Riccardo's POV.
"Congratulations Amico. You have a daughter!"That can't be right.I have a daughter, one that is this grown up and I had no idea that she even existed. I still find it hard to believe that. How is it that I have a daughter somewhere on this earth and I don't even remember...creating her?"No...that can't be right," I mumbled under my breath but Enzo heard anyway."I knew you would be in denial even after seeing her picture and that is why I ran a paternity test." He said proudly and he does appear super proud of himself."How did you even get that done?" I asked him.He shrugged. "I pulled some strings." He answered before bringing out the test result of that multipurpose bag of his. I took the result from him and opened it, my eyes immediately went to where it confirmed that she was indeed my daughter before her name caught my eye."Aria." I read out loud."Aria Salvatore. She is five. She lives with her mother in NYC. She was born April 11, 2027, and her favorite color is pink...""How do you even know that?" I interrupted him."Oh, I hacked into her school system. Had to be the easiest thing ever." He commented.If my calculations are correct then she was conceived... "She was conceived that night," I murmured."Yes, she was conceived that night," Enzo replied solemnly.*Flashback*I ran out of the funeral room when it started to feel as if the walls were closing in on me. I could not breathe and I could not think straight. I could not actually do anything than stare at the huge pictures that were placed on the table. The picture looked like it was alive. They were all smiling so brightly and their eyes were shining with happiness but the only thing I could picture in my mind was when I stood here watching their life get snuffed out of them. I have always known just how risky being a part of the mafia is. My parents never failed to make me understand that I could not afford to make a single mistake because that mistake might end up being the end of my life. I grew up listening to that, I grew up with that knowledge instilled in me and somehow I still managed to fuck up and I had to watch everyone I love die because of my stupid mistake.I kept walking down the street without registering where it was that I was heading. All I knew was that I needed to get away from that place. I can not stand it. I can't stand the looks of pity and hatred and disappointment I was getting from everyone in there. I know I fucked up and it took innocent people losing their lives for me to realize just how badly I fucked up. I especially can't stand the look in Roberto and Enzo's eyes. I just can't. I can't beat it.I know I shouldn't be roaming the streets without surveillance but I just need to get away from that place and at this point, I would be really glad if someone were to jump out of a corner and put an end to my miserable existence. It can't be right to keep living when I caused the death of so many people. It was only right that I followed suit. I finally stopped in front of one of the bars that I am a regular at and I just went in without thinking twice.I sat on one of the chairs close to the bar and I don't really recall what I asked the bartender but I am pretty sure I asked him to keep the drinks coming. I am sure he recognized me, I mean, everyone does. He kept the drinks coming and I kept on chugging them without thinking twice. I needed the oblivion that came with these drinks and I need to achieve it fast.It kept going that way for close to ten minutes and I was going to chug another glass when someone stopped me."You are going to make yourself sick if you keep drinking that way." It was a girl or a woman or whatever. I put down the glass and tried to take a look at her but it was already dark in here and I could only make out her thick hair and straight white teeth. She does smell nice though. She smelled like a breath of fresh air and something sweet, the kind of sweet that your parents warned you against but it was too sweet for you to resist it."That was the plan...I don't need your lectures right now." I slurred. I could hardly make out anything in front of me and it was a miracle that I could at least complete a whole sentence without jumbling it up."You want to talk about whatever it is you have going on? That might help you better than drinking yourself to death." She said unrelenting."If I wanted to talk to someone, I would have gone to see a therapist," I replied before chugging the drink and blindly signaling for the bartender to get me another drink.She laughed then. I know I was drunk but I didn't think what I said was so funny. She does have a nice laugh though. It sounded rich and thick and its warmth seemed to wrap around me in the most soothing manner."I am Emilia." She announced. She has a pretty name too. Now, if only I could put a face to the name, smell, and laugh but I still couldn't see her face clearly. Maybe I shouldn't have had so many drinks after all.I nodded wondering why it was taking the bartender so long to get me another drink. "Nice to meet you, Emilia.""You know, when someone introduces themselves, it is basic knowledge for you to return the favor." She said.So she doesn't know who I am then. I thought everyone would recognize me by now. I have been all over the news for the past week now.I cleared my throat. "You can call me Ric," I answered.I think I saw her nodding her head. I could not talk for sure but I definitely saw her hair bouncing."You have a nice name." She commented and I scoffed."And you have a pretty name," I replied."Do you