Page 3 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins

At the time, Nic and I had agreed to her request because we liked her and figured she’d live a long time. But she knew something we didn’t. Gia was barely a year old when her mother vanished. We both knew it was Gino’s doing, but we couldn’t prove it. So Nic followed through, making arrangements for Gia’s care and always being on guard to protect her from Gino or whoever else wanted access to her.

I was around Gia off and on. My work was in sticking close to Gino, keeping tabs on any plans he made for Gia.

I turn to look out the plane’s window, the sky dark, starless as the plane hurls west. Memories of Gia flood back, memories I’ve been trying to repress. Like when she came home from boarding school at eighteen and for the first time I saw her as a woman, not a child. She was stunningly beautiful, with long, honey-blonde hair like her mother had, her green eyes alight with mischief and life. I was thirty-five years old and revolted by my reaction.

She was tired of Nic’s overprotectiveness, so he asked me to take over the duties of keeping an eye on her as her father prepared for her marriage to Aldo Cantore. Spending timewith her was like being around the sun or daisies. All perky brightness. Effervescence. Joy. It was intoxicating.

I’d done my job and kept my old man perversions to myself.

And then she asked me to fuck her.

At first, I was sure I misunderstood. That my sick fantasies had me hallucinating. But no. She was clear. She wanted me to fuck her.

I said no, of course.

“Why?”

My mouth was dry. “Well… let’s see… I’m your godfather?—”

“Oh, please. You’re not a father figure.”

“I’m like a brother.”

She shook her head. “To Nic, maybe, but not me.” She tilted her head to the side. “Do you see me as your sister?”

I remember telling myself to say yes. Instead, I told the truth. “No. But you’re engaged?—”

“That’s why I want this. Aldo is going to lay on top of me and do his thing.” She made a face of disgust. “But I know it can be something nice. I want that. Just once, at least.”

God, how I wanted to give that to her. But I wasn’t an idiot then, just like I’m not now.

“First, that’s risky, but second, I’m sure there are other young men who?—”

“I want someone who knows what they’re doing. Someone I can trust. I want you, Max.”

I close my eyes as that moment plays out in my head yet again. The tug of war of doing what was right versus what she wanted, versus what I wanted.

Wrong won out in the end. I fucked her. To this day, I can hear the sweet sounds she made each time I made her come. When I jerk off, I can remember how her tight pussy felt pulsing around my cock. And on cue, the guilt and shame come on as strong now as they had then.

I knew she loved me. I knew she wanted me to save her from Aldo and her father. And oh, how I wanted to. I’d even tried to figure out how to make it happen.

A week later, Gino called me into his office. He told me Gia had a crush on me. He said my vow to his late wife—a hint that she was dead, not just missing—was commendable, but that it put Gia in a compromising position.

“If she’s not a virgin?—”

“I would never.” I remember praying he couldn’t see the lie.

“Doesn’t matter. Gia’s behavior is unacceptable. If Aldo thinks she tainted, then she’s useless to me, just like her mother was.”

I understood the threat.

“I can’t have her making goo-goo eyes at you, Max, and ruining everything. I’m sending you to Vegas. Do well there, and I’ll reward you handsomely.”

I didn’t care about going to Vegas then, but I went because I knew Gia’s life depended on it. And since then, I’ve made a life. Gino, for the asshole he was, stuck to his word, and within three years, I was heading the business in Las Vegas. Gia had to marry that fucker Aldo, but he gave her two kids and then Nic, or I presume it was Nic, killed him. Everything turned out.

And as long as I stay in Las Vegas, life is copasetic.

As the plane begins its descent into Las Vegas, I take in the lights and push away everything from New York, just as I did five years ago. I breathe out a sigh of relief to be home, to cleanse Gia from my mind. If only I could purge her from my heart.

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