Ireland, if you want,” Toto added when nobody spoke. “I know you want to go home. Don’t worry about the cost.”
Aisling blinked a few times. “I’m staying in the States. My daughter’s school is here.” She searched his expression for something, but, from the disappointed look in her eyes, she didn’t find it. “I’ll see you at our normal time.”
“No,” Toto said. “Our arrangement is over.”
Hurt—real hurt—flashed over Aisling’s face, but she held her shoulders up, kept her eyes dry. “Very well,” she said tightly, “if that is what you want.”
“It will have no bearing on the Outfit’s relationship with the McDermotts.”
Because that is what she is so upset about, I wanted to snap. Even Alessandro looked at his father like he was an idiot.
Aisling bowed her head. To me, she said, “Thank you, Sophia. I will be going now.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
As she went to leave, she turned her head slightly, “It’s a boy, by the way, Salvatore.”
Toto didn’t reply.
Outside, in the falling snow, I wrapped my arms tightly around her. Aisling held me back just as tight, head buried in my neck.
Neither of us spoke for a moment, until she murmured, “Thank you for always being kind to me, Sophia. All those women I have met over the years, wives and mistresses, sisters and daughters, you were the only one who ever invited me to a baby shower.”
“If you need or want anything, you just let me know.”
Aisling pulled away, expression morose. “I am afraid the only thing I want is unattainable.”
I watched as she drove away, letting the snowflakes slowly freeze me to the bone.
When I returned to the living room, neither Rocchetti man was speaking to the other. In fact, both of them were making a point of ignoring the other.
I went to Alessandro, resting my hands on his shoulders and leaning down to his ear, “Did something happen while I was gone?”
“My father’s an idiot. I merely told him so.”
I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I agree.”
Alessandro kissed me back, lips tasting of blood. “Sorry for the mess we made,” he said. “I’ll buy you eleven coatracks to make up for it.”
“I’m only willing to forgive for twelve coatracks.”
“A steep price but very well.”
I smiled against his lips.
Sudden movement from Toto across the room made my husband tense and turn toward him. He held an arm out in front of me, like Toto was going to lunge across the room to get to me. I rubbed his shoulders.
I watched as my father-in-law rose to his full height, swaying slightly, hand pressed to his ribs.
“I am prepared to support you as don, my boy.”
The words skidded through the room, causing both Alessandro and I to pause. Was he serious? Or was he trying to lull us into a sense of security?
Alessandro took my hand that was on his shoulder, holding it. “Is that so?”
Toto turned to us, eyes going straight to our interconnected hands. He didn’t sneer or mock Alessandro, just nodded like he could now see something he couldn’t before. “On one condition.”
Here it was. The condition. I could only imagine what Toto the Terrible had formed in his twisted brain, what he deemed important enough to give up power for.
Alessandro squeezed my hand, ready to bargain with his father for our future. Our son’s future. And his son’s future.
“Yes?”
Toto casted his eyes up to the ceiling. “Aisling’s children are recognized publicly and legally as Rocchettis.”
What?
He looked back to us. “That is the only way I will support you, Alessandro. If the boy and the girl are recognized as Rocchettis. Not like Beppe, but like you or I.”
“Legitimate,” I murmured, swooning at Toto’s strange words. In his own way, perhaps Toto did care for Aisling. “They would be part of the will, able to inherit property.”
Toto nodded.
Alessandro didn’t agree right away. “The girl does not have any Rocchetti blood. The boy I will recognize, but the girl is not one of us.”
“Those are my conditions, Alessandro,” Toto said, spreading his arms. “Take them or leave them. I will not negotiate.”
My husband looked to me.
I said quietly, “Your father’s support will be invaluable in gaining favor with the Outfit, my love. All you have to do is accept some more family members. It is a no brainer.”
Alessandro nodded and said to his father, “Very well. Both Aisling’s children will be acknowledged as legitimate Rocchettis. They will, both legally and publicly, be part of this family.”
Toto bowed his head, hand pressed to his heart, “My Don,