I guess I expected her to demand I bring them home for failing them.
"Well, old houses do make funny sounds, don't they? But you know what I always tell you about shadows…"
"They can't hurt you," the triplets recite in unison.
"That's right. And you're extra-safe because your dad is there."
I feel a surge of gratitude at her words.
She could have easily undermined me, but instead she's reinforcing their trust in me.
"Now, close your eyes and imagine you're floating on clouds," Elena continues, her voice dropping to a soothing cadence. "Soft, fluffy clouds that carry you up, up into the stars…"
“There are stars on my ceiling,” Adalina says with a voice growing soft with sleep.
Elena continues her gentle visualization, weaving a world of safety and comfort with just her voice.
The kids’ eyelids grow heavy, small bodies relaxing into the mattress. Within minutes, all three are breathing deeply, faces peaceful in sleep.
"They're out," I whisper into the phone, carefully extracting myself from the tangle of small limbs.
"They'll sleep through now."
"Elena…" I step into the hallway, lowering my voice further. "Thank you. For helping. For…"
For not making me feel like the failure I am, I want to say.
“Of course. Despite everything, I want this for them. For all of you.”
It’s difficult to believe considering the great lengths she went through to keep them from me, but I don’t say that.
“Luca?”
“Yeah.”
“I… ah… I want to let you know that the FBI agent approached me tonight. At the grocery store after I left your place."
My blood turns to ice, then immediately boils. "What did you tell him?"
"Nothing, but Luca, he knows about the kids being yours."
"What the fuck, Elena?" I hiss, moving farther down the hall. "You went to the FBI about this?” For a minute, I truly felt like we’d be able to navigate co-parenting without fighting.
“No! I didn't tell him anything!" Her voice rises defensively. "He already knew. That's what I'm trying to tell you."
I press my palm to my forehead, trying to calm the rage coursing through me. "You'd better not be playing games with me.”
“God, Luca… Blackwood approached me, offering to 'help' me keep custody. Said he could get us away from the 'mafia life'.”
I remind myself that this isn’t the first time Blackwood has reached out to members of La Corona.
Or important women in the families.
"How would he even know about the kids being mine?"
Elena hesitates, and I can practically hear her weighing how much to tell me. “I told Dom.”
“He wouldn’t tell the FBI, though, would he?” I’m not surprised she told Dom, although it’s none of his business.
