Dark Ties (Made Men 9)

The silence was unquestionable, and it was only when he was certain his children finally understood that Nadia’s words came to mind. I have never come across anything that couldn’t be fixed with a ‘sorry’ and some time.

“I understand why you three might hate me forever, but I just wanted you to know it was never anything against who you three have chosen; it was my greed for power that kept me from accepting them like a father should have. I not only wanted my children to fill this seat one day, but I wanted your children and theirs after to fill this seat.” Dante swallowed hard, having to clear his throat to say his final peace. “Otherwise, I feel like I would have lost your mother … Melissa, for nothing.”

It was the first time his children heard him speak her name since her death.

“I am sorry.” He looked at each of them genuinely, but he now settled on Maria’s green gaze that seemed to sparkle. “And I wish those words alone were enough to ask for forgiveness, but I can only hope you will give me the chance to prove just how sorry I am with time.”

That sparkle in Maria’s eyes had fallen as tears hit her cheeks. Not once had he seen his daughter cry, not even when her mother had died. Dante had passed on his lack of compassion and emotion to all of his children who were in the room.

“Shit.” She wiped the tear away that was ruining her perfect makeup, as all of them stared at her in shock. “I’m pregnant.”

Dante’s heart skipped a beat. “Y-You are?”

“Yes.” She cried glittering tears. “That’s why I’m crying.”

Throwing himself out of his chair, he practically ran over to his daughter and had to force himself to stop. “May I?” he asked, holding out his hand.

Maria stared at his tanned hand before taking it and placing it on her belly that was only just beginning to show. “It’s a girl,” she whispered through her tears.

Tears welled in his icy eyes. She could blame the tears on her pregnancy all she wanted, but he knew she was crying for the same reason he was, and she would soon find out …

Little girls will always stay your little girl.

* * *

Amo walked up to the girl holding the huge box that Nadia had pointed out. She looked like a fumbling box with a pair of legs as the only thing he could see of her was the short legs struggling to hold up the box she had just packed.

Ugh, he internally grumbled from having to be in here. He wished he were still in the car, just getting paid to watch Nadia, not getting paid to watch Nadia while actually having to do some work. Volunteering was something kids had to do to go to college, and even though Amo hadn’t graduated high school that long ago, his ass still hadn’t volunteered a day in his life because De Santis men didn’t go to college. They went into the mafia to become made and were always the bodyguards of the highest decree, being the ones to guard the Caruso boss for generations. His uncle Drago had been one of the best of the De Santis protectors, and Amo was following in his footsteps.

When he got closer to her, she was just about to run into him before Amo rolled his eyes and bent down to take the box from her.

“Oh!” the girl huffed as the weight of the box was released from her. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” he grumbled under his breath.

“It goes over there, against the wall with the others.”

Able to only see the top of her bright, orange hair, he sidestepped around her to move to the burgeoning pile of cardboard boxes.

“Wow, you’re big—” The words slipped from her mouth in astonishment. “I mean, strong.” She nervously laughed, correcting herself.

“Uh-huh,” Amo said dismissively, hoping the kid would stop following him.

The girl didn’t, however, clearly feeling the need to explain her choice of words to him. She followed right behind him as she continued to nervously explain herself. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to call you big. You’re just quite …”

Amo walked faster, hoping she would take the fucking hint.

“Tall,” she finally found the word. “Compared to me, is all.”

She didn’t, because weakening laughter still followed him.

“Because I’m, um …”

He rolled his eyes again. Short.

“Short …” she stated the obvious that clearly didn’t need to be said but didn’t know how stupid it sounded until she had said it. “I’m sorry. We should start again.”

You see, this is exactly why I hate being around little kids. He threw the box down onto the pile and began to turn … They’re fucking annoyi—

“I’m Winnie.”

Amo blinked at the girl smiling nervously up at him. Her voice had been so soft and sweet that he had thought she was just a little kid, but the girl didn’t look that far in age from himself. And she was right; she was just short.