"Bitchhhhhh! How was Italy?" My loud ass sister yelled as soon as I was in her sight. We both just came back from Europe about a week ago and decided to meet up for lunch.

"It was good, I love his family. How was England?" I laughed at my sisters glow. She looks happy.

"Drama but I don't care, I just feel so good," Renee smiled so big I thought her mouth was going to split open.

"Why do you feel soooo good?" I asked with my eyebrows raised. This girl better not be with anymore bullshit.

"Tarzan wants to marry me," She sang out. "Everyone was so happy except for his father. God forbid he bring home a black woman to ruin his life" She mocked an English accent.

"Who knew that was still an issue? That's ridiculous," I felt some type of way. These hormones are starting to get the best of me so lately I've been trying to keep my mouth closed.

"Yeah whatever, hows Rico?" She asked before shoving an entire fork full of steak and rice into her mouth.

My sweet boy. He hasn't brought up that situation that happened a few weeks ago. He's only talking about Italy. Dro even ended up flying us to France and they both sat and drew the Eiffel Tower. They warm my heart so much. "He asked Dro if he could call him daddy"

Renee's eyes opened wide. "And what'd he say?" She asked as if this was a tv show.

"He said 'of course but only if I can call you my son'. I'm not going to lie that made me tear up a bit, Renee," My pregnant ass is about to start crying again I can feel it.

"I love you guys," She squealed and then looked around us. No one was really here, maybe six other people. "I'm glad you killed the demon to get your happily ever after,"

Yes. Killing Andre has made my life so much easier and Alessandro loving me is the best love I've ever had but is this my happily ever after? Watching my surroundings constantly? Second thinking everyone I come in contact with at the store? Hell, even second guessing my friendships and whoever is around me because I think that I'm going to be shot, again, pregnant. Or if I'm going to die or my kids or Dro. I have anxiety now. Is this my happily ever after.?

I shrugged. "I'm just ready to have this baby,"

*

*

*

"So how does it feel to be apart of the pussy whipped club?" Reno asked Tarzan. I chuckled and Tarzan cackled.

"Really fucking funny. How does it feel to be soon apart of the dad squad?" Tarzan asked and then took a gulp of his beer. He looks relaxed as always but with less frown lines. Reno has this aura about him now that Shay is close to giving birth any day now. They went to Atlanta for a few weeks and he even purchased a house down there too. That's good for them but for me there's no getting out of this life.

"Feels fucking great," I replied and drank some of my beer too. "You gonna light that shit or what?" I finally asked Tarzan. I grabbed the joint from behind his ear and lit it myself. He glared at me but went right back to his game.

"Shay made me quit until she could again too and she wants to breastfeed his first year life" he mocked at the end. We all laughed.

"He's gonna be born any day now. Any names Mr. Mancini?" Tarzan's British rang out as he also played on his PlayStation.

"I like Dino. Shay hates it. She likes Lorenzo. I hate it," He shrugged.

"I like Dino. I'll try to convince Grace to convince Shay," I teased and he laughed. I miss just being carefree sometimes but in approximately four hours I have to hop on a plane to handle some unexpected business in Chicago with one of my restaurants. Grace doesn't know yet but I don't want to ruin her lunch with her sister.

"Yeah you do that," He laughed.

My phone vibrated a few times. Grace. "Hey baby" I answered.

"Where are you?" I can hear the house alarm beep meaning she just opened the front door.

"What have I told you about answering phones and not greeting?" I smirked.

"Imma swipe that smirk off ya face. Weh yuh deh?" She snapped.

Her hormones have been off the walls lately. "Sei fottutamente pazzo" I sighed, still smiling at my phone.

"Yeah yeah whatever. Tell Tarzan that Shay said that she wants their home empty by the time she's home," she paused. "And that was twenty minutes ago so he better hurry" Click.

"They're so petty," I laughed. "Tarzan we gotta clear it. Grace failed to deliver a message twenty minutes ago that Shay wants to the place empty," his eyes popped open.

"Women are evil," He said as we headed through the door. Must've been right on time because Renee came pulling into the driveway. I got in my car after waving to her and left.

I can't let myself slip back into being so careless like I did months ago. I have to figure out how to still love my family without getting them or myself killed. On that note I should just marry Grace. If I die she gets everything I have. The legal stuff of course. If I die I don't know who'd run my business. I'm sure the left and right hand would be great at it but it's been in my family since my grandfather got a dual citizenship in Italy an America way back when he was younger.

Marry her. Buy her a real engagement ring and not a 'security' ring. As I get closer to her house I notice that a silver truck has been following me for a while. Maybe it's a coincidence but I don't believe in those anymore. My turn is coming up but I made a left instead and so did he. An empty plaza was coming up on my right so I made a quick turn into it and turned off my car. My gun is already tucked in my waist. The truck pulled up behind me and kept his engines on.

What the fuck.

