CHAPTER ONE
Gianluca
When I was a kid, my brother, our cugini, and I all played hockey, baseball and football. After a while, we lost interest in football. My cugino Domenico kept playing hockey and is now the starting goalie for the Chicago Redhawks. I kept playing baseball and was drafted by the Chicago Panthers during my senior year of college. It’s been awesome to play for our home team. I knew I’d play in the majors, but my dream was always to play for the Panthers. So far, all my dreams have come true.
The only thing that’s missing lately is finding my person. I’ve been watching my family find theirs, one by one. And while I never really thought about it before? I am now. But being a pro player makes it hard. You never know if the women you date are only with you for the money and fame. I did have a serious girlfriend in college, Rosalind. We were together for three years when I got drafted, and she was with me for my first year. Then all of a sudden, she decided that she couldn’t deal with the women around me. Which made me angry, because I never gaveher any reason to worry about them. I would never cheat on the woman I’m with. We had just celebrated our fourth anniversary when she got it in her head that I would eventually cheat, so she left me. After that, I said fuck it, I didn’t need anyone. I focused on playing and just having flings. Two years ago, it seemed like everyone in my family was starting to find their loves. Now all of a sudden I feel lonely, and nothing is making it better.
Home games are always the best games. Win or lose, the fans are always cheering and I get to go home after and relax with my family. When I get back to the locker room, I check my phone, like I always do after the game. This time is different. I see several missed calls from my cugina Giovanna. I sit down and listen to the voicemail she’s left.
“Luca, you need to get to Lucciola Memorial as soon as you can. I don’t want to tell you over the phone. And don’t speed. Just get here.”
What kind of cryptic shit is that? Get here ASAP but DON’T SPEED. For fuck’s sake. I decide not to do my cool down, I grab a shower and head to Lucciola Memorial. I do my best not to speed, but let’s be honest—it’s fucking hard. Getting out of the city when there’s either a baseball or hockey game is a nightmare. It can add another hour to an already long-ass commute back home. I try calling Giovanna from my car, but it goes straight to her voicemail.
As I drive, my mind is going crazy. Why would Gia leave me a message like that? Did someone die? Although if someone had died, someone in my family would’ve come to the field. I hate not knowing what’s going on. Halfway there, I try to call her again, but I get her voicemail. Again.
“Gia, I’m about an hour out. Why would you leave me a cryptic-ass message like that? Next time, just tell me what the fuck is going on. Ugh.”
When I get to Lucciola Memorial, I park and run inside. I see Giovanna waiting for me.
“Really? You couldn’t call me back?” I frown at her as I hug her.
“We need to talk before I take you into the room.”
“Seriously? Just spit it out. Stop being so weird about this, you’re making me crazy.”
Giovanna takes me to her office, she’s a doctor here at Lucciola Memorial. She originally wanted to be a surgeon, but after meeting her husband, Declan, and starting her family, she decided to become a general practitioner. I sit down on her couch and stare at her.
“Okay, do you remember a woman named Faith Morgan?”
“Yes. I dated her for a few months, years ago. But she said she couldn’t deal with the women. Same story all the fucking time. Why?”
“She’s here. But you need to know something before I take you to her.”
“Wait. Why would you call me to see her? We haven’t been together for like, three years.”
Giovanna comes and sits next to me. The look on her face is making me worry.
“Faith was in a car accident, she was on her way here to talk to you. She’s told me her story because we didn’t know if you were going to make it here in time.”
“Holy shit. She’s going to die?”
“Yes. There’s nothing more that we can do for her…and there’s more.”
“How can there be more?” I frown at I stare at her.
“Faith has a son—his name is Giancarlo.”
I continue to stare at her and it finally clicks.
“Wait. You’re not saying he’s mine, are you? I’ve never had unprotected sex. Ever. Not even with Rosalind. And I was with her for years. I was only with Faith for a few months”
“That’s what she told me. But I’ve seen him?—”
“Does he look like me?”
Giovanna nods at me and my stomach drops.
“I already ordered a DNA test with her permission. But I think you need to talk to her before it’s too late,” she says as she takes a swab of my mouth.
