by Bethany-Kris
The truth?
Cross was Calisto’s biological son. The product of an affair between a boss’s—a man who was now dead—wife, and Calisto.
Gio kept that secret for his friend.
He told no one.
Not his brothers.
Not his wife.
No one.
“Are you ever going to tell him the truth?” Gio asked before he could think better of it. He didn’t really have any business asking. Calisto shot him a look. “Curious, that’s all.”
Calisto blew hot hair into his palms before stuffing them into the pockets of his jacket. “Someday, maybe.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“I don’t know how. At this age, he won’t understand. Maybe when he’s a teenager or something. Now isn’t the right time. Besides, he’s mine regardless. You know what I mean? I don’t see what difference it would make when I love him just the same. Plus, I don’t even know how I would start that conversation should I decide to tell him eventually.”
“I would think to start with I love you, you know?”
“Someday,” Calisto repeated.
“Mmm.”
“I was surprised to get a call from you for this meeting.”
Gio chuckled. “Somebody needed a break from life and business before he killed somebody else.”
Calisto nodded. “I know that feeling. Are you looking after his kids, too, or what?”
“Just for today. Ma and Dad are looking after them until the twentieth. I’m still going to be handling the business side of things until the New Year is over, though.”
“Gio, the boss,” Calisto joked.
Gio groaned. “Man, I hate this job.”
“You never were cut out to be a boss, I suppose.”
“Never,” Gio agreed vehemently.
Still, here he was.
For his brother, he kept reminding himself.
Gio and Calisto quieted as a dark-haired, green-eyed girl approached the bench where Cross was still sitting, happily alone. Catherine.
Dante’s only daughter climbed up on the bench beside Cross, and the first thing she did was smile at him.
Cross smiled back.
“Did someone make a friend?” Gio asked.
Calisto snorted. “Cross? He doesn’t seem to like people very much.”
“There he is, man.”
“I guess so.”
“Business?” Gio asked, turning back to his friend.
Calisto settled into the bench once more. “Yes, let’s talk business.”
December 17th
Kim and Jordyn stared helplessly at one another from across the great hall inside the Marcello mansion. At this point, there wasn’t much else they could do.
Between Jordyn’s three kids, Andino, plus Cat and Dante’s two … putting the finishing touches on the decorations for the party was going nowhere.
Fast.
The kids wouldn’t stop moving. All six of them bounced from one end of the great hall to the other, shouting and laughing at the top of their lungs. Rarely—except for Sundays—did they get all of their kids together at the same time.
And even then, usually they had each set of parents on hand to keep some kind of control over the chaos.
“I am remembering why Lucian and I agreed to stop at three,” Jordyn shouted from the other end of the hall.
Kim snorted. “Right. We all know you’ll have another one someday.”
“No way.”
“Did either of you go make sure in a permanent fashion that it wouldn’t happen again?”
“IUD,” her sister-in-law replied.
Kim nodded. “Those still have the same fail-rate as other preventative measures, Jord.”
“Yes, including getting a tubal or vasectomy.”
Panic swelled through Kim at the thought. Her cheeks grew cold as they drained of color. Across the hall, her sister-in-law laughed. Kim realized then how fast this whole conversation had turned around on her.
“Seriously?”
This time, it was Jordyn’s turn to nod empathetically at Kim. Although frankly, Kim thought Jordyn was doing it in a much more sarcastic way than she had.
“Oh, Jesus,” Kim muttered to herself.
“Gio got the snip-snip done, didn’t he?”
“Just … shut your mouth, we’re not talking about fail-rates anymore.”
“You brought it up, Kim.”
“I am not having more kids.”
Jordyn smirked and make a snipping gesture with two fingers. “Should have gotten the tubal done, too. Just in case.”
“I’m still not having more kids. You, on the other hand …”
Her sister-in-law side-eyed the very noisy kiddos as they did another round of tag throughout the great hall.
Jordyn let out another little laugh. “Well, we said we were done. But hey, who the hell knows, right?”
Just what Kim figured.
She was happy with her one boy. She didn’t want more kids. Catrina and Dante probably would have continued to try for more kids, but given how emotionally draining it had been just to conceive Catherine … they hadn’t even mentioned trying to add a third to their team.
Lucian and Jordyn, though?
Aiming for half a baseball team.
Kim knew it.
“That’ll make Antony and Cecelia happy,” Kim said.
“What will make us happy?”
“Grandmamma!”
“Nana!”
Six voices echoed their love and excitement for their grandmother. Cecelia stepped into the great hall with a wide smile and opened arms. She attempted to hug all the grandchildren at once, and then ended up just giving each one their own time and attention.
Just like always.
Very little changed.
Kim passed Jordyn a look that spoke volumes without ever saying a word out loud. The scene happening a few feet away was every reason it would make her in-laws happy. Cecelia and Antony adored their grandchildren; they spoiled them, took them to give their parents breaks, and made time for each and every one of them individually.
