Owning the Mafia Don

Proserpina

I left the hospital, my heart full of joy and some trepidation. How would Lucien react?

My buddy Grace had reacted by throwing her arms around me and sobbing in joy. I made her promise not to tell her lover Danielle till I had spoken to Lucien, at least, to make sure he did not get to know from her. I wanted to surprise my husband.

We returned home. I was barely aware of the drive. When I got down from the large SUV, Beatrice was at the door, wringing her hands. Claude was toddling around, searching for me and he gave a war cry when he saw me and hurtled down the corridor at full speed,

‘Child?’ asked the old woman who was not just a housekeeper for me.

I hugged her and whispered, ‘I think I am going to have another set of twins, Bea!’

She tightened her arms around my shoulders and we stood there, clutching each other.

Beston’s light cough alerted me to the fact that I was standing in the doorway and he wanted me safely inside the house, with the door shut.

I gave him a dazzling smile and moved away.

Lucien would be home by dinner time and I wanted to prepare a feast.

Although I was not too keen on food myself, I wanted to have a small family celebration. Beatrice tried to dissuade me but I was obstinate. I was happy.

So very happy!

***

Finally, Beatrice wore me down and I settled on a healthy but delicious combination of rice and salad with chicken. I decide to follow it up with a Texas sheet cake. The kids loved it and I knew that Lucien usually went for seconds and thirds, despite being a weight watcher, now that he did fight once a month in the Ring.

Humming, I prepared everything under the watchful eyes of old Beatrice who hovered around, making me drink water continuously and seeing that I did not stand for too long. Fussing over me, she rapped Ria on the knuckles sharply when my daughter tried to dip Claude’s face in the cake mix.

I was feeling just a little tired and went to take a short nap after the food had been done.

The kids were creating a ruckus, as usual, little Claude battling his big sister for all he was worth, while Piers was kneeling on the kitchen floor, cuddling his small puppy.

***

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By the time the flight had landed and he was speeding back home, it was late; dinner time he thought, and remembered that he had not eaten for hours. He had been too perturbed by the things he had been hearing. Dmitri had come out into the open and was trying to proposition his dealers.

He was challenging Lucien on his territory. He would have to teach the b*stard a lesson.

Schwartz had also been silent and unforthcoming when he had called his Second in Command.

“She will tell you what the doctor told her, I suppose,’ he had said in a deliberately casual way that had surprised Lucien.

Scowling hugely, he looked at the house as the car rounded the driveway and tore up to the front door. Tony Beston came forward to open the door.

“Where is my wife?’ Lucien rasped. He was worried. She had not divulged what the doctor had said and had merely spoken in monosyllables when he called her.

Beston inclined his head politely.

“She is inside, Sir.’ he said in his usual unflappable manner.

Lucien strode in.

“Woman!’ he shouted.

There was no answering response. Usually, she would appear, her large brown eyes soft with love and wrap her arms around his neck, melting against him as they kissed, long and passionately.

Now she was nowhere. He walked into the kitchen; his nostrils flared.

Proserpina stood, pushing her hair away from her forehead with the back of her hand. She was in her favourite large T and a pair of shorts that exposed her thighs. She turned to smile at him and he noted with alarm that she looked tired, there were dark bruises under her lovely eyes. But she was dimpling at him and after washing her hands, she came forward to him. He looked at her, with that sultry sway of her hips, she could still entice him as he had been taken by storm, five years ago.

She had been cooking alright. Something smelled aromatic and mouth-watering.

Beatrice studied him as he entered.

“She’ s cooked enough to feed an army.’

She snapped crossly.

He strode across and gripping her head, crushed her mouth in a hard kiss.

She looked at him, brown eyes wide with surprise. They were oblivious to the other people in the kitchen as she melted in his arms, her own going around his rock-hard shoulders.

“What …?’

The kids were jumping up and down in excitement.

“What did the doctor say, woman?’ he asked, pulling her into his arms.

Before Proserpina could answer, Ria was shouting,

‘Pappa, Pappa, guess what! Mumma has TWO babies in her belly!!!’

He froze and looked into his wife’s face, the trembling mouth, the warm eyes filled with anxiety.

“Is it true, woman?’ he growled after a space.

She stood in the circle of his arms, her small hands on his chest, trembling slightly.

“Are …are you angry?’ she whispered in a small, forlorn voice.

For the answer, he lifted her in his arms, holding her up and she laughed and blushed and cried all at once.

He lowered her to the ground, forcing her to look at him.

“Why are you crying, my love?’ he said in a rough voice.

“I …I…’ she shook her head and he ran his hands over her body, stroking her belly gently. He sat down on a chair, pulling her onto his strong lap and she squirmed, murmuring,

“Lucien…’

He looked up, his cold grey eyes sweeping the room.

“Everybody out. He commanded. “I want to talk to my wife.’ And as Ria opened her mouth pugnaciously, her small fists on her hips, he added hurriedly.

‘And my children stay here too.’