Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
NIC
“ D on, you’re the DeLuca family fucking lawyer. It’s not like you aren’t used to doing shady shit.” I gripped my cell phone so hard, I’m surprised it didn’t break. After dinner the night before, I’d made a call to the family lawyer about getting the adoption process rolling. I wanted to be able to present them to my girls as a wedding present.
We’d discussed what was needed, and I e-mailed all of the documents over. He promised to be at the courthouse first thing the next day and have all of the paperwork expedited. Having a notorious reputation and government officials in your pocket definitely paid off in times like those.
The next call was to Gianna’s parents. I worried that Livy would insist on a longer amount of time so she could put together a proper wedding. I was prepared to put my foot down and steeled myself against Gianna’s disappointment and, I shuddered, tears. I hated it when she cried. However, Livy had shrieked with glee and began babbling about all of the things they needed to get done before the big day.
Gianna looked a little overwhelmed, and I knew the gallant thing to do would have been to suffer through it with her. Alas, I was no one’s white knight and I escaped to the den with a beer and a baseball game. I felt her glare burning into my back as I left and knew I’d pay for it later.
In the morning, I headed to one of my downtown offices for meetings. Shortly after I arrived, Don called to inform me that no matter whose pockets I lined, they couldn’t complete the process without the “mother” (granting her that term was bullshit) giving permission or having her parental rights severed. I could have petitioned for the separation years ago, but I’d never really thought about it because she didn’t factor into our lives. I never expected my sweet Gianna to drop into my world and change everything. She lit up every dark space, and seeing her with Sophia, those moments made me love her even more.
They deserved to be mother and daughter in the eyes of everyone, not just in their hearts. I’d be damned if I couldn’t make it happen.
“Put Thomas on it. I don’t care what you have to do, who you have to break. Find her. Or you’ll be out on your ass,” I threatened, before launching the phone at the wall. The sound of it shattering didn’t make me feel any better. I didn’t have time for this shit. I had work piling up and I was a man down with Brandon on the hunt. Luckily, Antonio had been picking up some of the extra slack.
“Nic?”
Gianna’s soft voice came from the doorway to the office, and I looked up to see her staring, wide-eyed, at my broken phone.
Fuck . She had never seen me lose my temper, and I wasn’t happy she was witnessing it now. I couldn’t say I was sorry she’d arrived, though. As usual, her presence calmed me, filling me with happiness and contentment.
“Come here, mia dolce ,” I encouraged, holding out a hand to her. I was relieved to see there was no hesitancy in her step as she walked over to me. I pulled her down, so she was sitting sideways on my lap, and kissed her soundly. When I lifted my head, she had a dreamy look on her face, and I couldn’t help grinning arrogantly. The incident with the phone was apparently forgotten.
“I’m always happy to see you my beautiful girl, but what brings you down to this area?” I asked, burying my face in her neck and nuzzling, breathing in her fresh, sweet scent. I would never get enough of mia dolce , her love was an intoxicating drug and I grew more and more addicted every day.
“I’m wedding dress shopping,” she said with a hint of pink on her cheeks.
I brushed a finger over her blushing skin. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Gianna,” I whispered with awe. Sometimes, I couldn’t believe she was mine. And yet, I shouldn’t be surprised, because I would never, ever let her go.
“I love how you can be such a little temptress in the bedroom, then blush innocently at the simplest things.” I grinned and kissed her lips, before whispering, “It gets me hot.”
The bit of color suddenly flushed red as she glanced at the open door to my office. It wasn’t like when we were at home. Anyone could walk in, at any moment.
“Allegra and my mom are bringing Sophia downtown so we can look for their dresses. Then we’re going to get dinner, do you want to join us?” she asked nonchalantly.
I eyed her suspiciously and asked, “Will your father be there?”
“Um, no,” she admitted. “But?—”
“No buts, bellissima .” I grimaced at the thought of dinner with four women in wedding mode. “You can give me a fashion show when you get home. I’m particularly interested in what you’ll be wearing underneath your gown.” I wiggled my eyes suggestively.
Her chin went up and she sniffed haughtily. “You don’t get to see anything until the wedding day, mister.” She narrowed her eyes and scowled at me, “And don’t try and use my daughter to talk me into it. I’ve already bribed her to keep you in the dark.”
