Isaac's POV

"Are you fucking kidding me right now? Who the fuck does this kid think he is?" Pops scoffs loudly as he sits back in his chair.

It's nine o'clock in the morning and Pops, Dominic, and I are currently still sitting in his office already discussing the sit down with Cris later on this afternoon.

Unfortunately pops got back into town really late last night that by the time he made it back home Hailey and I were already in bed sleeping so I didn't have a chance to talk to him about Roxwell.

There's certain conversations, certain situations, that I'm not allowed to have on the phone with him, even through burner phones, this being one of them.

"That kid was a spineless little hamster last year before I started helping him grow into the fuckin' man he is now," my dad says bitterly.

"Guess he's pulling a page right out of your own book huh?" I snarl, crossing my arms along my chest sitting back in my own chair, glancing at the watch on my wrist.

"I'm sorry- are we keeping you from something important, Antonio?" Pops says sarcastically as he catches me looking down at my watch.

"Actually yes," I bite back. "Hailey and I have an appointment in less than an hour so if we could wrap this up that would be nice."

Pops is actually about to say something in return when Dominic is speaking up before him.

"I know you see some potential in the kid boss, but stop treating him like he's one of our own. He's not a part of this family, your family, our family, Carmelo. Please keep in mind that he is not your blood, he is not someone you can fix, he has your enemies blood flowing through his veins. At the end of the day that kid does not owe us no loyalties, he makes his own choices, we've done as much as we can for him, he is not a kid as much as we refer him to that, he's a grown man, he's been in this life long enough to understand this lifestyle."

Pops doesn't say anything, he stays quiet, surprisingly.

He glances in my direction yet still says nothing until Don's calling him grabbing his attention again,"boss."

He turns to Don. "Don't get soft on me grandpa. What's the one thing you tell us about scouting enemies?"

"Don-" Pops groans.

"Now, Matteo."

Pops inhales a deep breath as he closes a fist on top of his arm chair, clenching his hand, "enemy has no age," he snarls through clenched teeth.

"Exactly. Enemy has no age. Never has and never will. I know he reminds you of your-"

"It'd be a shame to just throw all that potential away-"

"He is not your son!" Don exclaims, losing his cool. "We didn't get to the top of the fucking food chain on having loose ends, on debating whether people were being sincere, truthful, if we were wasting potential. You became a ruthless leader by taking everyone and anyone out that was even close to being a threat to this family. We installed fear into these families, this city for a reason capo."

"Dominic-" I warned.

I know that Don is far more than my fathers second in command, he's a friend when my dad allows him to be, therefore he's allowed to get loud, he's allowed to talk back when needed. If anyone's gonna whip Pops back into shape it's gonna be him, but his tone of voice is rubbing me the wrong way right now.

"It's fine," Pops lifts a hand, waving me off.

"I get it man, you're tired. Yeah your sons all grown up," he waves a hand in my direction. "And he's become a hell of a man, you've done a miraculous job boss, but we are not done. You are not done being a leader, you're not done providing. You've just added an amazing, beautiful, daughter into this family, who now needs the protection of this family more than ever. These men are ruthless, they will jump in front of a bullet for her no questions asked, but they also need to be taught how to be gentle when the time comes because of the person she is, and who better than to teach them then their own boss."

This actually makes me smile that Don would even consider incorporating my wifes traits into our lifestyle, that he actually wants to train his dogs to play nice and not just be respectful.

Don continues, "you have a grandbaby on the way, Carmelo, we're not done growing. You want that baby to grow up knowing that their grandpa was a legend, or that it was born into a family of royalty? A family of power?"

Pops stays completely quiet but I don't miss the little sly smile attempting to creep on his face as he begins to grin. He glances down at the watch on his wrist as he adjusts it and is looking back up at Dominic, "you know you could've wrapped it up ten minutes ago and just told me to put on my big boy pants and stop being a bitch."

Dominic laughs softly and shakes his head, "I'd prefer to go to bed without having to sleep with one eye open, I know when I've pushed my boundaries."

Pops slowly begins to nod his head looking back and forth from Don and I. "Alright.. He wants his sit down, let's give him his sit down, let's see what Cristofer Jr is really about. I want my team ready to go by 2'o'clock, is that enough Zzz time for you princess?"

Don snorts softly, "we can go now if you'd like," he says sarcastically. "I'll pick up a red bull on the way."

A hint of a smile appears on my dads face as he glances in my direction, "unfortunately my son isn't available right now, Don, did you not hear that he had an appointment in a bit. God you can be so inconsiderate sometimes, Dominic."

I smile at the rare playful banter between the two.

"You are the worst at being funny, you know that?"

"And you're the grouchiest when you get no sleep," Pops fires back.

Don laughs breathlessly through his nose and places both of his hands on the armchair pushing himself up.

He stands up, "if we're done here, I would like to dismiss myself, your majesty."

My dad chuckles softly as he nods his head, "let Beans rally everyone up. Emiliano make it down?"

"Kicking and screaming."

Pops quickly shoots a dagger stare in his direction.

"Sorry, poor choice of words, you know what I mean," Don smirks.

"Speaking of him," I say. "I didn't even get to tell you the best part about yesterday Pops." He looks in my direction waiting for me to continue so I do. "Brielle Molezzo was at that same shop as well."

"Brielle Brielle? As in Emiliano's Brielle?" I nod. "No shit," Pops smiles. "Guess it's safe to say she's here to collect nana's inheritance right?"

I nod, "she was with Roxwell.."

"As in together?" I nod again. "Fuckin' aye," he swears. "I don't want her anywhere near him, anywhere near my gates you hear me?"

"Yes sir," Don answers.

"If he finds out that she's here and she's with him it's gonna send him back down the rabbit hole and I don't need anymore bullshit from that kid, I really don't."

"She said it's complicated Pops, she asked for him.."

"I don't give a fuck, she no longer exist to him you hear me?"

