Ty

Six years later…

It was a mild winter afternoon in Malibu, and the scent of the sea greeted me as I stepped out of the car and gazed down the California coast.

Grinning to myself, I quietly grabbed my bag from the back of the car and gazed up at the Spanish-style house tucked in between palm trees and bamboos. Contentment bore into me, deep and warm, at finally being home again.

I was a day early, too, to surprise my wife.

My business in San Francisco had wrapped up early which allowed me to visit Daniel and spend the afternoon with him since he lived there now – as did Sara. Both of them worked in the tech industry, so it was just a big coincidence, or so went Lia’s cover story, who had been trying to play matchmaker for six years.

Who knew with the two of them?

I did agree with Lia, though, that the more they tried to hold themselves apart from each other, the more they inevitably snapped together — like ending up in the same city. Not only that but they were in the same damn neighborhood.

Walking into the house, I slipped off my shoes and stole quietly through the halls, taking in the lovely open layout and the colors bursting from the walls. Lia had thrown herself into decorating this place and had been the one to fall in love with California first, suggesting that we get a fresh start here — even though it had hurt like hell to leave Boston behind.

In the aftermath of taking out Hendrix; things had gone to hell for that crime family. Last I heard, Caleb’s brother, Cole, had been named successor on their father’s deathbed but that was more a cruel curse than a gift. Rumor had it that he was still cleaning up after his brother — and was still working off the Bratva, a blood debt for Caleb’s murder of Ivan.

Meanwhile, Kir had worked for the Cantori family, first as Lia’s personal bodyguard, and then, when I’d gotten enough of my affairs in order and my guys set for life, I’d handed over what I could of the criminal empire to my guys who wanted to stay in the business, and to Kir. Last I heard, he still lived in Boston and somehow navigated working for two families.

It helped that I’d also given them Marina Fioreno’s intel to help keep the criminal underbelly of Boston in line. I’m not sure it was what Marina would’ve wanted but at least they’d cleaned up a lot of shit. Civilians couldn’t be safer. I mean, my old friends and associates weren’t fucking boy scouts, but at least Boston wouldn’t fall prey to monsters.

Meanwhile, I went as legit as I could. And Danny, well, he was still getting there.

We were hoping that if everything went as planned, Luca could come back to the States and maybe live in California too. The three of us cousins would finally be back together.

Against all goddamn odds, it had mostly worked out. We still had some things to figure out and fix, but I had a good, stable, legitimate life in California. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else anymore.

I couldn’t imagine a different life, either. I’d gotten myself on the straight and narrow, and I’d never go back.

Dropping off my bag in the hallway, I heard noise coming from the backyard and crossed the house to step outside. For a brief moment, I took in my son Mario running laps with our big fluffy black dog, Fenway. He hadn’t seen me yet and my heart swelled with joy, watching him roll and laugh, play-wrestling with Fenway. Then he somersaulted back to his feet and spotted me, letting out the type of shriek of joy that only six-year-olds seemed capable of.

Walking forward, I crouched down, arms already open, as Mario tackled me and knocked me into the grass. Meanwhile, Fenway, equally ecstatic, licked my ears and writhed around; barking as though he could talk. Ruffling the dog’s ears, I laughed as I hugged Mario close with the other arm.

“Daddy, daddy,” Mario said in my ear. “Yesterday in school, we did an art project, and I painted Fenway, and everyone wanted me to show them how I could do it because Mommy showed me how to draw and paint, and then the teacher gave me a prize, and now I get to take extra art lessons with the bigger kids, and Mommy said that you’d be so proud, and…” He trailed off and leaned back so he could gaze up at me. “Do you want to see it?”

“Do I want to see your art?” I asked gruffly. “Of course.” Lia and I liked to joke that Mario had a paintbrush in his hands before he could even walk and talk. “You’re a prodigy, kiddo. And lucky for you, your mother has art dealers across the country wrapped around her finger.”

“Pro-gee?” Mario asked and tilted his head. “What’s that, a snack?”

I let out a laughing groan. “Geez, all you think about is your stomach, huh? You’re just like your Uncle Luca. No, prodigy means that you’re really good at art.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess,” Mario said and shrugged. He was utterly humble, this kid of mine.

“Should we go in and see your painting of our dog?” I asked. “Find a place to hang it up?”

“Yes,” Mario said and scrambled back, standing up and offering me a hand. Then his face lit up and he bellowed, “Mommy, Daddy’s home.”

“I see that,” Lia said, and I glanced up as she came to stand over me. Her voice went low and teasing as she asked, “You wanted to surprise me for once, is that right, husband?”

I grinned up at her, my heart swelling as I took her in, still a little staggered that this beautiful, passionate woman was all mine. She was not only mine but my wife and the mother of my children. Standing there, barefoot in loose pants and a paint-splattered shirt, with our daughter snoozing on her shoulder – she’d never looked more beautiful.

Lia’s face softened as though she could read my thoughts, and she gently tugged on my hair. “Ty?”

I realized I hadn’t answered and said, “Something like that.” I gave her a look that promised we’d have our own long and intimate reunion tonight behind locked doors when the kids were fast asleep. “I missed you, my darling wife.”

