LOGINMy dad greets him with such genuine joy and excitement that it makes my heart swell with joy. They talk for a few minutes about Dominic’s day before dad gives him a little nudge back towards the gate where Kent and I are waiting. Dominic gives dad a kiss before running ahead again. My dad waves to
“Papa!” Dominic shouts, startling me out of my reverie as he drops my hand and darts down the road. I look up, a huge smile breaking out on my face again as I see Kent on the sidewalk just ahead. His back is to us as he speaks companionably with the butcher, a heavy bag of his purchases already hung
As I walk down the street towards the little Italian kindergarten, the whispers start around me, as they always do. I listen to all of them, a big German Shepherd padding quietly at my heels. “Is that her?” “Yes, that’s the one – I heard she was her husband’s mistress before he married her – tha
Both Kent and I laugh, but Don Bianci – across the baptismal font from us – snaps his eyes up, perhaps not liking the joke as much as we do. But I just ignore it, because dad’s right, frankly – and it’s too happy a day to care. After the final blessing everyone applauds Dominic – he likes that, bl
“Well, it didn’t seem to affect your first very badly,” Ivan says with a shrug, peering around Kent to where Daniel is laughing with an arm around Jerome’s shoulders. “So…maybe keep it up.” I smirk, squeezing Ivan’s hand once more before standing and moving to Kent’s side, tucking myself against h
“Hey, gorgeous,” Ivan says, his mouth turned up in a smirk as I cross the churchyard, beaming at him. “Look who’s talking,” I say, laughing and reaching for him when I come close enough. Ivan wraps me in a hug, dropping a kiss to my cheek as I hold Dominic a bit to the side so he doesn’t get squis
“Fiona…” I say, my eyes widening. “I don’t know if I can – that’s so dangerous. If Kent -”“Please, baby,” she says, true pleading in her eyes. “I know what I’m asking you to do, and I wouldn’t ask it if it wasn’t so important. I promise you, I promise – no one you love will be hurt by you doing thi
Last night, in the car, seeing Fay shake like that – the shock, the trauma in every muscle – it was one of the worst feelings of his life. He frowns, thinking of it now, of his extreme reaction to Fay’s physical danger. He’s a mafia boss, for heaven’s sake, Kent tells himself. It’s not like he ha
Kent says nothing and I frown a little. This was Kent’s very theory – why isn’t he confirming it? The room grows awkwardly quiet. “Would you mind,” Alden says, breaking the silence and gesturing towards me. “If I had a private moment with my daughter? I still haven’t had a moment alone with her. To
I’m alone in the back seat of the black sedan that takes me to dinner at my father’s house. I look up at the grey stone mansion and grimace, not looking forward to this. I know that there should probably be some curiosity in me, some desire to know more about my family and my heritage. But honestly







