Chapter 82 White Flag
Roman
After putting Tony to bed, we go upstairs to find our daughter. She’s in her grandmother’s room. I look at my mother, surprised.
“I thought you were at Rose’s party,” I say, walking into the room.
Elena follows me, her steps hesitant. My mother frowns when she notices her.
“I had a headache, so I left early,” my mother says in response.
I reach for Cassie, who is fast asleep in her arms. My daughter doesn’t stir when I pick her up. My mother purses her lips and looks at me.
“Are you going to take them home?” she asks.
“They’re both staying here, actually. In my room,” I add, in case she doesn’t understand.
I look at her, daring her to say something. My mother and Elena have never had the best relationship, but she’s family. Cassie’s existence confirms that, and my feelings for her reinforce it. Even though I haven’t said anything in general that we’re in a relationship, I’m sure she’s aware of the fact.
“Good night,” Mom says cheerfully, clearly not in the mood to argue.
“Would you like me to get you an aspirin for your headache, Maria?” Elena asks softly from behind me. Her way of raising the white flag.
“That’s not necessary,” Mom replies.
I look at Elena with a soft smile. At least she tried. With my mom, it might take a while, but we’ll get there. We leave her bedroom and head to mine. I lay Cassie in the middle of our bed.
“She must be really tired,” Elena notes. “I can’t believe she’s not waking up. Although she probably won’t sleep all night. We definitely won’t get much sleep.”
“I don’t mind,” I tell her, about to take off my jacket and undress.
She watches me, her expression hot as I take off my shirt.
“Is it too late to take her to Maria’s room?” she asks, her eyes following my chest.
“It’s too late,” I grin, handing her a clean shirt. “Change into this, and then we can all get some sleep.”
She pouts, but does as I ask. My shirt hits mid-thigh, and the sight of her in my clothes makes her feel possessive. Elena lies down on Cassie’s other side. Without hesitation, I reach for her hand, entwining our fingers.
“I finally learned Cassie’s middle name,” I say quietly.
“Oh, yeah? What is it?”
“Katerina,” I tell her. “That feels right.”
“Cassiopeia Caterina De Luca,” Elena repeats. She gives me a soft smile.
“That’s a pretty big step. It’s perfect, though. I love it.”
And I love you.
Though I don’t say those words. I’m pretty sure if I did, it would scare her away. I’ll give her all the time she needs by staying by her side. I do not doubt that we were always meant to be together. Now all I have to do is wait for Elena to realize it.
Enzo.
I didn't have much experience with people. I grew up isolated. Isabella was the only real companion I had until I was eighteen, and I've really had no one since. I think I had Jason, but our relationship never got to the point where we could talk through feelings. Especially now that I'm his boss.
I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under twenty minutes. I'm an expert in about three or four martial arts. I'd say I'm pretty good at taking shit and being dominant in everything I do.
But when it comes to human interaction, I'm extremely incompetent. That's why the situation Rose and I find ourselves in right now is incredibly frustrating.
One step forward, two steps back. And I have no idea how to bridge this gap.
"Uncle Enzo," Marina says, intruding on my thoughts.
"Hm?" I reply, my eyes meeting hers through the rearview mirror.
I'm driving them to school because their regular driver is unavailable. Isabella is sitting next to me because she doesn't trust me to safely drive our little cousins. Frankly, I don't like her attitude.
And it occurs to me that if I can't fix my relationship with my family, then I probably won't be able to with Rose either.
"Is Rose your girlfriend?" Marina asks with a slight smile.
Surprisingly, her brother also weighed in.
"When she came, you said she would be your wife. But our teacher says you can't have a wife if you haven't had a wedding. So, are you and Rose married?"
"We're not married yet, guys. But we will be. We're engaged, so right now she's my fiancée." I said.
They fall silent, their faces thoughtful.
"So when will you get married?" Marina asks.
I pause to think about it. This is a conversation we haven't had. We should probably do it once we've gotten through this rough patch we're in.
"Before the end of the year," I inform the twins. "Probably in the winter."
Isabella's gaze lands on mine. "Who's having a winter wedding?"
"What? Are you afraid you'll be too cold?" I asked.
"That would mean I had plans to come to your stupid wedding, and I don't," she mutters, frowning.
"I want to go to the wedding," Marina says. "Can I wear a nice dress to the wedding? Please, Isa?"
Isabella sighed softly. "Of course, dear. You'll go to Enzo's wedding."
"Are you coming too?" Matthew asks hopefully.
She rolls her eyes. "Of course."
The twins are perfectly happy when we drop them off at school. Isabella watches them enter the building with a sad smile on her face.
"I'm glad they're happy again. They were so sad after their father died. I was afraid they wouldn't recover."
My jaw clenches. "Of course. Children are resilient."
She looks at me, and something in her expression breaks. "Enzo…"
"Whatever you're about to say, don't say it," I tell her.
Out of all the people in my life, Isabella understands what I've been through the best. But that doesn't mean I want to reminisce about the old days.
"You and Rose," she says instead. "Perhaps you'd like to undo everything you've done."
I raise an eyebrow. "And why does that bother you?"
"I don't care, whatever you think, I don't hate you, cousin. I know we've all been through some pretty shitty stuff in this family, and as the Don, you have to bear the burden. However... I've seen some light in you over the past few weeks, and I think you have Rose to thank for that. I'm just saying... I don't want you to let the only good thing in your life go to waste. I'm pretty sure the woman you're about to marry was made to look you in the eye.”
My gaze flickers forward as I catch her words.
"We'll figure it out," I say.
Unfortunately, maybe I was just talking out of my own ass. Because my fiancée insists on being the most annoying person on the planet.