I nod silently.

"Go," he waves a hand towards Dominic. "Meet me at the warehouse at 2:30 so you can get some extra sleep."

"So thoughtful of you," Don murmurs before stepping out of the office leaving Pops and I alone in his office.

I don't waste anymore time than I already have and get up from the chair that I was sitting in.

"Is this the appointment where she finds out the gender?" Pop wonders out loud.

"Yeah," I smile. "But don't get your hopes up I'm not allowed to tell you guys or anyone because she wants to plan some type of gender reveal party for you and ma and her family."

"What the fuck is a gender reveal party?"

"I'm assuming it's some type of party where we reveal the gender or something to you guys dad."

"I know what a gender reveal party is, stronzo," he deadpans. "I'm saying why the fuck does she want to have one? Just fucking text us in the groupchat with a little blue or pink emoji like she always does."

"So you can not reply? You know that drives her crazy right? Always leaving her on read."

Pops picks up his iPhone from his oak desk pointing to the screen, "I do that little reaction thingy like she asked! Plus your mother always replies, her and I are a team so when she replies that's my reply too."

I snorted softly, "sorry pops, she's growing the little peanut so it's her choice, she's the boss, my lips are sealed."

"No, no, I respect that, I'm up for whatever she wants to do she knows we don't need anything special. You driving or taking a truck?"

I scoff loudly as I adjust the cuff on my sleeves, "my car just got a brand new red interior old man, what do you think I'm taking?"

He scoffs even louder in return, "enjoy it while you can kid because when that baby is here I promise you that you're not going anywhere in it. You're lucky I'm letting you even stick my daughter in law in that monstrosity."

"Oh I'm sorry- I didn't realize that I was speaking with her father," I said sarcastically, a smirk now on my face.

"Weren't you supposed to leave like forty minutes ago," he jabs back looking down at his watch.

I look down at my own wrist to see that it's 9:38am and panic.

"Cazzo," I hissed and immediately bolted out of the room.

"Don't fucking speed with my grandbaby in that car, Antonio!" Pops shouts from inside of his office.

I run up the stairs and head towards our bedroom thankful that I woke up Hailey before heading down so she can have a decent amount of time only to find her laying down on the bed the second I step inside.

"Baby, what the hell are you doing princess?! We're supposed to be on the road already and you're taking a nap?"

"Excuse me?" She huffs as she sits up, swinging the small blanket off of her. "Did you see my eyes closed?! You took forever so I got bored!"

"Why didn't you come get me when you were ready?"

She shrugs her shoulders, a sheepish smile on her face, "I got stuck on tiktok."

I mentally groan and roll my eyes, "we're gonna be late if we don't leave like now babe."

"I'm ready, I'm ready, I just need my shoes," she says getting up from the bed.

"I got'em, which ones do you need?" I asked, making my way over to the closet.

"The white ones."

I step into the closet and stand in front of our shoe rack that goes all the way up to our ceiling, staring at the multiple pairs of white shoes that my wife owns.

"Which white ones babe?"

"The nikes baby."

Again, I look over at the rack of shoes to see four pairs of Nikes, three of them white.

"Which. Ones." I grit in between clench teeth attempting to keep my annoyance to myself.

She giggles and is standing at the door a second later, pointing at the sneakers, "air forces," she smiles.

I grab the damn pair of shoes quietly and crouch down to help her put the shoes on her feet.

"You anxious or in a bad mood?"

"Both," I answer as I stand back up to my full height.

Hailey immediately reaches for my tie and is wrapping it around her hand, pulling me into her, connecting her lips with mine, "everything's gonna be okay daddy, breathe."

I inhale a deep breath, her soothing voice already calming my nerves and lean back down to kiss her again real quick, "lets go, we're late."

We grab the last of her things and make our way back downstairs and into the garage as we load up into my beamer and head out and onto the road. It's nearly 9:50 by the time we're out and going and it's a twenty minute drive to her doctor's office, meaning we're definitely gonna be late.

Hailey actually calls the doctors office while we're on the road to let them know that we're running a few minutes behind and the rude ass receptionist that she put on speaker had the audacity to feed her some bullshit about only having a fifteen minute grace after the fifteen minute they will reschedule.

It's 10:19am by the time we're checking into the office, four minutes past their grace period and I'm itching to go off on the board that's sitting behind her computer.

"I'm sorry, but like I mentioned on the phone, we only give a fifteen minute grace so we will have to reschedule your appointment," the brunette says a little too condescending for my liking. "Do you prefer morning or afternoon?"

"We would prefer to get seen today, this morning, next if it's possible," I say walking up to the counter, nudging my wife behind me.

"Isaac-"

"Like I said sir-"

"I heard what you said, I'm not deaf or an idiot that you need to keep repeating yourself. What I'm saying is we're not leaving, we're not rescheduling, so check us in."

Her coworker who's sitting to the left of her scoffs as she glances in her direction.

"I can try squeezing you in the early morning next week."

"How early?" Hailey asked.

"Or you can squeeze her in right now."

"I'm sorry I can't do that. I do have a lobby full of patients who were already here on time for their appointments and a full schedule for the rest of the day," the brunette adds pettilty.

I glance down at the assistance name tag on her scrubs.

"You're testing the little patience that I don't fucking have, Alex, check my wife in," I growl.

Hailey reaches for my arm, "let's just reschedule, baby, it's fine."

"Actually," another girl from the back of the office walks up behind the two front girls, a blonde. She's gotta be the manager because she's wearing formal clothes rather than scrubs. "We're not gonna put up with your husband's rudeness ma'am, I suggest you find a new office to see you, maybe someone else can squeeze you in this week."

Fuck this.

I stick my hand into my jacket and instantly pull my gun out of my holster and place it on the counter, my hand resting on top of it, "I suggest that you fucking check my wife in before I start squeezing something and lose all my patience."

