4. Gia

4

GIA

O ne minute, I’m living my life in New York, taking my kids to school and then working from home, and the next, I’m on a private plane running with my children to Las Vegas. This isn’t the first time Nic has shipped me off “for my own good”.

The last time he sent me away was to boarding school. He escorted me there on a plane as well. I was thirteen, and the memory of standing in my dorm room hits me fresh. I didn’t know anyone and I was a world away in Europe.

"It's safer this way, Piccola ," Nic had said, but safety felt a lot like abandonment.

Then there was the summer program in Switzerland at sixteen. Each time, Nic wrapped his decisions in velvet words about protection. It’s not that I doubt Nic. I know who my father is… or was. And I know he was likely behind my mother's disappearance. I know about the vow Nic made to my mother and how hard he’s worked to keep it. But I’m tired of being at Nic’s whims. It’s one thing when I was a child. But I’m a grown woman with two children, for goodness’ sake.

My coffee has gone cold. I push it away, my stomach churning at the thought of Vegas. Of Max. The last time I lived in close quarters with Max, everything imploded. Nic had arranged that for my safety as well. At the time, I was happy to hear Max was returning. Maybe I could finally tell him the truth about the twins. Maybe we’d… well, I suppose my fairy tale dreams lingered even then.

But it didn’t take long to realize that Max was different, at least around me. He treated me differently, like I was just a duty to fulfill for Nic. No matter how I tried to reconnect with him as a friend like we’d been before, he’d brushed me off.

I tried to talk Nic out of sending me to Max since it was clear Max had more important things to do than babysit me and my kids.

"You'll be safe there," Nic had said earlier, as if safety was all that mattered. As if my heart wasn't still scarred from the last time Max was tasked with protecting me.

“Mama, look at those!” Dario bounces in his seat, his face pressed against the window.

“What?” Daniella perks up from where she’d been coloring to look out the window as well.

Their wonder pulls a genuine smile from me. I haven't seen them this animated since I told them we were taking a "special vacation" to Las Vegas. They'd peppered me with questions about the flight and things to do in Las Vegas.

“Those are the Rocky Mountains,” Nic says, glancing out as well.

“Are they the biggest in the world?” Dario asks

“Not the biggest. Maybe the prettiest, though,” Nic says. He’s been a wonderful father-figure to my kids, but now he has his own family.

“You know you didn’t need to escort us. Bella is going to have her hands full with the triplets while you’re gone,” I say, feeling a little guilty that Nic has to take time away for me. Then again, it’s his doing, not mine.

The smile at the mention of Bella and the kids lights up his face in a way I’ve never seen before. It’s sweet, and I’m so happy he’s found true love and happiness.

“I’ll be home tonight. Bella understands.”

Of course she does. Bella was raised like I was, to be a dutiful Mafia wife. The difference is that her husband loves and respects her. She loves and respects him. I didn’t have that with Aldo.

Daniella tugs my sleeve. "Will Uncle Max have a pool?"

My chest tightens at his name, but the kids don't notice. They're too busy debating whether sharks could survive in a swimming pool.

"No way," Dario says with all the authority of a five-year-old. "Sharks need salt water."

"What if you put salt in the pool?" Daniella counters.

Their silly argument washes over me like a balm. I close my eyes and let their chatter drown out the voice in my head that keeps wondering if this is going to be a terrible mistake.

"Mama! The lady's bringing drinks!"

I open my eyes to see both twins practically vibrating with excitement as the flight attendant approaches with a tray. She eyes Nic with admiration like most women look at him. Any other Mafia Don, she might be rewarded for her beauty and attentiveness by becoming a mistress, but Nic only has eyes for Bella. Personally, I didn’t mind that Aldo had mistresses. His touch had never been like what Max’s had been.

I shake my head to rid it of the memory and focus on the here and now.

“Would you like more coffee?” she asks me and Nic.

I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

She gives the kids juice boxes and returns to the area of the plane where Nic has also brought along a small army to protect us.

"This is excessive,” I blurt out. “We don't even know if these messages are real threats."

"Someone's watching you, Gia. Following your movements." The steel in my brother's voice reminds me that he's not just my protective older sibling anymore. He’s the head of the family. "Max has the resources to keep you safe."

"And what about Max's life? His work? We can't just descend on him like this."

"He works for me."

"That's not the point, Nic." I glare at him, wondering how Max deals with the man who is his best friend now also being his Don. Does he ever get annoyed by it? "Max has his own responsibilities, his own routine. Having us there will disrupt everything."

Nic’s eyes narrow. “It’s his job.”

“I’m not his job.”

He studies me. “Max runs a tight operation. His security is top-notch, and he has the space."

"Space isn't the issue." I press on, even knowing it’s useless. After all, we’re nearly there. "The twins are… energetic. They're loud. They need attention. Max isn't used to having children around."

"They're his grand-godchildren. He loves them."

“Grand godchildren? Is that a thing?”

He shrugs. “You’re his goddaughter, so your kids are like grandchildren.”

