I shook my head and laughed.
In the waiting room we found Sonny, who accompanied me to every appointment.
Sonny rushed over to us, his worry furrowing his brows. “What did he say?”
“We’re okay.” I ran a hand over my stomach and smiled. “Nothing permanent.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and moved close enough to place his hand next to mine, staring down at my belly. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Sonny was my best friend and as much my family as Angelo. Even though he was part of my personal security detail, he was there because we’d invited him to share this special day with us.
Angelo slapped his hand on Sonny’s back, the corner of his mouth turning up into a wide grin. “We know,” he said, looking at Sonny. “That’s why we want you to be Faith’s godfather.”
Sonny’s eyes lit up with excitement. Being named godfather was an important role, one Sonny would take seriously. He covered his mouth with his hand and cleared his throat. “Of course. I’d be honored. Are you sure you don’t want to ask one of your brothers?”
“You are my brother,” Angelo confirmed.
Sonny glanced at me, then back at Angelo. “I will take care of Faith as if she were my own.”
“We know,” Angelo and I said at the same time, causing all of us to laugh.
Sonny hugged each of us, his face beaming with delight. It was so rare to so either of my men this happy. But Faith had a way of creeping into both of their black hearts.
We left the doctor’s office with Sonny holding my left hand and Angelo my right, knowing we would make it through whatever would come next. Because we had each other.
Part Two
"Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."
William Shakespeare
Hamlet
Chapter Twenty-Three
Angelo
One Year Later
We have all done things we’re not proud of, though most people can look themselves in the mirror afterward. I wish I could say the same for myself. Born into a family of power, my father had my entire life planned from birth. I never had a choice. Or did I? I often pondered that question at night when I stared at my beautiful fiancée while she slept, or when I stood in the doorway of my daughter’s bedroom, wondering if they would forgive me for my sins.
I told myself I did this for them. The sacrifices I made were so they could have a future. Sometimes, the people we tried to fool the most were ourselves. As much as I wanted to believe I had a choice, my father never would have allowed it. He only led me to believe I had other options.
But I knew what I was.
A monster.
A cold-blooded killer.
A criminal.
A Mafia Prince.
A Morelli.
I was also a father to a beautiful baby girl and soon-to-be a husband. As I stood in the bathroom and fixed my tie, trying to be quiet, I hated myself for where I was about to go. I hated lying to Gia even more. She was always on my side, down for anything. But things were different once we had Faith. Our daughter would never have to repeat our mistakes. She would never become part of this world and the organization my father had built for our family. My future sons would never become Made men. I would make sure of it.
Bending down to kiss Gia on the forehead, bile rose up from my stomach, choking me from the guilt which consumed me every day. She rolled over on the mattress when I placed my hand on her bare hip and opened her eyes. Even in sleep, she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.