IN THE DARK.

9

They say a baby starts to recognise their father even before they are born. By 24 weeks,  a baby can hear the sounds from outside and that includes your voice, which means through most of your pregnancy your baby can hear you and they form a bond with you.

Emiliano was never there during Mia's pregnancy. He never touched her womb, or talked to his child. He made it very clear that he didn't want to do anything with the baby. He basically told Mia to "end it." he was busy making his empire bigger and bringing a new woman home every night. That's why Mia was shocked when little Charlotte always paid attention to Emiliano and it broke Mia's heart because her father never spared her a glance.
Her eyes following Emiliano like she knew who he was, every time he was around her which was quite rare because Mia tried her best to keep her baby cub away from those people, maybe she was afraid of what they might say about her little one or call her names.

On top of that, Charlotte had all of Emiliano's features. From his hazel orbs to light chestnut brown hair. Even her toenails were just like his.

Now her baby was 6 Months old. She was growing every single day into the cutest most beautiful child in the world.

Since nobody was around, Mia decided to take Charlotte out in the garden. Change of scenery for a little baby's was important but Charlotte was always inside a room but that was just how it was. Alessa's evil threats every time she saw Charlotte were enough weren't something that Mia wanted to hear.

"Oh look Charlotte, there is a birdie." Mia said sweetly as a group of birds flew from one place to another. Charlotte was busy sucking her thumb.

"Baby look around there are so many flowers." She then told her little girl. The backyard garden of the mansion was enormous with every kind of flower in the world. And the mornings seemed beautiful specially when no one was there in the house.

Charlotte suddenly became active and started pointing out at things when she saw Emiliano's dogs running around.

Emiliano was an animal lover through and through.

That's a soft trait for a Mafia don but he didn't seem to care.

Not like his dogs were little pups.

They were huge.

A light brown Golden retriever and a giant german shepherd.

They had been in the Estate for as long as Mia could remember.

"Do do." Mia was shocked. Her baby's first words.

"Yes those are do dos." Mia chuckled as she kissed her child lovingly.

She sat on the grass so Charlotte could get a glimpse of the dogs closely but the animals started to run in a certain direction.

Mia got up and looked behind to see who it was and it was Emiliano standing.

He looked at her and looked away. The dogs stopped and sat in front of Emiliano. He sat down to their level and patted them.

"Do do." Charlotte pointed at Emiliano and he looked at her for 2 seconds before turning his gaze.

"Milo." A blonde woman came behind him wearing nothing but a silk rob. He got up without looking back She hugged him from behind and kissed his neck.
"When did you leave the bed ?"

"A while ago. Go inside, get your stuff and leave."

Mia was turned away completely but she could still hear the conversation.

"I can't have one moment of peace." Mia muttered to herself.

Though Mia proceeded to leave, Charlotte's eyes were still at the scene behind her. Emiliano and the dogs. She kept calling them do dos and pointing at them and suddenly started crying when she got tired calling out to them and they didn't come running to her.

Once Mia got inside the Estate she crashed into someone.

"Woah, Careful pretty girl." Lucas said with a flirty smile on his face.

"I'm sorry." Mia apologised as she tried to walk but Lucas blocked her way.

Charlotte stopped crying by then but her precious little sniffs could still be heard.

"Is this my brother's baby ?" He asked with a smirk.

"No." Mia sternly answered.

"Well." Lucas continued. "I would've believed you but the eyes gave it away." He looked at the baby in Mia's arms.

"You fell for the wrong brother, eh pretty girl ?" He said. He was making her feel uncomfortable. Uncomfortable not in the sense that she was afraid of him or his intentions. She knew he was harmless, he was just childish with his words. She was uncomfortable because he was annoying her when all she wanted to do was leave.

"Lucas, che cazzo stai fecendo ? Marco said as he dusted something off his suit jacket.
"Lucas, what the fuck are you doing ?)

"Attirando questo bellissima nel mio fascino, bro." Lucas winked at Marco
(Translation: luring this pretty girl into my charms.)

"Aspettami fuori." Marco told him as he chuckled and went outside.
(Translation: Go wait for me outside.)

Marco looked at Mia and then at Charlotte with smile.

"Why is she crying ?" Marco grazed Charlotte's baby hair as she looked at him with her bambi eyes.
"Why are you sniffing bub ?" He asked the little girl in a sweet voice as Charlotte grabbed his finger.

"She wants to play with dogs." Mia answered.

"She want a dog ? Should i get he..." Marco was speaking when Mia cut him in between.

"No Marco, there's no need. she's still a baby. What will she do with a dog ?" Mia said.

"Okay, okay. No dog right now. I've to leave, i'll see you around." Marco told her and left.

It was until an hour later when Mia fed her baby and she fell asleep when Maria barged into her room and locked the door behind her.

"Mia, there's a call for you." Maria said in a hushed tone.

Mia was surprised. A call for her ? She took the phone from Maria's hand and put it on her ear.

"Hello." Mia spoke and waited for a sound from the other side.

"Mia ragazza." An old and weak voice came from the other side of the phone and sent chills down Mia's spine. She couldn't believe her ears. She couldn't believe anything. Tears prickled in her eyes as she struggled to find words.

"No.... Nonno." Mia said but her voice came into a sob.