28. Gia

28

GIA

M y head spins as I try to make sense of everything that's happening. One minute, I’m tied in a warehouse facing death, then unexpectedly, Max enters, and then I’m in Nic’s foyer, watching Max pour his heart out. Is this a dream? Or did I die and this is some form of heaven? Seeing my children safe, sleeping like angels under Nic’s roof and then Max delivering the words I’ve always wanted to hear…

It can’t be heaven as Nic just punched Max. So maybe this is real.

"I love her, Nic. I’ve already chosen you over her too many times.”

“How long? How long have you been fucking my sister?”

Max squares his shoulders, rises to his full height, glaring at Nic. “Careful.”

“Or what?” Nic sneers. Then he grabs Max, pushing him against the wall. “You’re a sick motherfucker, Nic. I can’t believe I trusted you.”

“Nic.” Bella stands behind Nic, gently trying to walk him back off the cliff he seems destined to plunge his and Max’s friendship off.

“Nic, stop,” I say more forcefully.

“Tell me!” Nic bellows.

Max lets Nic keep him pinned to the wall, maybe to protect me and Bella. "I've spent years putting the family first, putting you first. But I can't do it anymore.”

Pride and fear war inside my chest. After all this time, Max is finally fighting for us. But I know my brother. He can come off as kind and gentle, but he can be lethal when his anger is fueled. To him, Max being with me must feel like the ultimate betrayal from his closest friend.

"You were supposed to protect her," Nic growls, taking another step toward Max. "Not fuck her."

“Shut your fucking mouth,” Max shoots back.

“Oh… Oh, really?” Nic grabs Max’s shirt, yanking him forward and then slamming him against the wall again.

"Stop it, both of you," Bella pleads, but neither man seems to hear her. They're locked in their standoff, years of friendship and loyalty crashing against the truth of Max's feelings for me.

I want to run to Max, to stand beside him as he finally fights for us. But I also want to grab Nic, to make him understand that this isn't about betrayal. It's about love.

My own anger surges that Nic hasn’t asked me my thoughts about all this. Why would he? Like all the other men in my life, he thinks he owns me.

I use both my hands and shove Nic hard, forcing him to release Max. “That's enough. Stop being a jerk.”

"Get out of the way, Gia." Nic's eyes flash with that dangerous glint I’ve only seen when he’s truly in a rage.

"No." I plant my feet firmly, shielding Max with my body. “If you’re going to kill Max, you’ll need to kill me too.”

Nic flinches. “What?”

“That’s what Dad would have done.” I shake my head. “But like him, what I think, what I want doesn’t matter. You’ve already made some deal to marry me off, haven’t you?” I remember his words on the plane flying back from Vegas.

“Over my dead body.” Max’s voice is just as lethal. But then he looks at me. “Is that what you want?”

“No, you big dummy. What I want is you telling me you love me and that you want the kids… your kids.” I turn to Bella. “Why are men so dense?”

She gives me a wan smile and shrugs, but I can see she’s still worried.

“Jesus fuck, how long has this been going on?” Nic yells. He turns to me, jaw clenched. “If that’s true, he took advantage of you. He’s nearly twice your age. He’s your godfather."

The accusation ignites something fierce inside me. "Like you took advantage of Bella? You’re more than twice her age. And let's not forget she was supposed to be your stepmother.”

My brother recoils as if I'd slapped him. "That's different?—”

"How?" I challenge, feeling Max's steady presence behind me. "Because you're the Don? Because you get to make the rules? You don't get to judge Max for loving me when you did the exact same thing."

Nic growls. "I wasn't her godfather. That’s perverted."

"No, you knocked her up while she was engaged to your father. How is that not equally perverted?”

Nic and I engage in a battle of wills. His advantage is that he's a man in a highly patriarchal world, but I’m no wimp.

“Nic," Bella says, her voice gentle but firm as she places her hand on Nic's arm. "This could be a good thing.”

He shakes his head like she’s lost her mind. “Good? How can this possibly be good?”

“You’ve wanted Gia to find someone to help protect her. To be there for the kids. Who better than the one man, the only man you trusted when your father was out to kill you? The man who made sure your father didn’t succeed in his plan to kill you and sell me.”

Max’s jaw is tight, as if he’s hurt that Nic has dismissed years of his loyalty. I feel the weight of it as well, thinking of all the times Max sacrificed for Nic and for me. I didn’t like it, but often, that sacrifice was of his own feelings, his own desires.

"He protected us all," I say softly, meeting Max's eyes. "Even when it tore him apart inside, he put everyone else first. That's who he is, Nic. That's the man I fell in love with."

Max’s gaze whips to me. His eyes fill with emotion.

The tension in Nic's shoulders grows tighter even though he has to be thinking about how Max has been more than just his underboss. He's been his brother in all but blood, the man who stood beside him as his father tried to kill him and then supported and assisted in taking over the empire.