They had been great parents.
And even greater grandparents.
Cecelia held out a bag to show the waiting kids. She was still dressed in a heavy tweed jacket, matching hat and mittens, and a pair of leather boots. “We’ve got popcorn, hot chocolate, and the new movie you all wanted to see. So how about you head to the—”
“Theater!” six voices shouted.
The volume nearly burst Kim’s eardrums.
Twelve feet pattered against the hardwood floors as all the kids darted for the winding staircase that would lead them to the second and third level of the wing. Not a single one of the kids looked back over their shoulders as they left Kim and Jordyn behind. All they saw were their backs as they left.
Silence ensued.
Beautiful, peaceful silence.
Kim sighed. “Well, this is nice.”
“Right?” Jordyn asked. “We should have thought of that sooner.”
Cecelia smiled and winked as she shrugged off her jacket. “Sorry that took me so long, girls. Now, back to what I asked. What is this about something making Antony and me very happy?”
Jordyn shot Kim a look.
It screamed for her to lie or stay quiet.
Kim opted for a lie.
After all, it wasn’t her choice to speak about someone else’s choices regarding kids, having more, or not.
“I meant once we finally get all this decorating done for the Christmas party,” Kim said, waving at the hall.
So far, most of the decorations were up … or rather, were sitting in the places they needed to be to be put up. The trees were all placed, including the largest one in the middle of the great hall. That’s what the kids had been using to run around as they played tag.
“That will be nice,” Cecelia said as she passed Kim by. “I’ll keep the kids busy for an hour or two. How much do you think will be done by
then?”
“Almost all,” Jordyn assured.
Kim agreed.
“Good. Call for Antony if you need a hand. He can get one of the men who watch the house to come in and hang things, or … whatever.”
Cecelia waved a hand over her shoulder, and then she too was gone up the stairs. Kim and Jordyn were finally alone to do their work.
“Catrina called to let me know all the catering is set,” Jordyn said.
“Oh?”
“Yep.”
“How’s her little break with Dante going?” Kim asked.
Jordyn smirked. “She didn’t say.”
“Then why do you look like something naughty just crawled up your skirt?”
“Because I assume without kids and life getting in the way, they’re very much taking advantage. I would. What about you?”
A break without kids sounded heavenly.
She got what Jordyn was saying.
“Truth.”
“Exactly.” Jordyn picked up a few lines of garland, and looked them over. “Are you done with your shopping and everything else?”
Kim made a noise under her breath. “I guess.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“We still haven’t found something for Andino yet to satisfy what he wants the most, plus Gio’s been super busy because he’s handling everybody else’s problems instead of taking care of himself. It’s just … a lot.”
“I bet.”
Kim wanted to get away from her problems as a conversational topic because really, they weren’t issues that mattered. She was complaining for nothing, mostly.
“Cecelia’s been pretty good about this whole party planning thing, hasn’t she?”
Jordyn raised a brow like she was considering Kim’s question. “She has. Surprising.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s ready to hand over the reins a bit in this family. Let us women handle all this stuff.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, now. You know she’s going to be down here in two hours telling us to move this or that, or that something looks better somewhere else. It’s Cecelia Marcello. She’s like ten of Catrina, but you know, without the Queen Pin title and the scary knives.”
“Still kind of scary, sometimes.”
Even without the title and knives.
Kim laughed.
Jordyn grinned.
Story of their lives …
They still loved their mother-in-law, though.
Who wouldn’t?
December 18th
A bang echoed as Gio slammed the front door to their Amityville home. Happily, he shouted down the hall for his wife, knowing she was home. Her car had been outside, after all. He found Kim sitting on the couch in the living room.
Kim worked at the coffee table. Rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, fancy cards and bows sat all around in a scattered mess. She couldn’t just wrap a gift and be done with it. That wouldn’t be good enough for his wife. No, she had to do the whole ribbons, bows, and handmade cards thing.
It was a bit much for him.
But it made Kim happy.
A few wrapped gifts sat on the floor, finished and pretty. She was still working on quite a pile, though. Gifts for family and friends, likely. He knew she already had the majority of their gifts all wrapped.
Her head popped up as he shouted again.
“I did it! It’s fucking done!”
Andino pushed up from the train tracks he was putting together on the floor at the sound of his father’s shouts. “Papa’s home!”
Kim gave her son a look, and shook her head. Unlike when she swore, Andino said nothing when his father did it. Giovanni had talked to the boy about being a tattletale, like Kim wanted him to. So now, the boy didn’t tattle on his father. He couldn’t help that Andino had not gotten the point that he was also not supposed to rat on everyone else, too.
One thing at a time …
Andino darted across the room, and ran full force into his father’s legs. His arms wrapped tightly around Gio’s body, and looked up with a wide smile.
“Hi, Dad.”
Gio grinned back at his boy. “Hey, buddy.”
“Will you play trains with me?”
“In a minute, I sure will.”