"Isaac!" Hailey exclaims, placing her hand on top of mine. "I am so sorry," she apologizes to the three women who are about to pass out, they're definitely two shades paler from a seconds ago.

"July 19th, 2003." All three women remain deathly still, glancing down at my hand on my gun. I pick it up and point to Alex's keyboard. "My wife's date of birth, Alex."

I watch her tremble in her seat as she turns back to look at the blonde and she nodding her head and Alex's turning back around, looking down at her keyboard.

She places a shaky hand on her mouse and clicks it a couple times when it's hovering over her keypad a second later.

"Seven. One nine. Twenty zero three," I say slowly as she clicks on the numbers.

"F-first and l-last name p-please."

"Oh we have manners now," I sneer.

Hailey smacks me on the side of the arm, "Hailey," she tells the front receptionist.

"S-summers?" The receptionist asked.

I nearly give myself whiplash with how quick I turn to look at my wife, "Scusi mi? Summers?" I arch an eyebrow. "You're going by Summers now?"

"For this exact same reason!" She exclaims quietly as the three ladies stare at us. "All these women are scared half to death right now!" She waves a hand behind her, to the other two ladies that are in the lobby. There's pure terror in their faces as well. "I don't want special treatment, I want to be treated fairly, not because they're afraid of my father in law."

"Well that's too bad because that's who you are now," I pointed to her. "Change it," I snarl, looking back over at Alex.

"T-to?" She questions.

I stay quiet looking over at my wife. I gesture towards her, allowing her to answer the medical assistant's question.

"Matteo," she answers bitterly.

Sometimes I swear to god that I get more of her hormones than she does.

If Alex wasn't scared before she definitely is now because now her breathing is shallow and heavy as she clicks her keyboard away.

"Are we back on your schedule now, Alex?" She nods her head rapidly. "I'm sorry?" I cock my head to the side, not hearing her verbal answer.

God I am turning into my father.

"Yes sir," her voice trembles.

"I-if you guys want to meet me on that side," the blonde points towards a door to our right. "I'll b-bring you guys back."

"Thank you," I take my gun off of the counter and place it back into my holster and reach for Hailey's hand.

She immediately attempts to take it out of my grasp but I don't allow her to, squeezing her hand a little tighter so that she knows she's not going anywhere.

"You're ridiculous, you know that?" She whispers harshly as I pull her along with me. "I am so sorry, I promise he means no harm," she says looking over her shoulder at the two women in the lobby.

"God bless you and that baby," the older one from the two mumbles under her breath, her hands folded on top of her enormous belly.

I let go of Hailey's hand and turned around to face her, "I'm sorry did you want to say something out loud? I couldn't hear that mumble through your chattering teeth."

She sits up real quick, swallowing the lump of fear that's now stuck in her throat, the same lump of fear that's now keeping her deathly quiet.

"You don't fucking know us lady I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut before I make you have that baby early."

"Isaac!" Hailey exclaims, reaching for my hand, pulling me back. "I'm so sorry."

"Nah you know what, yeah I'm not known to be a nice guy but I'm here with my wife," I snarl. "And I can promise you that she'll never once feel lonely throughout this pregnancy because I'll always be at her side regardless of my background. You're what- seven, eight months?" I scoff, pointing over at her with my free hand. "Where's your man? Why are you here all alone?"

She stays quiet.

"Exactly."

I turn back around to find the blonde now standing at the open door, a mean glare on my wifes face.

"Now I'm done," I tell her as I reach for her hand.

She quickly entwines her fingers with mine and drops her voice to a whisper, "that was uncalled for and mean."

I shrug my shoulders, "she started it with her little ignorant comment."

Hailey rolls her eyes a mean little scowl on her face and we're walking past the blonde and into the back of the office following her down the hall and into a room.

A part of me wants to smile because I know that Hailey's upset and I genuinely love seeing her when she's upset, I love the little mean hormonal side she's developing.

I love her pure gentle soul, her caring heart, but she's changed so much and I absolutely adore when she's being a brat. That small little mean side of her is gonna help her become the queen she will be one day, it's only gonna build her courage. It's gonna show the men in her life that even though she a genuine nice person she's their queen ans she's not t0 be fucked with. Don't confuse her kindness for her weakness because my dads definitely done a hell of a job with helping her grow back bone.

"I'm sorry," I say softly as I reach for Hailey's hand. She's currently sitting on top of one of those medical exam bed things, completely quiet as we wait for the tech to come into the room.

She gives me a little side eye, refusing to completely look in my direction, refusing to talk to me, yet she doesn't pull her hand away.

I bring the back of her hand up to my lips placing a kiss on top of it, "I'm an asshole I'm sorry."

Nothing still.

"If I apologize to the broad will you stop ignoring me?"

She shrugs her shoulders quietly, a small little smile attempting to creep on her face.

"I would rather get on my knees and beg than to apologize to her, Katherine."

Hailey's small smile soon turns into a wide grin as she inclines her head to the side, gesturing I get on my knees.

"Oh," I smile pointing in front of her. "You mean right now right now?"

She raises her eyebrows a smirk now on her face, still not breaking her silence.

I chuckle softly and get down on one knee and reach for her hand and she's quickly pulling it out of my grasp, putting two fingers up.

"Both?!" I smile as I laugh softly through my nose.

She nods and I do exactly just that. I get down on both of my knees and reach for her hand all over again and apologize for the third time, "I'm sorry that you married an asshole."

"Hold that thought," she holds up a finger in front of my face and begins to dig around in her purse.

"What are you looking for, babe?"

"My phone. I have to snap Angela or she'll never believe me," she grins as she pulls out her iPhone and I'm quickly snatching it out of her hands and standing back up to my full height. "Hey!" She whines as she attempts to reach for the phone.

"You will do no such thing," I tell her as I stand in between her legs. I put my hand behind me, keeping her from reaching her phone and grab her chin with my free hand. "Say you forgive me and you can have it back," I leaned in and grinned against her lips.

