December 18th
A bang echoed as Gio slammed the front door to their Amityville home. Happily, he shouted down the hall for his wife, knowing she was home. Her car had been outside, after all. He found Kim sitting on the couch in the living room.
Kim worked at the coffee table. Rolls of wrapping paper, tape, ribbons, fancy cards and bows sat all around in a scattered mess. She couldn’t just wrap a gift and be done with it. That wouldn’t be good enough for his wife. No, she had to do the whole ribbons, bows, and handmade cards thing.
It was a bit much for him.
But it made Kim happy.
A few wrapped gifts sat on the floor, finished and pretty. She was still working on quite a pile, though. Gifts for family and friends, likely. He knew she already had the majority of their gifts all wrapped.
Her head popped up as he shouted again.
“I did it! It’s fucking done!”
Andino pushed up from the train tracks he was putting together on the floor at the sound of his father’s shouts. “Papa’s home!”
Kim gave her son a look, and shook her head. Unlike when she swore, Andino said nothing when his father did it. Giovanni had talked to the boy about being a tattletale, like Kim wanted him to. So now, the boy didn’t tattle on his father. He couldn’t help that Andino had not gotten the point that he was also not supposed to rat on everyone else, too.
One thing at a time …
Andino darted across the room, and ran full force into his father’s legs. His arms wrapped tightly around Gio’s body, and looked up with a wide smile.
“Hi, Dad.”
Gio grinned back at his boy. “Hey, buddy.”
“Will you play trains with me?”
“In a minute, I sure will.”
Andino’s smile grew impossibly wider. “Okay.”
His son gave him one more hug, and then let go of his father to head back to the tracks and trains spread out on the floor.
Usually, Andino wasn’t so clingy with his father, especially at his age. Gio figured it was because he had been gone so much lately, and when he was home, Andino felt the need to get all the attention and time he could out of his dad.
Gio didn’t mind.
“What did you get done?” Kim asked.
She had gone back to her task of wrapping yet another Christmas gift. Some kind of luxury perfume set—probably for Catrina because that was exactly something his sister-in-law would like.
Gio dropped down on the couch with a heavy thud. Kim dropped the scissors and tape in her hands with a yelp as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, and pulled her into his lap. Laughing, she resituated herself to straddle his legs.
He kissed her once, then twice, and finally a third time.
Lingering …
Tasting …
Loving.
He deserved it, after everything.
“Gross,” came a quiet voice a few feet away.
“Mind your business,” Gio said over his wife’s shoulder.
Andino made a gagging noise in the back of his throat.
Damn kid …
Kim put her hands to Gio’s cheeks, and turned him to face her. “Hey, look at me. What did you do that you feel the need to shout about it?”
“Lucian.”
His wife stilled, and then a slow smile grew on her face. “Did you …?”
“I did.”
“Really?”
“Yep,” Gio said. “Got the final details in today, and had a chat with the judge who is willing to sign off on everything, plus got the agreement done up with the D.A.”
“Oh, my God, Gio!”
Kim kissed him that time—harder than he had kissed her. Happy, fast, and giggling all the while. It only added to the pride swelling in his chest. Going back to school to finish his law degree had paid off after all.
“Is he out already?”
“Tomorrow,” Gio said. “But not one fucking word, Kim. Antony wants to surprise Jordyn and the kids, not to mention Ma. Lucian doesn’t even know yet.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hopes up, and all. I know. Still, this is going to be the best Christmas for those kids. They miss him so freaking much, it’s crazy.”
“You still can’t say a word, Kim. It’s done, though. Practically.”
Kim let out her own shout of joy then, and kissed him again. She winked as she rested her forehead against his. “Knew you could do it, baby.”
Gio chuckled. “There was never any doubt.”
Okay, there was a little doubt.
Gio still handled his fucking business.
No matter what.
One more kiss from his wife …
One more gagging sound from the kid on the floor.
So was his life.
• • •
December 20th
Dante slid in beside Gio as Lucian and Jordyn danced in the middle of the great hall together. Gio would have been dancing with his own wife, but Kim had taken Andino to go see the Santa Claus who had showed up for the kids.
“He looks happy,” Dante said.
Gio passed his older brother a smile. “And so do you.”
Dante nodded. “Apparently, I needed a break.”
“Technically, you’re still on it.”
A hand clapped firmly to Gio’s shoulder as Dante said, “Yes, and I have you to thank for that. Dad, too.”
“I think I’ll save your thanks for a later date when I need a break, Dante.”
“Noted, man.”
“Where’s Cat?”
Dante laughed at the mention of his wife. “Making sure her orders are being followed to the letter in the kitchen.”
“Ah.”
“I’ll probably go save the staff soon.”
“It could be Ma,” Gio pointed out.
“Truth. The mansion looks great.”
Gio took in all the decorations. He liked the different color schemes in each room. All the guests were given something new to look at depending on where they partied. It was quite a sight. He now understood how hard his wife had truly worked with her sisters-in-law to get this whole thing done, not to mention on time, and to Cecelia’s liking.
“Our wives can throw a damn good party,” Gio said.
“That they can. You good?”
“Yeah.”
Dante snuck a glass of champagne from a waiter as the man passed, and raised his brow at Gio. “Time to go save the poor fuckers in the kitchen from the wrath of Catrina Marcello.”
Gio laughed, but honestly … Catrina could be a handful. Dante wasn’t exactly overstating his wife’s attitude. Not at all.
Once his brother was gone, Gio turned his attention to finding his own wife and son. Andino was just climbing down from the jolly Santa’s lap when Gio stepped into the foyer. Antony made his way over as Andino chattered away to his mother about whales and Santa Claus.
“He’s still going on about that, is he?” Antony asked.
Gio sighed. “Yep.”
“Still haven’t figured something out for him?”
“Nope. First time my son is going to be disappointed in me, I think.”
“Santa, not you. Besides, another year and the whole Santa thing will be a far stretch for him, anyway.”
“Point is, it still comes back to me.”
Antony smiled a little. “Worry not, Gio. I am sure something will work out for Andino.”
“Right.”
His father lifted a finger and waved it. “Believe in Christmas magic, son. Believe.”
Uh-huh.
“Why are you wearing a Santa hat?” Gio asked.
Antony gave him a look. “Don’t talk or ask about that.”
“Because Ma made you wear it?”
“I said don’t talk or ask about it.”
Because, yeah, Cecelia totally made Antony wear it.