It's been a week since I arrived home and Aubrey and I are still working through things. We've been sleeping the same bed, having sex, kissing, telling each other we love each other and taking care of Alena together but something gives me the vibe Aubrey still doesn't one hundred percent trust that I won't leave her again, that I won't pull something like this on her again, and really I can't blame her.
Buzzz buzzz buzzz
"Hello?" I answer my phone.
"Mother fucker is back from the dead." The male voice smirks on the other end of the phone
"Nicho Marino, long time no talk."
"It's a little hard to talk to the dead isn't it?" He laughs "I have to admit East you really had me going there for a moment, I almost cried for you."
"Almost? Come on, Nicho Marino doesn't have feelings so that can't be true."
"My feelings are hurt at that comment actually." He laughs "Anyway, the family and I are in town and we were wondering if you're up for a visit?"
"Yeah for sure, you know my door is always open whenever you guys are in town."
"I'm glad, because we're here. So open the gate would you." He hangs up the phone.
Nicho Marino, son of mafia leader Dalton Marino. Dalton and my father go way back to their early twenties when they were both stepping up to become the next generation of leaders. Dalton and Dad formed an alliance right back then and that alliance has been held to this day. The cobras run the west cost and Dalton and his crew run the East cost, we don't step on each other's toes, we help each other out when we need it and above all else we respect each other and treat each other as family.
Nicho and I have been friends since we were kids, he would often come on trips with his dad when our fathers where making plans or talking work. Both Nicho and I knew one day we'd grow up to become leaders and at age ten, we made a packed to always have each other's backs.
At this point Dalton still hasn't stepped down as leader, but he's getting older as are all our parents, so I'm sure it won't be long until it's Nicho's turn.
I make my way the door and buzz them in, the gates opening. A moment later the car zooms up the driveway, parks, and Nicho steps out with a grin. "I see dead people" he laughs
"Don't let my girl hear you joking like that, I only just made it back to the bedroom." I joke
"Come on East, you know me I would never cockblock you like that." He winks
"So you are always this annoying?" A pretty brunette says with a grin as she steps out of the passenger side door, looking at Nicho.
Nicho takes her hand and together they walk up the stairs, meeting me at the top
"Easton this is Sophia, Sophia this is Easton Raven an old friend of mine."
"Nice to meet you." She smiles politely
"Nice to meet you." I smile back and hold the door open "come on in, Aubrey should be down in a moment she's just dressing Alena."
I lead them to the living room and we sit down together. "So, what brings you to town?"
"You know, family stuff." He shrugs
"Mmm, I know all about family stuff." I roll my eyes. "How's your dad?" I change the subject unaware of if Sophia knows about Nicho's job or not.
"Good, he's in town, He's going drinking with your dad today actually"
"I hope our mothers are going, you know how they are when they've been drinking."
"A mess." Nicho laughs.
"Hello." Aubrey smiles as she makes her way downstairs carrying Alena. She's dressed in a yellow sundress that comes to her knee and her dark hair is out and straight. Alena is dressed in a cute onesie and has a little bow on her head.
"Aubrey this is Nicho and Sophia." I introduce
"Nice to meet you both, I'm Aubrey and this is Alena." She smiles proudly at our daughter
"She's so cute!" Sophia says with a smile
"She took after me." I wink at her winning me a glare from Nicho
"Would you like to hold her?" Aubrey smiles
"Yes please." Sophia jumps at the chance and holds out her arms.
Aubrey places her in her arms and sits down next to her.
"We might go and talk about boy things and leave you ladies to it." I stand up, Nicho following suit as I lead him to my office
Aubrey's POV:
"So, how long have you known Easton?" I ask with a smile
"I'm meeting him today for the first time Nicho and I are kind of seeing each other." She bites down on her bottom lip as she rocks Alena
"Kind of?" I laugh
"He's complicated" she shrugs
"I see, maybe that's why he and Easton as such good friends, he's complicated as well."
"Nicho told me what happened on the drive over, I can't believe he faked his own death, how did you deal with all of that? And with this beautiful baby as well"
"It was hard, I spent a lot of time crying, being angry and even now that he's home I still have times I feel anger towards him, but I've lost so many people I love in my life and not one of them have ever come back, so I'm using this as our second chance, our chance to start over."
"I understand, I'd do the same if it was Nicho, I mean I'd kick his ass, but then I screw his brains out." She laughs
"Yep," I nod popping the P "pretty much Easton and I." I laugh
"Ooof." Sophia screws up her face "where's her change table?"
"Oh it's upstairs, here I'll take her."
"I'll do it, show me where." She smiles and stands up. "Who knew one little baby could be so stinky." She talks to her in a baby voice.
I lead her to Alena's room and show her the changing table. "You sure you don't want me to do it?"