"I forgive you," she giggles. "Gimmie."

"Prove it. Kiss me."

She giggles again attempting to push me back, "anyone can walk in at any second!"

"Then you better stop wasting time.."

She smiles, softly shaking her head, "you're impossible, come here."

I lean into her expecting to get a small quick peck but immediately get turned on when she sucks on my bottom lip and instantly pull away from her and reach for her bag when I hear the door open behind me.

"I am so sorry for keeping you waiting so long, Mr. and Mrs. Matteo," an older, tanned skin woman, with light brown hair, glasses and pink scrubs walks in. "I'm Doctor Collins, but Daisy works just fine."

"Please, it was hardly a wait," Hailey offers a small smile which soon turns into a grin as she watches me place her bag in front of me, attempting to cover the bulge in my slacks.

"My god look at you," she smiles in my direction, her eyes definitely beaming with amusement. "You're all grown up, and have a little one of your own now!" She gestures towards my wife as she walks past us, on the other side of the medical bed.

"I'm sorry have we met?" I frown.

"Yes," she smiles. "Well, sort of speak. I was your mother's OBGYN, I helped deliver you."

"Did you really?" Hailey thinks out loud beside me.

"Small world huh," the doctor smiles. "How is she? Still as beautiful as ever I imagine?"

I nod, "she's good thank you, excited to be a grandma."

"I'm sure she is," she offers a small smile. "You look like an exact replica of your father when your parents were here years ago."

"He acts like him too."

Dr. Collins laughs softly looking in my wifes direction, "so I've heard. Nothing I can't handle though. Should we start?" she turns to look in my direction. I nod. "You're more than welcome to hang that behind you, Isaac, or do you prefer Mr. Matteo?"

I turn to look behind me to find some hooks on the wall, "Isaac is fine," I say as I avert my attention back to her, "please," I wave a hand in her direction, keeping Hailey's bag in my other hand, in the same spot.

The doctor smiles and begins to click away on her machine asking my wife to lay back on the bed a couple minutes after. She politely asks Hailey if she can undo her overalls and roll them down and is tucking a piece of white tissue paper into the bottom part of her outfit, pushing my wife white shirt up, exposing her growing tummy even more.

"Okay this might be a little cold," the doctor offers a playful smile and is squeezing some blue looking jelly across her belly and is running the monitor wand thing across her belly displaying our baby on the screen and I feel my entire world shift around me when she begins to play it's heartbeat.

I eventually put Hailey's bag down and sit down in the chair by the medical bed, holding her hand, squeezing it as she begins to tear up and my chest fills up with a warm feeling.

"Do we want to know the gender?" Dr. Collins questions, looking over at both of us.

Hailey turns to me, her eyes filled with tears of joy and I'm nodding, "yes we do."

"Do you have a preference?" Daisy asked as she clicks away on her monitor screen with her left hand, her right still on the stick, still moving along my wife's stomach.

"No," Hailey answers. "Grandpa really wants a boy though."

"Grandpa Matteo, or grandpa from your side of the family?"

"Both actually," she smiles. "But yeah mainly grandpa Matteo."

"And your mom?" Dr. Collins smiles. "Boy or girl?"

"Girl," I answered. "She never had any more kids after me so she hopes to get a girl through her grandkids."

"Well maybe she'll get lucky on your next pregnancy because you're having a boy," she turns the monitor in our direction pointing to the screen.

My hearing immediately gets muffled and I can't understand a word she's saying, her lips are moving but the only thing that I can hear is the sound of my own heartbeat slowing down in my chest as it breaks a little for my son.

I feel a gentle squeeze on my hand and look down to Hailey to find her crying with a smile on her face, her lips moving as well but I can't hear anything that she's saying.

My father wanted a grandson for some very obvious reasons, so that when he's old enough he could carry on The Matteo name, and it looks like he's gonna get his wish, his legacy will continue to be carried on.

"Isaac!" Hailey pulls on my hand, breaking through the muffled barrier. "You okay?"

I nod, "of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You looked like you spaced out for a bit.."

I stand up from the chair and lean over to kiss my wife on her forehead and then on her lips, "we're having a son," I smile against her lips.

She smiles and nods her head, tears already starting to stream down her face. I laugh softly, wiping them with my thumbs, "no llores," I say in spanish. Hailey understood more Spanish than she did Italian so I've actually started using it more and more around her. "You're gonna ruin your makeup princess."

"We're having a boy," she smiles through her tears.

I nod and kiss her on the forehead one last time, "your mother would be so proud of the woman you've become, mia regina."

Hailey lets out a tiny sob and nods her head as she reminds me how much she loves me before giving me another quick kiss.

The pregnancy has actually been hitting her alot harder than she likes to admit because I know ever since we got engaged, married, she's been extra sentimental missing her mom alot more than usual because she's finally hitting major parts/changes in her life where she wishes her mom could be around for, the pregnancy being the biggest factor.

Dr. Collins offers Hailey a couple tissues and is then wiping the remaining jelly from her stomach and printing ultra pictures for us before walking out of the room and leaving us alone in the room.

I help Hailey sit back up on the bed and help her hook on her overalls before we're stepping out of the room and heading to the front desk to pay for the visit. As I figured they don't charge us for their time, courtesy of having a powerful name and father but I'm not a complete asshole.

I call one of my guys who is currently still outside waiting in one of the two SUV's to bring in the case of money my dad gave me and leave it with the girls in front for my hostility, making sure that Dr. Collins gets the biggest cut from the cash since she did all the work.

After our appointment I take Hailey out into the city for some lunch seeing how I have over an hour to spare and take her to go get some noodles that she's been craving since we got back from Italy.

The noodle house that we go to is actually a restaurant that she introduced to me a while back, it's nothing fancy, it's actually really hidden and near a dead end in the city. Pops actually used to always say that some of his favorite go to spots were in the sketchiest parts of town.

