Page 85 of A Debt to Pay

1 Week Postpartum

Voices argue around me and I recognize them as Geno and Dr. Rossi.

“Aria, if you don’t get Alessandro to wake up I will make sure you work for no one ever again!”

“You will do nothing! Also, if you call me Aria again, I’ll neuter you in your sleep like a dog! He will wake up when he’s ready there’s nothing I can do until then.”

I groan at their argument, wanting peace to exist in the pain radiating through my stomach. That silences the room until Geno speaks.

“Alessandro, mio nipote! Look at me.” The lights blind me when I try to open them. Slowly, my eyes adjust to the light, and Geno’s face comes into focus.

“Move the fuck out of the way, Geno. Alessandro is my patient and I need to examine him.” Dr. Rossi shoves Geno out of the way and starts poking and prodding at me. “Do you know where you are? Do you remember what happened?How much pain are you in? Your wound is healing perfectly if I do say so myself, and your heart rate has gone down. You’re fucking lucky to be alive.” That’s putting it lightly.

“I feel like I got shot. I’ll admit, it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Who shot me?” I’m trying to go through a mental Rolodex of who might have shot me when Geno answers.

“We think Aldo based on the threat from him a few weeks ago. I sent some men to his home and he and Stella are missing. We found Caterina at work and she knows nothing.” This is going to ruin Luci. Wait!

“Luci! Where’s Luci?” Was Mamma right? Has she had our daughter? How long have I been out?

Dr. Rossi is still examining my wound when she answers for Geno. “Luci is upstairs resting. She had your daughter a week ago. Congratulations papa.”

“A week ago? How long have I been out?”

“A week. Your heart rate and blood pressure kept spiking. We kept having to sedate you until things stabilized. Soon after you went into surgery, she went into labor. Quinn and Luci did an amazing job and your daughter is healthy. Thank God she’s a girl the last thing we need is another man in this world. I’ll go tell her you’re awake.” Dr. Rossi leaves Geno and me alone to process the thought of Aldo shooting me in an attempt to take me away from her.

“Are you sure Aldo shot me?”

“The evidence concludes that. I have men looking for him. He needs to pay for almost taking you away from me, from your family.” I see the fire in his eyes and while I would normally agree, I can’t let Geno take anyone Luci loves away from her, regardless if she’ll see them again.

“No. Luci would never forgive me.” Geno goes to fight with me, but I stop him. “No, Geno. This is my family and Philadelphia is my territory. You will call off any hunt for Aldo and Stella. They won’t be gone for long anyway. I’m sure of it. They wouldn’t leave Caterina and Luci.”

Geno doesn’t have time to argue further with me when Luci comes running in, holding a small bundle in her arms. “You’re alive.”

“Of course I’m alive. I couldn’t leave you and our daughter.”

“Good. I want you to meet your daughter. Gia Isabella Leone.” Luci walks over with Gia, placing her in my arms as she immediately stretches her hands up to my face. I take in her dark hair and hazel eyes, a mix of both of us.

“She’s perfect.”

Chapter 81

Luci

1 Week Postpartum

Iunderstand Gia’s journal entry from after Alessandro was born as I sit here re-reading it. With Gia in my arms, I lean down to smell her new baby scent and can’t imagine anything else smelling this good. The only thing missing from how perfect this week has been is the fact that Alessandro is downstairs unconscious. Dr. Rossi has saved his life and keeps reminding me that he will wake up when he’s ready.

I’ve placed Gia’s bassinet in Alessandro and my room. It’s a silly attempt to feel close to him as I’m surrounded by his citrus and amber scent. Plus, we haven’t replaced the scanner on the door to Gia’s nursery yet. The only reason Enzo didn’t get his butt beat by Geno is because I stepped in. I explained why Enzodid what he did and that he was pivotal in helping me when I was in labor.

I’m rocking a content yet awake Gia when footsteps come down the hallway and my heart stops, worried about who it is and what news they may hold. Dr. Rossi comes into the room and I hold my breath, knowing that since it’s her, the news could go either way.

“You should be thankful I have the patience I do to deal with Geno. I’m thrilled that I won’t have to deal with him anymore.”

“Can you clarify?” Why can’t she simply say what she came up here to tell me?

“Alessandro’s awake. Impatient but awake.”

I jump up, holding Gia close to me so I don’t drop her. “And you had to wait that long to tell me? What are we waiting for?”