Page 46 of Odin

I grabbed my boxers to put on and made my way to the bathroom in the hallway to wash my hands.

"It's okay, Dino. Daddy's here," I said as I turned the corner into his room. My son was sitting up in his crib, getting ready to wail again. I crossed the room in three steps and picked him up, lightly bouncing him. "Hey," I said. "There's no need for that." I kissed his forehead and placed him on the changing table for a new diaper.

From the dimples in each cheek to his brunette hair, my son was a carbon copy of his mother. His eyes were bright blue, the same shade as mine.

"Happy first birthday, buddy. Let's get you changed and fed some breakfast before your Grandpa Lombardo sends a search party. He's throwing you a zoo birthday, so try to act surprised." Dino made a hiccup noise, like he was gearing up again. "I know. I tried to tell him you don't like the animals, but you know Grandpa. He doesn't listen well." Lorenzo and I still only tolerated each other. I was getting better at extending the time in between wanting to bash his head in.

I warmed a bottle one-handed as I held Dino against my chest. "Your Uncle Sergio tried to tell him, but he's determined that you're going to pet the goats and like it. It's okay, buddy. Cry toyour heart's content. Help your old man out, so that Grandpa never does this again."

I kissed Dino's forehead as I walked back to the bedroom with the bottle. "Jag älskar dig," I whispered to him.I love youin Swedish. "Your mother was right. Dino is a much better name than Thor."

When Mr. De Angelis had named me Odin, I would have said yes to anything he offered. He had asked me a few times if I thought he had saved me from the streets or damned me to hell. I never answered. It was the past, and there was no point in agonizing over it. We'd all chosen our paths, but if accepting his offer had led me here, with Serena and Dino, I'd choose it a million times over and patiently wait for them to appear.

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