Page 49 of Mafia Pregnancy

Radmir

I wake to the sound of Leo’s laughter echoing through the estate hallways, followed by Carmen’s voice calling for him to slow down before he runs into something valuable.

The familiar chaos of a three-year-old with unlimited energy makes me smile despite the persistent ache in my side where the bullet passed through.

Danielle stirs beside me, her hair spread across the pillow in ways that make me want to forget about everything except memorizing the peaceful expression on her face.

“They’re back.” Her voice carries relief and anticipation as she sits up carefully, mindful not to jostle my injury.

“Leo’s going to be so excited to see you’re okay. ”

“I’m excited to see him.” I push myself up against the pillows, testing my range of motion and finding it better than yesterday but still limited. “Are you ready for this conversation?”

She nods, though I catch the nervous energy in her movements as she retrieves her robe from the chair beside the bed. “I’ve been practicing what to say, but I have no idea how he’ll react to finding out you’re his father.”

“He’ll react like a smart, adaptable kid who’s been hoping for exactly this news without knowing how to ask for it.” I reach for her hand and squeeze gently. “Trust me. Leo’s been ready for a father figure since the day we met.”

The knock on the door comes softly, followed by Carmen’s voice asking if we’re awake and decent.

Danielle calls for them to come in, and within seconds, the room fills with the energy that only Leo can bring to a space.

“Mr. Radmir!” He launches himself toward the bed with complete disregard for my medical condition, stopping just short when Danielle catches him around the waist.

“Careful, sweetheart. Mr. Radmir got hurt yesterday and needs to heal.” She lifts him onto the bed beside me with gentle precision. “He’s going to be just fine though.”

Leo studies my face with serious attention. “You look tired. Did you have to go to the doctor?”

“I did have to see a doctor, but everything’s okay now.” I ruffle his hair, which is sticking up in several directions from what appears to have been an enthusiastic morning. “How was your adventure with Aunt Molly and Carmen?”

“We stayed in a really big house with a swimming pool, and Carmen taught me how to do cannonballs.” His excitement bubbles over as he describes the safehouse amenities. “Aunt Molly made chocolate chip pancakes, and we watched movies about dinosaurs.”

“That sounds like the perfect way to spend a day.” I glance at Danielle, who nods encouragingly. “Leo, your mama and I need to talk to you about some important things. Can you sit here with us for a few minutes?”

He settles cross-legged on the bed between us with attentive care he usually reserves for discussions about dinosaurs or space exploration. “Am I in trouble?”

“Not at all.” Danielle smooths his hair down while I gather the courage to change his world in ways I hope will be positive. “We want to tell you some things that might make you very happy.”

“What kind of things?”

I take a deep breath and commit to the truth that should have been shared months ago. “Leo, do you remember when you told me your daddy was gone, and you wondered what he was like?”

“Uh-huh.” His expression grows more serious. “Mama said he would have loved me if he could have stayed.”

“She was right about that.” I meet his gaze directly, needing him to see the sincerity in my face. “Your daddy did love you, even though he didn’t know you existed. He just didn’t know where to find you.”

Leo’s brow wrinkles with concentration. “How can someone love you if they don’t know you exist?”

“Sometimes, grown-ups make mistakes that keep them apart from people they should be with.” I choose my words carefully, wanting to be honest without overwhelming him. “Your daddy made a mistake that meant he didn’t know about you until recently.”

“Is he still gone?”

“No, sweetheart.” Danielle’s voice is soft but clear. “He’s not gone anymore. He’s right here.”

Leo looks between us with growing understanding. “Mr. Radmir is my daddy?”

“Yes.” The word comes out rougher than I intended, heavy with years of missed moments and the overwhelming joy of finally being able to claim this incredible little boy.

“I’m your father, Leo. I should have been part of your life from the beginning, but I didn’t know you existed until a few weeks ago. ”

For several seconds, he stares at me with wide eyes that mirror my own, processing information that reshapes everything he thought he knew about his family. Then his face breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

“Really? You’re really my daddy?” He doesn’t wait for confirmation before throwing himself into my arms with force that makes me grunt from my injury but also fills me with pure happiness.

“Really.” I hold him carefully, breathing in the scent of his shampoo and feeling his small body shake with excitement against my chest. “I’m so sorry it took me this long to find you.”

