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

"No, he hasn't." She sighed. "And after that little stunt he pulled, we have to wait until Ki is over it before we can tell them who he is."

She looked over at her little Lucas, who was perched on Adam's shoulders now. It was not like Lucas to become so friendly with someone so easily, but she guessed it was normal for a five-year-old to trust some cool people who saved his life. He must see them as some kind of superheroes or something.

"Man, that sucks." He said, tying up his blond waves into a messy bun. River had to admit – the man had amazing hair. She was going to ask him the secret to those flawless waves once they were more acquainted.

"Adam's coming with you guys by the way." He spoke. " I am staying here to get some work done. We will meet when you guys get back after the situation here is resolved."

River nodded, shifting her arm under Kiara.

"I hope you understand that Mateo is trying to put a lot of effort into the children." He said as they waited. "I am not asserting anything but for a Capo to be away takes a toll on the whole business."

River smiles and turned to the loyal soldier. "Don't worry. I understand."

"That I can see. You are a badass."

"And he's a dumbass."

Ricardo laughed out, which immediately had Mateo and Adam's attention.

"Are you trying to steal my new best friend?" Adam asked as he walked over, Lucas grinning from ear to ear on top of him.

"Hey big boy, having fun up there?" River asked. He nodded vigorously, laughing.

"I think we are already besties here, Adam boy." Ricardo put an arm around me. "You missed out! I think I will be winning more favors from the Capo now." He winked at River who chuckled.

"So that's what all of this was about!" She laughed.

Adam pouted with his sad puppy eyes.

Lucas patted his head. "It's okay Uncle Adam, I can be your best friend."

"Really?" Adam asked, lowering his nephew to his arms. Lucas nodded laughing.

"Awww!!!" He hugged him and turned to River, "Can I keep him?"

River narrowed her eyes at the man-child. You wish!

"You don't own me." Lucas scrunched up his face.

"Of course I don't, Boss!" Adam laughed.

"You are such a man-child." Ricardo rolled his eyes and gestured for River to follow him and they made their way to the jet, meeting Mateo on the way.

"I know you might be angry-" He started but she cut him off. "I am not angry, Mateo. I know you did that on impulse to get out of there as soon as possible."

"I understand that's how you function. You can't help it." She nodded to herself. "Try to change though. We don't want to scare our children like that ever again, right?"

He smiled at her, nodding as he caressed Kiara's hair.

"So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

River sighed as they walked up the stairs.

"Making friends with the boys?" He asked.

River smirked because she could clearly hear the jealousy.

"Don't worry. I see them as my younger brothers." She couldn't help the chuckle that left her lips as she said it. She looked over her shoulder to see a childish scowl on the Capo's face. He really was a dumbass.

.

.

.

It was some eleven in the night when they landed on their destination.

"Welcome to Wyoming!!" Adam sang. River narrowed her eyes at him. Her two babies were fast asleep in her arms and she did not want to deal with two tired cranky five-year-olds right now.

"Your parents have been informed that you have reached the safe house." Mateo said as he joined them as they walked towards the cars waiting for them.

River sighed.

"Want me to hold them for you?" He asked, as if granting her a favor when in truth, he just couldn't wait to hold them in his arms.

She raised a brow. "I think the words you really want to use are, 'Can I hold our kids now?'"

He rolled his eyes.

"Here." She turned towards him. He closed in, making sure their heads were comfortably rested on his chest before snaking his arms around them, taking them off her arms.

River stretched, feeling an electric shock kind of pain shoot up her back. She winced, slightly massaging her lower back.

"It hurts?" He asked, looking concerned.

"It's been only two days, right? That's why. P.S. My biking skill has gotten a bit rusty." She pouted. "Once I was known for perfect landings, no matter how rough the terrain."

He pursed his lips, nodding thoughtfully and then finally said, "I think we can keep the boasting for later."

She narrowed her eyes at him while he gave her a stupid grin. She would have punched him in the face if it wasn't for their children in his arms and his fine features that she didn't want to ruin.

"Are we going to live in a ranch?" She asked, the possibility popping up in her, exciting her.

"Yep."

"Do you have a shooting range?"

"Why?"

"Because my shooting skills are also rusty."

"Alright, I get it; you know a lot of stuff. Stop showing off."

River rolled her eyes and pulled the kids back to herself so that he could settle each one of them on to the car seat.

"Are you not going to say anything?" He asked after he settled both of the sleeping babies down.

"Translate bud." She rolled her eyes. She made a mental note to learn to slowly learn Italian, now that she had a lot of free time in her hands. It doesn't hurt to know an extra language anyway.

"Welcome to the club, sister-in-law. These Italians do this a lot." Adam said as he got on the seat between the kids.

"Sister-in-law?" She scrunched her face up. What the hell was he talking about? Maybe he shouldn't have drank all that scotch on the flight.

"Wait so you both aren't married yet?" He asked, acting all naïve and clueless. "Then when did these happen?" He pointed at the babies and gave her a creepy grin.