by Zavi James
“I know. I’ve had a list from Luc and Dante.”
“There’s got to be someone you can ask. What about Vittoria?”
“I’m playing with enough fire, Carmen. I’m not willing to throw myself straight into hell just yet.”
“No, you just intend to marry Lucifer and rule over it instead,” she laughed.
“I’m glad you find all of this amusing. I hope you’ll have plenty of jokes scattered in my eulogy.”
“Don’t joke about that, Mia,” Carmen said, sobering up. “I’d rather not contemplate that reality.”
Neither would I, but occasionally it crept up on me. We hadn’t planned on asking Dante about being a Godfather until our baby boy had arrived, but there was a distinct possibility that we may not make it to a christening. At least this way, Dante knew he had a vital role in case our plans failed spectacularly.
“There is someone else you could ask,” Carmen said, tapping her chin, and I waited for her to divulge her latest thought.
∞∞∞
“Hi,” I greeted the receptionist as brightly as possible. “Mia Griffin. I’m here to visit Maria Evans.” I’d called ahead to check it was okay to visit and filled out the visitation forms.
I let a carer guide me through the hallways until we entered a brightly lit day room where various occupants sat enjoying music and doing therapeutic activities. The home was nothing like the one I’d worked at. No expense had been spared for the residents here. Maria was easy to pick out from the crowd, with her bright red hair, sitting by the window with a book in her hands.
“Maria,” the carer called her name as we came to a stop by her chair. “You have a visitor.”
When Maria looked up at me her face gave nothing away. “Thank you, Natalie.” The carer offered us both a kind smile before leaving, and Maria turned her attention on me. “If you’ve come for another fight, I’m not interested.”
“That’s not why I came.”
“So, why are you here? A message from Luc?” she asked. I couldn’t stop the blood that rushed to my cheeks as I sat down in the chair opposite her. “Oh, he doesn’t know you’re here. This should be interesting.”
“He’s at work at the moment,” I informed her.
“And you told him you planned to visit me?”
“He won’t care.”
“I think we both know that’s not quite true. My son can hold a grudge and he’ll expect you to hold it with him.”
“What he expects isn’t always what happens,” I told her firmly. “I came to ask you for help.”
Her thin eyebrows rose in shock. Maria closed the book and set it down on the windowsill. “What is it you think I’ll be able to help you with?”
“Contacts,” I told her. “For everything. Clothing, caterers, decorators. I need help.”
“You didn’t take my advice, did you? You’re letting him go through with whatever stupid plan he has. He’s going to get himself killed.”
“He’ll only get himself killed if we can’t pull it off. If you want to keep him alive, then help me. I have no idea where to start and I need to learn quick.”
“I thought you’d be good for him,” Maria mumbled. “I thought you’d been able to straighten him out a little.”
“I know you’re not that delusional, Maria.” Luc wasn’t going to step away from his life’s work for anyone or anything. I knew that. I knew the moment he’d asked me if I’d help him that there wasn’t a choice. He was hungry and he wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied. “I need help so that I can help him, and you’re the only one who I can turn to.”
It wasn’t enough to start to search for people who could fill the roles. I needed specifics. I needed a caterer who knew how to make rabbit cacciatore. A stylist who could advise me from church to dinner. A wine merchant who stocked any of the numerous alcoholic favorites that Dante had listed. Time was not on my side and Maria was my best bet.
“Do you understand what you’re getting yourself into?” Maria asked me quietly. I understood that she had expected me to be Luc’s salvation, when in reality he embroiled me into the intricate matters of his life.
“Yes,” I replied. In agreeing to be with Luc, to love him, live with him, and find a way to overthrow Xavier, I was agreeing to leave behind the life I’d once known. No more black and white. The world was morally grey, and I had to rest easy with that view of the world. “I understand. I also understand that people can make things exceptionally difficult for me if they want to, but I’m hoping the love you have for him will outweigh all the issues from our last visit.”
If Maria refused, then I’d need to start from scratch, need to be prepared to make some unsteady and potentially costly steps. It was a risk. She still harbored a deep-rooted hurt after what happened to Stefan. When she’d forgiven me at the funeral, I’d wondered how she could do it so easily. She’d done it for Luc. Forgiven me so that I could continue to blossom beside him and show him a life he could have away from all of this. When our meeting soured, she’d allowed herself to be viciously honest. Maria owed us nothing.
“What do I get in return for helping you? You can’t expect me to heed to your beck and call and then be ignored when you have no use for me.”
“What do you want?” I asked, although I had a sinking feeling I already knew.
“I want to be part of my grandson’s life.”
Chapter Thirty Four
Mia
To say I’d lost sleep over the idea of trying to integrate myself into family life would have been an understatement. How was I meant to slot back into their lives knowing what they thought of me? And this time, I didn’t just need to slot in, but I needed to make an impact. One that was more appealing than whore and traitor. The thoughts ran through my head any time there was a spare moment, and tired me out. I took some comfort in the fact that Maria had managed to dig up an old address book in her belongings that had a few numbers to give me a head start. Some things would have to be done from scratch, but I was grateful for any scrap that stopped me from looking like a complete amateur.
