The light changes, and I accelerate, my thoughts keeping pace. I don’t understand Elena’s Herculean efforts to keep me away and avoid the truth, but I can’t let it go. Not anymore.
I've built my father's business in Italy, strengthened our position, earned my place at the table. I'm not the same man who left seven years ago, powerless against Aldo's accusations.
Tonight, I'll make Elena understand. We're going to drag this truth into the light and face it head on like we should have seven years ago.
I arrive at Gabriella and Marco’s place. The door swings open before I even knock. Gabriella's smile is wide, her dark hair pulled into a ponytail, wearing what looks like one of Marco's sweaters.
“You made it.” She pulls me into a one-armed hug. Her other arm cradles a tiny bundle wrapped in a pale yellow blanket.
“Was there any concern I wouldn’t?” I step inside, happy to leave the cold outside.
“It’s Saturday. Traffic is nuts.” She hands baby Sabina to me. "Here, take your niece. She needs to know her Uncle Luca. I’m going to grab my files and meet you in the living room.”
The baby weighs practically nothing, her face peaceful in sleep, tiny fingers curled into fists.
“Your mom is bossy,” I say to the baby. Gabriella is unlike most women in our world.
My father always respected her ambition and intelligence.
She wields more power than most women in families like ours. Currently, she’s the family lawyer and is doing a great deal to help me run the business.
I move to the living room, carefully lowering myself onto the couch.
Sabina stirs, her eyes fluttering open to reveal dark irises that match her father's.
She stares up at me with that unnerving focus newborns sometimes have. Like they can see into your soul.
What would she see in me? I hope she’d see a man a family can rely on. Not just my family, but Elena and her kids too.
"Hey there,Principessa," I whisper. "Your uncle's got you."
My mind drifts to Elena's triplets wondering if they were this small. I know from Gabriella that even being so small, babies fill a large part of life. For Elena, she has three times the chaos.
Three times the worry.
Three times the love.
She’s done it alone.
I’m sure Dom has helped, but it doesn’t take away that she’s a single mom of three children. The burn to be there for her grows even hotter.
"You look good with a baby," Gabriella says, returning with her files.
Sabina makes a small sound, and I instinctively rock her. “I always look good.”
Gabriella smirks at me. “Marco is coming too. You want some coffee, or maybe something stronger?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m fine.”
Marco enters the living room, his presence commanding as always, though his expression softens when he sees me holding Sabina.
“I’d stand, but I’m busy,” I say.
Marco gives a rare smile. "Looks like you're getting practice.”
"Just admiring your handiwork."
Marco sits next to Gabriella, who starts going through the files, spreading them across the coffee table. "These contracts need reviewing before Tuesday's meeting."
