I looked at Lucia. Studied every detail. Memorized her face. The weight of her in my arms. The way she made small sounds. The trust in how she relaxed against my chest.
Something fierce and protective swelled in my chest. So intense it almost scared me.
I would kill for this child. Die for her. Burn down the entire world to keep her safe. No one would ever hurt her. No one would ever make her feel small or worthless or afraid.
She'd grow up knowing she was loved. Wanted. Cherished. Everything I'd never had. Everything my mother had tried to give me before my father destroyed her.
"I promise you." I whispered to Lucia. Voice shaking. "I promise I'll protect you. Keep you safe. Be the father you deserve. You'll never know the darkness I grew up in. You'll have light and love and everything good. I swear it."
More tears. I couldn't stop them. Didn't care.
Aria reached out. Took my hand. "You're already an amazing father. Look at you. You're a natural."
"I'm terrified of breaking her. She's so small. So fragile."
"You won't break her. You're gentle with her. Careful. She's safe with you." Aria squeezed my hand. "I'm watching you with our daughter and I'm falling in love with you all over again. Seeing this side of you that you keep hidden fromeveryone else."
I carefully sat on the edge of her bed. Still holding Lucia. Let Aria see her too.
Our daughter. Our family. Our future.
"Thank you." The words felt inadequate. "For her. For giving me this. For trusting me enough to build a life together. For everything."
"Thank you for fighting for us. For never giving up. For being the man I needed when everything was falling apart." Aria touched Lucia's tiny hand. "We made something beautiful, Kai. Despite all the darkness. Despite everything trying to tear us apart. We made her."
We sat there together. Our small family. Watching Lucia sleep. Both of us crying happy tears.
Everything I'd fought for. Everything that mattered. Right here in this room.
The organization was different now too. I'd taken control but I was running it my way. Not my father's way.
No more unnecessary violence. No more hits unless absolutely required for survival. We were transitioning into legitimate businesses. Real estate. Technology. Import/export that didn't involve illegal goods.
It was slow. Met resistance from the old guard who wanted things to stay brutal and profitable.
But I was the boss. And I'd made it clear that anyone who didn't like the new direction could leave. Several had. Most stayed once they realized legitimate business could be just as lucrative without the constant risk of prison or death.
Marco was still my right hand. Helping manage the transition. Keeping me grounded when I got too focused on one thing.
Mrs. Rossi lived with us at the beach house. Helped with Lucia. Cried every time she held the baby. Told us we were giving her the grandchild she'd never had.
Lia visited constantly. Loved being Aunt Lia. Would show up with gifts and books and plans for when Lucia was old enough to start art lessons.
We were building something like a normal family. Complicated. Imperfect. But real.
Three months after Lucia was born, Aria approached me with something clearly on her mind.
We were in the living room. I was holding Lucia, trying to get her to burp after a feeding. Aria sat beside me, nervous energy radiating off her.
"I need to talk to you about something and I need you to really listen before you respond, okay?"
"Okay." I shifted Lucia to my shoulder. Patted her back gently. "What's going on?"
"I want to go back to school. Finish my degree. I've been thinking about it for a while and I know the timing might not be perfect with Lucia being so young, but I want to do something with my life beyond just being a wife and mother. Not that those things aren't important but I need more. I want to teach someday. Want to have my own career. My own purpose." The words came out rushed. Defensive. Like she expected me to say no.
Old Kai probably would have. Would have said she needed to stay home with the baby. That she had everything she needed here. That her purpose was family.
But I wasn't old Kai anymore. She'd changed me. Made me better.
