Balotelli-Bale Series Book #4: THE OTHER MAN PART 1

Chapter 26: Make up

"...Apologizing doesn't mean you're wrong and the other person is right. It means you value your relationship more than your ego..."

Nick's POV
After I closed the door, I rested against it.

I gave in. He threatened to hurt Kei and I gave in. I work for Romano Mancini and by extension, the Mafia. He was clear that if a penny of his money goes missing he will take one of my hands. After that a limb for each offense. I would gladly challenge him on that but not on Keira's safety. There's no gamble there.

"Daddy!" Maddie hugged my legs. "Oh you're here! You're here! You're here!" She started jumping up and down, her arms raised for me to pick her up.

We shared a quick kiss. "Ciao piccola. You got prettier, didn't you?"

"Duh!" She made a stupid face and I matched it to make her laugh.

"I missed you."

"I missed you this much." She opened her arms wide.

He threw her up and caught her to turn her upside down, holding her by her legs. Her screams and giggles filled the quiet house.

"Have you eaten?"

"A lot!"

"Then let's turn you the right side up before you throw up! There you go! There you go piccola. Bed time? Why are you not in bed?"

"I was waiting for you."

"Well I'm here. Let's go to bed. Take me to you room. Go! I'm right behind you!"

When I set her down and she ran off my joy left with her. I'm reminded that I'm pissed at Kei for not taking an extra mile for me.

"Fatherhood looks good on you." Nonno spoke to me from the floor above. "There hasn't been that much life in this house since you used to live here."

"Even when Tony is drunk and loud?"

He laughed. "Tony is always th life of the party. Come up here. I want to talk to you." He walked on. I went up the curved steps to meet him. "How did it go with Mancini?"

"He got his way."

"Dio! The very thing I have tried to keep you away from..." He pressed the bridge of his nose. "What does he have on you? Mancini blackmails his way. What did you do?"

"It's not what I did. It's who. Keira."

"How? I don't follow. Are you involved with the girl?"

"I love the girl." I told him. "I think Mancini knows."

Nonno scratched his head. "You are still married, no?"

"I am."

"Marianna says she's married too. Is that true?"

"It is."

"So tell me something Nicko. What are you doing?"

I looked up at the ceiling. I blinked repeatedly. "I don't know what I'm doing but I know what I feel. I will not let her slip through my fingers. Our marriages will be done with and both of us will be free to be together. In the meantime,I don't see why we shouldn't enjoy each other's company."

"Dio! Did Mancini hit you in the head? Have you lost your mind bambino?" His voice rose steadily.

"I'm not changing my mind. Buona notte nonno." I kissed his cheek and left him.

A good night's rest should help. Tomorrow is the day of the overflow. My grandfather will have a lot of visitors over to celebrate his success with the winery. There will be a free flow of wine. He does this every year and this is my first one in ten years.