want to talk about your problems?" She asked."Problems? With a S?" I asked. I couldn't stop talking to her and this might be due to the effect of the alcohol but I like her voice. I want to keep hearing her talk. I don't want her to stop talking, the sound of her voice seems to have a calming effect on me and...I cannot explain it but I don't want her to stop talking."I assumed...""I don't want to talk about my problem. I would love to know more about you. Just...talk to me. Don't stop talking." I said. I probably sound like a drunk idiot but I couldn't care less. I just need her to keep talking. I want to keep listening to the sound of her voice."Okay." She finally answered and then she started talking. I could see her mouth moving and I could hear her voice but I couldn't make out the words she was saying. All that matters was the sound of her voice. Her voice seems to be more effective than the alcohol I have been downing since."...Ric! Are you even listening to me?" She asked snapping me out of my trance."Sorry. I missed that part." I answered.She sighed. "I asked you a question.""What was the question?" I asked her."Do you want children? Like someday, do you want to have children?" She asked.I must have been really drunk cause I remember answering that question. "Yes, eventually. If I ever get married."I answered.She nodded. "Say you have children already, what would you name them? Have you ever thought about that?" She asked."I don't think I have ever thought about that before," I answered. I have never thought about that before. I know I will have to get married one day and have children. It was mandatory, I mean, I will need a successor to take over the Italian mafia when I die."Think about it now. What would you name a boy child?" She asked."Can I ask why we are talking about children at a bar?"She shrugged out at least, I think she did. "You won't talk to me if I asked you personal questions and I can't seem to come up with a..." She trailed off."Fine...Antonio for a boy." I answered."Cute and for a girl?" She asked."Probably Emilia," I answered smoothly and she laughed. I didn't realize that we had somehow moved really close to each other cause I could feel her breathing on my face."Nice one, Ric. Now be serious." She breathed. She actually breathed."I am serious. You have a really pretty name." I answered and I somehow couldn't stop my body from leaning closer. She didn't drawback either. I can't tell for sure but I could have sworn she leaned closer too."Thank you. Now answer the question." She urged breathlessly."Aria. I would name her Aria." I answered before taking her lips in mine and everything just kind of went black after that.*End of flashback.*"Riccardo??" The sound of Enzo's voice calling my name snapped me back to reality."Si," I answered."What are you going to do about this?" He asked.I didn't have to think about it for long. I grabbed my cell phone and dialed Angelo's number. He answered almost immediately."prepara l'aereo, Angelo," I ordered."Si, Don." He answered and I ended the call immediately. I looked at my best friend who was already smiling."stiamo andando a New York" I announced.We are going to New York.Emilia's POV. I have been trying to get Aria ready for our date with Aiden but she wasn't having it. She has rejected every single dress I have picked out for her. It was either too tight or too heavy or too itchy. All of a sudden she seems to have different excuses to not put on her dress. She even claimed her favorite dress was too boring. I went into her closet again and picked out one of my favorite dresses of hers. It was purple and had this huge bow thing at the back and tiny sparkling diamonds on the sleeves and the neck side. I believe this dress is not too heavy, itchy, or too tight and it wasn't tight either. Although I am looking forward to the excuse the little chit will come up with this time around. I walked out of the closet and found her typing away on her phone. "Put down the phone and come try this dress on. I am pretty sure you will love this one." I tried to infuse as much excitement as I could into my voice. She put down the phone and walked up to where I was
Riccardo's POV."Do you think it is a good idea to show up at her doorstep this late?" Enzo asked. It probably is not a good idea to show up at her doorstep this late but I did not fly for almost nine hours only for me to not come straight to my destination. Besides, I have not been settled throughout our flight. I want to know if she remembers me and I also want to know why she chose not to inform me about the baby when she found out she was pregnant. I mean there is a high chance that she forgot about me the same way I forgot about that night but the difference between the both of us is the fact that she carried the proof of that night for nine months and she has nurtured and raised that baby for five years. I find it hard to believe that she raised her for that long without wondering about me— the baby's daddy. What if I am not even the father and this whole thing is just one big coincidence?—This is a ridiculous thought since I already saw the paternity test result. It is not li
