“So does that mean you’ll both go places with me? I need to go to the store maybe today or tomorrow.”
“We’ll both go places with you until I go back to Valencia.” Diego smiles. “Plus Georgíos might need help with you.”
I gasp dramatically. “I’m an angel.”
My brothers snort as they all walk into the bakery.
“If you believe that, I have some gold bars I need to get rid of.” Elvio laughs.
“You’re all mean. That’s what I have to deal with.” I sigh and pretend to sob.
“Your kids sound like ours.” Caitríona laughs.
“I think mine might be the worst.” Athena laughs.
“You haven’t seen ours yet. They’re still being polite.” My mamá laughs.
I nod. “My brothers are the worst.”
My twin brothers, José and Juan surround me and then grab onto me. To anyone outside, it looks like they’re hugging me. But they’re not. These assholes are trying to shove my head into their armpits. I hold my breath as long as I can. I hear laughing and then a little voice.
“Stop killing my mamà!”
Everyone stops and my brothers let me go. Giancarlo grabs onto me as he sniffles.
“You don’t hurt her.” He yells at them again.
I hold him tight. “I’m okay, my brothers were just playing.”
Giancarlo shakes his head no.
“Yasha did dat to my odder mamà. She fell down afer. Dat’s not pwaying.” He sobs.
Holy shit. Yakov hurt Faith in front of Giancarlo and as little as he is, he remembers that. I hold him tighter and kiss his head as he sobs. I look at everyone around me. I see Rosaura on her phone, I’m guessing she’s calling Leonardo. And from the looks on everyone’s faces? No one knew that Yakov hurt Faith in front of Giancarlo. Gianluca told me that Faith hinted that Yakov hit her and that made me mad when he told me. No woman should ever have to go through that.
“Giancarlo, why don’t we go in the back and look for some frosting to eat?” Fiorella says to him.
“Is otay?” he asks me.
“Sì, amor. Go with Zia, I’ll be here waiting.”
He nods and kisses my cheek, then he takes Fiorella’s hand and goes with her. She takes Giovanna’s two boys too.
“I think Faith went through a lot more than she told Gianluca.” I say sadly.
“Don’t worry, Yakov will pay for everything he’s done.” Leonardo says as he walks into the bakery with his brothers and the rest of the council. They all kiss their wives and hug the rest of us.
“Nonno!” Giancarlo says as he comes running out and jumps into Leonardo’s arms.
“Are you okay?” he asks him.
“Yes. Dey were hurting mamà.” He says as he glares at my brothers.
They both give him a sad face.
“We would never hurt her. We promise.” Juan says as he comes over and hugs me.
“Your mamà?” Leonardo asks.