I love the noodle Q because they make their noodles in house so they're always fresh when they serve them to you, however I do hate the drive so we only ever got them every so often when I would come to visit Hailey in the city.

Hailey didn't finish half of her food before she started feeling nauseous and we were asking for to-go boxes. I told her not to eat the fried dumplings because I knew the chili oil would upset her tummy.

"How you feeling, baby?" I asked, reaching over for her hand, she has both of them crossed on top of her small belly.

She undoes them and is locking her fingers with mine, "like I need a nap," she smiles and is laying head back on the head rest. "Food coma is on its way."

I chuckle and bring her hand up to my lips, kissing it, "don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to nap while I'm gone."

"Are you nervous?"

"Of?" I arch an eyebrow, keeping my eyes on the road, we're a few blocks from the estate.

"About this afternoon," she mumbles, referring to our meeting with Cris.

Now that we're married I like to leave Hailey in the know as much as I can allow her to be in, I don't like leaving her in the dark unless Pops makes me keep my mouth shut, which is almost always still but she's definitely more aware of things, more open.

"About what he'll bring up," she continues, pulling her hand away from my grip. "What if he isn't a friendly anymore? What if it's a set up, a trap to get you and your dad away from his parks."

I smile and reach for her hand, squeezing it, "it's not your job to worry about stuff like that, angel. If you out of all people don't trust Cristofer after everything that he's done for you, for us, then humanity is lost because my wife sees good in everyone she allows to be in her life, my wife is hopeful that anyone can be saved."

"Hurt also changes people though," her voice drops down to almost a whisper. She's sitting there perfectly still, looking like a damn angel, calm as she can be but I know that her mind is racing, her anxiety is peeking. She may be able to gain control of it and not spiral out, but I know her better than anyone else to know when she's not okay.

We drive up to the front gate and into the driveway, parking the car a few feet away from the front door. I don't turn the engine off because I have to take off in a bit and meet Pops at Cris's place. Apparently he's running behind schedule so he's not coming back way into town, the guys and I will all meet up over there.

I put the car in park and turned to look at Hailey. She's looking down at the ultrasound picture in her hand, the one that we just got printed out today stating that our baby is a boy, deep in her little redhead.

I place a hand on her thigh and squeeze it lightly, "talk to me princess, what's going on in your mind?"

She inhales a deep breath sticking the photo back into the envelope, "if what your dad did is true and if Cris is aware of that, that's going to be his biggest betrayal, baby. Cris turned his back on his entire bloodline, his family, the other families, because he wanted to be better than them so he turned to your dad, to their enemy, for guidance, but he's no better than them. And as much as I love your dad, the man is no saint. It's a dog eat dog world and your dad just so happens to be the biggest breed out here, babe. He's once told me that monsters aren't born, they're created, pain changes people. And I like Cris, but I don't trust him right now. He disappeared almost instantly, out of nowhere for a reason, there has to be a reason."

"Hail-"

"If he knows the truth then he's gotta be boiling up with anger, Isaac. It's only a matter of time before he blows up, and if he does he has the upper hand on you guys. You will be on his turf, his terms, you'll be out of your element. We've been through so much that I can't not think about these things, I'm scared for you guys. I don't want anything to happen, I'm trying to be hopeful, but I don't want our baby to grow up without the only men who are supposed to be his legacy because they weren't being precautions."

I wipe the couple tears that have managed to escape and roll down her cheek with my thumb and grab her chin, gently forcing her to look at me.

"You can worry about me all you want, I'm okay with you worrying because I know you can't help, baby. What you won't do is stress yourself out and overthink scenarios that you and I can't control and make yourself sick. You can't afford to psych yourself out anymore, princess, if you get sick, he gets sick, and I need you both healthy for when I come back for dinner"

She smiles softly.

"And you're right, we won't be in our environment baby, we will be in his turf, accommodating to his terms, but that's what we do to build alliances, trust. If he knows the truth about his father then we'll handle it like I've mentioned before, my father and I. You have nothing to do with anything of this, no one's touching you ever again you understand me?"

She nods her eyes glistening with tears.

"As much as I hate to admit it, Roxwell is nothing like his cousin or his uncle, he's one of the good guys and I was completely blessed to have him watching over you when everything went south. If he knows the truth, worst case scenario you lose your bestie."

"He is not my bestie," she snickers.

"You're right that's weird after friendzoning him."

"I did no such thing! We're just friends!"

"Please," I chuckle deeply. "That man had the biggest crush on you, Hail, and he knew that I knew too."

"He did not," she smiles, shaking her head. "He simply knew that my boyfriend at the time, now husband, has the shortest fume and a simple glance at me could set him off."

"And I'll still gladly put a bullet in between his eyes if he stares longer than eight seconds."

"Eight?" Her smile grows, "pretty specific number Mr. Matteo."

"I was going for five but I didn't want to seem like a possessive asshole."

Hailey grabs onto my tie pulling me into her, "of course not because you could never be such a thing," she grins along my lips.

"Exactly, I don't understand why people keep spreading rumors that I'm mean, I'm a nice guy, I have feelings, I can be sensitive," I grin in return, locking her lips with mine.

"Of course you are," she giggles in between our kisses.

I kiss her a couple more times and then pull away from her before I get over excited and want to drag her upstairs and put another baby in her.

"Feeling better?"

She nods a genuine small smile on her face, "yes."

"We're prepared for the worst, baby, don't you worry about us okay?"

She nods and is leaning in to kiss me one last time, "text me on the hour, every hour, so that I know you're breathing."

"I will," I say, attempting to comfort her. "You have my location, all of them."

She continues to smile as she digs my crucifix necklace out of my buttoned up shirt, ensuring that I have it on, it has one of my many trackers, along with my car and my phone.

I ask her one last time if she's feeling better and get out of the car and walk her over to the front door and kiss her goodbye before heading back into my car, flying out of my driveway heading towards Roxwell's place, picking up some good speed now that I'm not carrying precious cargo anymore.

