He looked to both his mother and sister, trying to gauge their reactions to his story. His mother was the first to break the silence.
“I can’t believe he …” Her words trailed off as she closed her eyes and clenched her jaw tight. “I’m sorry, I just so mad—”
“It’s okay now, Mum. It happened a long time ago. Its fine,” he reassured.
She shook her head. “No, it is not fine, Gabriel. It’s not. But I promise you, it will be.”
“What are you going to do?” Carter asked. “Don’t put yourself in any danger.”
“It will be fine, baby girl. I promise. Come, both of you …” She scooted her body back and laid on the bed. “Come,” she said again, reaching out to them. “Do as your mother has instructed.”
“But I don’t want to hurt you, Mom. You were shot,” Carter murmured, gently running her hand over their mother’s wound.
She waved off Carter’s concern. “I took medication, I feel no pain now. Now get over here,” she ordered. “I want to hold my babies.”
Both Carter and Gabriel chuckled and did as their mother had requested. They laid on each side of her, and rested their heads on her chest.
Sighing, she put her arms around them. “This is perfect now, yes?”
“Yes,” they agreed.
“You two look so much alike,” she said with a smile in her voice. “It’s exactly how I imagined it. And you already seem so close.”
Gabriel looked into his sister’s eyes and smiled. “We are close,” he replied. “She is my love.”
“And he is mine,” Carter agreed.
Their mother ran her finger through their hair. “That’s perfect.” She kissed their foreheads. “You both are perfect.”
“When I first met him, Mom, his hair was all the way past his behind.”
“Really?”
Gabriel chuckled. “Almost. She’s over-exaggerating.”
“Uh-uh,” she pouted, but it quickly turned to a smile. “He almost cried when I cut it off.”
Gabriel frowned. “No I didn’t. Now you’re just lying.”
“All I say is truth. Gabriel is a crybaby …
Wah. Carter, stop cutting my hair. I’m a lost boy like Peter-Pan,
” she mimicked him in a whinny tone and then laughed.
“Now you’ve going too far—”
“Okay, you two, stop that,” Anastacia laughed. “I can’t believe you’re already fighting.”
“She started it,” Gabriel muttered.
As usual, Carter just giggled. His sister had a lot of personality. She shone so bright, yet there was that subtle darkness lurking right under the surface of her magnetic personality. She was very much like their father and she didn’t even know it. Thank God she wasn’t a complete nutcase like Silas was because that would fucking suck. She wasn’t a lunatic like their father, but she was a people person. She had crazy charisma and she was surrounded by people that adored her. The big difference between her and their father was her heart. Carter had a good heart. Those around her adored her, but she loved them, too. That was the difference. Carter had a beautiful heart.
Gabriel smiled as she continued to giggle at him. “I love you, Carter,” he sang.
Her smile widened. “I love you, too.”
Gabriel turned a sweet smile up to his mother. “And I love you, Mum.”
She laughed softly at the silly smile he’d given her. “I love you, too, Gabriel.”
“Good,” Gabriel sighed. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He’d been dying to ask her something for the last ten minutes. He hugged closer to his mother’s smaller body. “Mum?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Carter told me about all of the amazing stuff you got her for our twenty-third birthday.”
She smiled. “Did she?”
When he nodded, Carter laughed and shook her head.
“Gabriel, sweetheart?” his mother asked. “Is there something particular you wanted for your birthday?”
He sat up and reached into his pocket, pulling out a list. “
Things
, Mother, some
things
…”
She laughed. “Go ahead and tell me, son. Whatever you want it’s yours.”
Pure excitement was the only way he could describe the feeling. He was definitely going to enjoy this freedom.
Chapter 15: We need to talk . . .
Anastacia tiptoed out of her bedroom, making sure to close the door softly.
“Anastacia!”
She jumped when her son-in-law suddenly appeared behind her. “Jesus Christ,” she whispered sharply, placing her hand to her heart. “What is it with you and your father startling me today?”
He chuckled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Anastacia pursed her lips. “I bet not,” she teased, grinning.
“Is Carter in there?”
She nodded. “Yes, she and Gabriel fell asleep. She seemed exhausted.”
Nathan sighed, “Yes, she is. It is good that she is resting.”
Anastacia extended her arms. “Come and hug me, dear Nathan.”
Nathan smiled and brought her into a tight hug. He was such a sweet, sweet boy. Anastacia loved him to pieces. He was a better man than his father, and she was happy for that.
When they pulled back, she cupped his face. “You never cease to amaze me, young Nathan.”
His cheeks reddened a bit, making her chuckle softly. “Carter did most of the work …”
“Carterina would not have fought that hard if she didn’t have you to get back to, sweetheart. This little family you two have built means everything to her.”
“She means everything to me as well.”
Anastacia nodded. “I know, love.” Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek. “This is why I love you so much. You are a good son to your father, a good man, and a good husband to my baby girl. I couldn’t have dreamed of any man better for her. I trusted you with my baby and you have yet to disappoint me, and I know you never will.”
He smiled and hugged her again. “I love you, too. Both your approval and opinion mean a great deal to me, Anastacia. I hope you know that.”
She hadn’t, but she did now. And she loved the boy even more for it.
When they pulled back, Anastacia pinched his cheek. “You are such a gentleman, Nathan Salerno.”
“Well, my mother kind of just burned it into me,” he said through a chuckle. “The first time I met Carter she made me promise to be a gentleman the entire day. I was, and Carter rewarded me with my first kiss.”
Anastacia laughed. “Oh, yes, I heard about that kiss from her father. He was not too happy. He yelled for an hour,
‘Every time I looked outside that boy had his lips on my daughter, Anastacia! She’s never leaving the house again.’
