3

The first thing I wanted to do when the idea came to me this morning during my walk in the garden was to find my phone and shoot a quick text to Niko. But I talked myself out of it, mostly because I hadn’t exactly figured out what I wanted to go into then, I also wanted to share my splendid idea with my friends, and now I’m glad I did because my conversation with them helped me gain perspective. 

Now that I have, I’m tempted to the so again. But the concerns raised by Eva and Gianna are quite sound and I wouldn’t want to rush into anything, thereby shooting myself in the foot. Because they’re not exactly wrong. He might very well say no. Niko can be difficult sometimes. 

Obviously, I have to approach this rationally. 

By buttering up my husband. 

I would try to be sly about it but Niko always sees me coming from a mile away, might as well be very straightforward, with some bribery of course to sweeten things up a little. 

I mean who doesn’t like a little bribery? 

**

Maybe I should make a stop to the kitchen for some snacks afterall I think scratching an itch on my nose and then under my chin, frowning, I feel my skin with the tips of my fingers, hoping this is not a sign that I’m about to start breaking out, maybe I should take my mama's advice and begin a more rigorous skincare regimen, usually I do it for fun and when I feel I deserve a little pampering, the rituals can be soothing and relaxing. But as my mum has been preaching for almost two months now, nothing gets a woman's hormones to act up like pregnancy, and I'd rather be on the defense than get blindsided.

I see a tall male form heading for the entrance door. I motion for Laura to go ahead while I follow behind him. 

Decked out in dark jeans, boots, and a leather jacket which means he will be riding his motorcycle out as he’s taken to this past week. 

I am concerned, 

With his devil may care attitude and all, Thomas Salvatore Jr is the embodiment of danger and rebellion in one. While he assures me he is being safe, he was also grinning like a maniac when he said it so who knows? “Tommy!” I call “Heading out?”

He pauses and turns, a soft grin lighting up his face, eyes smiling. His dark brown hair is somewhat tamed today, pushed back from a handsome angular face. He doesn’t wait for me to close the distance between us, choosing to walk back to me as well “Lola, what’s up? I thought you’d be resting or something? Is Niko here?” his eyebrows going up “Do you need anything?” 

At the shake of my head, his smile widens “How is my nephew?” He says all this as he pulls me into a tight hug, making my little bump push into his side as he kissed my forehead.

“I’m fine, we’re both fine and how do you know it’s going to be a boy, could be a girl?” I laugh with another shake of my head. 

He sighs and pulls back “Are we really going to have this conversation again? I already told you little soldiers are dominant in the Salvatore genes, now unless there’s something you’d like to tell me regarding the paternity, I would say we’re talking an eighty-five chance.” He adds with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows.

I give him a pointed look as this is an argument I suspect will continue having until the baby is born. “And I told you baby girls are dominant in my grandmother's line, beautiful ones too” I finish with a playful flip of my hair. “Now where are you going?”

Tommy arranges the right sleeve of his leather jacket, tugging a little on the silver Zip sewn at the side “I have to meet Diego and Gio in the city for an errand… and no, you can’t come” he adds quickly when I start to smile.

I laugh a little. The one and only time I met Tommy’s friends was months ago, I had been bored out of my mind and convinced him to take me with him on his way out. Miguel and the other guards didn’t see us leave and of course, I’d left my phone. 

Let’s just say Niko was pissed. 

In my defense, I left him a note, I think? it was a long time ago, I can't remember.

Good times. 

I’d since learned the three were very close, growing up together, most of Tommy’s memories are of him with his friend doing one foolishly, dangerous thing or the other. I had told him they were his best friends two weeks ago and he all but denied it. 

“Me? Best friends?” he sputtered, before bursting into a loud laugh “God Lola, where do you get your ideas? We are not like you girls that braid each other’s hair and confess our little secrets” Then he proceeded to laugh some more. “We just know each other and hang out sometimes” 

I rolled my eyes at his definition of female friendships, but I think it’s very sweet.

Now, Tommy pats my belly lightly, I barely felt it, then presses another noisy kiss to my hair. He does this since I permitted him last month, saying he wanted to start getting familiar with ‘the little one’ happy that he will no longer be the youngest Salvatore and will soon have someone to boss around. 

“I’ll see you later, Lola”

“Okay, say hi to the guys for me, tell them to come visit me soon” It will certainly be nice to see them. I still have the stuffed elephant they won for me at the park the other time, I keep it in my second closet. Maybe I should take it to the nursery?

