Valencia sucks in a breath, gathering her strength while I massage the kinks in her tense shoulders. “The thoughts in your head are only illusions. You’re stronger than you think, baby. Come on. Let’s do this.”
Those hazel eyes meet mine and the fury begins to ease. She nods, wets her lower lip, and steps in as I hold the door.
A light whiff of air greets us. It’s always been so much colder in here. We don’t need to see a single damn thing to know where we are in the room. The slightly ajar door gifts me Lencia’s outline. She feels her way inside, gripping Addilyn’s bassinet that hasn’t been moved. The shades are drawn. I had the window bolted with steel from the outside days after the disappearance.
This is the room I was proudest to have designed, and although a part of me says it still is, deep down I know it’s done its time. As much as we can stop fearing or find refuge in this room, it will always be the last place we saw Addilyn in.
Valencia nears the rocking chair.
“How is it?”
“It’s…overwhelming.”
I lift her and she straddles my waist as I sit down. Taking advantage of the dark, her arms wrap around my neck and I kiss her forehead. “It was the same for me at the start. Then day by day it began to be a little easier.”
We stay in a comfortable silence for a while, soundlessly reflecting on everything that has been. It must be going through her mind too, or else her breaths wouldn’t be this shallow. They match mine, falling into synchronized rhythms and so I focus on that.
It calms me.
Stabilizes me.
A good ten minutes pass before we make any further movement. The memory of Addilyn burns deep inside me. Her cute little smile. Those eyes. Her presence in our home.
Tears roll down my cheeks.
Fuck.
Back in the bedroom, I give Valencia nothing but my raw honesty. “I know that was an important moment for you. I’m so proud you were able to step inside and place your feet on the same floor where somebody destroyed our happiness.”
Lencia looks up at me and it’s a new awakening for me. Those doe eyes sparkle as she wipes away my fallen tears. “I should be thanking you. You encouraged me.”
“You stepped in. That is much more significant.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Oh, disagreeing with me so early in the morning, are you?” I grin, arching a brow in protest at the soft giggles escaping her. “It’s never too early for you, is it? Hmm?”
“Never, darling,” she teases, tracing the band of my boxer briefs.
“Never she says. Definitely too early for disagreements, but it isn’t for something else…”
“Point taken, but you may still get an eye roll out of me if you’re lucky.”
“Oh amore, I’m always lucky when I’m with you.”
“Thank you for coming in. Please make yourself comfortable.”
Instead of in a chair, Bryce sits on the edge of my desk. I let it go. This is Bryce McCarson we’re talking about after all. I should have expected that even if he did assist in my recovery, that doesn’t exactly mean we’re instant best friends. No. We have a long way to go. But we’re getting there.
He downs his soda and throws it across the room. Somehow it lands perfectly in the trash and he beams with raised hands. “Now that right there is what I call a shot of a champion!”
I clear my throat and drum my fingers over my laptop. “Bryce, I have a meeting in exactly fifteen minutes and so I’m hoping to get through this as quickly as I can…” I trail off.
“Perfectly alright with me.” Bryce brushes down his olive sweater and falls into the guest seat adjacent to me. “How are them bruises? The one on ya face doesn’t make ya look too bad. Ya just look like an Italian that came back from a mafia gang war.”
I smirk.
Hold up, smirk?
Damn, I’ve been so much happier since working everything out with Valencia that I’m even giving into McCarson’s sarcasm. “The bruises are fine. Are you calling me a gangster?”
“Not necessarily. I think that we’re all gangsters in our own way. We may not be part of an organized crime syndicate, but we’ve got those dark, dark secrets that we don’t want certain people to bring to life. And let me tell ya something that’ll surprise ya…The good guys, right, they always have the darkest. You just don’t see it because they conceal it, they’re good at that, but they have the darkest even if they seem the brightest. Remember that when you put me down for worst employee of the month.”
I raise my eyebrows and Bryce chuckles. “My verdict is in. You’re quite an inspirational guy when you’re not busy being infuriating.”
“If that’s your way of saying ya love me, I’ll take it.”
“It’s my way of saying there is no worst employee lists. Not that I love you.”
Bryce laughs. “So, are ya going to tell me what you and the Mrs. have decided on?”
Saturday morning when I woke up beside Lencia for the first time in months, we had a slow-paced day. For once, neither of us were rushing to make lunches, getting the kids ready, or pulling into work like a dear in the headlights. Instead, we arrived at Helena’s and spent the entire weekend with the twins, Daisy, Weston, and my sister-in-law making cannoli and rejoicing.
It was a novelty to be a family again. Pure bliss.
Today before work, Valencia and I had breakfast after taking the kids to school together and so many things eventuated from it. All of which are positive beacons of hope. One of the topics we discussed was her plans when my assistant returns in three weeks.
“Painting.”
“I didn’t know you were painting again.”
“Oh, I’m not. Not for now anyway.” Valencia goes on to explain how she desperately wants to get back into painting, but the motivation falls short. I can’t blame her with all we’re experiencing. First Addilyn. Then the letters. The sighting. The vandalism. That reminds me, I need to contact Lance regarding the process of the assisted retirement village project.