My stomach knots at the implication that my children, Max’s children, should technically be his grandchildren. I’d never seen my crush on Max as being taboo. He’s never been a father figure to me. My brother’s friend, yes. My friend, yes. But not a relative.

Of course, I can’t voice any of this. "It's different having kids underfoot all day, every day. What if we're there for months?"

"Then you'll be there for months. Safe." Nic pauses. "Unless there's another reason you don't want to go to Vegas?"

I close my eyes, fighting the urge to tell him everything. About that night with Max. About the twins' true parentage. About how living under Max's roof might break me all over again.

"No," I lie. "I just hate running away."

"Max made a promise to your mother. A promise he’s as committed to keeping as I am,” Nic reminds me. "To keep you safe, no matter what.”

“You’re the one who’s always been around, not him.” Max had always been in the periphery, in and out of my life as I grew up.

“He’s been around, too, just in a different way. It was his job to keep tabs on Dad.”

I scoff. “It didn’t stop him from marrying me off to Aldo.” A part of me doesn’t forgive Max for that, but oddly, I don’t blame Nic, who would have more power to stop the marriage than Max would have.

Nic’s brow furrows. He studies me like he thinks I’ve lost my mind. “Why would Max have been able to do that? I couldn’t stop it. Why do you think he could?”

I sniff and look out the window. “No reason.”

“I know your marriage was bad, but Aldo is gone, and you have two beautiful children. Surely, they were worth it.”

My jaw clenches so tight it’s amazing my teeth don’t break.

“What is this about, Gia?”

I shrug like it’s nothing. “It just is weird that he made such a promise. What was the point when I had you? It must be annoying to him that he’s always the babysitter when life goes sideways.”

“He doesn’t see it like that.”

“How do you know?”

Nic bites his lower lip as he continues to watch me. I should let the conversation go. I’m revealing too much. “Because his concern matched mine when I called him.”

“It just seems like after all this time, he could be released from a vow he made at seventeen.”

“He cared for your mother just like I did.”

I swallow hard, wondering what else my mother saw in the young man who would grow up to become so entangled in my life. I never knew her. She went missing when I was a baby. At eighteen, both Nic and Max were having to fulfill the vow they made.

“Was that all it was?” I ask before I think better of it.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe he and my mom were close… you know.”

It takes Nic a moment to get my drift. “Jesus, Gia. We were teenagers. She was in her thirties?—”

“They’re closer in age than you and Bella. A woman married to a sadist like Dad… Surely, she’d seek the comfort of someone kind to her.” It’s what I did. Good God, had my mother slept with Max too?

"Stop." Nic's voice cuts like ice. "Don't you dare suggest anything improper about your mother."

My cheeks burn with guilt. In my irritation, I’m being petty and disrespectful toward my mother. "I didn't mean?—”

"Yes, you did." The edge in his voice makes me flinch. "Your mother was a good woman. The best, Gia. She saved me and Max. She helped us get through school, encouraged us to seek higher education. She’s why I’m a lawyer and Max has his MBA.” He sits back and looks reflective. “It would have been nice if she’d lived to see that.” He glances at me. “She’d be proud of you too.”

I sink deeper into my chair, shame crawling up my throat. "I'm sorry, Nic. I shouldn't have?—”

"No, you shouldn't have." He takes a sharp breath. "Making Max promise to protect you wasn't about anything except ensuring your safety. What if something happened to me? She needed to know you’d still be protected. She knew he had honor, even as a teenager. That he'd keep his word, no matter what."

"It just feels like we're asking too much. Max has his own life in Vegas. His business. His… relationships."

"Since when do you care about Max's relationships?" Nic's tone carries a hint of suspicion.

"I don't." The lie tastes bitter. "But dumping a single mom and two five-year-olds into someone's carefully ordered life isn't exactly a small favor."

Nic tilts his head, studying me yet again. Sometimes, I wonder if he’s trying to learn mind reading. "You and Max used to be close. What changed?"

My breath catches. "Nothing changed."

"Really?" Nic doesn't sound convinced. "Because last Christmas, you two could barely stay in the same room together."

"That's not true." But even I hear the defensiveness in my voice. "Max was just busy. Preoccupied with work."

"He's always been busy with work, Gia. Never stopped him from spending time with you before."

I close my eyes, remembering how Max would barely look at me. How he'd make excuses to leave early, his shoulders tense whenever I entered a room.

“Bella thinks there’s something more between you.”

I swallow. “Now who’s being disrespectful about Max?”

Nic turns away for a moment. Finally, he sighs. "Look, whatever happened or didn't happen between you two, Max is still the best option for keeping you safe."

"Nothing happened," I insist, but my voice quavers.

But what I don't say is how Max's careful avoidance, his rigid politeness, speaks volumes about his worry that I'll throw myself at him again. He’s keeping his distance so I won't mistake friendship for something more.

"Then what's really bothering you about this?"

I press my forehead against the cool glass. "Nothing. You're right. Max is the best choice."