“Of course,” he replied smoothly, too smoothly. 

“I’m serious Tommy!” I yelled at his retreating back. 

“I hear you” he disappears through the door and I shake my head once more at him before taking the path leading to the kitchen. 

After having some delicious sandwiches and a glass of orange juice, Ivan and Ricardo another of Niko’s men who was recently assigned to me, assist us in bringing up the things we need for my planned dinner. 

Positions of honor in our lifestyle are earned with blood and sweat. Though titles are often inherited, a made man must still earn his place, through a show of strength and loyalty. I had once asked Niko why he choose Ricardo to be my new guard, I didn’t know him, never seen him around the house, he just appeared one day when Niko introduced him to me. Ivan I already knew as a guard around the mansion.

“He earned it” was my husband's reply. 

Ricardo is mostly quiet, always dressed in black thermal, tactical pants, an ever-present shoulder hostler for his weapon, and a serious expression, everything about him screams bodyguard. 

If this was the time I used to have frequent visits to the city, it would have been difficult to go around unnoticed that’s for sure. 

Sometimes, Niko's captains, I’d recently found out the title, the guys, as I prefer to call them which includes: Vincent, Chase, Danilo, Emilio, Ivan and a few others have dinner with us when they stay over at the mansion. Tommy too when he is around, but I doubt he’ll be coming back at a reasonable hour tonight. 

Vincent is underboss and Niko’s right hand, Matteo is New York Consigliere, and Chase and Danilo are first captains, a position passed down in their family. 

And Miguel.

Miguel was first captain too, I remember him saying that once, at that time, we’d been about to break into my friend Anna’s house, fearing for her life.

He used to stay here at the mansion too. 

A wave of helplessness hits me as usual when I recall my previous guard. My shadow as Tommy called him. 

Miguel absolutely despised me. I smile sadly at that. 

He hated his duty and dislike me, a lot. But he protected me for years. Even when I was unaware of his existence. He kept me company and played cards with me, though only after I beg for what felt like hours. He was also my drinking buddy. He took care of me. 

And now he’s just gone. 

Two whole months and nothing. 

I stopped asking Niko because his answer was always the same. He went home. 

The last time almost caused an agreement between us “Home where?!” I had snapped. Pinting a shaky finger at him as I voiced my inner fear “Did you kill him?” 

The amused expression he always had whenever I questioned him on Miguel’s whereabouts turned into a glare. “I already told you I didn’t kill him” 

“I don’t believe you!” 

It was odd that he would just up and disappear, especially as no one seemed concerned that he disappeared. 

“As you wish” was Niko’s only reply.

And that was the end of it. 

But still, I wonder, this is his home, he grew up here, with the guys, where could he have gone? I even asked Tommy when last he heard from Miguel, he shrugged carelessly. He doesn’t know.

No one knows. 

The only hope I have is that Niko trusted him to take care of me for years, so he couldn’t have killed him over the car chasing incident. 

Right...? 

Or maybe it's just false hope talking, what was that Matteo described Niko as the other time? Trigger happy?

That is not scary at all.

Either way, I hope he is fine wherever he is, and some kindness touches his heart and he decides to reply to my texts one day. 

Trying to shake off my solemn mood, I find my phone.

Me: What time do you get back tonight?

I hit send, and almost immediately later my phone starts ringing and I want to smile. 

Swiping on the answer I bring my phone to my ear. 

“Hi” 

“Is there a particular time you want me to be back?” His deep voice asks and the smile I’m trying to hold breaks loose, I love when he is being agreeable like this, hopefully, he has the same energy later tonight.

“Hmm, how about eight?” I reply, tracing one of the blue flowers on my dress with my index finger.

“Okay,” he simply says.

I remain smiling.

His voice is still low when he asks “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, the baby too” 

“Good, see you soon love” he hangs up afterward and I have to tell myself to stop swooning and not to scream like a little girl on a Christmas morning.

Is it weird that even after weeks I still get butterflies when he calls me that? 

Love. 

Because he loves me. Niko, my husband loves me. 

He is in love with me. 

The thought of that does things to me. 

And I love him too. 

And because of that, I know everything will be alright. We still have misunderstandings, there are still things about him I don’t know, choices he makes that I don’t agree with, which marriage doesn’t? But I trust him, and he loves me. So, we will be okay.

I know it. 

Something delicious streams up my nostrils bringing me out of my daydreaming “Is it done?” I walk closer to where Laura is bringing the cake out of the oven.