I wanted to laugh, she was so fucking cute. But her words reminded me of why I’d been so angry when she arrived. I debated not telling her, but she knew what kind of connections I had. If it took too long, I’d have to tell her anyway, and at that point, I’d risk her wrath for not coming clean in the first place.
“ Bellissima ,” I started cautiously, “We need to talk.”
Her lips dropped into a frown, and I nearly groaned in agitation. It was my job to make her smile, always. Not to be the reason for her sadness.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, cupping my face in her hands and staring into my eyes with her own worried ones.
I placed my hands over hers and turned my head to kiss one of her palms. “It will be. I just need you to be patient and trust me.”
“I do trust you.” There was not even one hint of uncertainty in her tone, and it humbled me, her love washing over me.
“We’ve run into a snag with Sophia’s adoption.” I hurried on to clarify, as her eyes filled with tears. “I’ll work it out, mia dolce . You will be her mother in every sense of the word. It may take a little time, that’s all.”
She sniffed and blinked her watery eyes rapidly, trying to dispel the moisture before it fell. “Why? What’s happened?”
I brought both of her hands to my lips and gently kissed each one. Guilt was rearing its ugly head and suddenly, I wished I played the white knight and could be him at that moment.
“The woman who gave birth to Sophia, she had no desire to be a mother. She didn’t even want to see her after the delivery. She was checked out and had disappeared before I’d even gotten Sophia home,” I explained. “We haven’t seen nor heard from her since.”
Gianna’s mossy-green eyes were filled with despair, and it about killed me. I was going to do whatever it took to get this taken care of as fast as possible. If I had to use every dark connection, call in every favor, so be it.
“She abandoned Sophia! Can’t they charge her with something?”
I sighed, “Yes, from what my lawyer told me today, it’s more than likely we could prove her guilty of non-support of a child in the second degree. Since we weren’t married, the mother is given the primary right to custody. So, by taking off and not supporting Sophia for a state specified period of time, without a lawful excuse, or signing parental rights over to me, she’s basically committed a felony.”
Gianna’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I don’t understand, if she’s guilty of it, why haven’t her rights been involuntarily terminated?”
This is where the guilt started to pile up. I should have been looking into this the day I knew I would be keeping Gianna forever.
“Since she was with me, Sophia never entered the system. So, the state had no reason to go after the woman who gave birth to her. In order for this to happen, my attorney has to gather the evidence and present it to a judge. Even with my ability to expedite things, the process takes time. I’m so sorry, bellissima . I should have started this long before now.”
Gianna smiled softly, though the sorrow still clung to her. “It’s not your fault, Nic. How were you to know things would turn out this way with us?”
“I knew, Gianna. I felt you before I even laid eyes on you. I was against a young, single woman as a nanny for Sophia. I didn’t want to deal with crushes, or money hungry women looking to live off of my money and notoriety.” It wasn’t ego that had propelled those thoughts, it was experience. I’d been tired of fending them off. “Then the agency called, and the woman convinced me to at least meet with you. I was as shocked as anyone when I agreed.” I paused and gazed into her green pools, willing her to see the depth of my sincerity. “So, you see? You were mine before you ever stepped into my home.”
A sweet smile graced her face and she leaned forward to brush her lips over mine. “I love you,” she whispered.
She started to pull away and I chased her lips, sealing our mouths together, deepening the kiss until we were both shaking with need. I was just about ready to wrap her legs around me and take her against the wall when we were interrupted by a knock on my door.
I cursed and tore my lips away to glare at whoever had just put their life in danger. Enzo looked away, clearly uncomfortable and wary of my reaction. Smart man.
“What?” I barked.
His eyes darted to Gianna, before landing back on me with a meaningful look. I sighed in aggravation and gripped her hips to lift her off of my lap, and both of us stood. With one look from me, Enzo scurried into the hallway so I could say goodbye to my fiancée in privacy.
“Have fun, mia dolce ,” I murmured through another kiss. “And, when you’re shopping, don’t forget about the wedding night.”
I winked and laughed when she blushed yet again. “In fact, make sure to get enough for a whole honeymoon.” I shifted my head to the side, sliding our cheeks together as I brought my lips to her ear. “You might want to bring extras because I can guarantee I’ll have ruined plenty of lingerie by the end of our trip.”
A tiny shudder wracked her petite frame, and I felt the muscles of her face lift with a smile. Mmmm, a whole week with my naughty temptress. I couldn’t wait.