Page 36 of Fixate (Devious Mafia Daddies #2)

Pharrell

As more time passed, it was like things settled into an eerie sort of calm. I knew life wouldn’t be sunshine and roses from here on out, yet with all the chaos finally gone, I almost believed it could.

The only loose end I had was Jean and the project I’d assigned him to months ago.

I’d only received one message from him in all that time, and even that didn’t give me insight as to where he stood with things.

I’d tried to tell him he could pull back, but the stubborn man decided he should finish what he started.

I suspected there was more to it, though I had no proof. Other than going to retrieve him myself, which wasn’t an option, I could only wait him out for now. I had more important things on my mind anyway.

My boy’s idea to start a kink-based support system for customers turned into an extremely profitable endeavor. Not only were customers excited to have some kind of guidance through the buying process, but we even had people signing up from all across the country to tune into the classes.

Dario suggested we open up a subscription platform for those who wanted to return, and with that addition, our income soared. It took the pressure off me in a way I hadn’t expected.

And with those changes, I finally relaxed into my roles more. Those roles being the man at the head of Lyon Enterprises and Daddy to my boy.

For the La Famiglia side of the business, I did as others suggested and put another person in charge. Ricardo was the perfect fit, given he’d helped Dante for so many years. Plus, with his connections to the other entity, it made sense to have him be the one to work with Dante and Preacher.

The transition for my boy was natural. My men didn’t even balk when I made the announcement, given how hands on Ricardo had been up to that point. In fact, most seemed to be relieved to have one person to report to rather than trying to figure out who needed to handle what.

Each new day that moved by had the businesses growing in a way I’d never seen before. It was like we’d breathed new life into them.

Ricardo even consulted for some of the Lyon Enterprises side since he had so many ideas. I’d bring him into meetings with the team, then sit back and watch him pitch whatever new plan he’d come up with. His brain was an endless sea of money-making plans.

Henri and Pip had also stepped up to lend a hand where it was needed. The pair bickered endlessly, yet when I gave each a task, they’d work together to get it done. I found it rather amusing, and often would make up things just to see if they’d break.

Soon, the tension between them would become too much. Hopefully, it wouldn’t end with a bullet in the brain for one of them.

“Dante’s plane should have arrived by now,” Ricardo said as he paced in our living room.

I smiled from my spot on the couch. The distant sound of Henri and Pip arguing in the kitchen only added to my amusement. What a different life I had now compared to a year ago.

Stasia would have been playing something in Russian while we ate at a table together, floating between talks of business and her family. We’d have gone into separate rooms, then repeated the same day over and over again.

I never realized how mundane it was until fate had changed it for me.

Because yeah, I did believe it had to be fate that led up to the events happening. For a long time, I thought maybe it was bad luck my wife decided to turn against me. Maybe karma had gotten to me after all the bad things I’d done.

But then my boy showed up on my doorstep.

And with his arrival — along with the disastrous months right after — I accepted that the life I knew was hardly the one I’d wanted. Now, I got to live exactly how I wished, loving who I wanted and running my business as I pleased.

“I’m sure they’re almost here, mon chou. No need to fret like a worried mother waiting up past curfew.”

He snorted, which relieved some of the tension I saw in his body. Unfortunately, he kept up with his pacing until we heard the loud ding of the elevator.

I stood to move beside him, only to freeze when a loud cry echoed around the room.

Was that a baby?

“You had a baby?!” My boy shouted the words at the grinning couple stepping out of the elevator.

A little pink bundle was strapped to Dante’s chest, and Preacher was carrying a car seat with a diaper bag seated inside it. They were the quintessential dads, only I could also see the guns and knives clearly strapped to them both.

“Don’t upset her anymore. She’s had a rough go since the plane ride,” Dante said with a very dad-like tone.

Preacher shook his head as he sat the car seat down. He leaned over, then with quick movements removed the baby from Dante’s chest contraption.

“She’s just hungry, baby. Go say hi to your friends. I’ll get her fed.”

Dante nodded, then walked right up to Ricardo and pulled him into a hug. My boy froze, unsure what to do in response.

I couldn’t hold back my laugh seeing this absolute shit show of a reunion.

Pip and Henri watched along with me, two very different expressions on their faces. Henri’s jaw was wide open in shock, while Pip looked about the same he did when I told him he got to kill someone.

Murder and babies. Who knew those two things were what made him happy?

“Who is this precious little angel?” Pip said in a soft voice as he approached Preacher. With a snatch of his hand, he took the bottle and began mixing the powdery contents with the water inside.

Dante pulled away from Ricardo, then turned to face me. “I thought he was your scary murder-for-hire guy?”

“He is. Apparently, he’s also into babies.” I shrugged as I approached him.

We met in one of those back clapping hugs men do, then I wrapped an arm around Ricardo’s waist. It wasn’t because I was jealous of their long hug or anything. More like I just needed to be close to him.

