Chapter 3

Riccardo's POV.

"Congratulations Amico. You have a daughter!"

That can't be right.

I have a daughter, one that is this grown up and I had no idea that she even existed. I still find it hard to believe that. How is it that I have a daughter somewhere on this earth and I don't even remember...creating her?

"No...that can't be right," I mumbled under my breath but Enzo heard anyway.

"I knew you would be in denial even after seeing her picture and that is why I ran a paternity test." He said proudly and he does appear super proud of himself.

"How did you even get that done?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "I pulled some strings." He answered before bringing out the test result of that multipurpose bag of his. I took the result from him and opened it, my eyes immediately went to where it confirmed that she was indeed my daughter before her name caught my eye.

"Aria." I read out loud.

"Aria Salvatore. She is five. She lives with her mother in NYC. She was born April 11, 2027, and her favorite color is pink..."

"How do you even know that?" I interrupted him.

"Oh, I hacked into her school system. Had to be the easiest thing ever." He commented.

If my calculations are correct then she was conceived... "She was conceived that night," I murmured.

"Yes, she was conceived that night," Enzo replied solemnly.

*Flashback*

I ran out of the funeral room when it started to feel as if the walls were closing in on me. I could not breathe and I could not think straight. I could not actually do anything than stare at the huge pictures that were placed on the table. The picture looked like it was alive. They were all smiling so brightly and their eyes were shining with happiness but the only thing I could picture in my mind was when I stood here watching their life get snuffed out of them. I have always known just how risky being a part of the mafia is. My parents never failed to make me understand that I could not afford to make a single mistake because that mistake might end up being the end of my life. I grew up listening to that, I grew up with that knowledge instilled in me and somehow I still managed to fuck up and I had to watch everyone I love die because of my stupid mistake.

I kept walking down the street without registering where it was that I was heading. All I knew was that I needed to get away from that place. I can not stand it. I can't stand the looks of pity and hatred and disappointment I was getting from everyone in there. I know I fucked up and it took innocent people losing their lives for me to realize just how badly I fucked up. I especially can't stand the look in Roberto and Enzo's eyes. I just can't. I can't beat it.

I know I shouldn't be roaming the streets without surveillance but I just need to get away from that place and at this point, I would be really glad if someone were to jump out of a corner and put an end to my miserable existence. It can't be right to keep living when I caused the death of so many people. It was only right that I followed suit. I finally stopped in front of one of the bars that I am a regular at and I just went in without thinking twice.

I sat on one of the chairs close to the bar and I don't really recall what I asked the bartender but I am pretty sure I asked him to keep the drinks coming. I am sure he recognized me, I mean, everyone does. He kept the drinks coming and I kept on chugging them without thinking twice. I needed the oblivion that came with these drinks and I need to achieve it fast.

It kept going that way for close to ten minutes and I was going to chug another glass when someone stopped me.

"You are going to make yourself sick if you keep drinking that way." It was a girl or a woman or whatever. I put down the glass and tried to take a look at her but it was already dark in here and I could only make out her thick hair and straight white teeth. She does smell nice though. She smelled like a breath of fresh air and something sweet, the kind of sweet that your parents warned you against but it was too sweet for you to resist it.

"That was the plan...I don't need your lectures right now." I slurred. I could hardly make out anything in front of me and it was a miracle that I could at least complete a whole sentence without jumbling it up.

"You want to talk about whatever it is you have going on? That might help you better than drinking yourself to death." She said unrelenting.

"If I wanted to talk to someone, I would have gone to see a therapist," I replied before chugging the drink and blindly signaling for the bartender to get me another drink.

She laughed then. I know I was drunk but I didn't think what I said was so funny. She does have a nice laugh though. It sounded rich and thick and its warmth seemed to wrap around me in the most soothing manner.

"I am Emilia." She announced. She has a pretty name too. Now, if only I could put a face to the name, smell, and laugh but I still couldn't see her face clearly. Maybe I shouldn't have had so many drinks after all.

I nodded wondering why it was taking the bartender so long to get me another drink. "Nice to meet you, Emilia."

"You know, when someone introduces themselves, it is basic knowledge for you to return the favor." She said.

So she doesn't know who I am then. I thought everyone would recognize me by now. I have been all over the news for the past week now.

I cleared my throat. "You can call me Ric," I answered.

I think I saw her nodding her head. I could not talk for sure but I definitely saw her hair bouncing.

"You have a nice name." She commented and I scoffed.

"And you have a pretty name," I replied.

"Do you want to talk about your problems?" She asked.

"Problems? With a S?" I asked. I couldn't stop talking to her and this might be due to the effect of the alcohol but I like her voice. I want to keep hearing her talk. I don't want her to stop talking, the sound of her voice seems to have a calming effect on me and...I cannot explain it but I don't want her to stop talking.

"I assumed..."

"I don't want to talk about my problem. I would love to know more about you. Just...talk to me. Don't stop talking." I said. I probably sound like a drunk idiot but I couldn't care less. I just need her to keep talking. I want to keep listening to the sound of her voice.

"Okay." She finally answered and then she started talking. I could see her mouth moving and I could hear her voice but I couldn't make out the words she was saying. All that matters was the sound of her voice. Her voice seems to be more effective than the alcohol I have been downing since.

"...Ric! Are you even listening to me?" She asked snapping me out of my trance.

"Sorry. I missed that part." I answered.

She sighed. "I asked you a question."

"What was the question?" I asked her.

"Do you want children? Like someday, do you want to have children?" She asked.

I must have been really drunk cause I remember answering that question. "Yes, eventually. If I ever get married."I answered.

She nodded. "Say you have children already, what would you name them? Have you ever thought about that?" She asked.

"I don't think I have ever thought about that before," I answered. I have never thought about that before. I know I will have to get married one day and have children. It was mandatory, I mean, I will need a successor to take over the Italian mafia when I die.

"Think about it now. What would you name a boy child?" She asked.

"Can I ask why we are talking about children at a bar?"

She shrugged out at least, I think she did. "You won't talk to me if I asked you personal questions and I can't seem to come up with a..." She trailed off.

"Fine...Antonio for a boy." I answered.

"Cute and for a girl?" She asked.

"Probably Emilia," I answered smoothly and she laughed. I didn't realize that we had somehow moved really close to each other cause I could feel her breathing on my face.

"Nice one, Ric. Now be serious." She breathed. She actually breathed.

"I am serious. You have a really pretty name." I answered and I somehow couldn't stop my body from leaning closer. She didn't drawback either. I can't tell for sure but I could have sworn she leaned closer too.

"Thank you. Now answer the question." She urged breathlessly.

"Aria. I would name her Aria." I answered before taking her lips in mine and everything just kind of went black after that.

*End of flashback.*

"Riccardo??" The sound of Enzo's voice calling my name snapped me back to reality.

"Si," I answered.

"What are you going to do about this?" He asked.

I didn't have to think about it for long. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed Angelo's number. He answered almost immediately.

"prepara l'aereo, Angelo," I ordered.

"Si, Don." He answered and I ended the call immediately. I looked at my best friend who was already smiling.

"stiamo andando a New York" I announced.

We are going to New York.