Isaac's POV

"The hell is he doing here?" I fumed at the mere sight of Emiliano.

He's towards the back of the gym, standing with Jeremiah right behind him as Milo hangs onto two rails one on each side of him, even I can tell that he's in pain from where I'm standing. He shakes his head no as he looks down and Jeremiah's leaning into him, his lips begin to move as he speaks to him but I can't hear anything from the rock music that's playing through the speakers.

"He called me over to the house the day you and Hailey left," pops explains.

"For what?"

"For tea and cookies, Isaac, what the fuck else you think for.."

I snort at his comment and cross my arms in front of me, watching Milo struggle to take a step forward.

"I think it's sincere," pops comments beside me. I turn to my right to find him with his arms crossed along his chest as well. "I had him in rehab detoxing for an entire week."

"So he's on no medication what's so ever? He's completely sober?"

Pops shakes his head no, "he's not on any opioids or narcotics."

"He's smoking?"

Pops nods, "he still needs something to manage the pain, the bullets still pinching the nerve. Ciders making him herbal teas and creams to help relieve the pain temporarily. I'm waiting on his X-rays to see if the bullets shifted or not, I don't want him undergoing anything if we still have the same percentage as last year."

I incline my head forward towards where Sax is at, "has he made any progress?"

"Oh definitely, he couldn't stand last week let alone hold his own weight up. Jer's just there to make sure he doesn't fall over, he hasn't taken more than ten steps this week. He needs a support system, KP."

"He has his mom-"

"Other than his mom, Antonio. He needs friends to support him and push him when he's ready to give up."

I turned back to my dad, "that sucks, guess he should've made more friends than enemies huh?"

Pops is quickly unfolding his arms and is smacking me in the back of the head, "idiota, it's your friendship or your wife's," he says. "And I know for a fact that she won't hesitate to forgive him."

I feel my top lip immediately twitch as I turn back to Milo who has his arm around Jer now, "she already has," I grumble.

"Emiliano's an asshole no doubt about it kid, but so are you. If he can forgive us for his brother's murder then I don't understand why you won't forgive him for something as simple as stepping out of line."

"Because I don't want to," I quickly snark.

"Isaac-"

"I can't forgive him pops!" I blurt out and turn to walk back into the hall as I feel my chest instantly get tight.

Here it comes.

I fold my hands on top of my head and walk towards the elevator door as I feel the guilt try and creep up.

"ISAAC!" My dad shouts behind me.

I don't pay him any mind and keep ignoring him as I continue to move forward and the warehouse alarm is ringing a second later making my ears hurt from how loud it is down here and bars are quickly coming down in front of me, in front of the elevator, blocking the way out as they get bolted shut automatically.

I turn back to find my dad standing in the hallway with his hand on the panic button on the wall, the phone next to it ringing a second later.

I hated that he had the damn panic button on this level, my level, when it was originally only suppose to be on the lowest level in case any of his prisoners ever attempted to escape, but i knew why he did it, it made senses to have them on every floor because they would have to go through each level to get through the main entrance/exit.

Pops doesn't answer the phone and is instantly pointing in my direction, "you ain't fucking going anywhere until you talk to me!"

"Guess we're gonna be down here a while then," I snarl not letting up.

Pops scoffs and is shaking his head. He reaches for the phone as it rings a second time, "yeah," he speaks into it and looks in my direction. "No. Disarm the alarm, leave the gate down until I clear it," he commands and is slamming the phone back on its hook a second later, waving a hand in my direction, "whenever you're ready."

"Lift the gate," I hissed. "I'm exhausted, I don't have time for this."

"You good boss?" Jeremiah is now at the entrance of the gym.

My dad immediately brushes him off, "keep yourself busy with Sax, we're gonna be down here for a while," he points towards the bars behind me.

"Yes sir," Jer smiles and is walking back into the gym leaving pops and I alone in the hall.

I watch Jer make his way deeper into the room where Milo's currently sitting, he's looking in this direction with a frown on his face.

"Isaac-"

"You're wasting your fucking time, I have nothing to say."

"That's bullshit, you've been bottling shit up since last year and I want to know why. Talk to me, let me help you, let me alleviate whatever pain you're holding back, son. Believe me kid, whatever it is your old man can handle it, I'm no stranger to darkness and guilt, let me drown in your demons so you won't have to."

I scoff, tearing my attention away from the glass window. I turn towards my dad, "you were never the nurturing father, pops, don't start now."