Emilia's POV. I think I once mentioned that I have imagined different scenarios of Ric showing up one day. You have no idea how wild my imagination has gotten and the ridiculous scenes I came up with in my head but nothing, nothing prepared me for this and I definitely did not see this coming. All of a sudden, the ridiculousness of his statement seemed to melt my anxiousness and fear away."Do you mind repeating that?" I asked him. "I don't repeat myself, Princess." He said. He has used close to three different endearments in the space of forty minutes. I don't know this man well enough. Apart from today, we have spent only twelve hours together and we spent a good part of that time doing unholy things to ourselves— things that I remember vividly like it happened yesterday. I know the things he is capable of, I have heard things and seen a good amount of unflattering things about him in the news. I know the kind of crowd he moves with, the kind of thing he does, and just how dange
Riccardo's POV. I called her my soon-to-be wife. I don't know what kind of devil possessed me to do that but I am loving it anyway.Last night was a lot more than I expected. I wasn't sure about what I was going to say her when I stopped in front of her apartment but that didn't stop me from knocking on that door anyway and I hate to admit it but I am glad I did. I don't know why but I find this super exciting. I didn't spend much time with them but I saw and noticed just how close Aria and Emilia are which is expected since they only have each other and I know I might come off as a cruel person, scratch that, I am cruel most of the time but I am not cruel enough to separate them. Not that Emilia would let me take her daughter away from her without a fight. She looked like she was ready to pull my hair out and claw my eyes out of its socket last night and maybe that was what prompted me to say what I said. A marriage to Emilia? I have never even thought about getting married to an
Emilia's POV. So much for wanting to sleep my morning away, I could not even sleep the entire night. I kept tossing and turning and reaching out to Aria just to make sure she was still in bed with me. I managed to doze off for a bit but I soon woke up when I had a really short dream that Aria was taken away from me- I know it wasn't a dream but rather my fears and mind were busy playing a sick game with me. I did not bother trying to sleep after that and just stayed awake the entire night with Aria sleeping in my arms. Asides from my fear that Ric might take my baby away from me, there is the fact that I have to tell Aria about him. I don't even know how to go about it. I didn't expect this day to come so soon. I didn't even expect Ric to show up at my door. I have always known that it won't take him much to find me that is if he ever looked for me. I wasn't very worried about him finding me though because he was way too drunk that night that I doubt he even remembered what happened
Riccardo's POV. I don't know the kind of reaction I expected from Aria but it definitely wasn't this attitude thing she had going on. Okay, scratch that, I know what I was expecting. I thought she would be excited, you know, I thought she would go 'Oh yay! I have a dad now' but obviously I thought wrong. My first mess-up was showing up late to a doughnut date that I did not even realize I had signed up for and she was already giving me so much attitude and I also don't understand why I am so concerned about her attitude. I am Riccardo De Luca. I should not be getting concerned over a tiny five-year-old giving me attitude and shit. I don't even get concerned about anything other than the issues that have to do with the Mafia. "You might want to slow down here. The doughnut shop is right around that corner." Emilia said snapping me out of my thoughts. Aria was silent throughout the entire ride. Her silence either has something to do with me or she was just really interested in whatev
Emilia's POV. "We need to talk," I told Riccardo the moment we were alone. We spent the entire day together, or rather he spent the entire day with Aria. I was silent for most of the day and only interfered when it was absolutely needed. Aria had a great time with him. She was extra chatty, she asked a lot of questions and she wanted to do everything with her daddy. I also found out from her today that she had made a list of things she wanted to do with her dad when she finally gets to meet him. It makes me wonder how she managed to keep quiet about her dad all these years. I know how important having a father is to any child. I had both of my parents and even though they expected too much from us most of the time, my father has never deserted me. He might act all gruff and look angry most of the time but he is a sweet man, not very sweet but sweet. "Of course." He replied. Aria fell asleep on our way back home. She had so much fun that it was expected. I helped her to freshen up
Emilia's POV. "Somebody is excited to go to school today," I said in a singsong voice to Aria. She has been humming and doing a slow dance in the bathroom since and she didn't even complain when I was washing her hair so yeah, she is definitely in a good mood. "Yes, mummy. I am super excited." She announced. "You want to tell mummy what has got you so excited?" I asked her while helping her to dry her hair. "Daddy said he would come and pick me up from school later in the afternoon, isn't that exciting? I get to show all of my friends that I do have daddy too." She said. She was so excited about it that she could not even sit still and I wasn't about to ruin that for her. "Daddy said that?" I asked her and nodded. "We will go for ice cream after school and he will drop me off at the salon." She said. "Okay, Princess. Why don't you go and put on your uniform while mummy gets ready." I told her. She was out of the chair before I could even complete my sentence. I picked up my p