The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (howl and other poems txt) 📗

"Why you little smarty pants!" Mateo laughed as he took his baby from River's arms, feeling a pang on his chest when he saw the hearing aid that was lodged into her tiny ear. He felt it was a constant reminder of his failure as a father, and River knew this, though she never brought it up because she knew that his feelings would remain the same until a year later when her ear would be healed and they can conduct the surgery to completely fix it.

"Come on, Papa and bambino, I am making dinner tonight."

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"I can't believe Mateo actually let you visit me." Sebastian said as he fixed Mia's hair.

"Why?" River laughed as she ate her yoghurt. "Did you do something bad? That I am not aware of?"

"No, I didn't." He rolled his eyes.

"Why are you so adorable?" He pulled Lorenzo's cheek from where he sat on the cushioned baby chair.

"Daddy nooooo!!!" Mia squealed in protest immediately, the three year old wasn't happy that her father was giving any kind of attention to some other child.

"Yeah daddy, what do you think you are doing?" River laughed as a grumpy Mia crawled onto her lap.

"Don't call me that near Mateo." He winked. "You will end up sibling-less."

River rolled her eyes. She did not doubt that one bit – Mateo was one possessive boyfriend. But he was also adorable at the same time, just like Lucas. Their possessiveness was so endearing.

"What do we order for lunch?" Sebastian asked, clapping like a little child. He was genuinely happy that his sister slash best friend was visiting him, though he did miss his niece and nephew a lot.

"Oh, we are having lunch at home. Mom said she will come back from work and Nanna and Mrs. Marley are cooking." River said, realizing that he had forgotten to inform him.

"Mrs. Marley's working at your mom's now?" Sebastian asked, picking Mia up to go to their rooms and get ready.

"Uh huh." River hummed, turning to little Lorenzo.

"Why are you so cute, Enzo?" She cooed at the baby who just gurgled.

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"Whoa, get a room!" Adam turned around as soon as he entered the room.

Michelia and Leonardo scooted up from the couch while Mateo raised a brow at them, and Adam turned back on his heels.

"You do know there is a kid in the house, right? Though the other two are at school?" He asked, hands on hips like the granny he is.

"Enzo is out with River." Michelia glared at Adam, her face red with embarrassment.

"Only the two of them?" Mateo's protective mode was back on.

"And Victor." Leonardo said. "And two SUVs of security River isn't aware of. Mateo, do you really think we would let the two of them roam around the city without protection?"

"He really does think that, you know." Adam snickered. "He thinks that no one cares for any of our safety except him. It's funny to watch when River gives him a piece of her mind for it."

"Shut up." Mateo growled at him.

"So what's the news?" Leonardo asked. "I am sure you guys wouldn't have come here if it wasn't for that."

"We have a lead on Alessia. Someone saw her in Chicago."

"Chicago?" Michelia pushed her hand out and Mateo was quick to give her the flash drive. Michelia had tightened the cyber security and no one was allowed to share information while connected to the internet so they were using the old school methods to pass information.

She quickly took the spare laptop lying around and rechecked that it was not connected to anything before checking the contents.

"Yep, that's her." She said, zooming in on the hand of the girl in all black. It was the bird that Alessia had tattooed over a burn mark that Antonio had given her. "But what is she doing there?"

"I am sure it is whatever she disappeared a month ago for." Adam said.

Michelia rolled her eyes. She was also an Adam-Alessia shipper like River and she had also been noting Adam's behaviour in the month that Alessia had been gone. He tried to look not affected at all but his true feelings always got through and anyone with common sense could say that he was worried about her and missing her – and of course, by people with common sense, she meant anyone except the elder brothers of the girl. The day Mateo and Leonardo get to know of the sparks between the two, there was going to be an explosion.

Leonardo was in denial. And from what Michelia had heard from River, Mateo was in too.

"Alright, Adam and I will fly down to Chicago and try to find her." Leonardo said.

"I am not going anywhere." Adam said stubbornly. "I am going to stay here and protect my niece and nephews. You two brothers go find your sister."

Michelia rolled her eyes again. She was not even going to make a comment on this. She was just pissed that she would have to wait for River to come back home for her to rant about how dumb the men in the lives were.

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"I miss the twins." Lilith Johnson pouted as she shoveled some mashed potatoes into her plate.

"Oh thank you so much Nanna." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "And we thought you would be happy to see your grandchildren." He gestured to himself and River.

"You talk as if you don't drop by every other day." She rolled her eyes, and took a scoop of her salad, turning to River. "I had a dream you would have another child. When are you going to give me another great grandchild?"

River choked on her salad.

"Not any time soon." Susan Johnson spoke up. "Mom, she already has a lot on her plate."

"Here, I will help you out." Sebastian chuckled, taking a nugget from her plate.

River swatted his hand away but couldn't save her nugget. She turned to her grandmother. "Exactly Nanna, I don't think I am ready for another child right now."

"Oh I don't know." Lilith had a smile on her face. "I just told you about the dream I had."