Page 15 of Capone (Sinful Warriors MC #6)

Chapter Twelve

GIOVANNA

“ I can’t believe him!” my mother shouted over the phone.

I had just explained everything that happened to her. I could barely get through a sentence without her interrupting me. To say she was pissed was a true understatement. I knew, like me, she didn’t believe that Derek’s betrayal had gone so far.

“I know, Ma. I mean, I knew we were having problems, but to not only do his dirt, but he also involved our daughter. I can never look at him the same after something like that.”

“Why is this the first time I’m hearing that you two were having problems, Giovanna?”

I took a deep breath, knowing that it was finally time to face the truth about my marriage. This is something I had been avoiding for a while. It was easier to ignore the truth at times rather than face it head-on.

The silence stretched on for a moment before my mother’s voice came through again. “Well?”

“I guess I didn’t want you mentioning anything to Dad.”

“And why not?” she squawked.

I sighed, knowing that what I was about to say was going to make me seem so childish and immature.

“Because… I didn’t want to prove him right.”

I heard my mother sigh before the line went silent yet again. I knew my mother was probably disappointed that I would keep this away from her solely to prove my father wrong. At the time, all I could do was remember all his harsh words when he kicked me out that night.

You’ll be back.

You can’t survive without me.

Then all the things he said about Derek when I told my parents I was marrying him, and I was pregnant.

He doesn’t love you, Giovanna.

You’re going to ruin your life by marrying him.

The most unforgiving thing he said was him referring to Gabi as me muddying my bloodline.

That was the last and final straw. He never even tried to come to me and apologize.

It was one thing for him to throw all his hateful words toward me and Derek, but to aim his hatred toward my daughter was unforgiving.

“Giovanna, I know you and your father have been at odds ever since that night. Honestly, I have had my issues with him since that. He should have never tried to force you into that arranged marriage. I knew he was going to come to you with the arrangement, but he was supposed to leave the decision in your hands. I hate what my family has come to.”

I could hear my mother’s soft whimpers. It pulled at my heartstrings. I never wanted to guilt my mother into leaving my father. Regardless of how I felt about everything, I understood that my father was her first and only and it wasn’t necessarily easy for her to just up and leave him.

It was one of the reasons I never told my mother what my father said about Gabi. That would have been the final nail in his coffin. My mother loved her granddaughter as if she had birthed Gabi herself.

“I know, Mom. I wish there was some—” I was interrupted by a knock sounding on my hotel door. I got up and went to check the peephole. When I saw Mercury, my heart dropped. “Mom, let me call you back.” I hung up the phone before she could respond.

I slung the door open with urgency. “Is everything okay?”

He gave me a small smile before entering my room. “I believe so. Cara called and said she was on her way here to give me an update about the case. If it was something bad, I know she would have warned me.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully they had a location on Gabi. I just needed to lay eyes on her, hear her voice and laugh. I’d never been away from my baby this long. Each day felt like I lost a little more of myself.

Just as I was about to ask more questions, there was another knock on the door. Mercury beat me to the punch and checked the peephole. I watched his body go rigid. His reaction to whatever he saw made my stomach rumble with nerves.

What was on the other side of that door?

Mercury turned around and faced me with a stunned expression.

“What is it?” I stepped forward. My anxiety was through the damn roof.

He didn’t say a word. Mercury pulled the door open, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Capone, standing on the other side, but that wasn’t the most shocking thing.

He had Gabi in his arms!

My eyes were blinded by tears as they began to fall rapidly down my face. As soon as my baby spotted me, Capone placed her on her feet.

“Mommy!” she cheered as she ran to me.

I met her halfway and swooped her into my arms. I held her as close as I could. My body was racked with sobs as I cried tears of joy. It felt like a dream. For almost two weeks I dreamed of this moment, and it was finally here.

“Don’t cry, Mommy.” Gabi wiped my tears, concern etched all over her beautiful face.

“Mommy isn’t sad, baby. I’m just so happy to see you. I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too!” She laid a sweet kiss on my nose, causing me to laugh through the tears.

I turned to Capone, and he was watching us with the biggest smile. I walked over to him and gave him the best hug I could with Gabi in my arms.

“Thank you,” I choked out.

“I told you no thanks was necessary, Sugar. Your happiness is all I need.”

“Can I speak to you in the hall for a second, Capone?” Mercury asked. He was still standing off to the side in disbelief.

Capone nodded and made a move to walk away. Gabi almost jumped out of my arms, reaching for him.

“Pony, no go!” she shouted, grabbing his arms.

My mouth dropped open as I watched my baby girl cling to him like she had known him her entire life. He turned back and lightly pinched her cheek, making her giggle.

“It’s Capone, Lil Bit. Ca-Pone.” He broke it down for her.

Gabi’s face turned serious as she folded her little arms across her chest. Her nose scrunched up as she frowned at him. “Pony,” she said with finality.

A giggle slipped out of me to see my baby hadn’t changed a bit. She seemed completely unharmed and happy. For that, I could breathe just a tad bit easier, but I would still need to get all the details from Capone later once Gabi was asleep.

“It’s fine, Capone, you can stay. I’ll call Cara and get all the details from her. I don’t think Miss Gabi is letting you out of her sight any time soon.” Mercury slapped Capone on the shoulder and walked out the door.

I set Gabi down in the bed before turning the television to her favorite YouTube channel, Gracie’s Corner.

Like I knew it would, it gained Gabi’s undivided attention.

Grabbing Capone’s hand, I pulled him to the side and wrapped my arms around him, giving him a proper hug.

When he squeezed me tight, the dam broke.

“Shh, she’s here now, and she’s okay.”

“H-How was she? When you found her.”

“She was completely fine. Gabi didn’t know what was going on and luckily Asha didn’t seem like she was trying to harm Gabi in any way. She had an entire room decked out for her. I think she only took Gabi because she wants to be her mother.”

“What?” I jerked my head back.

“That’s what I believe, but who knows why. I’m sure Mercury and his detectives will get the truth out of her. Let’s not focus on her. You finally have Gabi back and that’s all that matters.”

“Right. But where is Asha?”

“In a precinct in New Orleans, waiting for Mercury to take her back to Washington.”

I nodded my head, not bothering to ask more questions.

I was going to let this go for now, but I wanted to be involved with Asha’s trial just as much as I was with Gabi’s case.

For now, I truly only wanted to focus on my daughter.

I would forever be grateful that she walked away from this unharmed. Not so many kids were as lucky.

I would never forgive Derek for bringing that lunatic into our lives. It was sad I would never get any closure from this because he wasn’t here to answer any questions. All I wanted to know was why.

I’d never get those answers, and it was okay. I could finally move on. Just me and Gabi.

And maybe Capone.