Page 124 of Merciless Monster

DANTE

“Oh, It’s good to be back,” Mia smiles as we wake up in our home in LA.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“Gina and Jeff are coming over for dinner tonight. She’s dying to hear all about myadventure,as she put it.”

“Only Gina could come up with that,” I say, shaking my head.

“Your cousin is made from tough stuff. Must be a family trait.”

“Indeed. Forged in the mountains of Sicily, the De Lucas,” I grin.

“Hmm, and chiseled from granite,” Mia coos and slaps me on the backside as I get up.

“All yours, baby.”

“Yummy.”

“Listen, I don’t want you slaving in the kitchen today. Okay? You’ve done enough of that for a while. Please call the caterer and order whatever you’re in the mood for tonight. No expense spared.”

“Aren’t you sweet?”

“All I want you to do today is relax, potter around in your studio, and enjoy our son. That’s an order.”

“Hey, Don. Easy on the orders,” Mia grins.

“Honey, you haven’t seen me rule with an iron fist yet,” I chuckle.

“Do you have any special requests?”

“You mean for food?”

“Yes, you horny man, requests for food. I can read your bedroom eyes just fine. Your gut, not so much.”

“Something Italian would be nice. I miss Mamma’s cooking.”

“You got it.”

“She is looking forward to seeing us at Elio’s wedding. Mamma can’t wait to meet her grandson.”

There’s that look again. Every time I bring up Rome, she gets the deer caught in the headlights look and I can’t help feeling that it has something to do with theconversationwe’ve both been putting off.

I know what the woman I love wants me to do. She doesn’t have to say the words, yet I feel she must in order for me to move forward. It isn’t going to be easy. I don't know how I’m going to leave behind everything I’ve ever known to start over again.

But if that’s what it takes to keep my family happy and safe, I’ll give it the earnest contemplation it's due.

“Angelo is excited about meeting his other grandma,” she settles for.

“There certainly are plenty of kids to play with. All the4 cousins and their families are attending this wedding. If you thought that Gina’s wedding was big, it pales into insignificance compared to what Elio’s one will be.”

“Okay. I guess I’d better brush up on my Italian skills.”

“My love, you could speak Swahili for all I care. You are the Don’s woman, the mother of the heir apparent. You will be the envy of all.”

What am I doing? Am I trying to push Mia to say what’s on her mind? When did I become this coward? America has made me soft.

“I think it’s time we had that conversation, Mia.”

---