There’s a stunned pause as my men take in his perfection. And realize what I realized as soon as I saw him. Exactly who his father is.
“Jesus H Christ,” Bobby says, tears in his eyes. “Who’d have fucking thought?”
“He’s perfection,” Adriano says, stroking his cheek. “A little prince.”
“A miracle.” Eli agrees, grinning from ear to ear. “Flawless work, my ruby.”
Doc says nothing, just stares like he’s been hit by lightning.
“Are you happy?” I ask.
Silence. Doc stares at me, his ice blue eyes perfectly mirrored in our child’s face and then he turns, pressing a tattooed fist into his mouth and biting hard enough to draw blood.
Adriano pulls him into a bear hug. “Congratulations,padre.”
“No,” Doc whispers, suddenly sheet white.
Bobby laughs. “Haven’t you been bragging about this being your baby since day one? Didn’t you keep saying your sperm is like…nuclear waste or something?”
Doc glances over his shoulder at the baby’s small face. His thatch of thick white-blond hair. “No.”
“Here,” Eli says, swinging the necklace over my head and fastening it around my throat. “For you, my ruby.”
“Thank you,” I say, kissing his cheek. “Would you like to hold him?”
“Of course.” Eli takes our son and smiles into his face, one of his perfect wide-cheeked smiles. “Ciao, bambino.”
The baby stirs slightly in his arms and Eli beams back at him.
Behind him, Doc appears to be hyperventilating in Adriano’s arms.
“Is he okay?” I ask Bobby.
“Who cares.” Bobby brushes a hand through my hair. “I’m so glad you’re okay, JJ.”
“Me too,” I say. “I really want bubble tea, though.”
“I’ll call, Sal,” Eli says, rocking the baby up and down. “You know,bella. This multiple fathers thing is very fun. You get two surprises in one.”
I smile, pleased and very content.
“Have you thought of a name?” Bobby asks.
We all decided the baby’s last name will be Morelli. That way all our children, regardless of their paternity, will have the same last name, our family name, but I’m going to choose the first and middle name.
“Well…I thought maybe Luciano,” I say. “That was Zia Teresa’s dad’s name and it’s Italian and we could call him Luci for short. What do you think?”
“I love it,” Bobby whispers.
“Wonderful,” Eli says, lifting the baby to his face. “Hello, little Luciano Morelli.”
“LucianoAlessioMorelli,” I correct.
Doc makes a strange yelping noise and despite Adriano’s best efforts, collapses onto the linoleum floor like a sack of bricks.
“Fucking Valente,” Eli says, nuzzling his nose to the baby’s.
Adriano lifts Doc’s unconscious body onto a nearby couch with a sigh. “Don’t worry,Pryntsesa. He’s just overwhelmed.”
