprinted out of the gallery. When he was gone, I exhaled a long, ragged breath.
Rafe and Gianni came to join me. “That went a lot better than I thought,” Rafe remarked.
“Except for the part about Edoardo.”
With a growl, Rafe replied, “It’s past time to take him out.”
“Yeah, it is. I just hate the mess it’s going to cause.”
“Will you do it yourself?” Gianni asked.
I grinned. “I think I’ve earned it.”
Rafe clapped me on the back. “Come on. Let’s get back to New York.”