I see the instant genuine hurt behind his eyes.

"I may not have been the empathic father you needed when growing up, Isaac, but don't stand there and disrespect me that I never nurtured you. I did the best that I could considering the hell home that I was brought in. I took care of you the best way that I knew how. I built this entire fucking empire to take care of you, to fucking protect you. Everything that I've done from the minute I found out I was going to be a father I did for you!" He shouts, his voice no longer soft and patient. "I broke you and reformed you into the man that you are now so no one else could break you!"

"I didn't need you to fucking break me!" I shout and take a step forward.

I feel my entire body begin to boil and burn up just like it does everytime I'm about to black out from the anger.

Pops doesn't step down or take a step back, he stays perfectly still as I attempt to control my breathing, as I attempt to control the anger, the black out.

"I didn't need you to fucking break me," I repeat myself a little more calmer and there's an instant burn in my eyes. "I needed you to acknowledge me, your son! I needed your love when I was a little boy! I needed a dad, not a leader," I waved a hand in his direction. "I needed you to be there for me, pops, I needed you to comfort me, I needed you to tell me that things would be okay when things got tough. I didn't need you to break me," my voice cracks. "I was a fucking kid, I was allowed to be scared, I needed to be able to run to you, look up to you, not be afraid of you!"

"Isaac-"

"You want me to talk, fine, you want me to open up and let you in?" I tap my hands on my chest and take another step forward, "I hate what the fuck you did to me! I fucking hate myself and what you've let me become! I hate that I can't be the husband Hailey deserves, the father my kid will need!"

He stays quiet, not uttering a single word.

Fuck. I mentally curse at myself, I really let that shit spill out right now.

I clench my fist and attempt to take a deep breath taking control of the rage before I really fuck up and say some shit I'm going to regret, but it's too late. I'm no longer in control, the anger, the anxiety, the guilt, they all have a hold on me right now and I'm fucking drowning.

"You wanna know what the fuck is wrong with me" I raise my voice. "I'm mad.. all the fucking time!" I shout and slam my fist into the glass window next to me, feeling the instant pain shoot up my arm. Feeling the instant relief of feeling anything other than the tight burning feeling in my chest and I'm slamming my fist into the glass a second and third time.

My dad quickly makes his way over to me, pushing me away from the window, "Isaac, stop!"

"I'm mad at you!" I push him off of me. "I'm mad at him!" I point into the gym where Milo is currently at. He's back up on his feet with Jeremiah as they both look towards the window confused. "I'm mad at Ric!" I continued. "But most of all I'm mad at my fucking self.".

"Son-"

"I can't let him back in because the second I do, the second I let him back in, I begin to fucking drown in not only his guilt but in brothers too! I can't let him back in because I can't lose him too, dad," my voice threatens to crack. "Everyone that I care about eventually gets hurt because of me. I-it's easier for me to just hate him and keep everyone at a distance. I can't have any more blood on my hands, I can't."

Pops looks over at me and doesn't say anything, no hint of emotions whatsoever. He shakes his head softly and is walking up to me, wrapping his arms around my body. He hugs me, holding me to him.

I stay still for a couple seconds unsure of what to do or how to feel, when I hear my dads voice next to my ear a second later, a tone I don't hear very often.

"I am so fucking sorry that you have the need to carry all of this unnecessary guilt son."

I wrap my arms around my dad as I feel the rage slowly begin to evaporate but the instant pang in my chest is there as I hug him back.

"You need to let it go, Isaac, Alfonzo's death is not on your hands kid, it wasn't your fault. You need to let go of the past son and stop living in it."

My body instantly trembles as I feel warm tears trail down my face and I nod my head.

Pops pulls away from me but doesn't remove his touch from my arms, "you wanna be mad that's fine kid you can be mad, but be mad at me not at anyone else. I'm the bad guy here, not your friends, not you, stop wasting time being mad and hating yourself for something I did. You don't get to live with my regret, my guilt, my mistakes. Hate me all you want, Isaac, progress all your anger and hatred towards me, I'll continue to be the villain here if it means you'll start living in the now, in the future. No spilt blood has ever been in your hands, Antonio. Everything falls back on me, everything that happens in this life, our life, everyone's hurt and pain, it's all because of me, not you, you got that?"

I nod quietly.

