Taking What He Wants

“Ah, there she is, come sit here child.” Santino pulled out a chair for me, I tried to ignore the orange liquid splashed over every available surface on the island or the line of carrot pulp that led from one end to the other.

“What are you doing uncle?”

“We’re making carrot muffins from this book.” He looked at the book like it was a snake. His two accomplices were arguing measurements over a bowl that had flour and sugar in it.

“How about I read it off and guide you guys, I won’t move a muscle I promise.”

“Splendid idea, she gets that from me.” My father gloated, I think he liked to rub it in that he was the one with a daughter and a grandchild on the way, but the other two didn’t seem to take offense,

“I say Tessa sent her, or came back or something, because she’s all of Tessa. We have such stories to tell you about your aunt, such a sweet girl.” Rocco got melancholy and teary eyed.

I knew that they’d had a sister who died when she was very young from pneumonia, they’d shown me pictures and I have to say, there wasn’t much difference, had I not known I myself would’ve thought someone had snapped a photo of me unawares.

“I can’t wait to hear all about her.”

And so it began again they talked over each other trying to be the first to tell me, arguing some point or the other, trying to one up each other. I could only laugh, after all Chase had told me these men were cutthroat scions of the business world, who would believe it of them in their kiss the cook aprons?

Chapter 16

CHASE

I’m extremely happy for Delia, her and her new found family. My godfather and honorary uncles have made me so proud the way they so readily accepted her, thank heaven she looked like her aunt, that made the need of any blood tests unnecessary, it was good that they accepted her without question although her mother was a chronic lying bitch.

Delia on the other hand had insisted that they have the test done and it was only yesterday they’d gotten the results back. No surprise there, she was without a doubt most definitely his.

The three nuts that had taken up residence in our house thought this was an excuse to throw a party, poor Delia was knee-deep in party planning with my mom, Paulina and a party planner. A party in her honor was a novelty to her and she was in turns excited and overwhelmed.

I kept on top of her making sure she didn’t overdo because when the Escalante brothers weren’t overseeing their empire they were busy driving my wife crazy.

She’d already started meeting with their henchmen as she called them. Every morning as I was leaving, their goons in suits would be at the door ready to stretch her poor brain with all she needed to know to take over the vast holdings, hopefully that won’t be for many years to come.

It was a jump for someone who’d been studying to be a schoolteacher, she was a trooper though and these days it was hard to find the girl who’d been so beaten down by life and the people around her.

In her place is a beautiful, vibrant woman who shone, who owned her husband heart and soul. This afternoon I’m stealing her away for some one-on-one time. She was flourishing under their care along with my family’s love and affection but it felt like I haven’t been alone with my wife in forever and even though our sex life hadn’t really suffered any I was feeling selfish I miss having her all to myself.

So I’d stolen her away just leaving them a note letting them know she was with me.

Instead of heading to the condo I went instead to a hotel, room service sounds good right about now.

My baby was all excited to have her man to herself for the first time in weeks. All the way there in the car she clung to me, her head on my shoulder.

“You okay there baby girl?”

“Uh huh, just can’t wait to be alone with my daddy.” I kissed her forehead when we stopped for the light.

“You not overdoing it are you?”

“Please, I’m dying of boredom, those three old men are worse than women, they pamper me all day like I’m an invalid, I’m not allowed to go up and down the stairs I have to take my afternoon nap which apparently is a prerequisite for all pregnant women oh excuse me ‘women in the family way’, on the couch. I’m fed every couple hours, they make you seem very tame in comparison.

“I’m feeling a little jealous here.”

“No need, you’re the best husband in the world.” She squeezed my arm.

“Thanks baby.”