"Maybe just stay with me so I don't do it wrong." She laughs
I stand next to her as she changes Alena, she does everything perfectly I don't have to tell her a thing. "See you're a natural." I smile
"You think?" She asks as she finishes dressing Alena and picks her up holding her once more
"Some people have it and others don't, you do," I assure her with a nod. "Are you uh, planning a baby soon or something?"
"Oh no, gosh Nicho would kill me." She shakes her head with a laugh
"Okay." I nod my head, a little smirk forming on my lips
"What?" She raises a brow
"Nothing." I shrug
"And you? Are you planning more children?"
I let out a soft sigh and look to the ground for a moment. "Can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"I haven't been able to tell anyone and maybe I shouldn't be telling you because I don't really know you, but maybe that's why it's easier for me to-"
"Aubrey, you're rambling, what is it?" She asks with a sympathetic look.
"When I went into labor with Alena, there were complications and she was a high-risk birth. A lot of things happened, and I'd also passed out due to the complications so she was born via C section and that's the only thing that saved her, but I-" I take a breath "I won't be able to have any more children."
"Oh god, I'm so sorry," Sophia says sadly and places Alena down in her cot now that she's been rocked to sleep
"It's just that Easton and I planned to have a big family and I know that our big family plan was to have at least one son as well, someone to take over the family business, and now I'm never going to be able to give him that." A tear rolls down my cheek
"Hey, stop that." Sophia pulls me into a hug "you should tell him, talk to him, so it's off your chest you shouldn't be holding this in."
"What if he leaves me?"
She pulls back from the hug and looks up at me "then he's a fucking asshole but I really don't think that would happen Aubrey, he seems to really love you."
"You hardly know us."
"But I see the way he looks at you, and I know that look, I've seen it before."
"What? When Nicho looks at you? I raise a brow with a grin, trying to turn around the sad mood.
"Stop that." She giggles softly
I look over at Alena who is sound asleep and nod my head to the door. Quickly we pull the bedroom door open only to find Easton and Nicho standing there.
"You were not eavesdropping on our convocation?" Sophia swats Nicho's arm
I look to Easton who looks at me sadly and I swallow a lump in my throat, he knows he heard everything.
"No way, we were just walking past." He lies
"Nicholas." She glares at him
"Ohhh, she called you Nicholas, you're in trouble." Easton teases in a playful child-like voice changing the mood around, clearly not wanting to ruin his day with his friends.
"Shall we head downstairs and have something to eat? I'm starving." I smile softly and brush past Easton making my way downstairs.
Once I reach the kitchen I take a few deep breaths and being pulling plates from the cupboard.
"Aubrey." Sophia says softly as she makes her way into the kitchen "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just." I sigh softly and tuck my hair behind my ear "He overheard us, I know he did, I could see the look on his face."
"Hey" she sighs and rubs my back "It's going to be okay, let's just try and forget it happened for now and have some lunch, then when Nicho and I leave I'm sure you'll talk about it, right?"
"Of course" I nod "Let's just forget it ever happened."
"Now then, what would you like me to help you with?
Easton's POV:
I slump down on the couch and sigh softly. Nicho joining me a moment later
"You okay?" He questions
"Yeah man I'm fine."
"Are you sure? because what we just overheard is kind of a big deal."
"You're not wrong." I sigh "We had plans of having a big family, we had everything worked out all of our dreams, goals, plans."
"Sometimes life doesn't go to plan Easton, you of all people should know that." Nicho reminds
"I know" I nod "I'm not even sad about that, we have one beautiful little girl and I'm blessed to have her, I'm just annoyed she didn't tell me about this."
"In her defense, you've only been home a few days man, maybe she just didn't know how to bring it up?"
"Honestly, I feel like she doesn't trust me anymore and I can't blame her Nicho, I faked my own death for God sake, it's no wonder she doesn't trust me."
"You're not giving her enough credit man, she loves you that much is obvious or she wouldn't still be with you, maybe she was just scared, put yourself in her shoes, what if it was you who could no longer have children?" he raises a brow
"You know Marino, this new woman of yours has really made you start thinking like a chick." I smirk
"Get fucked Raven, you're just jealous I can read your wife better then you can."
"She's not my wife yet, but speaking of wives, you going to marry that feisty little brunette in the kitchen or what?
"What do you think?" He takes a sip of his beer
"I think I'll be suiting up soon enough."
"Don't call the tailor just yet, but have him in reserve" He grins
"Knew it from the second she stepped out of the car and put your ass in place."
"And Aubrey? Does she do the same to you?"
"When she needs to," I smirk softy
"Boys, lunch is ready when you're done flirting." Sophia sticks her head into the living room
"Coming." we call in unison