Page 220 of The Consequences of Love and Vengeance

“London hasn’t worked a day in her life.” Drago passes through the living room, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. Nodding his head at his brother, he says, “Luca knew what her end game was before he got there. He might lie to himself by saying he wasn’t going to go there with her again, but that decision was made when he agreed to go over there.”

Drago doesn’t wait for Luca to respond. From the agreeable expression on his face, he doesn’t have to.

“She’s a train wreck that I can’t seem to stay away from.”

He’s still in love with her.Wow. That’s a tough spot to be in, and one I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

“She doesn’t deserve you,” I point out.

I’m being judgmental without knowing her and in the back of my mind, I know that’s wrong, but Luca is a great guy. Anyone with eyes could see that. He’s a great dad, and I know he’s going to be an awesome uncle.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

BRIANNA

Luca’s heartache weighed on my chest all the way through dinner, and even now, two hours later. Mona left right after dinner, taking leftovers with her for her granddaughter Natalie, whom I haven’t met yet. Apparently, she’s in gymnastics and has evening practice four days a week and all day on Saturday.

If you ask me that’s a little crazy, but what do I know. I thought the same with Jackson and Alana’s three. Carrie was in gymnastics and dance from the time she could walk. She only stopped when she decided she just wanted to be a cheerleader after her first 49er’s football game years ago, which was when Caleb, her brother, boasted about becoming a football player when he grew up.

I’m about to have two on my hands and every time I give it much thought, I grow more and more scared. My brother and sister-in-law have always made it look so easy. But just those short weeks I had Gabriel the first time opened my eyes to the world of parenting. There is nothing simple or easy about it.

My phone rings in my hand as I ascend the stairs heading up to Drago’s bedroom. I’m tired and ready to lay down. Gabriel gave it up an hour ago, but Caprice wasn’t ready to let go of him. He’s still asleep in her arms on the couch.

Looking over my shoulder, I smile, seeing her with him. She’ll definitely make a good mother one day.

Squeezing my palm around the stair railing, I propel myself up as I answer the call from my father. We haven’t spoken since last week, the day after I got Gabriel back.

“Hey.”

“Please tell me my daughter isn’t still with Acerbi.”

His tone irks me, slowing my feet.

“He has a first name, you know.”

There’s only so much of his crap I’m willing to take. I’m trying hard to do what’s best for my newfound family—Gabriel and my unborn child. Only time will tell if D will join us. I want him to, and I’m fairly certain he wants the same. My gut tells me he’s in this with me.

“I’m taking that as a yes.” He sighs.

“Come over to his house later this week,” I order rather than asking him to do so. “You can get to know him a little more and Gabriel too, since... ya know, he’s mine now.”

I swear I can hear the grumble that rolls off his tongue from the other side of the line. But I choose to ignore it, concentrating on the positive.

“Dad, I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks. I’d really like it if you came.”

He saw me at my worst. I put on a good show when I was at Jackson’s over the Christmas holiday, but after I came home to an empty house with an empty crib that felt like it was mocking me, I started to sink lower and lower as each day passed. He showed up at my condo after I went a whole day ignoring his calls. He stayed with me, letting me freely cry with my head in his lap. I can’t recall one instance where I’ve ever done that. Not even when my mom died. Back then I had my brother. This time I wouldn’t allow Jackson or anyone else to see me crumble.

When he let himself into my home, I’d already been hours into the tears that just kept flowing. I didn’t have the strength to shut it off.

I woke up the following morning, and he’d already set up a meeting with his lawyer about Gabriel’s case. That’s when I learned there was a hearing on the books to decide his fate. I owe my father gratitude, because had he not stepped in, I wouldn’t have my sweet, innocent little boy, and neither would Drago. Or who knows, had I not been there to step up, he could have made a different decision.

“If he cared about you like I originally thought, then he wouldn’t be putting yours or that boy’s life at risk.”

Again, with this,Brianna needs a man to look out for her wellbeing bullcrap?

What’s it going to take for everyone in my life to realize I’m more than capable of handling anyone who steps in my path? Diaz bested me once. Had he not had that gun pointed at my chest, I’m more than certain I could have held my own. I beat the shit out of his two goons.

“He does care, Dad, and that’s why neither of us can stay away from the other.”

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