Luc had told me we could ease into it and his version of easing in was to throw a birthday party. “You only turn 21 once,” he’d told me when I grumbled about not wanting a fuss. He’d won.
I squeezed into a dress with Dom’s help and watched as I once again became a version of myself that was both familiar and strange to me. As I looked at my reflection, I knew this was an image that I’d have to become accustomed to. With Luc and Dante’s ambitions, this was what my life would be. That was unfair. That made it sound like I was unwilling, but I wanted what was best for my baby and my family, and that was why I had agreed. I wanted this as much as they did.
As we entered the casino, I was hit with memories of the first time I had walked the floor here. I’d yet to meet Luc, searching for him so that I could try and pull myself and Dad from the mess. It seemed like a far distant memory. We were different people compared to that first meeting. With my arm looped through Luc’s, we walked up to the top floor where the music and chatter fought over each other to be heard.
“I thought you said it would be something small,” I muttered, taking in the scene. Glittering banners declaring my age and streamers hung all over and fresh bouquets of lilies graced the surfaces. Scanning the crowd of people, I saw a number of familiar faces in attendance. Luc’s sway with the family seemed to have held despite my best and unintentional efforts to tarnish his reputation. Either that, or people were desperate for the next piece of gossip. Most likely an unhealthy mixture of both.
Luc snorted. “This is pretty tame. I only invited the people we’re closest to.”
As we melted into the party crowd, the uncomfortable itch faded away. With Luc beside me, the cruel whispers had transitioned into laughter and ease. Luc’s acceptance had ushered in that of the rest of the family. I still didn’t trust a single one of them, but they were easier to deal with without the added cruelty and judgement.
I spent
the evening being reintroduced to those who had decided to turn up. They were only too happy to fill me in on what had happened in my absence. I’d learned of births and deaths and engagements. In a single round of the room we’d been invited to three weddings and I’d had more hands on my bump than I’d ever expected.
“You look tired,” Luc said as Rosalie Gazze left us.
“Heels and pregnancy and trying to keep face is an exhausting business.”
“You’ve done a good job so far,” he told me before something over my shoulder distracted him. When I looked behind me, Dante was at the other side of the room tapping on his wrist. “Are you okay on your own for a few minutes? I need to grab something.”
I gave him a curious look. “I’ll be fine.” Dom had been keeping a close eye on the both of us, and so had the rest of Luc’s men who were under his order to make sure tonight went as smoothly as possible.
After a soft kiss, Luc cleared the room to join Dante before they both disappeared. I spied Tori with a few women and decided that would be my best bet for conversation without feeling too out of place, however I only managed a few steps before Gabriel blocked my path, Franco close by.
“Happy birthday, Mia.”
“I… thank you.” We hadn’t spoken since I’d moved out of Gabe’s place with Franco loosely in my possession. There was no need for interaction, and I was more than happy to keep it to a minimum. He would have been invited in order to not ruffle any feathers, but he’d kept his distance while Luc was with me.
“I have a gift for you. A little something to celebrate you turning 21.”
“Oh,” I said, surprised and suspicious. Nothing came without a price. “You really shouldn’t have.”
Gabe reached into his jacket and pulled out a long slender box. He snapped it open to display a gleaming tennis bracelet. My breath caught at the sight of it before I found the power of speech. “Gabe, I can’t accept that.” It wasn’t just that I couldn’t, but I wouldn’t. The more expensive the gift, the more indebted I was, and I didn’t plan to bind myself to a Moretti in any way with everything that was on the horizon.
“Of course, you can. It’s a gift,” he told me smoothly, then added, “You never truly gave me an answer to my offer.”
This gift wasn’t for my birthday. This gift was a not so subtle reminder from Gabriel about what life could be like if I chose to take him up on his offer. It was a cold and empty gesture that reminded me of everything I didn’t desire in my life. The fact that I’d moved back in with Luc hadn’t deterred him. Living with someone was not concrete evidence for a lasting relationship. We’d not made a show of ourselves in public, thanks to the stresses of moving into the new house, and in the privacy we’d created Gabe still saw an opening for his bid for power that didn’t exist.
I reached out and firmly closed the lid of the box, pushing it back toward his chest. “I can’t be bought.”
“Mia!” I snatched my hand away from Gabe and turned to see Dante taking large strides in our direction. A grin was plastered on his face and his tie was hanging loosely from his neck.
“How is anyone meant to believe you’re respectable?” I asked, fixing the tie as he reached us.
“I think it’s sweet you’re trying to fix a reputation I took my whole life ruining,” he laughed. “Come with me.” He took my hand and led me toward the bar, blatantly ignoring Gabe. When I glanced over my shoulder, Gabe was slipping the box back into his jacket, eyes still on me.
Turning my head away, I looked up at Dante. “Why do I need to be here? You know I can’t drink.”
“More’s the pity,” he mumbled. Dante had been the sole reason behind my drunken antics at the engagement party. He was lethal with a bottle in his hand and mischievous intentions in his heart.
