Love thy Enemies

Mistletoe 'n' Kiss Your Foe

November rolled around and my fingers felt like they were made of glass. Lia, Vince and Lina played in the snow covered gardens with bodyguards. They pleaded and begged and held onto my legs and I couldn't help but cave in and let them go play. Val approached me from behind and put a thick throw over on my back. I breathed in the caramel scent that invaded my home since October.

"Still watching the kids I see." Val says holding me in his embrace from behind. I nodded my head and leaned into his hold. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't missed this. I'd be damned to hell if I said I didn't enjoy this. On the last week of October before the Christmas decorations engulfed the Halloween ones he invited me to a couple of his therapy session with his psychiatrist doctor Adam Park. That man really knows what he's doing. We had a blindfolded test to see if trust is something we have. On the table we're three types of substances. Something salty, something sweet, and something awfully bitter it could be earwax. One of us would be blindfolded and spun three times before our partner has to guide us through the officer to get the sweet substance. A few minor bumps here and there but I found from that session that we do trust each other. It was also in that session with Mr Park that I came to an understanding. I couldn't ask Valentino to give up the mafia life. It was in his blood at this point and no matter how much I hated the very aspect of it he couldn't just up and leave. He'd have us all killed. So I made him promise me that above all else, no harm will come to this family, and Vince will have a choice as to whether or not he wants to be a part of that world. That night we spent cuddling in his bed. Our bed as he would put it. He was considerate enough to have the whole room redecorated to not resemble anything of the past. Bandaging the wounds so they heal.

"Come away from there, you'll catch a cold." he said, his hands on my waist pulling me away from the large, ceiling to floor glass windows of the sun room.

"But-" I said trying to escape his hold, but good lord this man was strong.

"They'll be fine mon belle (my beauty). Anto said he'll bring them in for dinner." he said and I stopped struggling against him.

"Okay fine." I said as we silently walked back to the grand dining room.

"Nana." he chimed softly into my ear.

"Yes Val?" I asked tugging at the loose tassels of the thick throw over.

"Come with me upstairs to the third floor, I've gotta show you something." he says as he grabs my hand and spins me around and making me fall into his open arms.

"What is it?" I ask, smiling and giggling.

"Well it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you now would it." he asks and cups my face in his hand.

"I suppose not." I whisper looking away shyly. Four months ago I would have never set foot in this house, four months ago I would have never dared to utter a word to Valentino or anyone associated and or affiliated with him. I was ready to fake my death, move to a different state, marry someone else and never tell my child he was the son of a monster, but here we are today, in love the right way. Being patient with each other and growing as parents. Making time for each other even when he has to go on long trips to make sure we're safe from danger and threats.

"Good. Let's go." he said. I never knew just how much I enjoyed looking in his eyes. He turned around and looked at me softly. He then leaned in for a kiss and my heart was racing. My body felt like it was set on fire. Every star in the heavens aligned so perfectly for this moment, everything felt so surreal like a scene perfectly rehearsed out of a movie. His arm wrapped around my waist and his other hand cupped my cheek. He had me up against the wall with my legs around his torso. My breathing stopped as he was closing the space between us. Everything was so right, only for him to kiss my nose. My eyes opened and he set me back on the ground and smirked ever so mischievously.