"You trusted him with your life," I remind Nic. "With mine and the children's. Why can't you trust him with my heart?"

“I did trust him. And he fucked you.”

My heart clenches as Nic spits out those crude words about Max and me. The vulgarity of his accusation makes me flinch, reducing what Max and I shared to something cheap and tawdry.

Before I can respond, Max steps between us, his shoulders rigid with anger. The muscle in his jaw ticks as he faces down my brother.

"Don't talk about her like that." Max's voice comes out low and dangerous. "I’ve always cared for and respected her.”

"Some way of showing respect," Nic scoffs.

"I'm sorry I've hurt you, Nic. You're my brother, and betraying your trust was never my intention." Max's voice softens slightly, though his stance remains firm. "But I won't apologize for loving her. Nothing you say or do will change how I feel about Gia."

I watch them face off, these two men who've been through so much together. I hate that I’m the source of what could ruin a lifetime of friendship and brotherhood.

Nic's face darkens. "I want you out, Max. Now."

"Not until I talk to Gia." Max's voice carries that stubborn determination that often annoyed me. I wonder if it’s the first time he’s used it against my brother.

Nic’s face is red with rage, and I worry he’s going to do something drastic.

"I'll go with Max.”

“The hell you will.”

I ignore Nic and look up at Max. “We need to get the kids."

"Leave them for tonight," Bella suggests softly. "They're already asleep upstairs."

I shake my head. "No. I'm not leaving my children here. Not with Nic like this." The words come sharp.

Nic's expression shifts from anger to hurt. "You don't trust me with them?"

“They’re a part of me and Max. They need to be with us."

"You really want to do this?" Nic asks, his voice tight with barely controlled fury. "Choose him over family?"

I can see those words hit Max hard. "Until a moment ago, Max was family. Your brother." I shake my head, so disappointed in Nic. "You're a self-centered jerk. Not everything has to revolve around you even if you are the Don. Family doesn’t mean whatever Nic wants. Family is love and respect, even if you don’t agree." I turn to Max. “Let’s get the kids and we can go to my house?—”

“I own that house.”

I turn to Nic, surprised by just how angry he is.

“Nic…” Bella intervenes again. “Don’t?—”

“No. It’s okay. We’ll go to a hotel. You don’t own all of them.”

I lead Max up the stairs to where the twins are sleeping. My heart squeezes as I watch him pause in the doorway, taking in the sight of our children. There's a new softness in his eyes I've never seen before.

Daniella stirs first when I touch her shoulder. "Mommy?" Her sleepy eyes widen when she spots Max. "Uncle Max! You came back!"

"Hey, princess." His voice catches as she throws her arms around his neck.

Dario sits up, rubbing his eyes. "Are we going home now?"

"Yes, baby." I stroke his hair.

“Is Uncle Max coming too?” Daniella asks through a yawn as I lift her into my arms.

“He’s taking us home,” I say as he picks up Dario.

We’re down the hall when both are back sound asleep in our arms.

As we cross the foyer, Nic is glaring at us from his office. “Take them home, Gia,” he says. “I’ll never force you and the kids from your home.”

I have half a mind to go to the hotel anyway, just to spite him. But I need to get the kids in their own beds and back into their routine. A routine that could be changing depending on what Max wants.

I can’t bring myself to speak to Nic, but I give a curt nod as we walk out the door. I can’t deny that I’m a little paranoid that one of Nic’s men might jump out and kill Max or haul him off to avoid killing him in front of me and the kids.

The drive to my place is quiet, both kids dozing in the backseat. Max drives, keeping his eyes on the road. I think he’s worried too.

At home, Max carries Dario while I take Daniella up to their room. We settle them into their beds. The kids are too sleepy to protest or ask questions, though Dario manages to extract a promise from Max to make pancakes in the morning before he drifts off.

I stand in the doorway watching Max tuck the blanket around our daughter. He brushes her hair back from her face. When he straightens and turns to me, his expression is filled with emotion.

"They're perfect," he whispers. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for them. For you."

“You didn’t know.” I lead Max to the living room, the volatile energy of the day still cracking through me. I’d like to go to bed, preferably in Max’s arms, but there’s still so much to be said. To be made clear.

We sit on the couch, the soft glow of the lamp casting shadows across his face as he turns to me, and for a moment, I'm transported back to that night six years ago when I asked him to love me.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I say.

"I meant what I said. I've loved you for so long, Gia. Every day away from you, from our children… it's been fucking torture."

My heart stutters at his words. After years of uncertainty, of wondering if I meant anything more to him than an obligation, hearing him say these things makes me feel dizzy with emotion.

"I tried to tell myself it was better this way," he continues, taking my hand. "That it was too dangerous to reveal the truth. But when you walked out of my house… I swear, I died.”

"I never stopped loving you," I whisper, the words finally breaking free after being trapped inside for so long. "Even when you pushed me away, even when you acted like I meant nothing… I couldn't stop."