“It’s okay.” His voice is muffled against my shoulder. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”

The simple forgiveness and acceptance in his words bring tears to my eyes. This is my son, and he’s welcoming me into his life with the generous heart Danielle has nurtured in him.

“There’s something else we need to tell you.” Danielle’s voice draws Leo’s attention back to her. “Something that’s going to make our family even bigger.”

Leo sits back to look at both of us with renewed curiosity. “What? Are we getting a puppy?” He looks like he might explode from happiness at the thought.

“Perhaps soon, but you’re going to be a big brother.” I watch his face carefully for any sign of concern or jealousy. “Mama is having a baby.”

“A baby?” His eyes go wide with wonder. “Like, a real baby that will live here with us?”

“A real baby who will be your little sister.” She places his hand on her stomach, where the slight curve is becoming more noticeable. “She’s growing inside me right now, and she’ll be born in a few months.”

Leo presses his palm against her belly with gentle reverence. “Can she hear me if I talk to her?”

“She might be able to.” Danielle’s eyes glisten with tears as she watches our son meet his sister for the first time. “Do you want to say something to her?”

He leans down close to her stomach and speaks in the careful whisper he uses when sharing important secrets.

“Hi, baby sister. I’m Leo, and I’m going to teach you about dinosaurs and space and how to build really good pillow forts.

Daddy’s here now, so we’re going to be a real family.

And we’ll get a puppy.” He whispers the last part, like it’s a sibling conspiracy.

The word ‘Daddy’ sends warmth through my entire body. Hearing it from Leo’s lips makes everything official in ways that DNA tests and legal documents never could.

“What do you think about having a baby sister?” I ask when he sits back up.

“I think it’s the best thing ever.” His enthusiasm is infectious and complete. “Will she be able to play dinosaurs with me?”

“When she gets bigger, I’m sure she’ll love playing dinosaurs with her big brother.” Danielle wipes tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. “First, she has to grow big enough to be born, and then big enough to walk and talk.”

He scowls. “How long does that take?”

“The baby will be born in about five months, and then it takes about a year before she can walk around on her own.” I pull him back into a hug that includes Danielle. “You can help take care of her from the very beginning, so she knows who you are and loves you from the start.”

“I want to help with everything.” Leo’s voice carries absolute determination. “I want to be the best big brother ever.”

“You already are.” I kiss the top of his head and meet Danielle’s gaze over his curls. “You’re going to be amazing at it.”

We spend the next hour answering Leo’s endless questions about babies and families and what it means to be a daddy. His curiosity is boundless, ranging from practical concerns about where the baby will sleep to philosophical questions about whether she’ll like the same dinosaurs he does.

Carmen appears in the doorway with lunch trays, having given us privacy for the family conversation but obviously understanding Leo’s energy requires regular feeding. “How did it go?” she asks quietly.

“Perfect,” says Danielle softly.

Leo bounds off the bed to hug her legs. “Carmen, guess what? Mr. Radmir is my daddy, and I’m going to have a baby sister.”

“That’s wonderful news.” Carmen’s smile is genuine and warm as she returns his hug. “I’m so happy for all of you.”

While Leo chatters to Carmen about his new family status, I catch Danielle’s hand and bring it to my lips. “Thank you,” I whisper against her palm.

“For what?”

“For raising him to be the kind of child who can accept huge changes with pure joy, for giving me the chance to be his father, and for trusting me enough to build this with me.”

“Thank you for choosing us.” She leans over to kiss me softly. “For walking away from everything else to make this possible.”

The rest of the afternoon passes in a blur of family activities that feel both new and completely natural.

As evening settles over the estate, I watch Danielle help Leo with his bath while I rest on the couch in his new room.

It’s currently a guest room, but we’ll convert it to something that’s his as soon as I can get a design team scheduled.

The domestic routine feels like everything I never knew I wanted, complete with splashing water and negotiations about hair washing and discussions of whether astronauts brush their teeth in space.

“Daddy, will you read me a story tonight?” Leo’s question stops my heart with its casual use of the title I’ve waited weeks to hear.

“I would love to read you a story.” I settle into the chair beside his bed while he arranges his stuffed animals as an audience. “What should we read about?”