Page 177 of Vows of a Mobster
“And I love you, no matter what.”
Sixty-One
Brianna
Three weeks had gone by since Declan’s family had abducted Emma and we were all slowly getting used to a new normal routine. Mateo had breakfast with us every morning. I’d bought him a new fancy coffee machine and learned to make a pretty decent cup of coffee. Each morning I’d made his coffee cup as he sat at the head of the table, in his dark three-piece suit.
Lorenzo recovered quickly from his flesh wound and was back to work. His little girl and Emma met and often played together. Due to heightened security, I couldn’t take her to the daycare. Besides, until her treatments were over, it was recommended she didn’t go to any daycare. Her immune system wasn’t as strong.
Declan had undergone the blood treatment needed to start collecting platelets so they could continue being used for Emma’s treatment. She pretty much saw him every day at the hospital since the blood transfusion went from him through a machine and into Emma. His parents insisted on coming. Initially it was to ensure theirboydidn’t pass out from blood loss. I barely contained laughing out loud at that excuse. Declan Sr. knew I was onto them but we both pretended I bought his justification.
Coincidently, they came with a shitload of stuff to entertain Emma and not their firstborn son. They gushed over Emma. I learned that Aoife’s twin sister was married to Declan Sr.’s youngest half-brother.
Marissa came along with Declan every day. Those two were pretty much inseparable, and I was just waiting for the news when they’d announce they’d gotten engaged. Daphne and Antonio came more often than not. Antonio’s excuse was that he had to watch mine and Mateo’s back. Mateo hasn’t missed a single appointment, although some days he couldn’t stay the entire time but he damn well tried. It was more than I ever hoped.
This universe worked in mysterious ways. Once sworn enemies, Declan and Mateo worked more and more together. It was like both of them were being driven by the same goal but what that goal was, eluded me. Mateo told me he wanted to keep our alliances strong, for Emma’s sake and our future children, but I felt like there was something he wasn’t telling me. The random attacks were still happening and blaming fingers still occurred but both Declan and Mateo kept their men in check. They were convinced it was a decoy. So they searched mercilessly for whoever was doing all this.
“Mommy, why is Uncle Declan kissing Aunt Mar with his tongue?” I spat my drink all over myself.
Mateo's laughter filled the hospital room while I glared at Marissa and Declan. “Keep it PG, you two,” I scolded them.
I cleared my throat and dabbed my dress clean, hoping to buy myself some time to figure out how to answer Emma’s question.
“Sorry, princess. I shouldn’t have done that,” Declan justified himself. “I just like her very much. Is it ok if I kiss your aunt?”
Emma shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
“I know where she got that,” Daphne giggled. “It’s a mini-Brianna move.”
“Daddy, do you kiss Mommy like that?” I promptly started choking again.
“No, sweetie,” Mateo replied, without ever missing a heartbeat. “I kiss Mommy even better than that.”
“Jesus, this is too much,” I muttered under my breath.
“Be happy, Brianna,” Daphne beamed. “Look at us. Getting along so great. All thanks to our Emma.”
She was right. Emma brought us all together. I sat on the sofa next to Mateo, and his hand brushed across my stomach. He was convinced he could see a little baby bump. I told him he was crazy.
“Everyone,” Marissa exclaimed. “Since this is the last day of the treatment, I brought champagne to celebrate.”
“Yeah, great thinking,” Daphne commended her.
“Um, I don’t think you are supposed to bring alcohol into the hospital.” I glanced at the door to ensure nobody was coming. “They could kick us out.”
Marissa scoffed. “Let them try. There are more of us than them.”
“Declan, you are a bad influence on Mar,” I scolded him, although I couldn’t keep a smile off my face.
Marissa strode to the bag she had brought it earlier and pulled out a champagne along with small red cups.
“I’m surprised you didn’t insist on crystal champagne glasses,” I teased her as she handed the little shot glasses to Declan’s parents.
“But this brings back memories. True?” Marissa’s eyes twinkled. Only Daphne, myself, and Marissa understood the reference. “We used this for our shot glasses in college,” she explained. “Once or twice, it made Brianna strip down to herbikini,” she made air quotes with her one free hand when referencing the bikini. She handed the next cup to Daphne and Antonio. “And then she’d make some fancy cannonballs into the pool.”
“Only a few times,” I chimed in with a grin. “And there is no such thing as a fancy cannonball.”
Mateo leaned over, nibbling on my earlobe. “I need names of all boys that have seen you in your cannonball garments so I can hunt them down.”