"Alfonzo's death, that's on me, I recruited that kid, I sent him out, not you. Patricio's heartache, his drug use and overdose, I caused that not you. I tore that little girl away from him, I broke him, I broke Hailey, I broke you, everything is on me not you," he jabs a finger at my chest. "You hear me?"

I nod again.

"Say it," he growls. "I want to hear you say it."

"Pops-"

"Say. It."

I look off to the ground, "it's on you not me."

Pops hand is quickly flying out and grabbing my face, forcing me to look at him, "look at me when you're repeating that shit, it is not your fault."

"It's not my fault-"

"You don't get to feel my guilt."

"I don't get to feel your guilt-"

"You are worth so much more than people's pain, people's guilt, Isaac. You don't get to feel anything other than your own pain, your own hurt," he jabs at my chest again. "You're gonna leave all that shit behind you and be the fucking kingpin I raised you to be, got it? We're done feeling sorry for ourselves."

I nod my head again, pulling my face away from him when Jeremiah and Milo walk up to the door entrance and wipe my face with the back of my hand.

Pops looks behind him real quick to see what I'm looking at. He finds Jeremiah holding up a wincing Milo, "he walked all the way over here?" Pop questions noting that his wheelchair isn't around, it's still back in the gym.

Jer nods his head, "he did," he smiles.

"Y-your dads right," Milo stammers through the pain he's in as he clings onto Jer, grabbing a better hold of him. "You don't get to feel my brother's guilt. Fonz knew what the hell he was getting into when I convinced him to take my place. If anyone's going to take any type of fault for his murder then it's going to be me, not you, nor you Mr. Matteo. Hell, I'm not even going to take that guilt myself. Fonz watched me grow up in this life, he knew the risk, and as much as I miss my dude we didn't hold a gun to his head forcing him into this life, he made his own decision, Isaac. I'm sorry that you had to witness that shit by yourself, that you had to carry all that, but I've also never thanked you for being there with him that night, for not leaving him alone."

I inhale a deep breath and ignore everything that he just said and swallow everything that I am, pointing at him, "are you going to make it to all your sessions on your own or am I gonna have to drag you into this warehouse every goddamn day?"

His lips slowly tug to the side, "I'll be here, I got it," he smiles.

I nod quietly glancing in my father's direction to see a small smirk on his face.

"Thank you," I turned back towards Sax. "For what you did for Hailey. I've never properly thanked you."

He shakes his head, "I should be the one thanking her. I begged her to leave and she never once left my side."

The phone on the wall quickly interrupts as it begins to ring again and pops is walking over to it, answering it.

"Yeah?" He repeats and is frowning in the next second. "What do you mean she dismissed you? What did you do?!" He looks in my direction. "Where are you guys at now? Ricci's home?"

I immediately begin to frown at the mention of my best friend, Hailey should be over at Dion and Angela's so I'm instantly on high alert.

"No, go home, I'll handle it from here," he says right before hanging up.

"What happened?" I quickly asked.

"Apparently your wife dismissed Aj and Ric from her service tonight."

I want to smile but I don't, instead i mentally frown at myself. Of all the people she could quickly dismiss from her presence why in the hell would she dismiss someone she actually cares about.

She's been pushing me and pushing me to make up with Ric and now suddenly she didn't want him on her watch, suddenly she didn't want him near her, something must've happened and that immediately began to infuriate me.

I pulled my phone out of my pants to call her immediately, and came to find out that I actually have a text message from Hailey that came in about seven minutes ago.

The message reads; "Pick me up from Ang's on your way home baby, I'm ready whenever you are."

I quickly text her back; "I'm on my way." And shove my phone back into my pants. I gotta make a conscious effort to be more alert of my phone from here on out.

"Can you please lift the gate so I can go pick up my wife," I look over at pops.

He doesn't say anything in return but he pulls his phone out in the next second, gluing it to his ear, "lift it," he says and the gate is immediately gliding up into the ceiling a couple seconds later.

"I'm taking one of the trucks," I say. "I had Luca and Lazee turn in my rental."

"Let me wrap things up here and I'll take you."

"It's fine, pops, I can go myself, the three of us can't be late for dinner."

"Here," he digs a hand into his pocket, "take the wagon then, I'll have someone take me home," he says tossing his keys in my direction.

I catch them in my hands and turn to walk away when I hear my fathers voice behind me one last time.

"Hey." I turn to look over my shoulder. "I'm proud of you.. for opening up and finally letting me in."