“Ooh, that looks really nice” My mouth instantly waters as she stirred the melted chocolate with a wooden spoon for a bit before pouring it all over the cake. I lick my lips, silently wondering if I can wait two hours for Niko to get here before I can have a bite of that. 

Goodness.

I clench my eyes shut, swallowing back saliva, before leaving her to it. “How is the food coming along?” having spent the past two hours making sure everything is in place, I nod at the roses arranged in a vase on the dinner table the fragrance only overshadowed by the aroma of hot cake.

“Should be another thirty minutes” she replies. 

While all my girls are very apt in the kitchen, Laura is a personal favorite due to her baking skills. 

“It has been some time since you did something nice for the boss, I am sure he will appreciate your efforts” 

I grinned at her “You think so?” 

She returns my grin with a nod before going back to stirring the pot. 

Laura is right though, sometimes Niko and I share a meal just the two of us, but it’s been a while since I’ve gone out of my way to make it special for him.

Mariana makes a mean alfredo and spicy chicken with pasta, in shut, anything pasta, she is epic and always trying out new recipes, to say I have been eating my heart out in the past month would be an understatement.

When I first moved I thought there were too many Marias in this house, as is normal in every Italian household. There is Mariana, a sweet brunette and always smiling. And there is blond Maria, whom I now call by her middle name, Gia.

There’s also young Maria-Lucia, Marie-Lu for short. A teenage girl Mrs. Fina somewhat adopted after her papa passed with a lot of gambling debts and her older brother isn’t looking straight, no need to leave a young girl around somewhere like that. She mostly watches soap opera with me when she isn’t busy with schoolwork.

Then there’s Maria, Mrs. Fina’s granddaughter, the bane of my existence on most days, my confidant on others, she is in charge of all things household after me.

Also likes to think she’s in charge of me. 

Hm. I scoffed at the thought. 

Did we put the wine in the fridge? I wonder, heading in the direction of the fridge as I leave Laura, remembering Niko asked Maria to remove anything alcoholic from the fridge up here so I don’t get tempted or drink any by accident.

After a quick confirmation and another look at the pot, I head to the bedroom, as I still need to get cleaned up. What should I wear? Being four months pregnant takes away from my choices. I should look at the new dresses that were delivered yesterday. I’d been looking at them along with the cotton blankets I ordered before getting bored halfway. 

Oh, how I missed the days I didn’t have to think much about my choice of outfits. Not that I’m saying being pregnant is bad. Just different. I have to consider comfort, the feel of the material, and so on.

I settle on a blue and white maxi dress. 

Niko likes blue. 

I shower quickly so I can take time with my hair and makeup, going light on my eyes and lips. The natural-looking full waves for my hair take me some time to achieve, I don’t even have to add blush to my cheeks as I’m already flush with excitement. 

After slipping on my dress I sit on the bed to do the buckles on my low-heeled sandals. The dress is stretchy enough to accommodate my bump but still pretty, being pregnant has also increased my chest a full size bigger, not to say I was small before but now I need the extra support of a bra to hold them in place as opposed to before where I could go without when I felt like it. 

With a final look in the mirror, I spray some perfume, nodding and breathing deeply in satisfaction as it settles over my hair and skin.  

Snatching my phone off the counter, I see it’s a few minutes to eight, if I know my husband, he is going to be punctual so I hurry back into the living room. 

“Good, good, this is looking nice Laura” I smiled appreciatively as I take in my living room. It has been transformed to mimic a private space in a five-star restaurant just as I envisioned.

“Everything smells heavenly” I go around taking in the spread of all my husband's favorite foods and of course, the desert sitting in the fridge, though that’s mostly for me. 

“Thanks, Ms. Lola” 

“Ah, I think you mean thank you” I shoot her a wink excitedly “Has Niko arrived?” 

She nods. “I believe he should be here any moment."

A few candles have already been lit around the room, remaining just the two on the table. 

“I’ll leave you to it then, are you sure you don’t want me to stay and serve while you dine?”

I wave her away, “You’ve done enough, thank you, Laura, you’re the best” I kiss her lightly on the cheek before turning to find a box of matches for the final candles. 

I hear the door close silently as Laura leaves.

It is slightly dark in the room and I have to feel more than look as I search for it something to light, Niko will be here any moment, maybe I should have waited for everything to be done before having the lights turned off.

Biting back a curse when I finally find it. I push the box open, pick out a stick, and striking once, it ignites immediately so I hold it to the candle until it flames, leaning forward to light the other one. 

I smile triumphantly the blow out the match. 

“This is different”