Gio

“I will never be the one in that chair.” I mumble half-heartedly.

“Annie,” He starts. “My little thief, you know I love you and I will always protect you and I will never let this happen to you.

Now I can’t stop the tears from falling. Of course the first time he says I love you is behind bars.

“Why are you crying, Annie?” He asks, reaching out to press his large hand against the glass.

“I’m pregnant.” The words leave my mouth quickly before I can lose my nerve.

His eyes light up.

“You’re what?”

“I’m pregnant.” I whisper this time.

For the first time since I walked through those doors a smile appears on his face. “Damn.” He whistles low. “A baby? My baby?”

I return his smile. “Yes, your baby Gio.”

Laughter lights up the gloomy block of people talking to their loved ones through glass cages. “Yes,” He says enthusiastically. “Yes, Annie! This is our baby and I will love him so much.”

“Him?” I ask smiling. “What makes you so sure it's him?”

“Of course it’s a boy.?

?? He says with confidence. “The DelGado bloodline runs strong.” His pride makes him look like a gorilla beating his chest.

It makes me laugh.

In my heart though, I know it’s a little girl.

A dad.

I’m going to be a dad.

Suddenly there is nothing more important in my life than my baby and Annie. “I’m going to marry her.” I tell my father when he comes to visit me.

Giuseppe sits across the table in the room reserved for attorneys and their clients. He wears a pressed pin-stripe suit, Italian leather loafers, and a clean linen shirt. He looks perfectly polished as usual. “I would expect so,” he sighs. “We need to get you out of here first though.”

Next to Giuseppe sits Ricky, headphones covering his ears as he doodles on a legal pad.

“Dad,” I look at my father, he’s graying and getting older but still the man that raised me. “If anything happens-”

“Gio-” He tries to cut me off.

“No, listen to me.” I continue. “If anything goes wrong, anything happens to me you have to take care of her and the baby.”

“I know, Gio.”

“No, I love her pops. I really do. I don’t want her to go without anything. Anything she wants she gets, ya know? Be there for her, she doesn’t have family so you guys will have to protect her.”

He nods. “I know son, I will take care of her.”

“Promise me.”

He gives me an easy smile. “I promise.”

“Good.” I lean back into the cool metal chair.