Max's hands frame my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears. "You've meant everything to me, always. I was just too much of a coward to admit it."

"Not anymore?" I ask, needing to hear him say it.

"Not anymore," he confirms. "I love you, Gia. You and our children are my whole world."

My heart swells at Max's declaration. The years of longing, of keeping my feelings locked away, finally break free. "I love you too. I never stopped, even when I thought I should."

Max pulls me closer, his familiar scent wrapping around me like a shield against all the pain and fear of the past. His fingers thread through my hair as he presses his forehead to mine.

"When can we tell them?" he asks, his voice thick with emotion. "The kids. When can I tell them I'm their father?"

I pull back slightly to look into his eyes, seeing the mix of hope and uncertainty there. "Tomorrow. We'll tell them over those pancakes you promised to make."

Max's breath catches. "You're sure? It's not too soon?"

"They already love you," I say, touching his cheek. "And they deserve to know their father loves them too. We've all waited long enough, don’t you think?"

I expect him to smile and take me in his arms, but his expression is still hesitant, worried. "You know, it's possible I won't have a job… or my life?—"

I press my fingers to his lips. "Nic won't kill you. I won't let him."

Max grins. "My protector."

I laugh, but his expression falls again.

"I have money and skills, but I don’t know where… or how we’ll live."

I shrug like our future is no big deal. "I have some money… mine, not Aldo’s. We can run away. I bet the kids would love to live in Europe. Or maybe the Caribbean. The beach all year sounds nice."

"You have this all figured out."

I nod, smiling encouragingly. "As long as we're a family, the rest is just logistics."

His arms tighten around me, and I rest my head against Max's chest, savoring the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.

"I want them to have my name," Max says quietly. "The twins should be Giraldis."

My breath catches. For a moment, I let myself imagine it—Daniella and Dario Giraldi. It sounds right, natural. But there's an ache in my chest as I think about my own last name, still tethered to a man who never truly loved me or the children he thought were his.

"You want to legally change their names?" I ask, pulling back to look at him.

Max nods, his expression earnest. "They're my children. They should have my name."

I bite my lip, fighting the urge to ask about my own name. I want to be a Giraldi too, to shed the last remnants of my life with Aldo. But Max isn't proposing marriage. He’s focused on claiming our children, giving them their rightful identity.

Now that the truth is coming out, I could go back to Nardone, I suppose. But that name doesn’t feel right anymore, either.

Max catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my palm. "I know this is too much, too soon, but when you're ready, and only when you're ready, I want you to have my name too."

My heart skips. It’s the best day of my life. Well, except for the kidnapping and my brother’s head exploding over the news of my relationship with Max.

"You don't have to answer now," Max adds quickly, his thumb stroking my wrist. "We have time. I just wanted you to know that's what I want. All of you as Giraldis. A real family."

Max's hand slides to the nape of my neck, drawing me closer. His lips brush mine, gentle at first, then with growing urgency. I melt into him, my body remembering exactly how we fit together.

I press closer, sliding onto his lap. His hands grip my hips as I thread my fingers through his hair. The kiss deepens, pent-up desire finally breaking free.

Max stands, lifting me with him. My legs wrap around his waist as he carries me to my bedroom. His mouth never leaves mine, like he's afraid I'll disappear if he breaks contact.

We tumble onto the bed together, hands fumbling with clothes. Max's fingers trail fire across my skin as he undresses me. When he pauses to look down at me, the raw emotion in his eyes makes me believe in fairy tales.

"You’re so fucking beautiful," he breathes.

I pull him down to me, craving the weight of his body against mine. Our movements are slower now, more deliberate. Each touch feels like coming home, like pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place.

I push him over, straddling his thighs. “I can’t believe you came for me.”

His eyes look pained. “I’m sorry that I made you believe you didn’t matter enough. I’m ashamed you got out my door, much less back to New York.” He levers up, his hand sliding through my hair to the back of my neck. “Tell me you believe me now.”

“I believe you.” I rise up and take him inside my body.

“Fuck, yes, Gia.” He groans and then kisses me. As we kiss, I begin to ride him, giving my body free rein to do what it wants.

He falls back, his hips moving in time with me. My hands rest on his chest as the sensations build, hotter, tighter, more delicious.

“Max.” I reach the edge, his name ripping from my lips.

“Yes, Gia… yes, baby… come.”

The pleasure blasts through me.

“Yes, yes, yes, fuck, yes,” he chants as his hips buck up, warmth filling my body.

I collapse on him, my breath coming in gasps. His arms wrap around me, holding me as he kisses my temple.

“If it takes me a lifetime, I’ll make things up to you, Gia. I promise.”

I lift my head. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

He smiles and rolls us until I’m underneath him again. “Give me a few minutes, and I’m going to make you cry my name in pleasure again.”