by Aliyah Burke
Back at the base, the cheers were loud as they disembarked and walked to the building. Handshakes and back slaps all around.
Their CO waited for them and with a scowl on his face barked out, “My office, now!”
At the door he paused and sighed, his mind flashing back to the last time he’d been ordered before his commanding officer. It had been after he had been caught in the B-2 with Jaydee. That one had turned out well but he wasn’t so sure this one would have the same outcome.
“No worries, man,” Lizard whispered beside him. “No matter what, we were in the right.”
He gave him a slight smile before knocking and pushing through at the bellowed command to enter.
* * * *
Jaydee rubbed her expanded belly and stared at her reflection. Should I be this big? She was barely hitting five months and she looked much larger. Well, in her opinion. She rolled her eyes and left the bedroom, heading down the stairs to get a snack.
Gio had been gone a little over four months. She missed him, more than she’d believed she would ever miss someone. He called occasionally but mostly they emailed back and forth. She realised, as she read his emails and answered them, she was learning more about him than she’d ever known.
He would write stories about his childhood and growing up in the family he did. At first, she thought he’d been trying to make her feel bad she hadn’t had the same experience. Then he explained he wanted her to know about him. When he would call, he would ask about her and the baby.
She’d asked him one time why he didn’t confine those questions to emails as well. His response had been simple. “You and our unborn baby are worth the phone call while stories of my youth are just fine for emails.”
He had the ultrasound picture—she’d emailed it to him. He’d called her the next day, wanting to talk to her while he looked at it. She sighed and rubbed her tummy again.
Have I said I miss him?
Despite them growing closer, he’d never asked her to marry him again. It was like he’d got past that and was doing what he could just to show his support for her decision. That was what saddened her. She didn’t want to have a shared custody with him. She wanted to try to make it work between them. However, it wasn’t anything she would mention over the phone.
Her doorbell chimed and she hurried down the remainder of the stairs and to the front door. She pulled it open and paused. Five people stood on her front porch. Two women and three men. It took her about ten seconds for her to realise who she had on her property. His family.
The older woman reached for her hand. “Oh, aren’t you just beautiful.” She kissed her cheeks. “I’m Antonina and this is my husband, Giuseppe.” She gestured behind her to the remaining three.
“My daughter, Tiziana. Our youngest, Enzo, and the eldest, Valentino.”
Jaydee wanted to run, slam the door, and hide in her bedroom. What were they doing here? And why in God’s name were there bags beside them?
“Hello,” she managed to mutter. “Can I help you with something?”
She looked at them all again, focusing on the children this time. The daughter had an apologetic expression on her face as she stood there dressed in a power suit. The youngest, Enzo, had a grin that made her realise just how good-looking he was. It was the eldest who made her wonder, his face an unreadable mask as he stared at her.
“We’re here to help you. Gio was worried about you, so we’ve arrived to help you out.”
She shook her head. “He’s not here.”
Antonina gave her a smile. One that, to her, meant ‘poor child can’t fend for herself’. Jaydee instinctively stepped back when they moved towards her, and damn if they didn’t all take it as an invitation and swarm the place.
The two sons carried in the bags and set them down. Valentino still without a smile.
“Now,” Antonina said, “don’t worry about us. We can crash anywhere.”
She felt like screaming. Her sanctuary was being violated. But manners were manners and she shook her head, biting back her cry.
“Nonsense. I have rooms upstairs. Second floor. There are five rooms so take the ones you want. I’ll…I’ll get some sheets and pillowcases for each of you.”
They headed up the stairs, chattering easily in Italian, and she followed slowly behind, feeling almost run over. At the hall closet, she gathered what she needed and went to the first room.
Enzo had claimed it and he gave her a disarming grin when she knocked. “You have a lovely home, Jaydee,” he said, stepping forward to take the linens.
“Thank you.”
She moved on to the next. The interaction was the same. Tiziana was in the next room. Then their parents and in the closest one to her was Valentino. She knocked on the frame of the open door and waited for him to acknowledge her.
He looked at her and nodded with his head, not saying a word. She stepped in and made her way to the bed. “Here you go. There are blankets in the closet if you need more at night.”
Valentino grunted. She couldn’t believe it. He didn’t think her worthy enough of an actual word? She bit back her discontent and left to find the parents in the hall.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much in the way of food right now. I was planning on going into town later, but help yourselves. Just, please, my office is on the third floor, so don’t go up there.”
“Not a problem, baby. You shouldn’t be doing much, anyway. We brought food, so let’s go downstairs and we can get to know one another while I cook us a big meal.”
Antonina headed back down and she sighed, releasing a heavy breath. Giuseppe gave her a gentle smile and waited for her to reach his side.
“You’ll fit right in with us, sweetheart. We can be a bit overwhelming at times but all families can.” He took her arm and escorted her down the stairs to a waiting Antonina in the kitchen.
“Enzo, Valentino! You two get out to the car and bring in those groceries so I can start cooking.” She smiled and gave an exaggerated sigh. “Boys, sometimes they just need to be prodded along.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jaydee said, unsure of proper protocol for this.