My dad and the guys are already parked about a block away from Roxwell's house all surrounding my dads G wagon, which I'm sure he's annoyed about bringing. He almost never likes to take that thing anywhere that has to do with business, he usually comes in one of his many SUV's.

I park right behind him since the other three are parked in front of him and get out of my car and walk over to the crowd of men. All this fire power and backup is useless because only Beans and Don are allowed to step foot inside of Roxwell's mansion.

I'll give him that, he definitely has a bigger home than I expected him to have, which is still fairly new. Cris actually sold his uncles and cousins house and bought this one almost a year ago after sending his family away, last time I checked he was still living alone because his aunt wanted nothing to do with him but he wasn't gonna give up seeing his little cousin anytime soon.

"How was I running late and still beat you here, Antonio?" Pops comments as I walk up to his window, most of his men climbing back into their vehicles, leaving Don and Beanie alone with my dad.

"You were already on this side of town," I pointed out. "And I was dropping off my pregnant wife."

"Everything go okay?"

I nod, "everythings fine, she's fine, baby is healthy."

"Did we find out the gender?"

"We did," I smile. "And I'm still not telling you."

Beans smacks me on the arm and winks, "you're telling me later, right?"

"Oh definitely," I nod my head and smile knowing pops about to lose his shit.

"Fuck the both of you," he snarls while rolling his window up and is stepping out of his car, slamming his door, "bunch of assholes is what yall are."

"The hell did I do?" Don exclaims and Beans and I chuckle.

"Relax pops no one knows shit and no ones gonna know shit until Hailey decides how she wants to tell you guys. I don't wanna talk about that shit here anymore though so let's get this over with."

"After you guys," Don waves a hand towards the black SUV's.

Pops and I begin to walk forward but he's quickly smacking Beanie behind his head as we pass him, calling him an idiot. Don actually speed walks past us and is opening the door for my father allowing him to climb into the back seat of the truck.

Beans and Dominic may be the only ones allowed to go inside with us but it doesn't mean that we're not taking backup into the gates with us, an SUV filled with four men will follow us, staying outside of the house as the other SUV and two guys stay with the cars, making sure no one temps with them.

We drive up the block and turn into Roxwell's street and pull up to his house checking in at the front gate and driving into his driveway a second later. There's two guys standing guard at the gate, another one in the check in post, two at the front door, a couple more along the yard with another guy who stands at the front steps,

"Mr. Matteo, it's an honor to meet you," the man who was standing at the front entrance took a couple steps forward when we stepped out of the SUV. "My name's Santino, I'm Mr. Roxwell's housing assistant."

"His butler basically," I scoff, walking over to him and Pops.

"Butler, housing assistant, house manager, it's all the same difference," the older man, who probably might be Pops age, smiles. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well Mr. Isaac."

"Just Isaac," I wave a dismissing hand in Santino's direction. "I don't need the formalities."

"Of course, shall we step into the house?"

"After you," Pop says and, Beans, Don, and I are following after my dad and Santino.

"For everyone's safety, Mr. Roxwell has asked me to inform you guys that no firearms or any sorts of weapons will be entering the office to study with you guys."

"You're kidding?" Beans remarks from behind us and Pops is instantly waving him down.

"Unfortunately no, Mr. Roxwell and his men have also agreed to leave their weapons outside as well," he gestures towards a hallway table that has a small basket on top of it, "if you would please."

"Boss," Dom walks up behind Pops.

"It's fine, we're in his home, we will respect his rules, guns," he points towards the basket.

Dom and Beans both hesitate for a bit and walk up to the table placing both of their guns in the basket as Beanie also takes out his knifes placing them in the basket as well.

Pops follows in pursuit putting his gun with theirs as well as he looks in my direction, inclining his head towards the table and I'm rolling my eyes walking over to it and putting my gun in there.

I know for a fact that Beans probably is hiding another blade somewhere under his clothes and debate whether I want to put my ankle blade in there as well and hope the odds are in favor, leaving it in its holster under my slacks. I don't want to feel completely bare in there.

We follow Santino as he walks over to a door and he's knocking on it twice. Turning the knob he opens the door and is stepping inside, holding it open allowing us to step inside.

"Please come in."

My heart begins to slam in my chest as I follow my dad into what seems to be Roxwell's office. It's not as big as Pops' office but it's definitely big enough to have a small sit down so I'm instantly impressed.

Cris is sitting behind his desk, a stupid mean mug on his face as Saint Nicki sits across from him on the other side of his desk.

Cris immediately snaps his fingers and is sending his guy out of the office.

"I would appreciate it if your men stood outside, Carmelo."

"No fuckin' way," Don instantly speaks up. "We already left the heat out in the hall."

Cris turns to my father, "ten minutes, you owe me that."

Pops doesn't bother to look towards our guys and is dismissing them with a wave, "ten minutes," he grumbles, never breaking his eye contact with Cris.

Dom doesn't move an inch, he stays glued to his spot and Beans is reaching for his arm pulling him back, mumbling something in italian but it's too soft to make out what he's saying. Dom glances in my direction for a quick second before I'm inclining it to the side, dismissing him myself.

He inhales a deep breath and is leaving the room a couple seconds later, leaving Pops, Cris, and I alone in his office, Santino's closing the double doors a moment later.

"Sit," Cris commands, waving to the two empty chairs in front of him. It's weird, unnatural, seeing someone else other than my father sit behind an oak desk, listening to someone else's demands.

Pops takes a seat on one of the two chairs before I do, "let's get straight to the point and not waste each other's time, Cris," he says.

"You gonna stand the entire time?" Roxwell is now addressing me.

I bite my tongue keeping my mouth shut for my fathers sake and sit to Pops right.

"You wanna explain where you've been these last four months kid?"

Cris scoffs sitting back in his chair, "you wanna explain why you killed my father?"

