A twist of Wheels and Fate

4.

*Marco*

"Hey princess.", Paola immediately jumped into my arms.

I caught my best friend's daughter and twirled her through the air briefly before hugging her tightly to me. This little girl meant everything to me. She had me, from the first moment, just like the other boys from the ranch, immediately wrapped around the finger. I would never forget the day she was born. That moment when I held her in my arms for the first time and silently swore to always be there for her.

I had never broken that promise and would never break it. She was so much more to me than just my best friend's daughter.

And I didn't like to think about it, but looking at her like that, she could have very well been my daughter. In any case, she looked much more like me than Pierre.

She could easily have been the daughter of me and Gia.

Paola had, just like Gia and me, dark brown curly hair. She had facial features that were more like mine than Pierre's and her eyes were clearly from her mom.

Those green eyes with the brown dots in the green. They managed to get me through the biggest insecurities. Brought me peace.

Only, Gia's eyes were even more expressive than her daughter's. At least to me.

Because they gave me more than just peace.

When Gia looked at me, I sometimes forgot how to breathe because my heart started beating so fast it took my breath away. Only her eyes did that to me. Only in her eyes could I sink so deeply.

"Bezzy!" squealed Paola, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

"Did you sleep well?", I brushed her wild curls out of her eyes and smiled, she nodded immediately.

"Is daddy coming soon?" she asked excitedly.

I knew how much she loved her dad and even though I didn't like Pierre very much, I had to admit that he was a really good father most of the time. He put in plenty of effort with Paola and tried to spend as much time with her as he could. Still, he would never have as much influence over her as we had.

Gia did everything she could to make sure Paola saw her dad as family, of course, but if you were completely honest, we had gotten more part of her life at the ranch than Pierre had. Each of us had such a close relationship with her that Pierre might never really catch up.

He would always be her father, but when Paola looked back someday, and I was sure she would, she would have so many more memories of us. Of the ranch. After all, she practically grew up there.

Just like we all were.

Gia, too.

She had never ridden a motorcycle, but she had grown up there just like the rest of us. She was like a sister to Vale, which he made clear whenever anyone got too close to her. Only us boys had a right to do that, but just mainly because he assumed we saw her as a sister and looked out for her.

He had no idea that my heart beat faster just thinking about her.

No one suspected anything about that and that was definitely better. Because nothing really stayed a secret on the ranch for long.

"Yeah, your dad's already here. That's why I'm picking you up," I smiled.

She pressed a kiss to my cheek with loud joy and giggled. My heart melted. This little girl had me wrapped around her little finger so much it was hard to believe. I would do anything just to make her laugh.

"Daddy!" she cheered as Stefania thrust her little backpack into my hand.

"Did she behave?", I asked, raising an eyebrow.