Chapter 134 Good News
GIOVANNI’S POV
Maria had outdone herself with tonight’s dinner. There was honey glazed ham, roasted chicken, lasagna, some spring beans, fresh bread rolls, and a wine I knew Enzo had been saving for a special occasion.
Everything was perfect, but I barely tasted any of it.
"The shipment from Genoa went through without issues," Enzo said, cutting his chicken. "And O'Neil confirmed he'll have the next delivery ready by the end of the month."
"Good." I took a sip of wine. "What about the warehouse security upgrades?"
Enzo bobbed his head. "Completed yesterday. Double cameras, reinforced entry points, and new access codes for-"
"Stop!" Jasmine held up both hands, her expression exasperated. "Can we please have one dinner where you two don't turn it into a business meeting?"
Enzo looked sheepish. "Sorry, amore. You're right."
"We're always working," I said with a slight shrug. "It's what we do."
"That's exactly the problem." Jasmine pointed her fork at me. "Giovanni, when was the last time you talked about something other than work?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. She had a point.
"See?" Jasmine leaned back in her chair, satisfied. "You two need hobbies. Lives outside of the mafia."
"Says the woman who's dating a capo," Enzo teased, reaching for her hand.
"Dating a capo who I'm trying to civilize." She squeezed his hand back, and something passed between them… a look I couldn't quite decipher.
They had been acting strange all evening, like they were holding something back.
"What's going on?" I set down my fork, studying them both. "You've been weird since you got here."
"We're not weird," Enzo said too quickly.
"You're definitely weird." I looked at Jasmine. "Spill."
She and Enzo exchanged another look, some silent conversation happening between them.
"We're getting married," Enzo blurted out. "And Jasmine's pregnant."
The words hung in the air.
I stared at them, my brain struggling to process what I had just heard.
Enzo was going to be a father.
"Gio?" Enzo's voice was cautious. "Say something."
I should be happy for them. But all I could think about was Arya, somewhere out there, carrying my child alone.
And how I should be preparing for fatherhood, and building a future instead of desperately searching for one that had slipped through my fingers.
"That's…" My voice came out rough. I cleared my throat. "That's wonderful news."
The smile I forced onto my face felt wrong, artificial. But I made myself stand, move around the table and pulled Enzo into an embrace.
"Congratulations, fratello," I said, and I meant it, even if the words tasted bitter. "You're going to be a great father."
"You think so?" Enzo pulled back, searching my face.
"I know so." I turned to Jasmine, who was watching me with worried eyes. "And you… you're stuck with him now. No backing out."
She laughed, relief evident in her expression. "I wouldn't dream of it."
I smiled and bobbed my head. "Have you set a date?"
"Not yet. We wanted to tell you first." Jasmine stood, moving to Enzo's side. "And we were hoping… well, we would like you to be the best man."
Something genuine broke through my carefully constructed facade. "Of course. I'd be honored."
"And…" Jasmine bit her lip. "I know this is asking a lot, but is there anything you'd like to give us? As a wedding gift? Enzo said you'd offer, and I should just ask for what I want instead of being polite about it."
The tension in the room eased slightly. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
"Anything," I said, and found I meant it. "Name it. A house? A car? A small country?"
Jasmine laughed. "Maybe not a country. But… could you not kill yourself trying to find Arya?"
The request caught me off guard.
"I'm serious." Her expression sobered. "You're running yourself into the ground, Giovanni. Not eating, not sleeping, obsessing over every lead that goes nowhere.”
She smiled tightly. “You’re like a brother to Enzo and…” she paused and reached out to squeeze my hand. “I want my future husband's brother alive and healthy to meet his niece or nephew."
"Niece," Enzo said with certainty. "It's going to be a girl."
She turned to him and scowled. "You don't know that!”
"I know." He grinned at her. "Father's intuition."
They started playfully arguing about baby names and nursery colors, and I found myself relaxing despite everything. Letting their happiness wash over me, even if it stung.
This was what family should be. Love and laughter and plans for the future.
This was what I had destroyed with Arya.
“… don't you think, Gio?"
I blinked, realizing I had zoned out. "Sorry, what?"
"I said we're thinking about a spring wedding," Jasmine repeated. "April or May. Does that work for you?"
"Whatever you want. I'll make it work."
The rest of dinner passed in easier conversation, especially about Jasmine's cravings that were apparently driving Enzo crazy.
I participated, teased them, even laughed at Enzo's story about Jasmine crying over a commercial for dog food.
But underneath it all, I felt hollow.
After the meal, Jasmine excused herself to the bathroom. The moment she was gone, Enzo turned to me, his face was knitted into a tight frown.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For taking the news well. I know this can't be easy, with everything you're going through."
"It's not about me." I refilled both our wine glasses. "This is your moment. You and Jasmine. I'm genuinely happy for you."
He frowned, cocking his head to the side. "But?"
"But nothing." I met his eyes. "You're going to be a father, Enzo. You're getting the family you've always wanted. That's something to celebrate."
He smiled solemnly. "You'll get it too. When we find Arya-"
"Maybe." I took a long drink. "Or maybe I've burned that bridge too thoroughly to ever rebuild it.” A small sigh left my lips. “Either way, I'm not going to let my mess cast a shadow over your happiness."
Enzo studied me for a long moment. "You're a good man, Gio. I know you don't believe that anymore, but you are. And you deserve happiness too."
Before I could respond, Jasmine returned, and the conversation shifted back to lighter topics.
When they finally left, I stood in the doorway and watched them drive away.
They had a whole future stretching out before them.
And I had... what? An empty house. A missing woman and a child I had never met.
I closed the door and stood in the silent foyer for a long moment. Then, without consciously deciding to, my feet carried me upstairs.
I walked the door at the end of the hall that had secretly become my hiding place.
Arya's room.
I opened it slowly, and smiled at how everything was arranged, even down to the bed. Maria must have seen me coming her and taken it on herself to keep the place arranged.
With a weary sigh, I moved to the bed and sat on the edge, my hands clasped between my knees.