There it is.

I glance over at Pops for a quick second.

"You don't want to touch that subject kid, you really don't. I can promise you that it's only gonna do more damage than good."

"So you're m not even going to deny it?"

"Why would I?"

"It's called having remorse, Carmelo!" Cris raises his voice, sitting forward in his chair.

I instinctively inch forward and Pops is instantly placing a hand on my leg,

He smiles softly as he looks up at Cris, "having remorse means feeling guilty, having regret, and I don't regret collecting the bounty on your father's head ."

"Why would you?" Cris growls under his breath.

"It's not for the reasons you're thinking though."

Cris frowns.

"Lemme guess, someone from the other families told you about it right?" He stays quiet and Pop scoffs. "Your own uncle, the man who took you in when you were younger, your own blood, put the bounty on your father. I don't know if you know this but he was sick for a very long time, Cris. You were only a boy when they first found the cancer. It was at stage three I believe, and the odds weren't looking too good, he had an idiot of a doctor who misdiagnosed him so he genuinely believed that he was going to die. Believe it or not Alias and I had an alliance at one point in life."

Cris doesn't say anything, letting Pops continue. "Your uncle had good intentions but he did it for all the wrong reasons, kid. He had your own father killed because at the time the bruises he was leaving on your mom were happening more frequently and they were only getting bigger. Your uncle even went as far as threatening him to leave town but he had your mom so wrapped around his finger that he made sure to pack up his entire family with him if he left and that's what scared Alias. As much of an asshole as he was, he would move mountains for his baby sister so he put out the bounty in between the families because he couldn't stand the thought of him leaving this world and leaving his sister and family behind with some monster. I picked up the bounty because there's nothing more that I can't stand than a woman beater. It felt too close to home from when I met my wife, so I was glad to put a bullet in his head."

"He always said that he was dead to our family anytime I ever asked about him, I always just thought that he meant figuratively."

"Your dad was a piece of shit, Cris, the lowest of scum, your uncle did you a favor taking him out of your life, he would've ruined you."

"Instead you guys did."

"Look kid, I'm not gonna sit here and apologize to you for something that wasn't from your time. You wanna hate me for that then so be it, I don't blame you. You wanna team up with the other families and work on bringing me down then good luck because you know you're gonna need it. That bad blood out there isn't between us but there's always room for new enemies. I am not here to baby you, I am not here to be your friend, the father figure you might need, I'm barely a father figure to my own son," he points a thumb in my direction.

"You wanna continue being partners then so be it, you wanna throw away our alliance over some bad blood between your uncle and father then let me know now because the second I step out of those doors," Pops points towards the double doors to Cris's office. "Everything changes. I stop treating you like an equal, I stop respecting you, admiring the man you've grown up to be and start coming for blood. I have a new heir being born into this family and I will eliminate every threat like I have in the past to protect my own, my blood."

Cris stays quiet for a good while and is extending his hand out in front of my father, "like I said, I want to rebuild my family's name, I won't fall into their old ways, blood doesn't make you family."

I watch pops lips tug to the side as he shakes Roxwell's hand, "smart boy."

Cris lets out a short breathy laugh through his nose, "you know, I originally left to go look for him," he says. "To go put a bullet in his skull, make him pay for everything he did to my mother, my sisters. I may have been young, he may never have hit me because I was his only son, but I remembered everything. My moms tears, my sister's screams, I wanted him to feel the same pain, I wanted to hear him scream. I wanted him to see that I grew up to be just as violent as him but I couldn't find him anywhere so I came home. I hadn't been back for more than twelve hours when a package got dropped off at my front gate, it was from Bregoli."

"Bregoli?" I frowned.

Cris nods, looking in my direction for a second, "I'm guessing he recorded it prior to his execution because he said if I was watching the video he was most likely dead and he needed to tell me something before I let you guys brainwash me."

"You still have the disc?" Cris nods. "Can I have it?"

"Of course," he reaches into his desk and is pulling out a plastic case with a DVD inside of it. "I don't know what they're planning, Carmelo, I'm officially an outcast to them for picking the wrong side, but they're planning something big, please be extra careful these days. Keep Red in doors as much as you can," he's talking to me now. "Protect your baby because this," he points to his face, "was a friendly reminder that I'm officially on their enemy lines."

"You took care of my family so we'll take care of you," I say and Pops is quickly turning to look at me, a wide, proud, grin on his face.

Pops, Cris, and I stayed in his office for over an hour, talking, going over details and information that Cris has to offer on The Deroma's and The Robsciotti's. Apparently his fling with Brielle isn't serious because Pops brings it up, warning him about her past relationship with Milo and turns out she's using Cris to keep her family heat off her back now that she's inheriting her grandmother's fortune. In exchange Bri is offering Cris information on Damon Deroma, her bestie is currently hooking up with him, they're dating without the label according to her, regardless we got lucky enough to have some ears on the inside, again.

Don, Beans, and even Nick make it back into the office afraid of someone being dead because of how quiet things got inside and listen in on the rest of the strategizing and we end up leaving about half an hour later.

We're currently back on the road and I'm back in my car driving home, driving behind my father because he refused to let one of the guys drive his G wagon back home, leaving two SUV's in front of him and one behind me.

I call Hailey the second I get into my car but the phone rings up until its hitting her voicemail and I'm hanging up texting her that I'm on my way back to her, she's probably still sleeping because she texted me almost forty minutes ago that she was going to take a nap and sneak in a quick reply on my watch.

We're on our last stop, about to get onto the ramp and head onto the highway and I'm immediately getting annoyed when the light turns red leaving me stuck at the light but it's quickly being replaced with panic and fear.

I watch an all black GMC with no plates and tinted windows ram into my fathers car from the driver side just as he's about to get on the highway ramp, sending the G wagon flying and flipping over from the speed and force of the SUV.

