Six months, it's been six months since we brought Leo home. He is now comfortable and has also accepted Nikolai as his father. A smile spread on my lips as I looked down and caressed my fully grown belly. Last time we visited the clinic, the doctor told us that babies can arrive anytime. The sun was soft this afternoon, just warm enough to wrap around us like a comforter. Leo wanted to go out, but given my condition Nikolai didn't think it right and they were not ready to hang out without me so Nikolai turned our garden into a picnic area. The tall trees swayed gently, casting dancing shadows over the grass, and a breeze carried the scent of freshly cut lemons from the orchard.I sat on the mat, legs stretched out, surrounded by a bowl of sliced fruits, juice bottles, and a mess of Leo’s toys that refused to stay in one corner. Leo's giggles caught my attention. He was running across the garden, chasing our scruffy street dog, whom he had named "Biscuit" after refusing every fancy
Alessia’s POVThe house was quiet when I stepped in with Leo beside me, curling his tiny fingers around my palm. His tiny innocent eyes were wide as he looked around the place that's now his home. He was completely awestruck. "Will I stay here?" He asked innocently I gave him a soft smile and nodded my head. "This is so huge!" He exclaimedI chuckled. My innocent baby. I can't wait to see him running around and filling this empty place with his innocent voice. Holding his hand tightly, I took him to our room, which was going to be his as well. He was amazed looking at the room as well. I sat him on the bed and began unbuttoning his tiny shirt, stained from the chocolate bar. "How did you get this?" I asked. "A guard gave it to me when I was with him earlier," he said in broken words. I smiled. A man looks hard only from the outside, but from the inside, they also have a soft heart. “Yucky shirt,” he mumbled, scrunching his nose.I smiled. “Yes, it’s messy. Let’s get you in
Alessia’s POV“No.”All eyes turned sharply to Nikolai.His voice was calm and dangerous. His eyes held cold fury as he looked at all. Vecari narrowed his eyes. “Mr. Moretti—”“No,” Nikolai repeated, gaze fixed ahead. “You don’t get to punish him. This is not just a betrayal of the council. This is personal. He didn’t just betray our code—he betrayed my family. He tried to kill me. He left an innocent child in an orphanage. He made my wife cry herself to sleep while carrying our unborn child. He kept her starving when she needed food to survive." I sucked in a quiet breath, as my heart trembled in my chest. “He tried to rip apart everything I fought to protect. Everything I bled for. And for that—his punishment is mine to give.”Some council members looked uneasy, others intrigued. But none dared to interrupt Nikolai. Marco's eyes were now wide with horror. He was visibly trembling. I am sure he could see his death in Nikolai's eyes. Another council member stood up, "And what woul
The tension in the air was too heavy to even breathe. My heart was pounding so loud in my chest that, for a moment, I thought it would burst out. Nikolai was also standing straight beside me. None of them thought that it would turn out like this. Even after having all the evidence against Marco, we still could not claim our baby. It's just a week that we are together. We are not sure if Leo would choose us above Marco. Because Marco may not have taken care of him, but he is the only person that Leo knows. The first person whose eyes were caught was Marco. He stood tall, arms open, eyes fixed on the little boy standing at the center of the grand marble hall. Marco was not seeing Leo as a kid with a soft heart, he just saw him as a pawn in his game. Leo looked even more small and fragile standing between the two big and masculine guards. “Leo,” Marco called, voice soft but urgent. “Come here, son.”Marco coaxed as he gestured Leo to move towards him. Leo blinked and looked at him w
Seven days. It's been a week since we have been fighting not only for leadership but also for the guardianship of our own baby. We have been visiting orphanages every day since then. Leo hasn't called Nikolai's dad yet, but now he is getting along well. He usually waits for our arrival. But the saddest part of the day is when we leave. He doesn't want us to leave him behind. Even for us, every day is like a year. We want him with us but the process is taking time. Marco has also come to know that we are trying to claim Leo. He is creating problems. And now we are here, sitting in the Mafia council, fighting to prove our right over our own baby. Nikolai is sitting beside me with his back straight and spine taut despite the fatigue that's clearly visible in his eyes. He has been working, trying to collect all the evidence for seven days without proper sleep and rest. He has taken all the responsibility and worry on himself, asking me to rest for the sake of our unborn baby
I never wanted my child to be like this. Nikolai knelt down beside us, "Tell me, Leo. What do you want?"Leo's lips parted but no sound came. He hesitated, his gaze dropping to his little fingers fiddling with the edge of his blanket. After a long moment, he whispered so softly that I had to lean in to catch the words.“…Can I have… french fries?”I blinked. “French fries?”I thought he was going to ask for something which we can't instantly provide. He nodded quickly, cheeks slightly pink. “With… a little cheese on top,” he added in a mumble, then looked down again. “They give it here after months… on special occasions.”Nikolai and I shared a look. Our baby has to long for even the basic things while we are enjoying the luxury of our lives. Nikolai blinked and pulled out his phone to place the order. Leo’s eyes lit up when he got to know his french fries were on their way. While we waited for the food, Nikolai and I brought out a small travel board game we had picked up earlier.