Blush (26 page)

“I'm glad someone is having a good time in
here while my granddaughter is in a coma,“ says a man dressed in an
expensive suit, likely Armani, with salt and pepper hair combed
back off of his face. He's using a black walking cane with a carved
hand grip though I can't make out what it is.

“Giovanni,“ Cage steps forward. “Glad you
made it safely.“

“And just in time,“ Toni tells him. Does she
know the old man?

“Just in time for what?“ he asks.

“The announcement that Luciana and Jesse are
having triplets, grandpa,“ Sera notifies him as she walks over and
gives him a hug.

His brows lift and his gaze meets mine, his
eyes momentarily lower to where I'm holding Lucy's hand between
mine just over our babies' photos. I ignore them all and turn my
back to the room. Rude or not, I need a moment with my wife.

I sit on the edge of the bed and lean in
close to her.

“Luce, holy shit. Did you hear that?“ I shake
my head. “We're having triplets. Three babies, Luce. Three.
Babies.“ I kiss her hand.

“You guys just can't do anything normal, can
you?“ Xander asks.

“Go big or go home?“ I murmur and he
laughs.

“That's what I like to hear,“ Anthony says
from the doorway. “Happiness instead of sadness. That's what
Luciana needs to hear as well.“

“Yes, she does,“ Regina says, standing next
to me. She nudges me with an elbow and I meet her gaze. “My
son-in-law, the overachiever,“ she teases with a lift of her brow
as she sees the three photos.

“By the way,“ Toni interrupts, “Luciana is
about eleven weeks along, nearly through the first trimester.“

“That's good right?“ I ask. Toni nods.

“Very good, especially with triplets.“

“Jesus, Jesse,“ Ben chides.

I shrug. “I can't help it if my guys are
super swimmers.“

“Hell,“ Xander begins, “his spermies are just
as hot for her eggs as Jesse's—“

“Xander Mackenzie, you will not finish that
sentence,“ mama scolds.

“Yes, mama.“

The room grows silent. A few seconds later it
erupts into laughter.

I turn to Regina as she lays her hand over
Lucy's as it rests in mine. I pull her into a hug. “I'm so glad
you're here,“ I admit.

She nods against me. “We'll get her through
this, Jesse. Our Luciana is a strong one.“

“That she is.“

Regina pulls back then cuffs me upside the
head. “You didn't happen to notice this baby belly on your
wife?“

“Mama, damn. I thought maybe she was just
putting on some weight. She looks healthier now. She was kinda
skinny before,“ I plead.

She nods. “Alright. I can accept that
reason.“

“So that was Lucy's pregnancy test in the
bathroom then?“ Trace asks.

“What? No. We found out from the hospital,“ I
tell him, confused.

“Then whose was it?“ Trace asks, looking
between Meggie, Sera, Misty, and Janalee.

Janalee steps up. “It was mine. Yep, mine.
I'm pregnant brothers,“ she announces, looking between me and Ben.
“Yay!“

“What the fuck?“ Ben bellows.

“My sentiments exactly. Who's the son of a
bitch we need to kill?“ I ask.

She snorts, my baby sister. “This from the
man who knocked his wife up with triplets—“

“Yes, wife.“

“Before you were married!“

“Doesn't matter,“ I tell her. “We are married
and I want this guy's name.“

She crosses her arms over her chest. “No. Not
happening.“

“Oh, I beg to differ,“ Ben tells her,
stepping up into her face.

“Beg all you want. Not. Happening,“ she
snarls with a poke to his chest.

He growls and looks down his nose at her,
trying to intimidate her. “You will tell me. Whoever he is better
step up and take responsibility.“

She rolls her eyes.

“Whoa,“ Misty murmurs. “Could there be any
more drama in this room?“

“I don't know,“ Ben asks her. “Are you
pregnant?“

She crosses her arms much the same way
Janalee did. “How is that any your business?“

“Oh, I like these ladies. Serafina, introduce
me,“ Regina says, dismissing Ben, dismissing me, and, in her
roundabout way, protecting Janalee.

I frown and murmur to Lucy. “Your mom's
evil.“

“You have no idea,“ Giovanni Russo tells me.
“I'd say it's past time we met, don't you?“ he asks.

I nod.

