𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

14

Mila

Sitting on the couch I finish watching a movie, Gio has been upstairs for the past few hours, and after we came back from the mall I hid all of the presents for my kids and decided to chill for the rest of the day.

The doors open and I hear the little footsteps telling me my kids are home. "Mom!" They hop on the couch before I squeeze them tight, Luca picked them up today and I smile at him as he sits on the chair.

"How was school?" I say as they sit beside me.

"Awesome!" Isa says as she begins telling me a story, Cade immediately grabs his iPad and begins playing some game on there causing me to smile.

Gio finally comes down after doing god knows what upstairs for the past few hours. The doorbell rings as he goes to open the door.

Not soon after I hear barking and my eyes widen. "A doggy??" Isa jumps up and runs to the front door Cade running close behind her and me not too far behind.

The small black fluffy dog is jumping at Gios feet in excitement before Gio finally reaches down and scratches his head.

Awww.

Did I mention that our weak spots are dogs?

"Omg, doggy!!" Isa shouts turning the dog's attention to her, the dog's head tilts before carefully walking up to Isa and immediately greets her with kisses, she gets on her knees to pet the dog and Cade does the same. "I love him!" She shouts as she laughs.

"What's his name?" Cade asks carefully as he lets the dog who was now circling his lap.

"His name is Shadow," Gio says.

"I didn't know you had a dog?" I ask and he nods.

"He's been staying with my mom." He says and I nod as I pet the dog.

Soon Giovanni's parents walk in the house causing Gio to roll his eyes at his father's presence.

"That dog is never allowed in my house again!" Marco shouts.

Shadow replies by growling at him. "I don't think Shadow likes you very much." Isa frowns at the big man.

"I don't like that little shit-"

"Language!" I glare at the man who glares back before making his way into the house.

We all make our way back into the living room. "Shadow down," Gio says as Shadow tries to sit on the couch with the kids.

Gio sits on the couch next to me causing my brows to furrow before he motions to his mother sitting across from us.

Ahh!

"So, have you given any thought to where you're taking the honeymoon?" She asks out of the blue causing me to choke.

"I'm sorry what?"

"Ma!"

"What! It would be weird to not go on one!" She defends.

"What's a honeymoon?" Isa asks looking up from the furry puppy.

"Nothing baby." She stares at me for a second before all her focus is back on the puppy, I give Gio a side glance to which he rolls his eyes at his
Mother.

Gio and his mother fall into conversation as I join the kids in playing with Shadow.

The vibe of the room shifts as Marco walks into the room, I notice Gios's back straighten and his face evident with irritation.

Cade crawls onto my lap yawning and I hold him as his eyes start to shut.

"Oh. You're here." Marco says eyeing Luca on the couch.

Luca looks up from his phone. "Yeah, I'm here don't cream your pants, old man," Luca says in response.

"You little sh-" he cuts himself off when he catches my glare. "Shouldn't you be off starting problems somewhere?"

"Shouldn't you be in a retirement home? Or better yet dead?"

"Are you hungry shadow? How does homework sound for dinner?" Isa smiles at the dog as it has her full attention.

"Would you two cut it out, you're acting more like children than the actual children," Gio says.

"Speaking of children," Marco says as he takes a seat next to his wife. "Have y'all started trying for a baby?"

"That's not your business," Gio responds.

"It's my business when the only thing you're good for is bringing a fu- Mm an heir to the table, make yourself useful for once Giovanni," Marco growls.

I frown at what he says, what a way to speak to your son.. his fists clench beside me and I look over at him.

He looks like he's about to lose his shit so I grab his fist before anything could escalate, lacing my fingers with his.

He looks at me and I nod, his hands squeeze mine as he looks back at his father. "I think you guys should leave."

"But son we-"

"Ma non in questo momento, per favore." His mom frowns and nods before taking her husband and leaving the house.

I sigh.

"I don't like your dad Mr Gio." Isa frowns as she holds the shadow to her chest.

I feel Gio's thumb rubbing the back of my hand, still squeezing tight.

"Isa let's go take your brother to bed, then we can figure out where Shadow can sleep in your room Tonight," Luca says as he carefully takes Cade from my chest.

I muffle a thank you and he nods.

"Okay, Uncle Luca," Isa says grabbing the dog.

My brows furrowed. "Uncle?" I ask and he shrugs.

"What can I say? Kids love me!" He smiles before heading up the stairs.

He definitely asked them to call him that.

We sat quietly for a few minutes before I noticed that he was still rubbing the back of my hand. "You okay?" I finally ask and it looks like he's snapped out of some trance as he carefully looks at me.

I see a bit of venerability in his eyes before it's gone within a blink. "I'm fine." He says and I don't believe it one bit.

"You're fathers.. intense."

"Try dealing with it for 28 years."

"I don't want to make a bad situation worse... but I don't think I want that around my kids Gio," I say softly. "Or any kids I might have in the future, and if he's so hell-bent on us having a child then I don't know if that will work, because I don't want a child of mine around a man like that.."

He frowns at that.

"I don't think I do either."