Michael's Story

Chapter 10

Three days until Gerardo's birthday

Michael's smile widened as he looked down at his niece, whose tiny mouth was yawning. She had one of his enormous fingers entangled with her small set of digits. He looked at her admiringly as he rocked gently in the rocking chair. He imagined how proud his mom would be to meet her grandchildren. Even his father's reaction crossed his mind.

It was a well-known fact that José yearned for a daughter. Still, he didn't want any more than two children. He tried to pass the leadership baton on to his sons, whom he raised as best he could.

Michael felt happy and sad simultaneously at the expansion of his family. He had never seriously considered starting a family of his own, so he was curious if he would ever have one. Finding a woman he wanted to start a family with was hard. There was a real possibility that he might never have children to carry the family name, but he reasoned that it might be for the best.

"Okay, give me my baby back." Antonio walked into the nursery.

Michael half smiled and said, "Nah, I'll keep this one. I still can't believe you got twins. Two babies at once."

Michael couldn't take his eyes off the baby.

"Man, I can't believe it either. The whole pregnancy was stressful. Five weeks in the NICU. They made it, though."

"I knew they would." Michael pecked her forehead.

"Of course. These are Martinez babies. They were born with it." Antonio said.

"They got some of me in them too." Celia walked into the room smiling,

"You too soft," Antonio said to Celia.

Celia ignored Antonio and came to Michael to grab the baby. "Sorry to interrupt, but she has to get cleaned up and eat."

"If she starts crying, it's because she wants me," Michael told Celia, earning a chuckle from his sister-in-law.

"She met you two minutes ago. So chill," Antonio said.

"She knows I'm her uncle," Michael said.

After Celia left the room, Antonio turned around to double-check that she was gone. He cautiously looked over at his brother, sensing that something was wrong. Michael got to his feet, avoiding his gaze.

"Tell me what's going on," Antonio said to him.

As far as Michael was concerned, Antonio was the only one who could honestly read him. They were not only siblings but also partners in business for a long time. Neither of them ever kept anything from the other.

"Nothing." Michael tried to act casual about it, but he was never good at lying to his brother.

Michael attempted to walk around him, but Antonio held him back. As he tried to channel his inner big brother, Antonio stared Michael down. Retracing his steps, Michael paused.

"Fucking Pablo." Michael caved.

"What about him?" Antonio's signature scowl shaped his face.

"It's a whole fucking story."

"I've got time," Antonio said.

Michael gazed at his brother and said, "I don't want you getting in the middle of nothing. You got all this good shit going for yourself. You don't need to be back in this after what it took to get you here." Michael said to him.

"I left that shit behind; that was my choice. But you're still my brother, and that's never going to change." Antonio said.

While sitting back in the rocking chair, Michael picked up a stuffed animal and said, "Pablo ran off." He said as he fiddled with the bear.