~ Massimo ~
"Daddy?" Matteo's voice sounded a little unsure, slightly echoing through the quiet hall as he blinked slowly at me with those wide, innocent eyes.
"Yes, son," I said in a light voice, attempting a smile that felt foreign on my face.
The hall remained deathly quiet, and I kept my hands to myself, watching him closely since he was still reluctant and clearly trying to process the information.
"Are you my daddy?" Matteo asked again, a sharp curiosity etched in his voice now as he tilted his head.
"Yes," I nodded a little desperately, my heart hammering against my ribs as I tried to convince him as soon as I could.
"Really?" He suddenly perked up, dropping his spoon with a loud clatter against the fine china. "Mommy said you were in Italy for a business trip."
I glanced at Niamh in genuine surprise while maintaining the smile on my face for Matteo.
Of all the things I expected she had told her son about his father, a business trip to Italy was the last thing on my list, and I felt a sudden, heavy wave of gratitude toward her.
She could have easily painted me as a monster, but she hadn't. Why?
I was more or less a ghost to her then, so why had she given her son hope of a father who would return? Had she actually hoped to see me again?
I focused back on Matteo, who was beginning to look impatient with my silence. "Yes son, I had a really important business to take care of."
"Is that why you took so long to come home?" He asked, staring intently at me. For a kid, those dark eyes were incredibly piercing. Definitely a Valentino.
"Yes, but now I'm back fully and I'll always be with you from now on," I promised, reaching out to him this time because I couldn't help it.
I touched his cheek, noting how impossibly soft his skin was, just like his mother's.
Niamh was glaring daggers at me from across the table, her gaze sharp enough to draw blood, but I didn't care.
I've missed four years of my son's life already, and I don't intend to miss another second.
"Why don't you have pictures? Mommy said you never took pictures because you were ugly," Matteo revealed, and suddenly the tension snapped as everyone began laughing.
"Isn't it obvious kiddo?" Cristiano was the most amused, his eyes dancing with mischief.
When I looked at Niamh, she had a smug, satisfied look on her face as she continued to eat her food.
"I was always busy with work so I didn't have time to take pictures," I lied easily. "But then, do you really think I'm ugly?"
I pouted, feigning hurt. Coming from Niamh though, that insult stung.
"No! You're handsome. Just like me!" My son grinned at me, and it felt as if a sudden burst of sunlight had finally pierced through my dark world.
"That's my boy, come on, give me a high-five," I raised my palm with a wide smile and he slapped it with a cackle that sounded like pure music to my ears.
My heart squeezed with a fierce, overwhelming pride for this boy I'd barely known for twenty-four hours.
"Awwn that's so sweet," Marietta cooed with a wide grin.
"Such confidence in his looks," Juliette added, smiling fondly at the boy.
"Like father like son," my father noted, his voice thick with pride as he watched the two of us.
When I stole a glance at Niamh, she looked like she was about to combust with fury. I could almost feel her wanting to grab the steak knife close to her plate and sink it into my chest.
"Niamh must take credit for raising such an inquisitive and lovely child," Juliette said, turning her warmth toward Niamh, who quickly forced a polite smile. "He's a brilliant kid thanks to her."
"Unlike his father," Domino grumbled, his gravelly voice raising laughter from everyone—except me, of course.
"That's not true, Mass is as brilliant as the word brilliant," Marietta defended me with a chuckle.
"Even more," I smirked at Domino, who just grunted and reached for his packet of cigarettes, ready to light one up right at the table.
"Oh come on, Dom," Lorenzo winced, his voice low.
"What?" Domino growled, his eyes flashing.
Everyone went silent as our gazes drifted to Matteo who suddenly looked up from his food. Domino took the hint and looked like he would have put a bullet hole in Matteo's head if he wasn't a kid, or more his nephew.
He slowly dropped it back on the table but it was too late. Matteo had seen it.
"What's that?" Matteo asked, his gaze lingering on the box.
Beside him, Niamh took in a sharp, jagged breath. She looked like she wanted to caution Domino, but one look at him made her think better of it.
It was understandable; Dom oozed a raw, dark menace that made everyone around him uncomfortable with fear, aside from the family who was already used to his feral energy.
"A tracking device," Domino replied Matteo dismissively, returning to his bourbon.
But of course, Matteo wasn't done.
"A tracking device? What's that?" He glanced around the curious faces at the table.
"It's for tracking and dealing with bad guys," Domino stated.
Matteo's eyes lit up with wonder. "Really? Is it what you used to rescue I and mommy yesterday?"
Niamh looked surprised that Matteo could talk about the trauma of yesterday so easily.
We all ate quietly, holding back our laughter as we watched Domino fool my son with a straight face.
"Yes buddy, I'm a super hero," Domino replied, and we snickered. It was becoming impossible to keep a straight face.
"Really? I knew it!" Matteo looked like he was going to jump off his seat and run straight to Domino. How he wasn't terrified of him was beyond me.
Unlike Cristiano, whose eyes were always playful and cunning, Domino was the kind of man you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley at night. His eyes were constantly seeking danger, like a feral animal on the prowl.