My boy’s knowing expression told me I wasn’t fooling anyone.

“Good to see you two finally figured this mess out,” Dante said.

I raised my brows at him. “How so?”

He waved his hand at us both. “You two were circling one another for years. It took me a lot longer to realize Ricardo was interested too, but once I did, it was only a matter of time.”

Preacher chuckled as he approached with the tiny bundle. “Let’s go sit. She’s a slow eater, and I’d rather get into a comfortable position.”

“You could have handed her to me. I don’t mind helping.” Pip leaned around Preacher, getting far too close. Henri reached over, tugging him to his side.

“Stop hovering,” he bit out.

From the corner of my eye, I saw their fingers lock together. Henri frowned, but Pip wore a victorious grin. Bastard probably planned the entire thing just to get closer to the other man.

“Come on over here,” I told the group as I spun to move us back into the living room. “No need to hover by the entry.”

Each of us took our seats around the space. It was kind of funny how we’d each wound up in a pair, so it kind of looked more like a triple date than some of the most powerful mafia men in the world getting together.

“Who’s going to tell us about the baby?” Ricardo asked as soon as he was comfortably tucked into my side.

Preacher spoke up first. “A lot has changed since you left. When Dante realized he really wanted to have a family with me, I knew a kid was going to be part of it. Neither of us really wanted to lend our genetic material to the process given our shit fathers, so we went the route of adoption.”

“And her name?” Pip asked, beating me to the question.

“Melody.” They spoke in unison, both of them wearing wide grins.

The tiny bundle fussed at the sound of her name, almost as if to agree with them. We all laughed at the cute noise before diving back into conversation.

Dante took over telling us all about their new life, his extended relatives, and the center they’d built.

It was apparent to me, and probably the others as well, that they’d found what they wanted to do in life.

Just like I’d realized Lyon Enterprises was where I wanted to focus most, the pair had taken to the notion of family as their dream.

“Sound like you’ve been busy,” I noted aloud once they finished. “I’m surprised you were able to get away.”

“It wasn’t easy. We’ve got a good team though. Plus, Melody needed to meet her godparents.”

My body froze as I took in Dante’s earnest expression. Ricardo leaned forward, slipping from my hold as he stared down his friend.

“Godparents,” my boy repeated softly.

Preacher nodded. “Yes, that’s right. You two are the perfect fit for the role now that you’re together. We couldn’t think of anyone else we trusted enough to protect her with their lives.”

“I need to hold her now.” It was nothing for me to stand up and move around the table.

Melody was still sucking away at the bottle, so I took both her and the small container from Preacher.

He didn’t even hesitate to hand her over, which went much further to fortify the godparent request than his words had.

A baby.

They wanted us to help raise a baby.

We were on the other side of the fucking country. How could we be good godparents if we were so far away? Then again, with us split up like this, it did make things better in the event someone tried to take out the Romano branch of things.

I eased down into the seat beside my boy. When I finally tore my gaze from Melody to look at how he was handling this, I found tears in his eyes. I would have worried had he not had the biggest grin.

“You want to hold her?” Though I wasn’t quite ready to give her up yet — because she’d already managed to steal my heart — I would have passed her to him in a flash. I’d do anything for him.

He shook his head quickly. “No, Daddy. She looks comfy right where she is.”

I zoned out after that since my focus was on making sure Melody got what she needed. The men around me spoke of business and how things were going. With me being a figurehead for the mafia portion of things, it made it easy for me to not participate.

Only when they wrapped up and Preacher came to retrieve Melody did I realize how much time had passed. It felt like only a few minutes since I’d fallen for the sweet creature wrapped snugly in a bright pink blanket.

“She’s perfect,” I told my boy when the couple went to settle in one of the guest rooms. Henri and Pip took off, the two of them needing to check in with Jean about his assignment.

I noticed neither had let the other’s hand go, and I wondered what would happen once they realized their connection was intentional.

Those two were more oblivious than Ricardo and I had ever been.

Then again, I think maybe Henri was the only one who hadn’t gotten a clue.

“Do you want a baby of our own?”

I turned at Ricardo’s question. His gaze was set on mine, like he wanted to read my every expression to see if I’d tell the truth.

Shaking my head, I pulled him into my lap since we were alone. “Children aren’t something I want around all the time. This life is too dangerous. Besides, we are now the cool godparents. We can visit all we want, spoil her rotten, then come home and fuck like we’re trying to make a baby.”

His laughter rang out, making me feel like the most successful man to have ever walked the earth. Like I was a fucking king and nothing could stop me.

I might not have been the one making all the calls, but Vegas was still my kingdom. I’d protect my people until the end. From my men to little Melody, nothing would hurt me and mine ever again.

Thank you so much for reading this book. If you enjoyed it, please leave a rating or review so others can know to pick it up. As an indie author, I appreciate each and every person who takes the time to take this journey with me.