I don't say anything in return I nod my head and begin to walk away making my way back up to the main level and out of the warehouse.

It takes me a good fifteen minutes, maybe a little less to drive to Ang's house, I got lucky and mainly caught all the lights on green. I pull into her driveway and put my dads truck in park to find that the SUV down the street still hasn't left, Aj and Ric are still here.

I have about half a right mind to text Hailey and let her know that I'm outside and instantly kill the engine when I remind myself that I haven't seen my friends in almost a month now and get out of my father Benz.

The lights to the SUV turn on the second I step out of the Mercedes and it's pulling out of its parking lot and driving towards me.

I walk to the end of the driveway and wave the guys over to me, they pull up about a second later, rolling their windows with Adolfo sitting in the driver seat and Ric in the passenger seat.

"Good job," I say as I walk onto the road and up to the truck.

Adolfo immediately begins to frown, confused.

"For not leaving," I clarify.

"Ric said not to," Aj answers.

"And he's right, I don't care if you have to hide, you don't ever leave her side even after she dismisses you unless I say so, got it?"

"Yes sir."

I glanced back and forth from both idiots, "so who pissed her off?"

"I did," Ric answers dryly, finally looking in my direction.

"Lemme guess, she found out about Maddie?" There's an almost shocked look on his face.

"Please tell me you're not as stupid as he thinks you are, Ric.. Of course my dad knows you're sneaking around, he even brought it to my attention before I left and I told him she was nobody."

"She is nobody," he answers.

"To you, Ric! To you she's nobody! She's someone's daughter, she's another one of Hailey's friends stronzo."

Aj snickers in his seat and I'm quickly averting my attention to him, "something funny, Adolfo?"

"No sir," he smiles, "but your wife basically told him the same thing before she dismissed us."

Ric quickly shoves him on the arm, "shut the fuck up will ya!"

Aj immediately does the same gesture to Ric and is shoving him on the arm, "you're the idiot that answered your phone around her!"

"Are ya gonna make this a habit?" I questioned, waving a finger at both idiots.

They both frown.

"Being fucking annoying," I clarify.

Aj snickers as Ric keeps the same nonchalant attitude.

"Don't worry about, Hailey, Ric, she's just hormonal so she gets set off quicker than usual nowadays."

Ric's frown immediately deepens and Aj eyes nearly pop out of his socket.

"She's-"

I nod and talk over him, "almost four months," I say.

I know Hailey's probably going to kill me for telling another person about our pregnancy before we tell our parents, but I'm hoping, praying actually, that by me telling him it'll be a step closer to getting back to normality, getting our friendship back, getting the old Ric back. If my dad is gonna make me put in an effort in letting Milo back in then I gotta do the same with Ric, I gotta attempt to salvage all my friendships.

A small hint of a smile begins to form on his face, "I hope you and Dee don't think I'm gonna follow in on this pregnancy pack."

"Fuck you," I grinned.

His smile continues to grow but doesn't linger for too long, "congrats, KP. Your dad know yet?"

I shake my head while turning to look towards Aj, "so keep your mouth shut."

Adolfo immediately places his hands on his ears, covering them, "I didn't hear anything."

I roll my eyes and turn to look behind me as I hear Hailey's voice behind me.

"Babe!"

"Go back inside baby," I point towards Angela's house as I see her wrap her cardigan tighter around her.

She's either cold or hiding her stomach like she's been doing since we left the hotel earlier.

"I'll be right in," I tell her.

She rolls her eyes but doesn't move an inch and I'm rolling my own eyes.

"Go home," I tap my hand on the SUV. "I'll keep you updated with how the announcement goes, I think we're telling him tonight."

"Good luck," Ric smirks.

They immediately take off as I back away from the truck and begin to march over to my pregnant cold wife.

She unfolds her arms and I'm quickly pulling her into me, "miss me mama?"

She smiles, "you know it daddy," and is looking up to kiss me, locking her lips with my own.

"Gross. I really hope she's calling you that because she's carrying your baby."

Hailey begins to giggle into me as we pull apart from each other to find Dion standing a couple feet away, a brown bag in his hand.

He begins to smile holding up the bag, "you forgot this you little freak."

She takes the bag from him as he gets closer to us, "I'd shut it, Dion, Ang tells me every nasty little thing you do to her."

"Then you know they're not little things," he smiles smugly.

"Ew, look who's gross now!"

