Desolate

Chapter 2

Gabriel's POV

It's been almost 16 years since I've seen my baby girl. She was almost 2 when her bitch of a mother took her from me and our sons. We still search daily because my daughter will know who her father is. Since giving Lorenzo the mafia, I have more time to spend on our legal businesses and more time to look for Mirabella. I could see in my children that it kills them the longer their sister has been gone, especially Lorenzo. He used to be the happiest kid; Mira was attached to his hip. The only person she wanted to be around more than Lorenzo was me. Now she did adore all her brothers, but there was a bond between Lorenzo, Angelo, and Mira that was as strong as the bond between Ares, Apollo, and Marcello. I just wish they had more time to bond between each other, I'm sure that Mira wouldn't even remember us. I doubt that Jessalyn told her anything about us. I knew it was suspicious when Jessalyn wanted to have a girl's day with Mira, those two were like oil and water more than the rest of the children. Jessalyn barely showed the boys attention, but she gave none to Mirabella. That was fine with me, the first girl in our family in generations was a daddy's girl and I loved it. I just wish I could bring her back home and shower her with love the way she deserves. I miss her more than anything. I grabbed the whiskey from my office bar and poured a glass. I never get drunk, I still have five other kids to take care of, regardless of their age. One glass just relieves some of the tension.

I was going through the documents my private investigator found on Mirabella or her mother when I heard my phone ring. "Gabriel Marchetti, speak." I didn't have time for foolish small talk.

"Hello Mr. Marchetti, this is Officer John Hammond at the Colorado Police Department. Jessalyn Collins and her husband were in a car accident. We took their daughter in and performed a DNA test and saw a match for you and your sons. Would you like to take custody of Mirabella?" I felt the earth move. They found my bambina.

"Yes, absolutely. Me and my son will be there in the morning at 8:00 a.m., is that soon enough?" I could hear the shakiness in my voice. I need to cut that shit out, I'm a former Mafia Don.

"Yes, thank you. We will see you in the morning. Please bring your id and be prepared to fill out paperwork."

I chuckled, "We'll see you then."

Holy shit. My girl was coming home. I put the documents away and went downstairs. I yelled in the hallway, "family meeting in 10 in the media room." The media room was the biggest room in the house, and it allowed all of us to fit in comfortably. We're all ridiculously tall so our normal living room was sufficient for when it was only a few of us. Lorenzo was the first in the room with a stone-cold look on his face. I hope hearing the news will at least put a smile on his face. The rest of my boys walked in one by one, all with different faces of confusion except Marcello. He had a goofy grin on his face, such a happy kid. His goofiness is contagious because I felt myself chuckle. All my sons looked at me, waiting for me to explain why I called a family meeting. The last family meeting was when I found out Ares and Apollo were fighting in the underground. We compromised that we would come with them for the next few fights and decided that they would train our mafia men because they were damn good fighters. Some of the best I've ever seen in all my years in the mafia.

"I received a phone call before I called this family meeting-" I was interrupted by my youngest son.

"I didn't do it, I don't care what they said Jessie told them, I did not get her pregnant, we never even had sex, I turned her down, she got upset, and now she's trying to say I'm a father. I'm too young to be father, especially to a child that's not mine." We all stared at him while he was going on about how he never even touched her. I saw Ares and Apollo holding back a laugh, Angelo had a look of terror on his face, and Lorenzo was smirking.

"Marcello, calm down son. That wasn't what the phone call was about, but dear lord never speak to a girl again. I cannot handle another conversation about you being a dad, you're not 18 just yet. However, this conversation was about a girl. We found her; your sister is coming home. Your mother and her new "husband," I don't know how she got married since we never divorced, were killed in a car accident. They brought Mirabella to the police station and called us when they got confirmation in the blood work. They sent me the results and they match. Now, Angelo, you and I will go in a few hours to fly to Colorado to get your sister. I need a nicer looking face to go get her the first time she meets us. We should be back tomorrow evening or the next morning at the latest."

My sons were shocked. Angelo had a tear falling down his cheek, Ares and Apollo both had equal looks of shock and anger on their face. I don't exactly know what would be angering in this situation, but they're allowed to feel anyway they'd like. Marcello face was beaming, he knew his twin was coming home. Now Lorenzo's face was the most shocking, my cold son was smiling for the first time in years. It made me feel like a damn good father seeing him light up that. I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight; my bambina was coming home.

Angelo and I were getting off the jet and into the rental car. My hands were sweating, I can't remember a time where I was this nervous. I know she won't remember us, but it still kills me that I wasn't there to watch her grow up. I don't have many regrets but allowing Jessalyn to take her on "a girl's day" takes first place. I could feel Angelo's excitement rolling off him. I know he's excited, as are the rest of my boys.

"Who do you think she favors, dad?" Angelo looked over at me while we were driving to the station.

I chuckled at him, "when she was born, you couldn't tell Marcello and her apart. I'd say we're getting ready to see the female version of your goofy brother. They are twins after all."

It took me 20 minutes to arrive at the station. When we walked in all heads bowed, the way it should. We walked to the receptionist who was batting her eyelashes at Angelo, who was suppressing a grimace. "Please stop staring at my son and give me the papers for my daughter, Mirabella Collins." I sneered at the last name, that's not her last name and it won't be for much longer. I finished filling out the paperwork, while the bimbo called the officer who was watching over my baby girl.

I saw 2 police officers come out with a girl, who looked like my youngest son, but a hollow version of him. She looked like she hasn't slept in days, and she was walking with a limp. What happened to my baby girl? Her eyes met mine and I felt whole again. "Hey baby, I'm your father, Gabriel Marchetti and this is your second oldest brother, Angelo." My daughter looked at me with no emotions, I think my hearts on the floor in pieces.

She nodded her head at me and slung her bag over her shoulder, "are we free to go?" She directed the question to the police officers. They both nodded with a smile and the female officer hugged her. Mira froze at the contact; Angelo and I locked eyes in worry.  The question remains what happened to my daughter?