Andino’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Okay.”
His son gave him one more hug, and then let go of his father to head back to the tracks and trains spread out on the floor.
Usually, Andino wasn’t so clingy with his father, especially at his age. Gio figured it was because he had been gone so much lately, and when he was home, Andino felt the need to get all the attention and time he could out of his dad.
Gio didn’t mind.
“What did you get done?” Kim asked.
She had gone back to her task of wrapping yet another Christmas gift. Some kind of luxury perfume set—probably for Catrina because that was exactly something his sister-in-law would like.
Gio dropped down on the couch with a heavy thud. Kim dropped the scissors and tape in her hands with a yelp as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, and pulled her into his lap. Laughing, she resituated herself to straddle his legs.
He kissed her once, then twice, and finally a third time.
Lingering …
Tasting …
Loving.
He deserved it, after everything.
“Gross,” came a quiet voice a few feet away.
“Mind your business,” Gio said over his wife’s shoulder.
Andino made a gagging noise in the back of his throat.
Damn kid …
Kim put her hands to Gio’s cheeks, and turned him to face her. “Hey, look at me. What did you do that you feel the need to shout about it?”
“Lucian.”
His wife stilled, and then a slow smile grew on her face. “Did you …?”
“I did.”
“Really?”
“Yep,” Gio said. “Got the final details in today, and had a chat with the judge who is willing to sign off on everything, plus got the agreement done up with the D.A.”
“Oh, my God, Gio!”
Kim kissed him that time—harder than he had kissed her. Happy, fast, and giggling all the while. It only added to the pride swelling in his chest. Going back to school to finish his law degree had paid off after all.
“Is he out already?”
“Tomorrow,” Gio said. “But not one fucking word, Kim. Antony wants to surprise Jordyn and the kids, not to mention Ma. Lucian doesn’t even know yet.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hopes up, and all. I know. Still, this is going to be the best Christmas for those kids. They miss him so freaking much, it’s crazy.”
“You still can’t say a word, Kim. It’s done, though. Practically.”
Kim let out her own shout of joy then, and kissed him again. She winked as she rested her forehead against his. “Knew you could do it, baby.”
Gio chuckled. “There was never any doubt.”
Okay, there was a little doubt.
Gio still handled his fucking business.
No matter what.
One more kiss from his wife …
One more gagging sound from the kid on the floor.
So was his life.
• • •
December 20th
Dante slid in beside Gio as Lucian and Jordyn danced in the middle of the great hall together. Gio would have been dancing with his own wife, but Kim had taken Andino to go see the Santa Claus who had showed up for the kids.
“He looks happy,” Dante said.
Gio passed his older brother a smile. “And so do you.”
Dante nodded. “Apparently, I needed a break.”
“Technically, you’re still on it.”
A hand clapped firmly to Gio’s shoulder as Dante said, “Yes, and I have you to thank for that. Dad, too.”
“I think I’ll save your thanks for a later date when I need a break, Dante.”
“Noted, man.”
“Where’s Cat?”
Dante laughed at the mention of his wife. “Making sure her orders are being followed to the letter in the kitchen.”
“Ah.”
“I’ll probably go save the staff soon.”
“It could be Ma,” Gio pointed out.
“Truth. The mansion looks great.”
Gio took in all the decorations. He liked the different color schemes in each room. All the guests were given something new to look at depending on where they partied. It was quite a sight. He now understood how hard his wife had truly worked with her sisters-in-law to get this whole thing done, not to mention on time, and to Cecelia’s liking.
“Our wives can throw a damn good party,” Gio said.
“That they can. You good?”
“Yeah.”
Dante snuck a glass of champagne from a waiter as the man passed, and raised his brow at Gio. “Time to go save the poor fuckers in the kitchen from the wrath of Catrina Marcello.”
Gio laughed, but honestly … Catrina could be a handful. Dante wasn’t exactly overstating his wife’s attitude. Not at all.
Once his brother was gone, Gio turned his attention to finding his own wife and son. Andino was just climbing down from the jolly Santa’s lap when Gio stepped into the foyer. Antony made his way over as Andino chattered away to his mother about whales and Santa Claus.
“He’s still going on about that, is he?” Antony asked.
Gio sighed. “Yep.”
“Still haven’t figured something out for him?”
“Nope. First time my son is going to be disappointed in me, I think.”
“Santa, not you. Besides, another year and the whole Santa thing will be a far stretch for him, anyway.”
“Point is, it still comes back to me.”
Antony smiled a little. “Worry not, Gio. I am sure something will work out for Andino.”
“Right.”
His father lifted a finger and waved it. “Believe in Christmas magic, son. Believe.”
Uh-huh.
“Why are you wearing a Santa hat?” Gio asked.
Antony gave him a look. “Don’t talk or ask about that.”
“Because Ma made you wear it?”
“I said don’t talk or ask about it.”
Because, yeah, Cecelia totally made Antony wear it.