“We all missed you,” Lia said. “I was just getting this one up from her nap, but I don’t think she’s quite awake—”

Our daughter jolted upright and blinked her dark eyes down at me. Something powerful hit me every time I saw those eyes of hers. They were exactly like mine. Marina, or “Rina,” as she was usually called, was so much like me, while Mario sometimes reminded me so much of Lia, it made me laugh.

“Daddy?” Rina blinked and gazed at me.

My little golden daughter reached for me desperately, tears shining in her eyes, and I took her. Her gold hair tickled my cheek, and her little hands clutched at me as though reproaching me for daring to leave her for even a little while.

“I love you, Rina,” I whispered in her curls. “And I love you, Mario.”

Mario laughed and threw himself onto us, hugging his sister and me with all his heart, wide open and brave in a way that I was still learning. It warmed my heart every time I saw Mario patiently playing with his little sister, reading to her, or painting another picture. Meanwhile, Rina adored her big brother and followed him around like a little puppy.

Lia and I had been so lucky to be blessed with two kids like them. Every day, they taught me how to be a better man, a better father, and how to love in a million brave little ways. They also brought back more happy memories of my own childhood with my mother and grandparents, until the nightmare that followed in Boston with my father shrank down into nothing.

I’d come a long goddamn way since Boston.

As though hearing my thoughts, Lia ran her hand through my hair, and then she plopped down to join us sitting in the grass, leaning against me, and closing her eyes.

When I’d found out Lia was pregnant, I’d been ecstatic. It wasn’t until our son was born that I was besieged with doubt — and also determined to be the best of fathers.

I wanted to be the kind of parent that my mother and grandparents had been, to never, ever take out the hell of my childhood on my children or subject them to that. They’d never have to fight for their right to survive in a basement against grown men or learn the dark dealings of the Mafia. They’d never have to whittle down their souls in order to glean acceptance from their cruel father.

The bloodstained Cantori legacy and the Rhino’s line of heirs had ended with me.

And I’d never been prouder of a damn thing I’d done in my entire life.

My children would never know differently since, years ago, we’d changed our last name to Fioreno.

It was the least we could do to honor Lia’s mother.

Mario gave me a smack on the cheek, jolting me out of my thoughts, and then took off running. Rina scrambled out of my lap and toddled after him, Fenway leaping between them. Meanwhile, I snuck my arms around Lia’s waist and pulled her into my lap.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Lia murmured as I snuck a kiss onto the spot where her neck met her shoulder. A fluttered gasp escaped her lips.

I cut her off with a long and deep kiss, pulling her back against me and letting my arms find her familiar curves. When we broke apart, both of us were a little breathless and smiling. Wordlessly, Lia turned and wrapped her arms around my neck, snuggling against me.

God, this was so right, all of this. I closed my eyes by listening to my kids laugh and play, the dog bark, the distant crash of waves, and Lia’s familiar breathing.

This was everything.

I had everything I could ever want, sitting here in the grass under California sunshine with our dog and our kids, never mind my beautiful wife, Lia.

“I love you,” I said.

“I love you,” she said back, and her hazel eyes danced. “I hope you know that you’re mine, Ty.” She growled the last part, in an imitation of me, I was sure. “Forever and ever.”

“Wasn’t that the plan all along, brat?” I asked in a deep voice as I tightened my grip and gave Lia a look that promised all sorts of delicious pain and pleasure later.

“Yeah,” she sassed and snuck a kiss on my lips. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Thank my goddamn lucky stars every day that I bumped into you in a bar,” I whispered. “And then I decided to never let you go.”

“Is that what happened?” Lia asked with a laugh.

“Details,” I said with a wink, and Lia laughed again as I kissed her. Suddenly, a blast of cold water hit my neck. I gasped and looked up, only for Mario to hit me in the face with a squirt of water from his water gun, then run off, shrieking with laughter.

Lia and I exchanged a look as I got to my feet, then pulled her up. As much as they were sweet and good kids, they were also shameless troublemakers. But in a way, that only made me happier. It was as though I got to see how it could have been for me and Daniel.

What it should have been.

Still, I couldn’t help teasing Lia in a mocking tone; our ongoing joke as to whose fault it was that Rina and Mario were hellions, and I said, “There’s no doubt these are your children, Lia.”

“Me?” Lia said and gave me a playful shove. “That brand of sneak attack is all you, Ty.”

Looking over, I saw Rina pounce on Mario’s back and snatch his water gun then hit him in the face, causing him to laugh. Fenway raced around them before stopping and rolling onto his back, waving his paws in the air. Both of my kids flung themselves down and proceeded to copy the dog.

Lia and I burst into laughter, causing Rina and Mario to perk up and come racing toward us, Fenway flying with them.

“Uh oh,” I said and nudged her. “Think we’re in trouble?”

“Oh yeah,” Lia said with a shake of her head, but her eyes glowed with affection. “Good trouble.”

Wrapping my arms around her waist, watching Rina and Mario race back toward us, I said, “I agree. This is all I could ask for and more.”

“Yeah?” Lia asked.

“Yeah,” I whispered and tightened my grip, closing my eyes. “This is everything. You are all my world, my everything.”

That was it; the simplest, goddamn truth that I’d been looking for all my life and found in Lia’s eyes. And now, I had everything, every day, with my family.

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