I closed my eyes. The image of Remo in his blood flashed into my mind, and I shuddered.
I must have fallen asleep because Greta’s wail woke me shortly after. It was the first night without the help of Samuel or my mother, and a heavy weight settled in the pit of my stomach thinking about my family. I wasn’t sure how my future nights would be. Would I handle everything on my own?
I was up early the next morning and blinked against the soft light streaming in through the window. I had barely slept, and not just because of my twin’s erratic schedule. Worry for Remo had haunted my sleep. I got myself and my babies ready before I headed downstairs, carrying them on my hips.
Following the scent of coffee and bacon, I made my way into the kitchen but stopped in the doorway. Adamo, Savio, and Nino were sitting around the kitchen table while Kiara was stirring something in a big pot. All eyes turned to me, and I swayed on my feet. I’d always been the enemy, the captive, and now I was what? A guest? An intruder?
“Good morning,” I said then turned to Nino, fear clogging my throat. “How is he?”
“Stable. A few broken bones, bruises, rupture of the spleen. He’s upstairs, knocked out with pain meds.”
“He won’t like that one bit,” Savio said grinning. “You know he prefers pain to being helpless.”
I still hadn’t moved from the doorway.
“I’m preparing a pumpkin puree for the babies. I hope that’s okay?” Kiara chimed in.
I nodded. Nino grabbed a chair and pulled it back for me. With a small smile, I approached the table and sank down. Nevio knocked Nino’s glass over, spilling water over him.
“Sorry,” I said, leaning back so Nevio’s sneaky arms wouldn’t get into more trouble. He still made grabby motions.
Nino regarded him intently as he dried himself with a dishtowel that Kiara had handed him.
Adamo shook his head. His arm was bandaged and his face was swollen. “I can’t believe Remo’s got kids.”
“I bet the Outfit hated seeing them. I mean, there’s no way they couldn’t be Falcones,” Savio said with a grin.
I stiffened, pain slicing through me. I looked away, swallowing.
“Is that why you’re here?” Nino asked mildly. “To give them a chance?”
“I want them to be proud of who they are,” I said. I didn’t want to explain everything.
“They will be. They are Falcones,” Nino said.
I looked into his emotionless gray eyes. “Just like that? My family tortured Adamo and nearly killed Remo and I’m technically the enemy.”
“Just like that. You are Remo’s and they are his too. You are family.”
I frowned. “I’m not Remo’s.”
Nino gave me a twisted smile. “You are.”
Kiara put a plate piled with eggs and bacon and toast in front of me.
“Do you have a blanket?”
She hurried off and returned with one a few minutes later, spreading it on the ground. I put Greta and Nevio down on their backs so I could eat. I smiled when Nevio rolled onto his stomach and raised his head curiously.
“This is too weird,” Adamo said. I gave him a smile.
Savio shook his head. “I’m not going to change diapers. I don’t give a fuck if Remo gives the order or not. I’m not going anywhere near someone else’s shit, baby or not.”
I huffed. “I’m pretty sure you come into contact with more disgusting things on a daily basis.”
Adamo laughed. “He’s full of shit anyway.”
Savio punched Adamo’s unharmed arm.
Some of the weight I’d felt since yesterday lifted from my shoulders.
REMO
I felt like shit, cotton mouth and a full-body ache. Peeling my eyes open, I found Nino staring at me. “You asshole. You gave me pain meds and some kind of fucking sedative.”
“Your body needed it.”
I tried to sit up but my body was very averse to the idea. I struggled and shot Nino a death glare when he tried to help me. Eventually, I managed to sit against the headboard, every fucking inch of my body throbbing fiercely. Most of my upper body and arms were covered with bandages.
Nino sat on the edge of my bed. “You looked like shit when Serafina brought you to us.”
Serafina had saved my life. The woman I’d kidnapped, she’d saved my fucking life. “For a second I thought I dreamed up the whole shit, but the way my body screams with agony tells me it’s true,” I got out.
“They almost killed you, and they would have if Serafina hadn’t gotten you out.”
“Where is she?” I asked, ignoring the way my chest hollowed at the thought that she wasn’t in Las Vegas after all.
“Downstairs,” Nino said slowly, his eyes searching mine. “With your children.”
“My children,” I repeated, trying to make sense of the words, trying to fucking understand that I was a father. Greta and Nevio. “Fuck,” I breathed.