I can't tell Nic how Max's distance hurts more than any stalker's threats. How living under his roof means watching him retreat behind walls of propriety and duty every time I enter a room. How every day will be a reminder of what we can never have.

“Good. I’ve arranged for educational material to be delivered to you for the kids’ education. You’re set up for homeschooling until it's safe to return."

"You've really thought this through."

"Of course I have. You're my sister." His voice softens. "I know this is difficult, moving across the country, disrupting their routine. But Max's compound is like a fortress. You'll have your own wing, complete privacy."

"What about my work? The quarterly reports are due next week, and?—”

"Don't worry about that." Nic's casual dismissal makes my teeth clench. "I'll have someone else handle it."

"Someone else?" Heat rises to my cheeks. "I've been managing these accounts?—”

"It's just temporary, Gia."

"Is it? Because it sounds like you're treating me like I’m your kid sister playing at having a job."

He rolls his eyes. “That's not what I meant. I value your work.”

“Valued workers can’t be simply replaced.”

"Your safety matters more than paperwork."

"It's not just paperwork!" The words burst out louder than intended. "I know you think you're protecting me, but treating my work like it's disposable… that hurts, Nic. It makes me feel like you don't really see me as a professional, just as your little sister who needs to be tucked away somewhere safe."

The silence stretches.

“Are you fighting?” Daniella asks from across the plane where she’d resumed coloring.

“Brothers and sisters argue sometimes,” I say.

She shrugs and goes back to her picture.

"Your work is valuable," Nic says, his voice lowering slightly. "But right now, Daniella and Dario need you focused on them. On keeping them safe."

“I can do both.”

Nic’s jaw tightens. “You need to teach the kids?—”

“I can do both,” I repeat more firmly.

We glare at each other in a stalemate. “Fine. But if it gets to be too much, take the time off from work, Gia. I mean it.”

Feeling victorious over the great Don Nardone, I sit back. “Thank you.”

The dip in the plane signals our approach to Las Vegas. I get the kids situated as we prepare for landing. The plane touches down with a gentle bump, and my stomach lurches, though whether from the landing or knowing who waits for us, I’m not sure.

"Look, Mama! The desert!" Daniella presses her face against the window while Dario bounces in his seat, both of them vibrating with excitement that makes me wish I could share their innocence.

Through the window, I spot the line of black SUVs waiting on the tarmac. Max's security detail stands at attention, their dark suits and sunglasses a reminder of why we're here. This isn't a vacation.

Nic and his army of men exit the plane first, conferring with Max and his army of men.

"Can we go see Uncle Max now?" Dario tugs at my sleeve.

"As soon as they give us the okay, baby." I smooth his dark hair, so like his father's, though no one but me knows that truth.

“Mrs. Cantore, you and the kids can exit now,” the flight attendant informs us.

I blow out a breath as I make sure the kids have their backpacks and we move to the exit. I decide to go first. I know danger lurks, and I want to be in front of my children should anything happen.

The Nevada heat hits like a wall, but it's the sight of Max striding toward us that steals my breath. I’d told myself I was over my youthful crush. That his attitude last year had effectively broken the spell he’d had on me. Now, I’m not so sure. He's as handsome as ever in his fitted, tailored suit, the desert wind ruffling his hair. Lines crinkle at the corners of his eyes, new ones I don't remember from Christmas, and his hairline seems to have a bit more gray, giving him a distinguished appearance. I can’t stop the way emotion wells in my chest at the sight of him.

Max reaches the bottom of the stairs and holds his hand up to me, his eyes meeting mine. "Welcome to Las Vegas, Mrs. Cantore." His voice is neutral, professional.

The formal address stings, even though I should expect it by now. "Thank you for having us." Automatically, I take the hand he’s offered to help me down the last step. Immediately, I regret it. His palm radiates warmth through my skin, and memories crash over me like waves. His hands tender, gentle on my body, in my hair, tracing paths that still burn in my dreams.

"Thank you," I manage, forcing my voice to be steady.

Once my feet are on terra firma, I tug my hand back. Luckily, the kids launch themselves at Max, effectively breaking the odd connection.

“Uncle Max, we saw mountains,” Dario said.

“No kidding.”

“Do you have a pool?” Daniella asks.

“I do.”

“Does it have sharks?”

Max lifts a brow. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“I’m going to leave you here,” Nic says, surprising me. I thought he’d want to make sure we got back to Max’s safely. Maybe meet with Max. I guess it suggests that his trust in Max is as sure as my mother’s was.

Nic gives me and the kids a hug. “If you need anything, let me know.”

What I need is to be in New York, living my life and doing my job, but I don’t say that. Instead, I nod.

Nic boards the plane, and me and the kids are ushered into the middle SUV, security vehicles boxing us in front and back. The twins chatter excitedly about the plane ride while I sit rigid, hyperaware of Max's presence beside me, of the way his cologne still makes my heart skip.

The convoy moves smoothly through traffic, the tinted windows keeping us hidden from curious eyes. I've never felt more protected or more trapped.