“How are you going to make it work?”
“I’m not entirely sure but I need to force myself out of this rut.”
“The motivation will come in time. Your paintings were always so magnificent!”
She turns bashful and retreats from my hands. “You’re just saying that.”
I catch her wrist. “Take the compliment, Lencia. You’re a sensational artist. I know it can be hard, but sometimes all you need to do is take the compliment and say thank you, baby.”
She swallows hard. “Thank you.”
“Huh? I didn’t hear you.”
“Thank you, Giulio.”
“What?”
I love how those lips curl up. “I said thank you, Giulio!”
“One more time for the people in the back!”
“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Giulio Giannotti. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
“Now that one was a bit excessive, nah?”
Lencia giggles and shoves my hand away playfully.
Another topic we discussed was Bryce. Valencia gave me some insight into his apology, struggles with his parents, and how he is working a second job as a bartender some nights to support his mom. Collectively, we opted not to fire him and instead give him one final chance.
I give Bryce the run down and by the end he’s pensive, stroking his scruffy beard. “So you’re going to keep me?”
I nod sternly. “Yes. It’s what Valencia wanted and I will always stand by her judgment.”
“Thank you. I really do appreciate it.”
“She’s the person you should be thanking. She made the reasoning passable.”
A lopsided smile appears when he extends his hand. “I will. Have I ever told you she’s a keeper?”
What did I just agree to?
I shake his hand and breathe through a stiff smile. “Well, welcome back to Notti Designs…I guess.”
Outside, Bryce stops by Valencia’s desk and a fist bump is e
xchanged. “I don’t know what ya said, but thank you. You don’t know how much it means to me to start over with you.”
Lencia brightens and looks between us. “It’s okay. We’ll all be one happy family if we all stick to the rules, right?”
“Well, what can I say? I do like breaking the rules…”
“McCarson,” I warn.
“However, on this special occasion…” Bryce smirks mid-sentence and casts an honest glance my way. “For this work environment, I can make an exception. I’ll be good, you have my word.”
We’ve made the right decision.
I know we have.
Valencia’s wisdom and guidance matters to me. If Bryce McCarson genuinely needs my paychecks to assist his mother out of the scam she conducted in England, I will do all I can, however he must also hold up his end of the deal by being more industrious and less apathetic.
“Hey stranger.” I grin at Lencia once he’s gone.
She responds and my heart continues to expand. It’s only been a few days since we both vowed to take our marriage off life support and finally breathe together again and damn how good it feels. “Could you kindly make a reservation for four under my name?”
“Of course. When and where?”
“6 P.M. tonight and anywhere you wish.”
Lencia stares down at her notepad. Oblivious, baby. “Well, if it’s an important meeting I would suggest The Gravel. There’s a private dining—”
“That’s perfect.”
“Okay. Which clients do I need to contact?”
I can’t hide my grin anymore. Lencia glances up at me and the first thing I do is kiss her. She doesn’t remember that we were going to tell the twins about us tonight.
“The clients to contact are a Mr. Oscar, Miss Slonne, Mrs. Irresistible Giannotti, and me.”
The twins erupt in cheers at the news. A few people turn towards our table but Oscar and Slonne don’t even notice. I cannot stop smiling at my family the entire dinner. All I can think about is how perfectly poetic it would be if Addilyn were here.
Slonne gives us a beaded bracelet she made for all of us in her class. I help Lencia with hers and wear my bright pink one with pride. Oscar makes a face, not wanting a part of it.
I watch them all so beautifully together and make an oath to myself.
Here in this restaurant, I vow to not rest until we have our baby back.
Until we’re a whole family once again.
Until I hear the word Dada spoken…
“I still can’t believe you ate all that yucky broccoli.”
“Cause I’m cool!” Oscar beams, showing his sister his nonexistent biceps. “See, just like Iron Man!”
Slonne rolls her eyes and glances outside her car window. “More like a goldfish.”
“Hey! I heard that…well at least you said I’m gold!”
“Eww, no. I take it back.”
“Can’t. You already gave it to me, amore.”
“I’m not, amore. Only Daddy can call Mommy that.”
Lencia laughs while I take my eyes off our children in the rearview mirror with a smirk.
“How about this, if you both compliment each other instead of fighting, we can watch a movie at home with Daddy?”
I turn to Valencia. Our therapy suggestion. She’s bringing our story full circle by implementing something for our children that helped us. I love it when she’s happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted our family to be—happy.
“Only if we get to watch one of the Mission Impossible movies with Tom Chris tonight!”
“You mean Tom Cruise, buddy.” I laugh at his persuasion skills. He’s getting good.
“Those are pretty long ones and it’s a school night. Plus, there are some violent scary parts in it. Maybe when you’re both a little older.”
“But I’m a big boy! I want to see the scary parts!”
“No, I want to watch Frozen!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
Valencia turns to them in the backseat with a smile. “How about we decide when we get home?”
“Yay! Okay…I LOVE YOU SLONNE!”
“LOVE YOU OSCAR! MOMMY AND DADDY LOVE EACH OTHER TOO.”
I wink at Lencia. “We sure do.”
“Very much so.”