The boys thundered down the stairs and outside. Soon the bags had been brought in and unloaded. Questions were being fired at her from all directions and, honestly, she was beginning to come unhinged.
Her phone rang and she excused herself before hurrying to pick it up. “Hello?”
“Hey, hon,” Lexy said on the other end.
She sighed and sat down on the couch, aware of Valentino’s scrutiny. “Hey.”
“I know that tone, what’s going on? Everything okay with the baby?”
Jaydee instinctively smoothed her hand over her belly. “Yes. Baby is fine.” She should really decide what to call this child growing within her instead of ‘Baby’ so it was time to come up with some names.
Lexy muttered her thanks. “So, then, what’s going on?”
Even though they were now all in the kitchen since Valentino had returned there, she still lowered her voice a few notches. “His family is here.”
“Really? He brought his family to meet you? Damn, I’m telling you he’s—”
“No, Lexy. He’s not here.” A deep breath and a prayer for control. “His family is.”
“Ohhh, shit. They just showed up? Unannounced?”
“Yes. And they brought bags.”
Lexy started to laugh and she scowled. This was nowhere near anything humorous.
“I fail to see the amusement,” she bit off.
“Come on, hon. You have to see it. It is funny if you think about it. You don’t like people in your house or around your things and here come your in-laws and they make themselves right at home.”
“They’re not my in-laws.”
“Not yet. But they will be.”
“Five people, Lex. Five. In my house.”
Damn her but Lexy only laughed harder. “How long are they staying?”
“I don’t know. But then…I didn�
��t even know they were coming.”
“Hon, you’ll be fine. And you know I’ll come up there if you need me, too.”
“Can you get away?”
“For you? Of course. I’ll tell Eugene he needs to cover for me. I’ll be on the next flight I can swing. A few days tops, just let me set things up here.”
She felt better already. “I’ll tell Travis to pick you up. Just call him with the time.”
“I’ll be there soon, hon. It’ll be okay.”
“Thank you, Lex.” Sure, she might have been a baby but, damn it all, she needed the one person she could count on with her.
“Love you.” Lex was gone.
Hanging up the phone, she made her way back to the kitchen where the conversation still flowed and food cooked.
“Here, honey, drink this,” Antonina said. “It helped me when I was pregnant with these ones.”
She wanted to refuse, so badly. But she swallowed that desire back and curled her hands around the mug of something. It smelt like tea but she wasn’t sure. She ate only a little bit for lunch, which prompted Antonina to tell her she needed to eat more for the baby’s sake.
The boys went outside after the meal while Tiziana cleaned up. Every time she turned around, Gio’s mother was telling her how to feel, what to eat, anything and everything baby-wise, since she’d had four. She excused herself to go to her office and was sent off with smiles and waves. Once up on the third floor she spent more time staring out of the window and wondering what the hell had become of her life until she snapped herself out of it. That was how it went for the next few days. Her life had been overtaken by the Cassano family. She spent a lot of time in her office, just not okay with dealing. They didn’t seem to mind, for they found many things to keep them occupied.
A knock at the door brought her head up in surprise. Valentino stood there, those hazel eyes, so much like Gio’s, watching her with intense focus.
“Can I help you?” she asked, rolling her chair back from her desk.
“Mama said to come get you. You need to eat something and supper will be ready in ten minutes.” He turned and walked away without waiting for a response.
She glanced out of the window and found the sun had gone down. A peek at the time told her it was after seven. She pushed to her feet and headed downstairs. The table was set and the aroma made her stomach growl.
Tiziana gave her a smile, even as she walked around with a Bluetooth stuck to her ear. Enzo played chess with his father and Valentino sat on the couch and just stared at her. Shoving back her nerves, she made her way to Antonina and said, “Can I help?”
“Aren’t you a dear? No, baby. You go sit down. I have this all under control.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What? No, none of that. You’re carrying my first grandbaby, there is no ma’am from you to me.”
Jaydee’s head felt light and she walked away, heading back to the living area when headlights coming up the drive grabbed her attention. Lexy. Immediately she felt calmer. She moved to the door, barely noticing that Valentino had got up as well. Outside, she made her way down the steps.
Lexy got out as Travis did, too, and he unloaded her luggage.
“Look at you, hon,” she called as she jogged closer for a hug. “You look incredible.”
Jaydee wrapped her arms around her friend and didn’t want to let go. Tears threatened and she didn’t know how she would handle this.
“Hon, let go. There’s something you have to see.”
Reluctantly she pulled back and stared at her friend. Beyond her, coming around the back of the SUV, was none other than Giovanni Cassano. He stopped when he spied her and dropped the bag in his hand.
She flew from Lexy’s arms to his open ones. His familiar scent imbued her soul as he held her. There was comfort in his embrace and she wanted to crawl inside him and never leave. He manoeuvred her chin up and claimed her lips in a kiss that made her legs weak.
“Hello, sweets,” he whispered against her mouth. “I’ve missed you.”
