Page 88 of Omega's Vengeance

“What are you going to name him?” Dr. Martin asks.

I clear my throat. “I’ve been thinking, Alessio. We should call him Joesph, after your father. I think that would be a nice, respectful thing to do.”

Alessio looks touched. “Really?”

I nod. “Yep. I think Joesph Abella-Coppola has a nice ring to it.”

Alessio’s eyes fill with tears. “You put my name first.”

My eyes sting as I say, “I’ll always put you first, Alessio. I promise.”

Epilogue

(One month after the birth)

Alessio

It’s not easy juggling being a new father with running a syndicate. I had no idea how much more exhausting it would be trying to do both. Baby Joseph still isn’t sleeping through the night, which means neither am I. Dario takes three nights a week with the baby, but that means four nights of the week I’m not getting enough rest.

There’s added pressure on me too because Valentino gave me the ports. It’s a complicated situation running the ports. Thankfully, I have Dario to help guide me, but there are millions of dollars flowing in and out of my operation in the form of smuggling firearms, alcohol, and tobacco. It’s stressful as hell, especially when I feel like I’m sleep walking most days.

One evening Dario and I are just about to sit down to dinner. I have the baby in a rocking swing near the table, and he’s snoozing away. Dario pours us wine while I light the two tapered red candles on the table.

“I ordered this lasagna from a restaurant. I didn’t have the energy to cook. Hope you don’t mind,” I say, blowing out the match. “It’s from that little place near the mall.”

“It’s food. That’s all I care about.” Dario sips his wine and nods his approval.

I groan as I take my seat, feeling like a creaky old man. “Did Valentino tell you he called me to yell at me today?” I ask, scooting my chair closer to the table.

Dario instantly bristles. “Excuse me?” His dark eyes flash with anger. “Why?”

“Someone from the Murphy syndicate accused me of human trafficking. They were spreading lies all over town. The Murphy mob has always hated the Abella syndicate. My father had many run ins with them over the years.” I scowl. “As if I’d ever take part in anything that disgusting.” An upstanding citizen, I am not. But I draw the line at smuggling humans.

“And Valentino believed the lies?” Dario narrows his eyes. “He believedmyomega would be involved in something like that?”

“He was pretty irate over the phone?”

“He actually yelled at you?” Dario growls, standing up and tugging his phone out of his pocket. “Well, we’ll just see about that. Yelling at my omega for something he’d never do? How dare he?”

I laugh nervously. “Dario, it’s fine. I told him it was a lie and he believed me.”

“Did he?” Dario arches one dark brow.

“He seemed to.” I give a weak smile. “He even apologized for yelling at me. That’s why I thought maybe he’d have told you. He’s probably never apologized to anyone before. I figured it was a traumatic experience for him.”

“No. He didn’t say a word to me.” Dario slowly tucks his phone away. “He actually apologized?”

“He did. Twice.” I laugh. “To be honest, I think I heard Nico in the background. I suspect he was trying to show Nico what a great guy he is. If Nico wasn’t around he’d have probably just hung up on me.”

Dario laughs gruffly. “You’re absolutely right. Valentino has horrible phone manners.”

“Anyway, it all blew over. But I’d love to get my hands on a Murphy one of these days. I’d love to give them a piece of my mind.”

“The entire Murphy clan are scum. If anyone is involved in buying and selling humans, it’s that group,” mumbles Dario.

“Let’s not talk about them. Let’s try to enjoy our meal.” I serve Dario a big helping of the lasagna, and I set a piece of garlic toast on his plate too. He rubs his hands together, looking happy. My heart aches watching him. I find him so endearing these days. It’s hard to remember I ever didn’t love him.

I serve myself a smaller portion, and Dario notices.

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