Page 173 of Vows of a Mobster

I shook my head in disbelief. “Columbia had given me Kyle’s parents’ name and last known address. When I googled them, I found they were dead. Like I said, there was a note from your mother on one of the obituaries. It was my only lead to find someone from his side.”

The journey has been worth it because Emma had a donor now and family.

“I want you to know, Brianna,” Declan spoke softly, “I would have killed Kyle myself for what he did. And it wouldn’t have been a quick death.”

“Me too,” his younger brother added. “He was my age and we were best friends,” his youngest brother stated in a bitter tone. “But what he did… I still can’t believe it. He deserved what he got.”

I didn’t like to think about it, nor talk about it.

I took my husband’s hand. “Take me home.”

Sixty

Mateo

Istood in the doorway of Emma’s bedroom, leaned against it, watching my wife and Emma cuddle in her big bed as she read her a bedtime story. Marissa, Daphne, and Brianna turned the room into a princess room, resembling the one at Brianna’s cottage. With some upgrades.

I didn’t recognize the story but it was about a princess that was waiting for a prince to come and rescue her.

“You know, baby,” Brianna turned her head to her daughter, “the best thing is to actually figure out how to save yourself.”

“Why?”

“Just so you are not stuck in the tower for years like Fiona was,” she explained.

“You and Mateo would save me,” Emma added on a yawn.

“You got that right, princess.”

“And if you can’t come, then Aunt Mar and aunt Daphne would come. Giovanni too,” she continued, her voice sleepy. “If Mateo is busy.”

“He’ll never be too busy to save you.”

“Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“What did that lady keep talking about?”

“She was confused,” Brianna told her softly, kissing her chubby cheek. She tried to stay away from lying.

“How come I don’t have a daddy?” Brianna’s heavy sigh sounded in the room but before she could reply, Emma continued, “Can I call Mateo Daddy?”

Brianna’s eyes snapped to her daughter’s, while my chest boomed with pride.

“If you want. We can ask Mateo tomorrow.”

“Ask me what?” I announced my presence.

Both of their eyes snapped to me, and their smiles were the best welcome. I strode into the room and sat at the edge of the bed, on the opposite side of Brianna. It felt odd being surrounded by so much pink.

“Can I call you Daddy?” Emma blurted out.

“I would be honored,” I replied. “And I vow to always keep you safe and be worthy for you to call me Dad,” I pledged, my eyes locking with Brianna’s luminous gaze.

Emma squealed happily. “Can you read the last page, Daddy?”

“Sure.” Emma patted a spot next to her, on her left, and I mimicked the same position as her and Brianna. Emma was in between two of us, all our legs horizontally stretched. Emma was under the covers, my wife wearing a black pair of silky long pajamas with a white tank top while I still wore a three-piece suit. Thankfully my gun holster was on the opposite side of Emma. I would need to remember to take it off in the future.