Page 181 of Mafia and Gold Digger

“Open mine first!” Giulietta says, pulling her present out of the pile.

“No, mine!” Jaspar argues. I can already tell by its shape what he’s chosen for her—a stuffed crocodile.

“How about both of them?” Milena suggests.

Jaspar giggles. “At the same time? That’s just silly.”

“Then how about we let Liliana pick?” I suggest.

The kids nod as they coo and fawn over the little girl who’s soaking up all the attention from them. They’re always so affectionate and protective of her, and I love this unconventional family unit we’ve become.

After the presents have been opened, we all move into the kitchen, and I smile as I look down at the second cake. A homemade masterpiece created by the kids and me.

With a quick flick of Saint’s Zippo lighter, the candles on the cake are all lit and glowing in the darkened room.

And everyone begins to sing happy birthday. Not just to Liliana but to Saint as well. Because over the last two years, we’ve made it a new Veneti tradition to celebrate both their birthdays together.

Saint holds my gaze as I take my seat beside him. “Make sure you make a good wish,” I say softly to him.

“But tell nobody about it!” Jaspar warns.

“Or it won’t come true,” Giulietta adds.

Saint nods, that smirk on his face making an appearance and still causing as many butterflies in my stomach as it did the first time I met him.

With a dramatic pause, Saint and Lili blow out the candles together to a round of applause and cheers.

“Happy birthday,” I say, kissing his cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Em.” He turns to look down at Lili in his lap. “And I love Lili and the kids.” He gives a big, genuine smile. “Because this ismyfamily now—it'sourfamily.”

* * *

After hours of laughter, conversation, and cake, I stretch out on the bed, feeling the exhaustion from the day pulling me under.

Saint slips into the bed beside me, pulling me onto his chest. “You know, Em, I’m super proud of you for still going to the group.”

I smile up at him. “And I’m glad that you’re still coming to the group as well. I can tell that it helps you with your stuff as much as it helps me.” My OCD has much improved, and that’s something I’m happy about. It can still flare up if I get stressed, but the CBT has been really helpful for managing it.

His lips brush against my shoulder, and he lets out a small sigh.

“Good birthday?” I ask in a drowsy voice.

“The best so far.” He reaches down and kisses my neck.

I smile and turn to face him. “Did you really have a good day?”

“Yeah, I did. It was perfect. That was my wish…that everything will just stay perfect like this. I don’t know what I did to get this kind of life, but I’m damn glad it happened. You. Lili. Jaspar, Giulietta, and Milena.” He is silent for a few moments, and when he speaks again, his voice is quieter. “For the first time since I was five years old, I have what I’ve always wanted and always needed. Because you guys are it for me.”

“We were meant for each other, Saint.”

“Yeah, we were, Em.” He kisses my forehead, and I press closer.

“I’m just glad we get to give Lili a better upbringing than my siblings got.” I still shudder a little when I think about the lack of stability and what they went through with our parents and in the years before I married Saint.

“Em, you’ve done great with them. You’ve given them what they needed.Love. They have what every kid needs.”

“I know but…”

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