“Jesse Kingston,“ I murmur, holding out the
hand not holding Lucy's.

“Giovanni Russo,“ he tells me, shaking my
hand.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir.“

He nods. “Good manners. I like that. Call me
Giovanni. How is our Luciana?“ he asks.

“Honestly,“ I murmur, “I have no idea. She
seems fine one minute and then the next she's having a seizure.
They said if she has another, they'd probably have to do surgery.
They want to do another MRI. Is that safe with the babies?“ I ask
no one in particular.

Giovanni clamps a hand on my shoulder. “No
worries, my boy. Only the best are looking after my granddaughter.
I assure you she and your bambinos are in good hands.“

I'm not really comfortable with Giovanni
taking care of the expenses and I'm about to tell him that when he
beats me to the punch.

“I know you're a prideful man,“ he begins as
Anthony walks up, “and I respect that, but I hope you'll accept
this, my taking care of the details and finances, as a gift from me
and Carlotta, my wife, to you and Luciana.“

I consider, then know if I say no I'll insult
him and Lucy wouldn't want that. She'd find a way to get me to
accept his help anyway.

I nod. “Thank you, Si—Giovanni,“ I correct as
he raises his brow. He nods.

“You're most welcome. We're
Famiglia
.
We take care of each other.“

“Does that mean I'm family too?“ Xander asks,
resting his head on Regina's shoulder.

She pats his head.

“Yes, yes, of course you are,“ Giovanni
answers, startling Xander who looks at us in surprise. “Xander
Thomas Mackenzie. Father Matthew Mackenzie, prominent obstetrician
in the Los Angeles area, correct?“ Giovanni asks and Xander nods,
narrowing his eyes.

The old man looks around the room.

“Megan Melody.“

Meggie nods. “Pleasure.“

He smiles and tips his head slightly.

“Benjamin Kingston.“

“Sir,“ Ben replies.

“Please, call me Giovanni. All of you.“

“Jace Warner, we're no strangers. How are
you, son?“

“Doing well, Giovanni. It's good to see you
again.“

“You as well. Trace Styx.“

Trace lifts a brow.

“No worries. I won't divulge your inherited
last name.“

Trace grins and nods in greeting.

“Ah, Damian Black. It's been a while.“

“Sir,“ Damian murmurs, stepping forward to
shake his hand.

“We need to discuss business shortly along
with Cage Nichols.“

“Yes, Sir,“ Damian agrees.

Cage nods.

Just who the fuck is Damian Black, I wonder.
I look at Sera who looks away. That one knows more than she's told
her sister, otherwise I'd know more. Interesting.

Xander lifts a brow and I shake my head.
Later.

He nods.

“Ethan Ashcroft.“

“Sir,“ Ethan begins.

“No, come now. Giovanni. We are all
Famiglia
now.“

“Giovanni,“ Ethan agrees.

“Kennedy Caldwell.“

He tips his head and the old man does the
same.

He taps his finger to his lips.

“Misty Castillo. You are new to
la
Famiglia
, yes?“

“I am.“

“My granddaughter, she has a big heart as
does Ben Kingston.“

Ben tilts his head to the side and the old
man doesn't blink.

“They do. I'm very lucky to be part of their
family.“

Giovanni nods again.

“Janalee Kingston, I presume?“ he asks.

“Correct, Giovanni Russo. A pleasure.“

“Mine as well. Such a lovely young woman,“ he
tells her and glances to his left. I look to his left. Ethan and
Kennedy? What's he looking at—or for?

“Now that we've all met, found out my
granddaughter and Jesse are having triplets, and have security and
the media under control, it's time to make some heads roll,“ he
tells Cage pointedly.

“Literally,“ Sera murmurs.

“Yes, quite literally, nipote. There is no
hurting of
mi
Famiglia
. Ever. I apologize to you,
Serafina, but the Manzini's must pay for their attack and threats.
I believe I have let this go on for far too long and they believe
I've gone soft.“ The old man laughs and it's a very sinister
sounding laugh. Soft? This guy? Are they fucking crazy?

“I haven't been a true Manzini for a very
long time. And you, nonno, soft?“ Sera laughs.

“Is a joke to think such a thing. We will
correct them, will we not, Cage.“

It's not a question and Cage doesn't answer
but I don't think he really needs to.

