Page 28 of Bound By Sin
I didn’t know how Tara or Nia would handle all the attention that always seemed to follow me wherever I went. When I reached the bleacher section where Tara said she’d be sitting if I could make it, I scanned the area for her. After a few minutes of searching, her eyes shot to me, then widened. I couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction. By the look of surprise on her face, she wasn’t expecting me to show up.
Her doubt didn’t sit well with me, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault but my own, and I took full responsibility for it. I had disappointed her all those years ago, just as much as it disappointed me not to be in Nia’s life. But I vowed to erase all doubt she had in me or at least spend the rest of my life trying to. I’d make certain my woman would never think that way of me again. She would never have any uncertainty about me wanting to be in her life or Nia’s. That was the promise I’d made her a few days ago at Club Desire. A promise I had every intention of keeping.
While the women and men watched me make my way to her, my eyes remained focused on nothing else but Tara Weatherly. Whether she knew it or not, she would soon be my wife. I’d get the family I always longed for with her.
Before I could reach her, a huge motherfucker blocked our path. Instinctively, Aurelio and Luca shielded me with their bodies because we didn’t have any guns. If we had, they would have been pointed against his skull, and he would be lucky if they didn’t shoot and ask questions later. As it stood, both Aurelio and Luca were just as deadly with their hands, which meant this guy didn’t stand a chance.
I eyed the man, my jaw clenched. Normally, he would have been dead where he stood. It was a good thing we’d left our guns in the car because I would have hated for the first meeting with my only child to be marred by this motherfucker’s death.
“Nathan!” Tara yelled, her voice echoing over the silent crowd of spectators watching the exchange like they were standing on pins and needles, waiting for something to happen. “Let them through.”
It didn’t take me having to look around to see we had an audience who had stopped watching the game and trained their focus on the three men who were in a standoff. Right now, this little confrontation could go either way. We could walk to our destination, or Nathan could stop breathing. Now, I just had to wait and see which path Nathan decided to take. Hopefully, he didn’t choose the latter.
“Yeah, Nathan. Let us through,” Luca mocked with one of his brows arched.
Luca, was much more laid back than his older brother. While he was a pain in my ass, he was just as efficient as his brother. While he could be a smartass, I didn’t have to worry whether he would take a bullet for me. I never had to question his loyalty, just like I never questioned Aurelio’s. Luca’s cool demeanor hid the killer inside him.
Nathan looked over his shoulder at Tara and arched his brow. She nodded, and he reluctantly stepped aside. When I walked past him, I made sure to look him in the eyes. He was at least six-four with a wide body, muscular, and by the buzz cut, probably ex-military. While he looked right for the job, there was no way I’d leave my family’s security up to someone who wasn’t family. After tonight, I’d have to discuss new arrangements when it came to her and Nia’s security.
We climbed the bleachers, Aurelio in front of me and Luca behind. We continued to ignore the gawking of the people in the crowd. When we reached Tara, Aurelio slid into the seat behind us, and Luca sat in front of us.
“You made it.”
She looked up at me, surprise covering her face. When I took the seat beside her, I kissed her on the cheek.
“I told you I would.”
She looked in front of us and then behind us at Aurelio and Luca’s large frames. “Are they necessary?”
“Always,Stellina.”
Her cheeks darkened from the term of endearment. She’d always be my little star. She faced the field again, but I didn’t miss the small smile lifting the corners of her mouth.
“Number 22,” she said, pointing toward the field.
My eyes focused on the soccer field, and my heart almost stopped in my chest. She was beyond beautiful. Her dark curly hair was pulled into a high ponytail on top of her head. She was tall, like her mother, her complexion tawny, but from what I could see, the Cavallaro blood was in her too. She reminded me of my baby sister.
“She’s beautiful,” I muttered, my eyes transfixed on my kid.
My fucking kid. I still couldn’t process it, even with her in front of my eyes.
Tara laughed. “That she is. She’s the spitting image of you, Valentino.”
“You think so?” I asked in awe of the young woman as she commanded the field.
“She not only looks like you, but she has your stubborn streak too. Not to mention your dry sense of humor, and the ability to know when something’s wrong with me.”
My daughter. I couldn’t believe I was watching my fucking kid.
“I’m sorry for leaving.” I planted my forearms on my thighs and gazed into her eyes. “But I didn’t want to pull you into my world no more than you already were. I fought tooth and nail to keep you safe and away from that part of my life, but when I had to take over, I didn’t want to disrupt your life or put you in danger. You had so much going for you. My new position would have ruined everything.”
“But I wanted you, Valentino. It didn’t matter who you were or what I had going on in my life. Modeling and Hollywood didn’t factor into my future because I just wanted to be with you. We could have made it work. You could have been in Nia’s life if you just would have talked to me instead of leaving and not answering when I called.”
I didn’t miss the hurt and pain in her voice and eyes. Pain that I’d caused and now would bear for however long it took for me to make it right. While, at the time, I’d done what I thought was right for both of us, my decision cost me a lot—my woman and my child. More than I thought I’d ever have to give up to be the Don.
We sat in silence and watched our daughter run up and down the field. And damn it, she was beyond good. She was fucking spectacular. I could see why she was being scouted. She was fast, a great ball handler, and not selfish with the ball, either. She was a team player with the skills to be great, and I’d do everything in my power to make that happen.
Aurelio jumped to his feet, screaming and cheering Nia on as she assisted with her team’s goal. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm. He was a soccer fanatic.