I just laughed because I thought it was cute.”
Nathan chuckled, a smile lighting his eyes.
“So how has Robert taken the news of your union with his baby girl?”
He pointed to the bruise on his eye. “He assaulted me, made me tell him why I loved her, accused me of being a gold digger, and then ended up giving me his blessing after—”
“You protected my daughter from Silas,” Anastacia finished the statement for him. “Carterina and Gabriel informed me of what happened last night.”
“Yeah, it was unexpected.”
“Don’t you worry, love,” she patted his back, “this war will be over soon.
His brow furrowed. “I truly hope so.”
“It will,” she reassured him. “Now!” She clapped and grabbed Nathan, pulling him along with her down the hallway. “Since the war will be over soon, I think it is time for you and Carterina to start thinking about giving me grandchildren …”
Apparently he’d thought she was joking, because he laughed.
~*~
Talking to her son-in-law had been truly wonderful. Nathan was such a smart young man. Anastacia could tell he had a very bright future ahead of him, and now she understood why Angelo had that subtle hint of jealousy for his son. The boy was a perfectionist and exceptionally smart. Anastacia truly adored him.
“Anastacia Stone, how long are you going to avoid me?”
She nearly screamed when he turned the corner and stood in front of her. Her hand shot to her heart as she leaned forward to catch her breath.
“What the fuck is wrong with everyone today?” Her voice was a breathless whisper. “Why would you startle me like that? You’re a fucking ghost for Christ’s sake.”
Robert pursed his lips. “I am not a ghost, Anastacia. I live and breathe.”
“Well forgive me for being a little fucking confused, Robert! Here I was thinking that I would be able to finally move on with my life after I figured out your betrayal—”
“I didn’t betray you, Anne, I promise you that. If you’d allow me to explain, then we could move past this. Maybe then you can give me a proper greeting.”
Anastacia shot him a glare.
Seriously? Fucking men!
“If by proper greeting you mean fuck you, then you must be as crazy as your brother,” she whispered sharply. “Had it been months ago, I most likely would have jumped your ass outside, but now I know the truth.”
When he rolled his eyes, Anastacia wanted to smack him for his ever-present cool demeanor. It always pissed her off that he could be so calm even when she was yelling him.
“Actually, you don’t know the truth, but if you calm yourself and listen to my explanation maybe you would. Now come, we need to get away from prying ears.”
He gripped her arm and pulled her to a room before she could protest. She could only resist a little before she just gave in an effort to keep peace. He pulled her to Nathan’s office, and closed the door behind him when they entered.
Jerking away from him, Anastacia put some distance between them. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Explain if you must.”
“What is this?” he asked her.
She looked up at him with a frown. “What is what?”
He pointed at her demeanor. “Crossed arms, lack of eye contact, and you’re pouting. You look and sound like our daughter, Anastacia. You’re being ridiculous.”
“Well I’m having an off day, Robert. Am I not allowed to have an off day?”
He blinked. “No you’re not! How the hell have you lost sight of that, Anastacia? We are the way we are for a reason.”
“Well I’ve change, Robert.”
“There is no changing. Not when there’s a war coming. Do you think Silas is done?”
She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “I suppose I’m just hoping that he is.”
“Well he’s not. We need to fight.”
“No,
you
need to fight,” Anastacia screamed. “I’m done! I’ve been fighting, and I’m sick of it. I just want to be happy, Robert. I just want to get to know my kids, and I want to do it without you and your brother interfering in my fucking life!” As Anastacia took a step forward, tears sprang to her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. It had been easier to deal with his betrayal when she’d thought he was dead. “When Carterina told me of some events that had occurred in her childhood I was confused. I mean, why would my Robert, my love, tell our daughter horrible things about me? However, as she continued talking, I realized something. It wasn’t you, it couldn’t have been. It was Silas. So of course I was initially distraught that Silas had somehow managed to get into my baby’s home and pose as her father, act as if he were you, but that thinking only lasted a night. When I woke up the next morning, I thought hard about the man you were, the man you have always been, and how much you love our daughter. You would kill any man—including your own brother—if he ever invaded your home unwelcomed and said one word to your daughter. Robert Steele, you betrayed my trust and you lied to me.
You let him see my baby
…”
“Anne, I—”
She shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t need you to explain. I know you, so much more than you think. You will give me the perfect explanation to justify your actions, but you will never tell me the real reason why you would do such a thing when you know I detest him. You put my baby’s life in danger.”
“Silas wouldn’t have dared put a hand on my daughter, Anastacia! You know that.”
“No I don’t. I didn’t even know that my son was alive. But I’m pretty sure you did,” she accused. “And don’t you even deny it. Tell me the truth,” and God did she hope he said no, “did you know that he had my son, Robert?”
His silence spoke louder than any words he could have said to her. Anastacia had never been so hurt by anyone in her entire life. A man she trusted, a man she loved, the man who raised her daughter, hurt her in a way she never would have imagined he would have. Not wanting to show him her tears, she covered her face and turned away from him.
“You fucking bastard,” she wept. “How could I be
so
stupid?” She was astounded by her own weakness. Her father would be beyond disappointed in her.
Suddenly, she felt his arms wrap tightly around her body from behind her, and he tried to calm her crying.
“Let me go,” she cried. “Just leave.”
“I can’t do that, Anne. No yet. I understand that you’re upset with me, but you know that I couldn’t tell you. If I had, you would have done something stupid, gotten yourself killed, and then you never would have gotten Carterina or Gabriel back. You weren’t ready.”