Page 114 of Dark Truths

“And our son,” I start while I wipe the milk from his mouth and then prop him up to tap at his back until he burps. “Is Gabriel.”

Dante nods his head in an approving manner. “After his mother.”

“Yes.”

“May I hold him?” Dante asks.

“Of course.” If I thought it was odd seeing him smile before, it’s an even stranger sight seeing him hold a tiny baby in his large hands.

“He’s strong,” Dante notes when the baby latches on to his finger with his tiny fist. “You did well, Princess. You both did.”

“Thank you.” Gabriella smiles.

“Have you thought about what to do next?” Dante asks.

His question brings the mood down a level in the room. It’s been hard for me since I left the Bratva. No one but Alexei knows that I’m alive and because I’m technically “dead,” it’s too risky to be seen in public. I’ve kept busy. Preparing the nursery mostly but there’s only so much to do around Gabriella’s house. We’ve known and accepted for a while that our time in Miami is limited, but we didn’t want to make any plans until Gabriella graduated and the babies were born.

“I hate the idea of you having to leave,” Alice admits softly with a hitch in her voice.

“I know, Mom,” Gabriella says. “I do too, but we can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous for all of us.”

There’s a part of me that feels guilty over Gabriella having to leave her family. But as she has said each time I bring it up, I am her family now. Me and the twins. Where we go, she goes.

“We’ve thought about Europe,” I share the only idea we’ve agreed on.

“It’ll take me a little time to get accredited over there to practice medicine,” Gabriella explains. “But it’s safe. And Evie has agreed to help with new identities and all that, too.”

Dante is quiet. So is Alice as they process the new information.

“We know it’s not a very detailed plan,” Gabriella continues when her parents stay quiet. “And that there’s still a lot to think about. Like where are we going to live? Do we pick a big city or a small town? What about—”

“The family island,” Dante interrupts.

“Island?” I didn’t know the DiAngelos had an island. Well…another island that is, since the family estate rests on an island here in Miami.

“Yes. The Angelos island off the coast of Naples,” Dante explains. “We haven’t been back for a few years, but it’s private and safe. It's only a quick thirty-minute boat ride to the mainland and fifteen by helicopter.”

“What are you saying, Dad?”

“Until you decide what to do, stay there. Raise Gabriel and Angelica there. Immerse them in our culture. Live, love, and be happy. Together. You deserve it and there’s nothing more I want for my little girl than that.”

Gabriella smiles with teary eyes. “Thank you, Dad.”

He stands and gives his daughter a hug before placing a kiss on both her cheeks. “Just don’t forget about us.”

She laughs as she wipes away her tears. “I could never. You’ll come visit, right?”

“Of course we will,” her mom assures her and rises to stand by her husband’s side. She cradles Angelica in the crook of her arm while tightly grasping her daughter’s hand. “How about Christmas this year?”

“I’d love that.” Gabriella reaches for my hand with her free one and then smiles at me. “We both would.”

Later that evening, we lay together in Gabriella's hospital bed with our children resting between us. Some baking show is on the television with the volume low enough to hear but not be overly disturbing.

“Maybe I’ll take up baking in Italy,” I suggest.

Gabriella had been resting her head on my shoulder, and at my admission, looks up at me. I glance over at her with a smirk so she knows I’m joking. Mostly. I’ve given little thought to what I will do in Italy since being gifted the family island, but making cannolis and macaroons sounds like a decent idea…for a while at least.

“You burned toast the other day.”

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