“I know,” I say. “I love all of you. I couldn’t be happier.”
Epilogue
Domenico Valente
“Luci, over here.”I take my son’s small, chubby hand and steer him away from the mud puddle that he seems genetically programmed to find in any park, garden, crack in the sidewalk, just about anywhere. “You don’t want to get dirt on your nice clothes, do you?”
Luci gives me a doubtful look. I decide to prevent the risk, bending and swinging him into my arms. “Okay, sweetheart, that’s enough fresh air. We’re gonna go find Mama now, okay?”
Luci’s face breaks into a smile. “Mama?” he asks hopefully. “I find Mama?”
I laugh and kiss the side of his sweet-smelling head. “Exactly.”
We walk together up the winding path that leads to La Vita è Bella where the music is pumping loud enough to shake the foundations. It’s January’s twenty-first birthday and we’re throwing the blowout to end all blowouts. Millions of dollars, months in the making. Everyone we’ve ever crossed paths with and liked is here, drinking champagne and celebrating the most beautiful woman in the world.
Except for me. I’m celebrating but I’m also on Luci duty. We could have left him with a babysitter all night, but January wanted him at the party, and Iwantedto look after him.
As we enter the hotel hallway, I lean against the wall and take a second to check if Luci’s suit is on right and he hasn’t got ice cream or dirt anywhere on it.
He giggles as I correct his collar and I laugh too.
It’s fucking crazy but my kid isn’t an asshole at all. He’s sweet and funny and so fucking smart. Every day I see Alessia in him and I see my mom and January and me. And then there are the non-genetic traits. He throws his head back when laughs like Bobby. He stands with his hands on his waist like Morelli. He mutters to himself when he’s playing with his blocks like Adriano cleaning a gun.
We literally merged ourselves together to create one tiny person. It’s crazy and I don’t want to miss a single second.
“There you are!” It’s January, flawless in a long lace dress. It’s deep green and perfectly matches her eyes. Her hair is loose, and her cheeks are flushed like she’s been dancing.
“God, you’re a MILF,” I tell her. “Hottest MILF here.”
“Nico, calling me that is not any better than T-I-T-S,” January chides, but she’s smiling.
“You go back to the party and keep having fun,” I tell her. “Luci and I have got this.”
“I know, but I want a kiss.”
Luci gleefully holds out his arms.
“Hello, my sweet baby,” she says, taking him. “I love you so, so much.”
I look at both of them. My kid’s so handsome, whenever we go out it’s hard to tell who gets more side-eye, January from desperate dudes or Luci from ovarian-thirsty women.
January’s gaze finds mine over Luci’s head. “Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?”
“Nope,” I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. “But you’ll be telling me in the presidential suite later. Actually, you’ll be telling me and Luci’s other daddies a whole lot of things, Tesorina.”
January’s cheeks go even redder, and she ducks her head, fussing with Luci’s shoelaces.
The party’s not the only thing that’s been elaborately planned. As soon as the kid’s in bed and the rest of the guests have been chucked out, me and the guys are taking January upstairs, feeding her Alessia, and fucking her until the sun comes up. The drug’s still a few years away from commercial release—watered down and a whole lot less likely to kill you, but that’s the beauty of being your own chemist. You can do whatever the fuck you want.
“Are you having a good night, you sexy little MILF?” I ask January.
“Of course,” she says happily. “The hotel looks amazing.”
“Because of you,” I remind her. January’s been putting in twelve hours days restoring the place to its original, Italian-inspired roots. In the next few months, it’ll be ready to run as a five-star hotel full time.
Two drunk girls push past me, giggling loudly.
“Hey January!” one squeals. “Coming to dance?”
