Page 31 of Alfie: Part Two

That said, in the spirit of being a no-good mobster, I had to take advantage of the moment. After all, West had already decided we were getting a cat, yeah? So, yeah.

“By the way, as a family wanting to be a united front,” I said, “it goes without saying you’ll come with us to a birthday party at Finn and Emilia’s on Saturday.”

He lifted his brows.

“It’s for two of their boys,” I went on. “And you’ll help me pick out gifts, right? It’s gonna be fun. Thanks, honey. You’re the best.”

CHAPTER 16

West Scott

Was this my life now?

“Daddy, can I have this, pretty please?” Ellie flashed me her big doe eyes and a large box with some robot cat, and I just…

“You’re getting arealcat soon,” I pointed out. “We’re here to buy presents for Ryan and Kian, princess.”

Even she knew not to push it. She barely pouted, and that spoke volumes.

I glanced up the aisle to where Trip was showing Alfie something, and I knew that, yeah, this was my life now. Every now and then, we’d come to a toy store to buy gifts for a mafia boss’s children. Finnegan had how many kids? Four or five? Five, right?

Then there was Liam Murray, who lived in Chicago with a woman he was not dating, yet they had two kids together? Or maybe they didn’t actually live in the same house. I was still learning. Either way, I supposed I should prepare myself to fly out to visit them when Alfie wanted to go.

Hell, I’d do it with a smile on my face. The whole change we were going through was mind-blowing and overwhelming, but in a way that made me feel more alive than I ever had before. Even back when Alfie and I had lived in LA, a time I’d always associated as the best part of my existence so far. And now, it was getting a run for its money.

My cheeks hurt from all the smiling I’d done the past couple of days.

It was ridiculous.

While keeping an eye on Ellie, who evidently thought we’d find something for Ryan and Kian among the dolls, I trailed over to a corner filled with robot toys. Maybe it was where she’d found the cat. There were dinosaurs too. Talking parrots, hissing snakes…huh. I grabbed a box with a dog that could walk, bark, and wag its tail.

Kian had recently turned two. Would he enjoy something like that?

Ryan was easier. He was turning five, and Alfie had found a drone for younger children. Something the boy could fly around in their backyard.

I thought back on when Ellie had been a toddler, and it gave me an idea. I abandoned the displays of robots and snatched up my princess on the way to the aisle with toys for toddlers.

Ellie giggled as I threw her over my shoulder.

“Where are we going?” she laughed.

“We’re going to find Kian a busy board,” I said. “Do you remember those?”

“Um, nooo?”

So, it had only scarred Alfie and me, then. Well, it was Finn and Emilia’s turn—if they didn’t already have one or two.

“You loved yours,” I said. “It had a bunch of buttons with lights, and some made sounds too.” I hauled her back to myfront and positioned her on my hip, and she actually went along with being carried. That didn’t happen often anymore.

She grinned and smushed my cheeks together, so I stuck out my tongue to make her giggle.

“You’re funny now, Daddy.”

Ouch. She had to add the “now”?

Not that I didn’t know what she meant. My behavioral change had happened overnight. Going to bed with Alfie by my side, and waking up next to him, sharing a home with him, made all the difference.

“I’m happy.” I kissed her nose.

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