“Good. Better than I thought she’d be.”
“Because she’s got a future she’s looking forward to.”
I nodded. “So do we.”
KIARA
I hugged Adamo tightly. “I’ll miss you. Behave in New York all right? Luca’s strict.”
Adamo nodded then pulled back. “I’ll come to visit in summer for Fabiano’s wedding, and when you give birth to him.”
“Him?” I said curiously.
“You’re a boy mom. I can’t see you with a daughter. You whipped us into shape.”
I laughed at his assessment. “Okay. We’ll see. It’s still too early to tell. Will you come home for Christmas?”
“I don’t know. That’s only three months from now. I feel like I should really try to make myself useful in New York to thank Luca for taking me in.”
Remo snorted. “He isn’t doing it out of the goodness of his heart, trust me. He’ll want something in return and soon, and it’s not like you’re living in his house.”
“You’ll probably share a tiny apartment with millions of cockroaches,” Savio said with a grin. Adamo gave him the finger which Savio returned.
Adamo got into a car with Remo who would take him to the airport, but not accompany him to New York. Adamo didn’t want to arrive with a Capo and I got it. He wanted to prove himself.
Nino wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we watched them drive off and then we returned inside. “It’ll be strange without him,” I said.
Nino sighed. “Remo still doesn’t like it. It’s hard for him to let go like this, but I think it’s the best for Adamo.” We stopped at Alessio’s crib. “Luca doesn’t punish unjustly. We have to trust in that.”
“I think Adamo will learn to handle himself,” I said. Alessio opened his eyes and I leaned down and took him out, pressing him to my chest. “Maybe it’s good for peace as well. It could tighten our bond with the Famiglia.”
Nino nodded thoughtfully. I really hoped the truce would hold, not just because it allowed me to talk to Giulia and occasionally visit her. It meant we were safer.
“I’m starving,” Savio said as he sauntered over to the sofa and plopped down. “How about an afternoon pizza?”
I scoffed. “Is there something like that?”
“There used to be,” Savio said, cocking an eyebrow. Like Remo and Nino he’d stopped wearing bandages over his wrists a couple of days ago. The slashes glared an angry red on his wrists. Nino would cover them with tattoos once the wounds were healed. Savio’s eyes caught mine and he gave me a sardonic smile.
“Then order pizza. I’m sure Remo will be starving once he’s back,” Serafina said as she walked in carrying Greta. Nevio staggered toward Savio who got up from the sofa and picked up the pizza menu. Nevio followed after him like a shadow.
Savio glanced over his shoulder. “He’s a bit like those creepy little killer dolls from horror movies the way he stalks me and grins his little maniac Remo grin.”
Serafina looked indignant. “Don’t say that.”
Watching Nevio who clung to his leg, Savio took out his phone and ordered pizzas. When he hung up, he shook his head at Nevio, then picked him up anyway. “You peed on me. I haven’t forgotten and I won’t forgive.”
I went over to him. “And have you had any luck with emo girls yet?”
Savio tried to stop Nevio from touching the scars. “Nah. Haven’t tried yet. I need a few more days to recuperate to give it my all. I don’t like to disappoint the ladies.”
I wondered if what happened got to him more than he let on. He cast his eyes up and shook his head with a smirk.
“Don’t give me that look, Kiara. Take care of Nino, Alessio and the bun in your oven. I’m more resilient than bad weeds. I’ll fuck the memories straight out of my brain. That always works.”
“Fuck,” Nevio said in delight.
Savio’s eyes grew wide then he started laughing. Serafina came over and pinched his arm.
“I can’t believe one of his first words is fuck.”
“It’s not only Savio’s fault,” Nino reasoned with a smile. “Remo has a penchant for the word too.”
Serafina nodded reluctantly then released an exasperated sigh.
Savio held Nevio out to Serafina. “Here, take your little killer doll.”
“Fuck!” Nevio screamed, causing Greta to grin where she sat on the floor. She opened her mouth. Savio went over to her and squatted down. “Oh no, dollface. That word isn’t for you.”
I huffed and began rocking Alessio once more then handed him to Nino.
Fabiano and Leona joined us like they’d done almost every evening in the last two weeks since the attack. We’d grown closer than before, if that was possible, and I relished in the realization that a horrible day had brought something good for us.
Alessio slept in his crib while the rest of us settled on the sofas in the gaming room. Despite what had happened in these walls, the good of many other evenings still outweighed everything. Nino wrapped his arm around me as we ate our pizza, listening to Fabiano and Leona as they deliberated if they wanted a big feast or a small affair in the garden.