Page 79 of A Treasure To Keep
They attempt to talk over each other, a sign that no one will win this argument. At this point, there’s only one way to get them to stop arguing and get them to scream my name instead.
I grab both of their hands, getting them to focus their attention on me instead of each other. “Hey, you both. I love you.” I lean down, kissing El enough that her knees shake. “And I love you.” Forcing Marco to bend slightly to kiss me back. “We all know no one’s winning this argument. Let’s make love instead.”
They let me lead them to our room, where we make love. Until five minutes later, when Marco’s dick is pressed against my lips, and Théodore wakes up.
El leaves the room first, heading into Théodore’s nursery, followed by Marco and I once we have our clothes on. I’m the last one in his nursery to take in the scene. The three people I love.
Marco leans over the crib, grabbing Théodore before he holds him close to his chest. On the other side of the room, El gets out a new outfit, prepared to change and dress him.
“Is something wrong?” El’s focus changes from the sleeper she’s picked out to me when Marco speaks. A flash of worry sparks on her face when she chews on her lip, concerned versus Marco’s curiosity.
I shake my head, stepping from the doorway into the room where they both stand. El, Marco, and I surround the changing table with Théodore in the middle of us. I reach out to Théodore’s hand, letting him wrap his hand around my finger. I stare at him while I speak to the people I love. “No. I’m basking in the bliss of my family. Is there something wrong with that?”
“Absolutely not.”
Epilogue
Marco
El lies on my chest, Andrea spooning her as he lays one hand on my stomach. El’s blonde hair fans out around her while her pouty lips part. Andrea has his head in the crook of her neck, sweetly smiling anytime he takes a deep breath. Mr. Whipped practically gets off anytime she’s around. No wonder he smiles in his sleep when he’s wrapped around her.
This is it. This is how we’re supposed to be. The three of us. Plus Théodore, of course.
I pick up the video baby monitor, noticing Théodore sleeping soundly in his crib. I don’t think I’ve ever been this content.
Suddenly, my phone vibrates on the bedside table. When I pick it up, Geno’s name shows on the caller ID. I know he’s in Philadelphia, currently helping Alessandro open a second gambling room. Regardless, it’s too late for him to call just ’cause. Even though I’d die before hearing him say just ’cause.
I sneak my way out from under El and Andrea, stepping outside into the living room before answering the phone. “Ciao, Geno. What’s up?”
“Marco. I need your help. All-hands-on-deck situation. What do you call it? Code green?” We use codes when we need something. Green means that we need all personnel in Alessandro’s basement for a meeting. ASAP.
His panicked desperation is something I’ve never heard from him. My brain falters for a second, caught off guard until I’m able to speak again. “Woah. What happened?”
“Samuel Walton is dead. He’s important enough that someone will file a missing persons report for him as soon as they can.” Samuel Arthur Walton is a high-profile client of ours who works in pharmaceuticals. Let me correct myself. He was a high-profile client. The night of Alessandro’s bachelor party, he was permanently kicked out of our gambling room when the woman he was dating said she was forced to be with him.
“What happened? Why is he dead?” Samuel enjoyed spending money and showing off young women in our gambling room. He couldn’t be the dangerous type. Could he?
“He was attacking Claire. A fight broke out between us the second I fought him off her. We need to get rid of him. And fast.” Speaking of the young woman from Alessandro’s bachelor party.
“Claire? That girl who’s Luci’s age that we saved from the gambling room? What are you doing with her?”
“Marco, don’t ask questions and don’t fucking argue with me. Get over here! Ora!” In typical Geno fashion, he hangs up, leaving me with more questions than answers.
My phone is still in my hand when I hear Théodore whining from his bedroom. I glance over at the kitchen clock, noting it’s 2 a.m. Time for Théodore to eat.
I return to his nursery, throwing on an extra pair of jeans and a T-shirt I have in the closet. I grab Théodore from his crib, carrying him across the hall as I try to soothe him. El is waking up, turning on the bedside table for some light. Andrea rolls over when I walk in, pulling the sheet over his head. The onething Andrea hasn’t gotten used to is the middle-of-the-night feedings.
Théodore instantly searches for a midnight snack when I place him in El’s arms. Once Théodore is settled, El looks up, noticing I’m wearing clothes while the two of them are naked. “What’s wrong?”
That causes Andrea to stir, opening his eyes as he tries to take in what’s happening. “Pourquoi es-tu habillé?”
“Pour the what? Never mind. Geno called. It’s some emergency. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I love you three.” I kiss Andrea and El, taking the time to kiss my son on his head. I linger too long, staring at El’s boob that doesn’t have an infant attached to it.
“Stop staring at my tits, Marco.”
“Can’t help it. Look at how full they are! Andrea, you have to agree with me.”
“Je dors.” I have no idea what that means, but I’m convinced he’s throwing me under the bus. He’s already rolled over, the sheets over his head again, preventing me from seeing anything other than the top of his head.
“It’s because your son is hungry, you jackass. Go help Geno.”
I throw on my shoes and grab my keys, rushing to my truck. For a second, when the truck starts, music from my phone plays. Almost immediately, I turn the music off, unable to focus on anything other than getting over to help with whatever Geno needs. The drive is uncomfortably quiet, even the highways are quiet, as I head to Alessandro’s house. The whole time, I can only think of one question that’s been burning in my head.
What the fuck is Geno doing with a woman that young?
THE END