“Giovanni.”
His head snapped up. “Valentino? What are you doing here?” He glanced back to her. “What’s he doing here?”
“He came with his family,” she said. “Your entire family.”
She looked over her shoulder to see the rest of them step out on to the porch as well.
“Oh, shit,” Gio muttered, his hold on her tightening.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Gio blinked a few times, wondering if what he happened to be looking at would vanish. But no. It didn’t matter how many times he did it, the result was still the same. His brother stood at the top of the steps at Jaydee’s house.
“How long have they been here?” he whispered to her, loath to release her.
“A few days now. Why don’t you go say hi to them while I get Lexy settled.”
She removed his arm from around her and he rotated his head to follow her and Lexy as they made their way up the steps, past his descending family, to vanish inside.
His family swarmed him. After hugs and kisses were done, he rounded on his sister.
“What in the hell did you think you were doing?”
She arched a plucked eyebrow. “What the hell did you think I would do when you call me and tell me you want me to check on a woman you love, who we’ve never met, and who just happens to be carrying your baby? Keep my mouth shut?”
“Yes. I just wanted you to check on her, not bring the entire Cassano clan down here and invade.” He was livid.
“What’s wrong with us meeting her?” his mother demanded.
“Nothing, Mama. But you don’t understand Jaydee. She is very private and doesn’t like people encroaching on her space.” He shoved a hand through his hair, wincing at the thought of what she’d had to go through.
“Really? Doesn’t she have family who visit?” Valentino’s question was more than a bit on the snide side.
He whirled around and glared at his eldest brother. “No. In fact, she is barely on speaking terms with her father and her mother is no longer in her life.” He blew out a sharp breath. “Damn it!”
“Mind your tongue, boy.” His father finally spoke up.
Enzo talked next. “She didn’t seem put out. She offered us all rooms and has been a wonderful, albeit a bit absent, hostess.”
“Of course she wouldn’t kick you out. She’s spent her entire life pleasing people. I have to go talk to her.”
“Well, do it after supper,” his mom said. “Everything is hot and ready to eat now.”
Christ. He wanted to argue with her but he couldn’t. It wouldn’t matter how old he got, he would never be able to refuse his mother. And she knew it. “Yes, Mama.”
Everyone headed back in and he watched his mother and sister quickly set two more places at the table. It would be close and tight for the meal, just like he remembered them being. This was family and they were his.
“I’ll go get them,” he announced to no one in particular. He took the stairs two at a time and headed down the hall towards her room, his boots making noise as he moved.
“Where are you staying?” a voice behind him asked.
He veered around and sighed when he saw Valentino standing there, his bags in hand.
“I don’t know,” he said. With Jaydee would be preferable but who knew what mood she was in. Or how much shit I’m in for this particular crapfest.
The bedroom door sat closed and he knocked before swinging it open. The space was empty. Which left one option. The third floor in her office.
“Seems like she’s avoiding you.”
He turned and drew the door closed behind him. He flicked his gaze over his brother from head to foot. He wore jeans and a sweatshirt with hiking boots. His black hair hung around his shoulders and around his neck hung the gold chain with the ring his first wife had been given. Ever since that fiasco, Valentino had become a bear of a man, losing himself in work and forgetting anything about pleasure.
&nb
sp; “Yes. Well, I told you, she doesn’t like people.”
“What does she do?”
He frowned but was kept from answering by a sharp female voice. “She’s a doctor, not that it’s any of your business.”
Past his brother, Gio spotted Lexy and Jaydee standing there. Lexy had her arms crossed and she glared at his brother, fire flickering in the depths of her eyes. Odd really, he’d mostly seen her happy and flirty. He was pleased her ferocity wasn’t focused on him this time. Then all his attention zeroed in on Jaydee and he walked past the other two, gripped her hand and tugged her back to her bedroom where he shut them in.
“Sweets, I’m so sorry.”
“When are they leaving, Gio?”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I’ll tell them tonight.” Stress lingered in her gaze and he brushed a few kisses along her lips. More for him than her. “I never meant for that to happen. I’m so sorry.”
Stepping back, he stared at her and looked. Really looked at her. He could see the swell of her stomach and her breasts appeared fuller. Dropping to his knees, he slid his hands over her belly, under the shirt she wore and along her skin.
His fingers moved to the buttons on her shirt and unbuttoned the bottom three, exposing her belly. He placed his hand back over her and tried to imagine his child growing inside her. Gio smiled and brushed a kiss near her belly button before pushing back to his feet and gathering her close.
“You’re so beautiful, Jaydee.”
She ducked her head and he refused to allow her to keep it down, nudging it back up so their eyes could meet.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers. Scant millimetres from connection a knock sounded at the door.
“Come on, Giovanni. Supper’s on the table. You two can play kissy face later.”
Mothers. He sighed and pressed their foreheads together. “Have I apologised for them all showing up here?”
“I believe you have.”
“I only wanted my sister to come make sure you were okay, Jaydee. I swear I had no intentions of sending my entire family to your doorstep.”