Emiliana “Pregnant?” Giovanni gaped. The way he questioned me was cold, so cold that it had the hairs on the back of neck standing to attention. I guess I deserved it. I wasn’t so fond of the idea myself. In fact, I was desperately put off by it. Children were never in my plan. I don’t think they were ever in Giovanni’s either, but we needed to lay our cards on the table and discuss this like the adults we were. I nodded, meeting his dark gaze for a moment. If it weren’t for his march-like pacing, I would have said that he was taking it quite well. It wasn’t until five minutes of silence had passed that he stopped his pace and turned back to me. “Is it mine?” The words stung, painfully prickling like shards of glass stabbing at my heart. To think he would doubt my loyalty, my fidelity, it hurt. I was angry, furious that Giovanni would suggest or even hint that I could be unfaithful. After everything we had been through, everything I had done for him, he thought I was capable of ad

GiovanniI didn’t give her the real answer, just the right one. For all I knew, Vinnie was struggling with this just as much as I was. He would never admit that, of course, but it would show; in his eyes, in his demeanor. He would act tough, but he would probably be broken on the inside.I wasn’t scared for him, though. The man could hold his own ten times over. But that wasn’t what worried me. It was the solitude, the quietness and the lingering hopelessness that accompanied all of that.I had to get him out.“I can’t believe he is gone,” Emiliana whispered sadly. She pulled away, taking me all in for the first time since I had returned.Although it hadn’t been quite the welcome I was expecting, I couldn’t deny that I was happy about the news. Despite my reservations—Gratteri and his slimy fucking hands—I believed her when she said it was mine. I just had to make sure.Emiliana leaned in close, resting her forehead against mine and closing her eyes so I couldn’t see the doubt swimmin

Emiliana I watched as Giovanni headed towards his grandfather, neither looking too pleased to see the other. “Do you think he’ll be okay?” I turned to Luis, attempting to conceal my worry. “He can look after himself,” Luis grumbled beside me. “You wanted to dance?” I shook my head and peered down at my glass, “I think I need to sit down.” At twelve weeks pregnant, I was barely showing. The side effects, however, were more prominent and my nauseous worrying only added to them. Luis pulled a chair away from the wall and tucked it under my knees, muttering, “Sit,” as he did so. “Emiliana?” Veronica’s concerned voice called to me, my blurry focus could only see the outline of her magnificent dress that I knew she would be wearing. “Are you okay?” “Yes, just feeling a little sick.” “It must have been all that dancing,” she chuckled. Crouching down in front of me, she pressed her hand to my forehead. “Get a damp cloth,” she ordered Luis. “I’m fine,” I protested, swatting her hand a

Emiliana I buried my feet into the uncut grass of the rear garden as the sun scattered beautiful rays around me. Dew drops kissed my feet, the gentle breeze ribboned through the strands of hair that had freed themselves from my hair tie. It was early spring, the chilly winter was far behind us, and in its place the new season brought promise, promise of a future, where Giovanni and I had our family, where Vinnie finally returned to us. Giovanni had worked tirelessly for months to get Vinnie’s release, but his efforts were futile. Something was missing, and we weren’t sure of what. All we knew was Don Castellano could help, and when Giovanni told me that was what he had ensured in exchange for Giovanni’s loyalty, it only cemented my decision about my father and my place in this world. We all had a choice in this life, and far too many times I had my choices made for me. For once, Giovanni had given me what I wanted; the independence to make my own decisions, something my father had n

I had always loved shopping. It was always the one time I felt free; free to explore, free to spend money on whatever I wanted and choose whatever I wanted to do. When Vinnie came into the kitchen and said he was taking me, I didn’t know whether it was his suggestion or Giovanni’s. Something told me it was a bit of both because both men had the widest smile on their faces when I finally agreed.Being seven months pregnant had taken it out of me and our boy was growing fast. Over the last few months, Vinnie and Giovanni had walked on eggshells, force fed me vitamins and made sure I got the right amount of exercise, even when all I wanted to do was sleep.It was warming up with the changing seasons and my feet were swollen, aching and sweaty.Vinnie ignored all my protests and took my hand, escorting me out of the car and into the marketplace of Barcelona.“Chiquita, Te ves radiante!” (You look radiant). Vinnie beamed, his cheeks dimpling as he looked down at me.“Parezco un…” (I look l