Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I climb to my feet, and framing my wife’s face, I kiss the hell out of her as shouts of congratulations fill the air.
When I pull back, Dad is first to shake my hand and Mom hugs Laurie.
Laurie and I already decided on baby names, and it fills me with great honor when I don’t let go of Dad’s hand, but lock eyes with him. “We already chose his name.”
Complete silence falls around us.
“Fuck, you’re going to make me cry, aren’t you?” Dad asks, emotion tightening his features.
My voice carries the power of our bloodline when I announce, “Angelo Rizzo Junior.”
Mom lets out a sob while Dad looks up, blinking hard as he fights to control his emotions.
“There’s no man we respect more,” Laurie says.
Emotion lodges hard in my throat because it’s the truth. Dad taught me everything I know about loyalty, family, and protecting what’s ours.
He clears his throat before he says, “Thank you. This means everything to me.”
The special moment hits fucking hard, and as I pull my father into a hug, I whisper, “I hope I’m half the father you’ve been to me.”
“Christ.” The word is strained, and he grips me tightly. “You never cease to make me proud to be your dad, Adriano. I hope Angelo Junior brings you all the joy you’ve given me.”
Once Dad pulls away, my mother immediately drags me into her arms while Dad grabs hold of Laurie. After we’re done receiving all the well-wishes, everyone returns to their spots and conversations resume.
I turn to my wife, and framing her face with my hands, I stare deep into her eyes. “You’re carrying our son.”
She smiles up at me with more love than I’ll ever deserve.
After a while, some of the younger kids fall asleep in their parents’ arms while the older men sit near the fire pit drinking and talking.
Soft music drifts through the air, and Dad pulls Mom into his arms, dancing between the tables.
With Laurie leaning into my side, her head resting against my shoulder while my hand caresses her stomach, I watch as one couple after the other joins my parents.
“I love you, Adriano,” Laurie whispers.
I kiss her forehead. “I love you, too, Mia piccola farfalla.”
Sitting with my wife in my arms and our son safe beneath my hand, I take in the people who make my life what it is.
Every sacrifice, every hard decision, every brutal thing we’ve done to protect what belongs to us has led to moments like this. We would all turn the entire fucking world into a graveyard before we let anyone touch what’s ours.
The End.