"What's your superhero name?" Matteo asked, completely fascinated by my brother's dark aura.
Domino smirked. "The Psycho."
"Wow that's supercool!" Matteo exclaimed.
Cristiano was the first to crack up, and soon the entire hall was filled with our laughter.
"The Psycho" was a name born from ruthlessness, brutality, and death—not from saving lives.
But Matteo was already sold on the lie, and we were willing to let it slide as long as he didn't learn what cigarettes really were.
"Do you have a comic book? Mom, can you buy me his comic book?" Matteo pleaded with Niamh, who looked completely shocked by the sudden demand.
"Uh..well…" she looked around at our amused faces for help, wondering how the hell to tell our son that Domino didn't have a comic book.
In fact, if he did, it wouldn't be anywhere near advisable for kids.
"I don't have a comic book buddy, but I'll give you my power for saving lives as a gift," Domino rescued her.
"Power?" Lorenzo, Aurelio, and Romeo exclaimed in unison.
I had to quickly gulp down my drink to keep from laughing out loud. Even my father looked deeply amused.
"When? Now?" Matteo's eyes were wide with expectation, completely lost in the fantasy Domino had spun out of a cigarette pack.
"No buddy, you have to be patient," Domino said. "You'll have it when next you visit."
"Yay!!!" Matteo fist-pumped the air then wheeled on Niamh. "Mommy, uncle Dom is going to give me his power!"
Niamh paled, but recovered with a quick, forced smile as she smoothed his hair. "Isn't he the best superhero?"
"He is!" Matteo exclaimed, grinning at Domino. "Thanks buddy."
Everyone was laughing now, but we stopped in dead shock when Domino actually laughed, too.
He wasn't known for being friendly, and a smile was a rare sight, but a laugh? Matteo had truly brought a rare light to this family.
"Did you just laugh, Dom?" Romeo asked, voicing what we were all thinking.
"Fuck off," Domino growled, the light in his eyes vanishing instantly as if he realized he'd made a mistake.
"Dom!" I leaned forward, glaring at him across the table. "I won't warn you about your language in front of my son again. He's just a kid and you have to respect him."
I held his gaze, making sure he understood the threat in my voice.
The silence in the hall turned thick with tension as we locked eyes, neither of us willing to back down.
Dom hated being told what to do, and I hated my son hearing the f-word at such a young age, even if it might eventually be in his vocabulary for being in this kind of family. But not now.
The women shifted uncomfortably in their seats, and Don Giacomo looked like he was about to intervene when Matteo's innocent voice cut through the heavy air.
"Daddy, did you come back with toys from Italy?" He had a hopeful, wide-eyed look.
I quickly forced a smile, and it was as if the whole room sighed in relief. "Yes son, including superheroes and different cars."
"Really? You're so cool like mom!" He grinned at me and Niamh.
My heart soared at the compliment, and I decided right then he would have every toy in the world.
I caught Niamh's eyes briefly, and beyond her fake smile for Matteo, I could see she hated how fond he was becoming of me.
It only motivated me more.
I took out my phone and quickly texted Griffin to prepare the house for my wife and son, instructing him to ensure the best toys in America were waiting for Matteo.
I also told him to get them the best clothes money could buy. A quick glance at Matteo's shirt gave me his size, and I texted it along with Niamh's—sizes I'd noted during our night in El Paso and would never forget.
I returned the phone to my pocket and went back to my scotch. Matteo looked ready to ask another question, but my mother gently cut him off.
"Honey, you should finish your food before it gets too cold, okay?" She smiled warmly.
"Okay grandma," He nodded, then added with a grin, "Your hair is beautiful."
Juliette sucked in a breath, her hand flying to her heart as she looked like she was going to tear up in pure happiness.
"Oh, that's the sweetest thing I've heard since I was born, honey. In fact," she rose and came over to kiss his forehead before piling more golden, honey-drizzled waffles onto his plate.
"Thank you grandma," he grinned, clearly won over.
"Don't mention it, honey," she said, kissing him again before returning to her seat.
When everyone was finally done, Luis and Cecilia came over to clear the table.
"Matty boy, follow Mr. Luis and go and play, okay?" Don Giacomo smiled at my son, and we all knew it was time for business.
"Okay grandpa," Matteo leaped off his seat and went to him. "Will you play with me later grandpa?"
My father held his shoulder with a rare fatherly pride. "Yes Matty boy. I'll make out time, okay?"
"Okay!" He exclaimed then turned to Luis. "Catch me if you can!"
He raced off, and Luis made a loud monster noise before chasing after him, making him squeal in delight.
We chuckled as they exited the hall. I had to admit, that was the best breakfast we'd had as a family in a long time, all thanks to Matteo.
He brought a different energy—the kind only a bright kid could—and there was something comforting about having someone around who was bothered by nothing and had no blood on his hands.
Like a light in darkness.
My father watched him go with that proud smile, but the second the door closed, the warmth vanished. He was back to being the Don.
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the marble table. "So," he said, his voice dropping into that dangerous tone. "How do we get this marriage underway?"