A/n: hey guys! I wanted to let you know that I'll pause updates for the rest of the books so that I can solely be updating this book through the week. I'd like to conclude it so that I can update the rest of the books (the third gen). I anticipate we have a few chapters to go. Thank you for your patience even through the scanty updates. Lots of love.
Keira's POV
I can't stop staring at my children with nothing but pride and joy. They are beautiful! Marcelle keeps resembling Nick with each passing day. It's not just their faces but also their mannerisms. Some of them weren't taught. They are inherent in him.
Marcella is more charming than ever, a bright optimist with a lot of nice things to say. May she never know dark clouds. I wish I could keep her in her happy clueless bubble. I don't want her to ever know how brutal life can be, especially the mob life.
Bella and Ella are exactly what I expected: impossible to tell apart. Bella is a little more bubblier than Ella. Ella is shy but Bella isn't. Other than a few differences in personality, it's impossible to tell them apart.
"Why are you staring?" Marcelle asked me.
"Because I missed you." I pulled his nose playfully.
Two sets of twins; how did I pull this off? I'm absolutely in love. I want to be around them like this, everyday.
"Are you staying?" Madeline asked me.
And then there's Madeline. In comparison to the little girl I met long ago, she has really grown up. She is more serious and with it reasonable. She is brave enough to ask tough questions and she expects clear answers. I'm happy that she's not fighting with Marcelle as much. In fact, the two of them asking questions is quite scaring. When they team up they are merciless.
"No sweetie. I won't be able to buy I'll visit -"
"Is it your husband?" She questioned me. "Does he tell you not to see us?"
I paid attention to the woman close by. She's at the next table buts she's completely eves dropping. This is New York. When people like me have drama, it's public information. I didn't want to come to a restaurant but the kids insisted they like it here. Our eyes momentarily met but she looked away.
I placed my hand on Maddie's shoulder. "How about we keep our voices low? I miss all of you with every breath I take. But right now things are a little weird-"
"Because Mancini hates Nick." Marcelle informed her.
"If you turn this into something it's not, I'll smack you." Maddie warmed him.
"No. No you won't respond to that." I warned Marcelle. "Not here." They can get physical in seconds and unfortunately, my son doesn't know how to take a beating. He lashes out right back. "Madeline, yes, Nick and Mancini don't like each other. It's hard for me to be there and to be here. That's why you can't see me so often -"
"Then why did you marry him?" She questioned me.
Difficult questions. If she was a little older, I would take the risk to explain.
"When you get older, we will have this conversation. For now, bear with the lack of answers."
"Or just mind your own business." Marcelle told her.
Before I had any control of the situation she went from zero to one hundred. Her fuse is as short as Nick's. She was over the table, knocking everything off as she tries to take hold of Marcelle's neck. I got up to grab her, struggling with how strong she is. The twins are cheering. Marcella is trying to hell me.
Manuel, my bodyguard came to my side, easily prying off Madeline. She's kicking and cussing Marcelle. Manuel carried her out. Now we will certainly be something to talk about.
"I'm so sorry. I apologize for the mess." I spoke to the waiter and manager. "I'll pay for the damage. Please bill me."
"Don't worry about it Miss... Mrs-"
"Mrs Mancini. Thank you. Come on kids. Let's go." I picked up Ella and Bella. My gaze settled on Marcelle. He is not even sorry. "Get your ass up now! If you as much as stray... heaven help you."
"She's in the car." Manuel pointed out as he opened the back door. Madeline isn't even looking our way. Her arms are crossed on her chest.
I set up the twins in the car seats. Marcella and Marcelle hopped into the seat behind Madeline. I made sure Marcelle isn't sitting behind Madeline. Manuel and I sat at the front. As he drove away, I turned back to look at Madeline. She madebrief eye contact before she lookeda way. Maybe we should really have a heart to heart.
"Where do you want to go Maddie?"
"To the moon." She answered. "Alone."
"Me too. Maybe you can be on the north side and I can stay south. We will try our best not to meet."
She smiled slightly before she chuckled. "You're funny. Let's go to the park."
"Central Park." I told Manuel.
"Si Signora." He agreed.
***
The park was great idea. Marcelle and Marcella are riding their bikes. The twins are asleep on the blanket. It's only Madeline and I.
