"What is it, Mama? Is something wrong?"
"No,Vita Mia. Nothing is wrong. You see, my sweet boy, I recently found out something about your Papa I didn't previously know." I shared a look with Gio, who nodded in encouragement.
"What, Mama?"
"Your Papa and Gio were cousins." I watched my son's face. I knew the moment he out it together.
"SoNonnaCarmela is kinda my grandma?"
"Sort of, yes. It means you have a lot of cousins now, including Matteo."
"Yes! This is so awesome! Wait 'til I tell him!"
I couldn't help but laugh at his exuberance, even if it hurt.
"Can I call him now, Mama?"
"Why don't we wait and make sure he's awake first? He might still be in bed. It is a little early, still." It was barely 8 am on a Saturday. Some people liked to sleep in on the weekends.
"Fine," he grumbled.
His pout made Gio chuckle and me smile.
"Why don't you invite Matteo over for the day? You two can watch movies, play video games, maybe even go for a swim in the pool."
I looked at Gio in surprise. I hadn't expected him to make such an offer.
"What is that look for,Bella?"
"You are full of surprises, Gio."
"I have to do something to keep you on your toes,Amore."
His smirk curled my toes. He could make panties drop with that smirk. "You definitely have a knack for that."
"Cool! Thank you, Gio!"
Thankfully, Eli was oblivious to our conversation.
"You're very welcome,piccolo. Let's go enjoy our breakfast, shall we?"
A few days a week, Gio had someone come to the house to do the cooking. Today was one of those days.
The table was set with enough food to feed an army. “Expecting company?”
“On the weekends? Always,Tesoro. That is howmia famigliadoes things. Don’t worry. Anything that isn’t eaten will be boxed up and donated to a soup kitchen to feed the homeless.”
I stared at him. Gio Marchetti was such a contradiction. He was a member of the Italian Mafia, and yet he donated food to the homeless. He could kill without remorse, yet he held me with a tenderness that brought tears to my eyes. He confused me and made it difficult to not love him.
Love? Did I love him? That thought terrified me. The last man I’d loved was violently ripped from my life.
Those thoughts plagued me throughout the day. By the time I was drifting off to sleep in Gio’s arms, I still hadn’t fully come to terms with the way I felt about him.