I quickly sent Reno my location and he already knows what to do. All four doors open and four men pull out. I open my car door to be met with my guns.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Colombo," he said with disgust. He hated that my mother gave me her last name but he tends to forget that he met her doing the same thing Sarah was. It killed him even more when she left his ass and moved on after cheating with Sarah's mom.

"De Niro," I smirked. "What pleasure do I hold?"

"When Sarah round our she was pregnant I knew. How come Grace is due in about two months and I'm just now finding out? Sarah didn't even tell me," He looked hurt. I'm not sure why he's never been a loving figure in my life. I've learned some of my most ruthless behaviors from him, my grandfather taught me to balance it with reason like he did.

"Don't act like you've ever given a fuck," I spat. "You didn't even come to Deena's funeral!"

"I did! I just stayed in the back of everything and of course I give a fuck you piece of shit! You're my son," He smirked then punched me in my face. I took my gun out and slapped him with it.

"I'm starting to realize you get pleasure out of this! You don't think I'm your kid? Then leave me alone. Don't keep me around to fuck with me because you think it'll hurt my mother. The next time you come around me or my family. I'll kill you," I threatened.

He laughed. "I do have another bone to pick with you. Why the fuck did you mess with my connections?"

"What connections did I screw up for you?" I laughed. This man is crazy.

"That dumb ass orphan that you lit up in his house. The pretty girl he had with him is the daughter to my distribution company and now they want your head," His face turned a little red.

"So you basically ate with the fuckers who killed Deena? You did business with the both of them? I'm your fucking son! Where's the loyalty?" I yelled and guns were raised.

"I'd put that down if I were you," I heard Reno say from behind the truck. I saw a red laser land on my fathers neck. If he shots him he wouldn't kill him, just graze him. I saw three more men spread out to match my fathers little army.

"You fucker don't talk to me about loyalty when I offered you my last name! My legacy!" He yelled out.

"No you offered my to be Sarah's bitch. You hated that we were so close after trying to sabotage our relationship. Fuck your legacy stronzo," I spat at his feet. "I'm a fucking Colombo and I'll be one until I die,"

"I hope it doesn't come down to me being the one to pull the trigger. Stop fucking with my money son," My dad said before turning around and getting back in his truck and leaving.

I nodded at Reno and my other guys before I got back in my car then pulled off. Knowing my father. That meant war of some type.

My phone rang again.

Grace. Groaning I answered the phone, "Hey beautiful,"

"Alessandro," she whispered. Why is she whispering? What's going on?

"Where are you Grace?" I quickly said.

"I'm home with Rico but I have this feeling that I'm being watched and I can't shake it. I don't know if it's just my paranoia," She said quietly again. I applied more force to the gas and pretty soon I was nearing our entrance.

"Baby I'm almost outside. Where in the house are you?" I asked her but I didn't hear anything. The phone was silent. Shit. I tried calling back but it went straight to voicemail. My day can not seriously get any worse.

By the time I got to her house she was putting Rico in her truck. She saw me pulling in and looked relived. "Baby!" She yelled when I got out of my car.

"What's going on?" I asked her all while scanning the perimeter of the house.

"I think it's just my nerves," She said.

"Mommy!" Rico shouted from the car and we both headed over. "Where we going?" He tugged at his car seat straps. He saw me and his eyes brightened. "Papa!"

I smiled, no I was beaming. "Hey figlio," Grace smiles at us.

"I love you guys, Rico we're going shopping for the baby," Grace smiled and Rico nodded. He says he's excited for the baby but when we talk about her he's uninterested.

I'd rather not have them in public. I still have to tell her that I'm getting on a plane soon. This is where I have to be stern and we're going to argue. "No not today,"

Grace looked at me with her eyebrows raised. "Why not? I don't feel safe! You did that remember?" I rolled my eyes but didn't lose my shit like I normally do. She's testing my patience b

"Well I can't go with you to protect you and I have to leave town in an hour. Business to handle in Chicago," I said as I took Rico out of the car seat.

She laughed. "You're doing what? And I'm supposed to do what?"

I sighed. "Grace I'm not going to do this. Listen to what I'm flipping saying," Rico is still in my arms so I'm not going to cuss.

"Take us with you," She demanded with hands on her hips but her eyes became glossy. She knows women crying is my weakness.

"Babe are you sure you want to go? I'm not going to have time for sight seeing and quite frankly you and Rico would have to stay in the apartment," Bringing her with me is less dangerous than leaving her here alone but it's still dangerous. I have enemies everywhere and I don't want to compromise their safety. Plus, my restaurant is priority there but who's to say I won't get targeted in Chicago, people really hate me.

"Yes I'm sure. Let us go with you," She put her hands on her hip and bit her lip.

"You look so irresistible right now," I leaned down and kissed her. "Go back a bag," I smiled.

"Rico were going to Chicago!" She giggled and ran back inside to pack a bag.

I hope this is an easy going trip.

😝