The moment I pull into Helena’s driveway, worry erupts. Marcus’ Toyota Camry is parked there. Call it instinct, but I can already sense something is off.
Why would he be here?
My thoughts are confirmed at the front door by Marcus and Helena’s screams which overpower every stable thought in my mind. Valencia’s eyes widen. I hope my gut instinct is wrong, but I fear drugs have to do with this. Marcus came into the office late today, disheveled and on edge.
Valencia quickly unlocks the door.
“WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?”
“WHY WOULDN’T I?” Helena screams. “WHAT WAS IT? TELL ME!”
“IT WAS HEROIN, OKAY? ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?”
Oh, shit.
I forget how to inhale properly, but Valencia doesn’t. She hurries the twins down the hallway to their bedrooms, acting as a barrier between the tense scene. It’s evident when I turn the corner and survey the commotion in the kitchen that I no longer know Marcus’ capabilities.
He’s staring straight through Helena, who’s hands are trembling over her face. A phone is discarded on the floor between the barstools and the dining table. My heart sinks at the sharp knife discarded onto the granite kitchen counter-top.
Oh, Dio.
They can’t see me from where I’m standing.
Helena steps back. “I’ll call the police if you don’t leave my house right this second!”
“Are you crazy?” My half-brother scoffs. “You don’t even know half the story!”
“I know guys like you. I do not give a damn who you are; I want you out.”
“What gave you the fucking right to put it all down the sink anyway?”
“Her sensibility, that’s what,” I grit. Both of their heads snap my way, and just like that, Helena rushes past him to collect her fallen phone. “Hey, are you okay?”
“Yeah…just get him the hell out of here before I return for my coffee.” Tears stain her cheeks when she rushes past me and down the hall. I cannot begin to explain my fury at Marcus as he grinds his jaw and stares down at the knife as if it’s nothing.
“What the fuck did you do?”
“I wasn’t going to hurt her.”
“Bullshit! Answer me.”
I can’t believe it! Here I was having one of the best nights of my life with my family and Marcus just has to ruin it.
My half-brother stands frozen as I round the counter to put the knife away. My heart breaks for Helena. She doesn’t deserve this inconsiderate bastard threatening her. Nobody does.
“I don’t even know why you’re still here. This doesn’t involve you!”
“You best believe it fucking involves me. Helena is my sister-in-law and Valencia—”
He cuts me off. “Is your wife? Don’t worry, I get it.”
“No. You don’t get it or else you would have left when Helena asked you to. What did you do to her?” I cock my head, throat hoarse at the next question that falls. “Are you on something?”
“No.” Marcus’ eyes darken and I notice their reddish tinge. It’s all the evidence I need to know he’s lying. “I was in the area and wanted to see Helena. So what if I had heroin on me? I’m not using, I wasn’t going to start using here! She saw it, fucking lost it, and put it all down the sink. Do you know the street value? I lost thousands in seconds, Giulio! Thousands!”
I have no sympathy for him.
None.
“You’ve lost more up here.” I tap his head, fuming. “Shame on you. That’s all I can say.”
“Get the hell out!” Helena screeches when she reenters with Valencia by her side. “I said out!”
“You’re a bitch!” Marcus erupts with a pointed finger. Redness rises from the back o
f his neck to his head. “I’m glad all we ever did was fuck because you’re not worth it. You’re not worth the time nor the effort. You deserved your husband dying all those years ago because at least—”
“You finish that sentence and you won’t like the results,” I threaten. My blood is boiling as I grip his collar with no intention of letting let go. “I don’t care at this point, I will call the police.
“Oh you’re defending her now, huh? Being the golden god in Valencia’s life isn’t enough, you have to go on and be her protector too?”
Ignoring Marcus, I apologize to Helena and Lencia on his behalf and drag him out of the house.
Helena and Marcus were seeing each other? That day at school drop off she was hinting at seeing somebody…but…I never suspected that it would be my half-brother. It’s news to me.
The old me would have driven Marcus home and ensured he made it there safe. Tonight…he’s pushed me past the point of empathy. I can’t control him. I’ve tried and tried with him. I can’t change him. It’s up to him to be willing to change, no matter how many times I’ve hoped he would choose me as his anchor.
“One day you are going to see the consequences of your actions and you’ll wish you had listened to me to seek some help. Because after what I witnessed tonight, you need it more than ever.”
“I don’t need help or anything else from you!”
“Not even your job?”
“I’m only there to keep up half of my deal. I don’t give a shit about representing your company. I do it for the clients and I do it because YOU. OWE. ME.”
“You only need me because I owe you?”
“YES.”
“You don’t need me for support?”
“NO, I DON’T.”
“Not even for the money I give you?”
The same fucking money he uses to traffic drugs, instead of investing in his future!
“NOT. EVEN. THAT!” Marcus screams in my face, shoving my chest with glassy eyes at each staccato word. I don’t budge, but if he wants to get started tonight, I won’t be as lenient to his blows as I was last week. Marcus has disappointed me beyond repair. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t have him here.
Merciful Vows: A Bittersweet Second Chance Romantic Suspense (The Giannotti World Book 1) Page 28