Page 42 of Beautiful Broken Obsession

I nod.

“No dear, sorry, he’s not in today. Since you’re Carlo’s daughter I’m willing to point you to his home.”

A nice lady, she gives me the address and then the directions from here. It’s not far. I could walk it and if I weren’t sure Milos would figure out I was gone soon, I would. Out on the street I hail a cab and give him the address and directions.

Tony Sabatini’s house is pretty. A four-square in red brick with black trim and a black wrought-iron gate around it. Even though it’s far smaller than Carlo’s and Milos’s, it seems more welcoming, like it’s the kind of home that’s loud and filled with love. Hmm, I wonder how I’m supposed to get in. Suddenly the gate is buzzed open. I look up to see a camera pointed at the gate and give a wave as I walk through it.

I’m at the steps when Tony Sabatini opens the front door. He’s holding a baby boy who is him in miniature down to the blue eyes. My chest gives a little squeeze at how cute he is. He buries his face in Tony’s neck to hide from me.

“Celia, is everything okay? Come in.” He steps back to give me room.

His home is exactly as it seems from the outside and the kind of place I would have picked over Carlo’s or even Milos’s a dozen times over. “Yes, I needed to ask you…I’m sorry to bother you.”

“No bother at all. I told you, anything you need I’m here for you and your sister. Come in to my office. I need to keep ahold of Santino though. My wife is resting. She’s pregnant with twins and lately is tired more often than not.” He guides the way deeper into the house.

I spot an open door into a library with books lining the walls. His office is similar to the library but slightly more imposing. He gestures to a chair in front of a fire. “He’s gorgeous. I heard about the twins. Congratulations.”

Santino gives me a gummy smile. “Hi, yes, I’m talking about you. You know you’re handsome. Don’t you?”

He gurgles as he laughs.

“Would you like to hold him?” Tony asks.

“Yes, please. It’s been forever since I got to hold a baby. Thank you.” Santino is a sweet baby. He’s a confident little guy who comes to me with a laugh, although he checks to make sure Tony is nearby.

Tony sits down across from me. “You wanted to ask me…”

“What do you think of Milos, as a man, as a—I don’t know. Do you think he will be a good husband?” I sigh, as I run a hand over Santino’s head. He sighs in return and buries his head into my chest. So soft, I ache knowing I’ll have to hand him back.

Leaning back, Tony studies me. “Milos Levin is mafia so there’s always that to consider. Beyond that and most important is how he does business. With a bend to exploit, break down, or take? Or is there an attempt to find a balance of power?”

Blue eyes see my understanding. “He was willing to stop trafficking—to go against his father and grandfather. Something not to be ignored. It doesn’t matter he ended up making more money in the end with us, it took several years for that to happen. A willingness to see the error of your ways and attempt to become better is not something many men are able to do. Over the years Milos has become a better man than he was when I first met him, and I thought he was a good man from the beginning. I think he will make an excellent husband.”

Relief fills me, I run a hand over Santino’s back. I think it soothes me more than it does him. “In what ways has he changed?” I can’t help wondering aloud.

“He took to studying, he did not assume he knew it all. While his father raised him with the lessons he learned in his years of experience, there was still much they needed to learn. His father stressed brute force and strength. They did not work on building loyalty within their men. Milos saw that and he was willing to change—without ego. He studied the books Dominic read then asked him for more. Not really surprising he grew to admire Sulla the most and adopted ‘No better friend, no worse enemy’ as a personal motto.” Tony’s tone is dry.

“I promise you, Celia, if I thought he would not be good to you I never would have gone to your father with Milos’s request for you. He’s smart. It was not until Dominic discussed their negotiation I figured out what Milos truly wanted.”

“Milos came to you?” I’m confused.

He nods. “He said he knew Carlo had daughters and asked Dominic to speak with Carlo about a match. Dominic brought him to me to see how I thought Carlo would react, as he is aware Carlo speaks far more freely with me than him about Milos. Not in that Carlo respects me more than Dominic—in that he doesn’t. Carlo doesn’t want to piss off Dominic. If I thought Milos would not be good for you, I would have quashed it before it got any further. However, you will be the one who has to live with him. If you do not want this, then tell me and I will ensure it will not happen.”

I believe him. “Thank you, Tony.” I shake my head as I look down at Santino, who looks up at me with a grin. “I think I just needed to hear it from someone else.”

Blue eyes are intent on me. “Hear what from someone else?”

“That I’m not just going with what I want and ignoring red flags. I’m sure my mom thinks her relationship with Carlo isn’t the dysfunctional one it is.” I shrug.

A dark eyebrow goes up. “The way things appear from the outside is rarely how they are on the inside. I would have thought you would understand that by now.”

I’m opening my mouth to ask him what he means when an alert sounds, and he pulls his phone from his pocket. “Your fiancé is coming in very hot. Do you want to leave with him?”

Sighing, I nod. Tony gives me a smile before pressing a button on his phone. I stand and hand him back Santino. The moment I do, I miss the feel of the baby in my arms.

Tony is in front of me, opening the door to Milos. I don’t bother looking at him as I walk out onto the porch and make my way to the black SUV idling in front of Tony’s house.

I got the answer I needed. I don’t care Milos is pissed and will likely tighten the noose from here on out. Something Tony said niggles at the back of my mind, but I can’t remember what it was exactly. Whatever, it’s done.

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