"What's new with you?" I asked her.
"My mom is back."
What? That snake is back?
"Oh! Uh... why?"
"She said she wants to be there for me."
"How do you feel about that?"
"Well..." She sat up a little straighter. "I missed her. I guess it's okay. I want to have a mom."
I pulled her close to me. "It's okay to miss her. She is after all your mom."
"Daddy doesn't feel that way. He hates her."
"That's because your mom hurt him very much. I think you should listen to what your dad has to say."
"You too?" She frowned at me.
"Sweetie, your mom is not nice. She may act that way but you have to be careful. I'm not saying you should hate her or not see her. I'm simply asking you to be careful. Can you do that for me? Because I would hate to see her hurt you again."
"I can do that." She leaned against me as I kissed the top of her head. "What about you? What's new?"
"I got married." I chuckled. She laughed with me. "He's not so bad. He just doesn't like your dad."
"Does he not like us too?" She asked me.
"He said you guys can move in with us. He is a father too. He understands."
"But that means daddy will be alone."
"Yes. That's why you guys should stay with Nick and I'll visit often. How does that sound?"
"I guess it's better than nothing. Is this marriage forever? Are you never going to be with my dad?"
I'm not sure what Mancini is up to. I don't know if this is forever for him. There's a part of me that feels he is pulling away. I just can't explain it.
"I don't know sweetie. But regardless, I love you so much! That will never change. You are my daughter. Okay?"
"I know I am. I know you love me. Thank you Kei."
***
It's late into the evening. The sun has gone down. The kids and I are back at Nick's place. I wanted to make dinner but Lupe has beaten me to it. These slow days are especially dear to me. I love this pace.
"Here." Lupe offered me a glass of wine. She has one too. "I never got to thank you for freeing me."
"You and I have had our differences but you are dear to me. You raise my kids when I'm absent. You are my family and I'll be er stand by and allow anything bad to happen to you. I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner. Did they hurt you?"
"No. They didn't."
I placed my hand on top of hers. I gave her a squeeze. "I'm glad."
"I'm also glad you're here. Nick really misses you."
"Haven't I been replaced by Katerina Romanov?"
"Do you think I would allow it?" She laughed. "Sge comes and goes but it's all business. There's nothing going on. Kei," she got closer. "How will thiems end?"
"I don't know."
"It's going to be bad, isn't it?".
It definitely will. Nick's ambition has grown stringer. He isn't demonstrating fear for Mancini but outright defiance. Mancini not reacting is also a cause for concern. When they finally clash, I believe it will indeed be bad.
"Yes it will."
"Listen to me, you can't allow them to kill each other."
"I won't. But why are you not for Mancini's death? Aren't you team Nick?"
"I need to tell you something but you cannot tell Nick, Marianna or anyone for that matter, especially not Mancini. Okay?"
"Okay."
Her expression hardened.
"So one time, when I was in Florence, at the villa, I heard something. It was a conversation between Don Giovanni and Mancini."
"They spoke to each other?"
"Not just that. They were arguing and it was vicious. Don Giovanni was reprimanding him for the way he treats Nick. Mancini was lashing out over something else."
"What?"
"He said something in the effect "you don't have a right to tell me what to do". Don Giovanni said, "you exist because I allowed it and I'll end you if you hurt Nicko". I didn't know what Don Giovanni meant until after the funeral. Marianna was in tears and she had too much wine. She told me something that she recanted the next day. She told me I can be er tell anyone else but I think you should know because you're the one stuck between them."
"What did she say?"
"She said that Don Giovanni had lied to her all her life and she hates him. She said that she has a brother."
"A brother?"
"Yes. Romano Mancini, is Marianna's little brother. He's-"
"Nick's uncle!" I gasped and covered my mouth. "The hell?" That's why Mancini isn't doing anything about Nick. He's holding back. "I'm guessing Nick doesn't know anything."
"No."
"Shouldn't we tell him? It may help diffuse the situation." I suggested.
"It may or may not work but you can't tell him. I promised Marianna I won't say anything."
I wish she didn't tell me. Now I feel obligated to do something. I have to intervene with this new information. Nick cannot kill Gio's son. He will never forgive himself.