2. Nico
Nico
Las Vegas, Nevada
My newborn daughter’s head fits in the palm of my hand.
Curled up this way, she’s no longer than my favorite knife.
Except so very fragile. The smell of gunpowder still lingers on my suit that’s stained with her mother’s blood and my failure.
I never should’ve allowed Margareta to travel with me to the wedding.
The baby’s eyes open, and she starts to cry. “All the girls cry when they see this face,” I murmur.
She quiets with my words and smacks her tiny lips as someone behind me awkwardly clears their throat.
“Mr. Morelli, I’ve brought the paperwork regarding transporting your wife’s body to Illinois.
” The hospital employee’s face pales when I turn toward her.
She can’t even maintain eye contact for a full second.
Being a Made Man of the Trio has that effect on outsiders. The scar only enhances it.
“I’ll take care of it,” my mother offers. Holding my newborn son, she leads the woman out of the room.
My attention shifts back to his twin sister, the child in my arms. What am I to do with them? I can’t fail again.
Caterina walks in, her kind eyes brimming with tears.
My sweet little sister - my first failure.
“Oh, Nico,” she cries, rushing to my side.
I study her movements, wondering how cruelly Alessio De Luca abused her on their wedding night for what I did.
Her eyes are red and puffy, but I detect no signs of physical injury.
When she sees Lucia squirming in my arms, Caterina’s lovely face transforms with sheer delight as she begs to hold her. Not once have I been able to tell her no, but my daughter makes whimpering noises in her aunt’s arms. It tears at me and ignites my rage. What a fucking nightmare.
Our father joins us. “When any of you did that smacking thing with your mouths, your mother gave you the breast.”
Ah, she’s hungry. So many things I don’t know. So many ways I’ll let her down.
I stare blankly at Caterina who nods toward a bag the nurses left earlier. Samples of baby formula. I follow the directions before promptly passing the bottle to my sister.
“You’ll have to learn how to do this, too, Nico,” she softly chides me as she fumbles with the bottle.
“I’m sure you’re right.”
Lucia doesn’t seem to like what’s offered. Or perhaps she doesn’t know what to do with the silicone nipple. Her whimpers turn to cries, and Caterina cries, too. I want to rip this goddamn room apart.
Thankfully, a nurse appears to whisk Lucia away. My father sighs with relief, but I feel even more on edge with the children out of my sight.
“The boy’s resemblance to you is hard to ignore, but as soon as we’re back in Chicago we’ll do a paternity test to be certain,” Father mentions once Caterina has left to find our mother and meet Amadeo.
“Margareta caused me countless headaches during our marriage, but the twins are mine.” Of that, I’m certain. Another reason she despised me.
“Silvio De Luca promises revenge for today, but their famiglia is weak if the Bratva are bold enough to attack a wedding reception in their territory.”
“It makes the Trio look weak, not just De Luca, Father. All three Capos and their heirs were present, but I agree it’s bold, and I have to wonder who helped them plan it. I suspect a traitor somewhere in our ranks.” Many attended my sister’s wedding to the De Luca Capo’s heir. And many did not.
My father frowns and shakes his head. He taught me to be cunning and suspicious of everyone, but he likes to believe we’re invincible.
Today proved otherwise. “You will have more pressing matters for the next few days, Nico. We’ll start looking for a suitable replacement to be your wife, a woman who can take care of them. ”
“She’s been dead less than twenty-four hours.” Father opens his mouth to argue when one of his coughing spells steals his breath. He’s smoked cigars for decades. “You should get that looked at while we’re here,” I say, dismissively.
He’s still my Capo, but I won’t tolerate his interference in this. I won’t marry another woman of his choosing, no more than I’ll marry another stranger who might never love my children the way they deserve. I’ll hire a fucking nanny first.