“Answer my question.”
“Cake!”
As if on cue, a large three-tiered cake was brought out and placed on the bar. Luc beamed as he joined me once again. The cake was dressed in dark black fondant with pomegranate decoration and candles dotted around the edges. A thunderous rendition of ‘Happy birthday’ began with Dante leading the offkey recital while my cheeks burned from the embarrassment of being in the spotlight.
“Make a wish,” Luc instructed as the singing came to an end. What would I wish for? What did I desire above all else for the next year? I screwed my eyes shut tight before I thought about my baby and Luc and Dante and I wished with every part of my being that whatever my family would face, that we would be safe and come out on top. I blew out the candles and opened my eyes to a round of applause before Luc wrapped his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful,” I replied, taking in all the details. “Persephone would approve. She’d be joining Hades back in the Underworld right about now.”
“That all depends on if she says yes.” Luc removed his arms from around me, letting the cold seep into the space.
“What do you…?” I asked, turning around, but the question died in my throat because Luc was down on one knee, a sight I was certain I wouldn’t see again in my lifetime. “What are you doing?”
“I love you and I’ve seen what life is like without you and it’s a reality I don’t ever want to face again. I’m asking you to let us draw a line under everything that’s happened, Mia. I’m asking you to trust in me just like I will trust in you, and to become my wife. I want my family more than anything—my wife and my son. Will you allow me to have that? Will you marry me?”
People had stopped their conversations to observe the moment. Someone had turned down the music as they waited for my answer. I knew the first time Luc had gotten down on one knee that it had been a big deal, and that had been in front of our friends. This time, Luc was asking in front of most of the family. He was making a statement to more than just me, but the sentiment remained the same. Regardless of everything that had happened between us, Luc still wished to tie his life to mine for as long as we lived.
And that was all I wanted too. Nothing had changed the way I felt about him. Luc still gave me butterflies with a single look and aggravated me with his stubborn and demanding ways. Life without him had lost vibrance, and being back together had jump started my heart. Grief and panic had won, and I’d given in to their sinister whispers, but there would be nothing that could pull us apart again.
“Yes,” I told him. My induction into the Foster family was long overdue. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Luc shot to his feet and pressed his lips against mine. My hands fisted his jacket to keep me steady on my feet as I felt the heady rush that always occurred when we kissed. Through the thundering of blood in my ears, I could hear applause again and the shrill whistle that must have come from Dante. When we broke apart, Luc rested his head against mine. “Thank you.”
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small ring box. I expected to see my old engagement ring, however, when Luc opened it a more extravagant band stared back at me. “If you’re in, you’re all in,” he said, seeing my expression. No more compromise. No more modesty. Plucking the ring from its resting place, Luc took my hand and attempted to slide it onto my finger.
I couldn’t help but laugh as he struggled. “I’ve packed on a little weight since the last time you did that.”
“This kid of ours is already a handful.”
“Well, he’s a Foster so we shouldn’t expect anything less.”
A smile tugged at his lips and then Luc raised his hands and unclasped the chain he wore around his neck. It held a pendant of Saint Jude. I remembered asking about it once when Luc and I first crossed the line away from friendship, and he’d laughed and told me the patron saint of lost causes had been a gift from Dante’s mother. He slid the ring onto it before placing it around my throat and fastening it once again.
“We’re Fosters,” Luc told me, his eyes searching mine. I could hear the question in the statement. He still struggled, wavered every day in knowing who he was.
“Through and through,” I agreed confidently, placing a hand over his heart. Despite what DNA might dictate, we’d carry Charlie and his name with us for the rest of our lives.
Those were the last words we exchanged privately before the rest of the evening was spent fielding congratulations from the guests and watering down Dante’s drinks at the bar.
Chapter Thirty Five
Lucas
It had been a risk to propose for a second time and in front of all of the guests. She had every right to decline, every right to put her foot on the brakes. All I had done since we’d reunited was to ask her to go along with my plans, and Mia continued to prove her loyalty by agreeing. Whatever doubts she had, and knowing Mia there were bound to be plenty, she soldiered on without complaint. That alone made her deserving of my devotion for the rest of our lives.
Xavier had declined my invite to Mia’s birthday party. I’d wanted him to be there, wanted to see the look on his face when I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me again, but it wasn’t meant to be. And now, at my Godfather’s request, I found myself on the doorstep of the Moretti residence because it would be unacceptable for me to decline. I’d kept this piece of information from Mia. Stress was something she needed to avoid, and telling her that a meeting with Xavier was on my agenda would only serve to make her worry.
“Luc!” Emilia greeted me at the door. “We weren’t certain you’d turn up. Come in. We’re about to sit down.”
I stepped over the threshold and kissed her cheek. “Sit down?”
“Dinner. Xavier did tell you, didn’t he?” she asked, leading us through the house.
“No. I thought this was a casual visit, or I’d have brought wine.” The only saving grace as I walked into the dining room was the fact that Dante sat there, next to Vittoria, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but at this dinner from Hell.
“Cutting it close today, Luc,” Xavier said as he saw me.