Page 51 of Marcello
Marcello
“You’ve been moody again.”
I looked at Vincent and nodded. “I’m not moping around the villa though.”
Vincent shook his head. “No, but you’re moody, and I’m not the only one who has noticed.” Vincent gave me a pointed look. “There isn’t trouble between you and Abel, is there? After what happened with his father?”
I snorted. “Not even a little.” I smiled as I remembered what Abel had said to me before Uriah had been dealt with. “My beloved wanted his father to suffer for what he did to him. He mentioned that if he could do what he did to his own son, he would be willing to do it to others. Abel had no love for his father, and he’s had no issues with me since that day.”
“That was a week ago,” Vincent said. “It’s not the thought of impending fatherhood, is it?”
“No. I’m excited about the babies. Abel is trying his best to hold on to the fact that we don’t know what we’re having. He wants it to be a complete surprise, but now that we’re even closer to them being here, he’s struggling with not knowing.”
Vincent stared at me for a long moment and shook his head. “That’s not what’s causing your mood. There’s something else. Something you aren’t telling me.”
I thought about avoiding the subject for a moment but knew it was useless. “It isn’t anything to do with my relationship with Abel. That is strong, and there are no issues there.”
“Then why the mood shift? You should be excited and happy. I haven’t seen that. You always look incredibly thoughtful and possibly a bit resigned.”
I nodded. “Things…I don’t regret what happened with Uriah. I appreciate all of your support and your offer to deal with him for me. That isn’t the issue. I am struggling because I’m torn between my loyalty to the coven and to my beloved and children. I do not wish for this life to touch them. Inevitably, that is what is going to happen eventually. It will…” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “The thought of anything happening to any of them, I know there would be no stopping me if any of them were ever hurt because of the family. I know we protect our own, but things are different with beloveds and children now. Abel isn’t Mazzi. He doesn’t have magical powers to help protect himself.”
Vincent nodded slowly. “May I ask that you wait before making any final decisions? I understand your position. I truly do. I have thought about the situation in which you are referring to and ask that you please just wait. I’m looking into some things. It will mean a lot of changes for all of us, but I’ve been working on something since Naldo and Mazzi announced their pregnancy.”
He had? And he’d not said a word to me? “You didn’t think to say anything to me? I’m your number two.” I scowled at Vincent.
“Yes, but at that time, and until I took matters into my own hands, you were unbearable to be around. I felt you weren’t in a place to discuss such things with. And it comes down to the factthat ultimately, I run this coven and have final say about what happens.”
“Of course,” I said. Anything else I was going to say was interrupted by Vincent’s phone ringing. He held up a finger, indicating for me to wait.“Ciao, Nikolai. Un minuto.”Vincent looked directly at me. “I need to take this call. Please keep me updated about Abel and the twins.”
“Of course.” I stood and left the office, quietly closing the door behind me.
“Mio angelo? Dove sei?”
“Uh, I got only half of that, Marcello. Is your meeting finished? I’m on the back terrace with Mazzi and Tulio. Rio is here as well.”
I chuckled. “I apologize. I was just talking with Vincent. I had asked where you are, and you answered even without completely understanding. I will be right there to join you.” It only took minutes to get to Abel and the others. When I opened the door that would lead me to the back terrace, I found Abel sitting with his back to me, but like the others, he heard the door and turned. The smile was instant, and I returned the gesture. I leaned down, placing one hand on the back of his hair and the other on his chin to move his face up to meet mine. I kissed him quickly and pulled away, smiling. “Are you enjoying yourself?” I asked.
“I am. We’re talking about labor and what is to be expected.”
“That sounds important. Do you mind if I join you all?” I looked at the others, and Mazzi snorted.
“As if you are going to leave him even if we say yes,” Mazzi said. “But it’s probably a good thing if you’re here for this conversation. Abel is going to need your support.”
I nodded as I pulled out the empty chair beside my beloved. “Yes, I’m aware that Abel is going to need my help and support. I wasn’t planning on leaving him to do everything on his own.I only left him alone this afternoon because I was in a meeting with Vincent.”
Mazzi’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were going to avoid your beloved,” he said.
Abel placed a hand on my arm, and immediately, I relaxed. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“I was asking Mazzi if he wanted to be there when I had the twins,” Abel told me. “Ideally, it would be Sandro, but he’s not returned yet.”
“We’re working on that,” I told them. “We think he’s on Capri, but he’s just not responding to any messages. He turned his phone off and left it in his room here so we can’t trace it.”
Abel tilted his head. “My father was hiding in his fox form. How is it that Master Vincent found him but can’t find one of his own vampires?”
I opened my mouth to comment but stopped. That was a valid point. “You’re correct. I’m not sure about that, exactly. I’ve not really been overly involved in coven things for a while.”
Abel suddenly looked guilty.