My heart immediately begins to pound violently as two more SUV's pull up, one blocking the entrance of the highway, which our two trucks have entered and the second one is hitting the back of the G wagon causing it to spin down the road and I'm reaching for my seatbelt, undoing it, and reaching for the door handle.

My door immediately gets slammed shut as Andrei runs up to the window, the other three guys heading towards Pops cars.

"Stay in this car, Isaac!" He shouts through the window, tapping his gun on the glass, reminding me that it's bulletproof, when a round of bullets start firing and I'm instantly looking in front of me.

There's two guys firing at my dads car window with automatic guns and I immediately begin to panic, that bulletproof glass is only gonna last so long.

Pops men instantly begin to fire back, when more of them are getting off of the other SUV, outnumbering our three guys ahead of us.

I pop open the trunk and reach for the door handle one more time, pushing it open but Andrei doesn't budge, he slams it close again.

"MOVE!" I shout. "That's a fucking order, Andrei!"

He shakes his head, "I'm sorry kid, it's protocol, if he's ever in danger, we're supposed to keep you alive."

"If he dies, I'm coming after you and your fucking brat for standing here and not helping them!" I snarl, while pointing at chaos that is happening in the middle of the street.

"Fuck!' He swears, looking towards the chaos and is pointing his gun back over through the window, "don't you dare fucking die if you leave this car!" He shouts and is taking off running half a second later.

I waste no time the second he leaves my side and step out of the car and I instantly drop to the ground as I feel my chest immediately begin to burn and I'm gasping for air as I try and get cover behind my car.

I lean my head back on the car and rip my shirt open to see two bullets wedge into my bulletproof vest, "mother fucker."

Pops actually made me put it on before heading into Roxwell's house because he was honestly expecting the worst outcome, and I couldn't have been more grateful to be wearing it.

I stick my head out of from where I'm hiding and catch a glimpse of the mother fucker who shot at me, he's hiding behind a park car as well. I try to look over to where Pops car is but the fucker immediately begins to fire in my direction and I'm moving from the corner that I'm in, getting better coverage. I turn around and quickly open up my trunk, retrieving the Uzi gun Beans had put in there this morning to be safe.

Taking the safety off I stand back up to my feet and begin to shoot towards the mother fucker that fired at me as I walk into his direction and graze him in the neck as he pops his head out.

He's lying on the cement floor, hanging onto his bleeding neck, when I reach him and I'm firing a round of shots into his chest and look up when I hear a screeching of tires to see that the other two SUV's have made it back and watch Dom and Beans bolt out of the trucks and begin to unleash hell with the other two guys and run towards my fathers car.

The firing eventually dies down as more and more bodies drop to the ground and I can't help but begin to panic when I reach the upside down wagon, flashbacks immediately clouding my vision from last year but I'm quickly snapping myself out of it and kicking in the tinted window until it's completely shattering.

My hands immediately begin to tremble and I'm dropping the gun on the floor and putting them on my head as my eyes begin to fill with tears when I find Pops laying on the floor, out of his seat, covered in blood.

"N-no, no, no, no, you're not dead," I shake my head and reach for his hands, dragging him out of the car and begin to cry in relief when I hear him groaning. "Oh thank god. Hang on Pops, Ima get you out of here."

I pull him out of the car and drag him around it, shielding him from any more harm when I start to hear sirens coming from a distance.

I kneel down next to him, inspecting his entire body. Out of the entire ambush he only got shot once but it's right on the chest so immediately putting my hands on the wound, making sure he doesn't bleed out anymore than it has.

"Hang in there pops, helps on their way," I mutter.

My heart begins to race when he coughs and is shaking his head no as he looks up at me smiling softly, his once white teeth coated in red now, "I-I've cheated d-death one too many times, Isaac."

I shake my head, "shut up, stop talking."

"Y-you're ready son," he wheezes, "y-you've been ready."

I shake my head repeatedly, "I don't want it, not like this. I still need you."

He groans softly and is instantly reaching for my hand, pulling it away from his chest.

His eyes instantly begin to water up, "y-you take care of your mother you understand me?" His hand immediately begins to tremble. "You look after your family, son, your blood comes before everything else, d-don't make the same mistakes I did."

I nod and feel instant tears damp my cheeks all over again, "she's having a boy," my voice trembles as I cling onto my dads hand.

He instantly begins to smile, "g-grandson huh?"

I nod eagerly, "you need to fight dad, you need to hang on, I can't lose you please, you need to be in his life."

"I-I was barely a father to you son, w-what makes you think I'm capable of being a g-grandfather."

"Because I was trial and error. You've grown so much since then, you've changed so much pops. You're not the same man you think you are, you're not him, you're not your dad, I know you'll love him unconditionally."

He squeezes my hand weakly, "you raise that boy r-right you h-hear me? Promise me t-that you'll let him keep his childhood. D-don't rob him like I robbed you, d-don't you ruin him."

I nod, "I promise."

"Hey," a deep soft voice speaks up from behind me, it's Don. "We gotta get you outta here before the cops roll up kid, there's too much heat to clean this up. I'll stay, I'll take the heat."

"I'm not leaving him."

"I-Isaac-" my dad rasped.

"I'm not leaving you," I snarl. "Send whoever's still standing to the warehouse," I commanded, looking down at Pops.

"Yes sir."

"Y-you're r-ready," my dad whispers, gasping for air. "I-I'm s-so proud of you s-son. Y-you are my p-pride and j-joy."

I shake my head and squeeze his hand, "stop talking."

He attempts to smile and squeeze my hand as he continues to struggle to get air in his lungs, his eyelids slowly starting to close little by little as he struggles to stay conscious.

"It's okay dad," my voice breaks as I squeeze onto his hand one last time. "I got you, you rest okay?"

He doesn't respond.

He simply shuts his eyes and his wheezing stops almost immediately and my entire world shifts as reality starts to set in... he's gone.

***

No one talk to me. I'm not okay, I've been crying all night... 😭