“Now I've just got to say,“ Xander begins and
I nearly groan aloud, “I fucking knew you were a bad ass dude,
Cage, my man. Damian, you're way more fucked up than I
imagined.“

Damian grins. “You have no idea.“

“And I certainly don't want to.“

“No, no you don't,“ Anthony begins. “Papa,
what do you need done?“

Giovanni blinks, but only once, then nods at
Anthony. “Are you certain you want to become involved?“

“They threaten and hurt my family, our
family. I won't stand by and allow this to happen. I vowed to not
become involved in
la famiglia
unless it was to protect. Now
it also involves revenge,“ Anthony bites out.

“As you wish. Let us go discuss things. Cage,
Damian.“

“I would like to go as well,“ Regina tells
him.

He pauses. “You are a Manzini by blood but
you are a true Russo through-and-through. You are always welcome to
sit at the table but, Regina, you know the rules. Females may not
participate.“

“This I know, Giovanni. I would merely like
to be in the know.“

“So be it.“

With that they leave the room and the tension
could be cut with a knife.

“Well then,“ Jace says. “That was fun,
huh?“

No one says much.

“Does this mean we're all part of the Russo
clan or cartel or whatever it's called?“ Ethan asks.

Sera nods. “You're
Famiglia
.“

“I'll take that protection right about now,“
Meggie announces as she walks over to Sera and kisses her forehead.
“These motherfuckers knew what they were doing.“

“What do you mean?“ I ask. I hadn't gotten
many details.

“It was assumed it was a rock that hit Lucy.
Sharp, jagged, and whoever threw it had impeccable aim and
incredible strength, but when I was listening to security talking
before we all headed over here, I heard them say it was a chunk of
ice.“

“Ice?“ I ask.

She nods. “Clever if you ask me. The impact
of a jagged ice ball as damaging as that of a rock, but the effect
of the sharpness of the edges and the fact that the ice melts,
leaving no trace evidence including fingerprints, well…“ she trails
off with a shrug.

I look to Kennedy who nods his agreement.

Lucy's fingers twitch in my hand and I look
down at her. Her eyelids flutter and I say a silent prayer that she
doesn't have another seizure. Her heart rate begins to elevate and
I begin to panic.

“Baby, it's alright,“ I murmur close to her
ear. “You're safe. Your grandpa is here and the old man has taken
charge. You can breathe easy.“

I watch as her heartbeat slows a little on
the monitor.

“You just rest up, Lucy. Take care of you and
our mini-us's.“ I shake my head, knowing I'll have a full-blown
panic attack later. “Triplets, Luce. How the fuck did we manage
that one?“

Janalee laughs behind me. “Jeni and I are
twins. It's not a far toss that we had a higher probability of
having multiples.“

“Man,“ I whisper.

I imagine I can hear her laugh and I
smile.

“I have no idea how this has become my life,“
I murmur to everyone in the room who gathers around, “but this is
my wife and those are my kids in there. You all are my family. I'm
sorry you've stepped into this. If you want to step out until
things calm down, take off for a vacation or something, I
completely understand.“

“What the fuck, man? You think we're a bunch
of pussies who can't handle a little mafia action?“ Kennedy
jokes.

“The thought had crossed my mind.“

“Fuck them,“ he affirms. “That's our girl
there and those are our kids. No one fucks with Lucy and the
mini-us's and gets away with it. I'm fucking setting up camp in the
corner over there and I'm not leaving until Lucy's awake and I know
she's alright,“ Kennedy tells me, turning and walking to the sofa
in the corner. He sits down and kicks his feet up on the table.

“All in,“ Ben mutters and everyone, including
Janalee and Misty head over. Xander comes back and sits in the
chair across from mine. He reaches for her other hand and I just
watch him. He watches back.

“I don't want to know but I gotta,“ I tell
him.

He nods.

“Are you in love with her?“

“No, but I could be. Fuck it up and I'll step
up.“

I nod. “You won't get the chance. She's my
forever.“

He nods back. “I know, man, and so does she.
She's my best friend, though, dude. That's not going to change. We
cool?“

“Yeah, we're cool.“ I can't fault the guy.
Lucy's one hell of a woman and right this second her eyelids are
fluttering. Maybe, just maybe she'll wake up. I fucking hope so.
I'm lost without her.