I laugh and step up to Dion as we clasps our hands together and bring each other in for a small hug, "what's up, Dee?"

"You ready?" He pats a hand on my back.

I shake my head and smile as I pull away from him, "fuck no but we can't exactly prolong this any longer."

Dion crosses his arm along his chest and is turning to Hailey beside me, "just have red do all the talking and boom everyone's happy."

"That's what I told him!" She smiles over at my best friend as she links her hand with mine, locking our fingers together.. "He can't stay mad at me, I'm carrying his grandbaby."

I chuckle softly and lean in to place a kiss on Hailey's forehead, "here," I hand her my dads keys. "Start it up so you can get warm, your hands are freezing."

She nods and smiles, "bye Dion."

"Catch you later red, I'll be praying for you guys," he smirks.

"How's Ang doing? She lying down already?" I asked.

"Yeah, she can't move around a lot without getting winded or exhausted," he smiles. "Her mom gives her a couple more days before we head off to the hospital."

"Yeah? And are you guys ready?"

Dion's small smile soon becomes a wide grin as he shoves his hand into his pocket, "I'm counting down the days man, Ang is freaking out."

"I mean she is the one doing all the work."

"Fucking aye," he swears as he looks down at his phone in his hand.

"What's up?"

His smile immediately vanishes as he takes a step forward showing me the caller ID, his biological mother, Rizalina, is calling.

"She's still up your ass?"

"She genuinely doesn't know how to take no for an answer."

I almost want to crack a joke and compare the two being stubborn headed and keep my mouth shout because I know for once it's gonna flip him the fuck out being compred to the vile, even if I'm just messing around.

"She literally calls me almost all week long."

"Jesus Christ, block her already."

"Ang won't fucking let me," he grumbles. "Incase I get a change of heart," he rolls his eyes.

"Women and their damn change of hearts," I softly scoff. "Ima get going, I'll hit you up later."

"For sure," he sticks his hand out, I place mine in his and we're pulling each in for a half ass hug, "let Red know that I have the rescue team ready to go if your dad goes ballistic," he jokes.

"You're a fucking idiot," I laugh.

We say our goodbyes one last time before he's heading back into Ang's and I'm climbing into my dads truck and we're pulling out of their driveway and driving back to the house.

We've been on the road for no less than five minutes when Hailey is instantly reaching for my right hand eyeballing my bruised buckles, "what happened?!"

"Nothing," I instantly took my hand out of hers and put hers in mine. "Me and wall had a small disagreement," I smiled, bringing her hand up to my lips, kissing the back of it.

"Isaac," she groans, a small little frown on her face.

"Im okay I promise," I place another kiss on her hand. "Did you enjoy hanging out tonight?"

Her frown slowly goes away as she smiles, "know what Angela told me?"

I incline my head up patiently waiting for her to answer as I turn back to look in front of me.

"She started feeling little baby flutters at eighteen weeks."

"Yeah?" I smile, quickly glancing in her direction.

She nods, "I asked her what it feels like cause sometimes my stomach feels weird, like if there's little bubbles inside and she said that it's most likely the baby because she described it as little taps inside."

"Or you're just gassy," I teased.

"Babe!" She giggles, pulling her hand out of mind.

I chuckle and point towards the little brown bag as we drive down the street from the house, "lemme see it."

Hailey grabs the bag from the floor and is pulling out a small little white onesie with black writing on the front and back of it and our baby's month due date.

I take it from her and place it on my lap as we pull into the estate and pass the front gate. I click a button on the sunroof that instantly opens the garage up and I'm putting my fathers truck in park, killing the engine.

I pick up the onesie getting a better look at it, reading it over and over again when I feel Hailey's hand on my arm.

"You like it?"

I nod and turn to look at her, "it's perfect," and leans in to kiss her on the lips.

I feel her lips tug the side as she pulls away, "I know you're scared to have a daughter but I really do hope it's a girl, I want to see your dads soft side."

I smile and peck her on the lips one last time, "he'll be softer for you and her, worse for everyone else."

She bats her pretty little eyelashes and is reaching for the onsies, "she'd make you softer too, plus Iridiana is gonna need someone to play with."

"Or someone to protect her.."

"Her dad can protect her enough," she says while placing the outfit back in the bag. "Between her grandpa, dad, and uncle, she'll be fine."

"Come on," I reach for the door handle and crack it open, "they're probably waiting on us."

I step out of the truck and walk around it, opening the passenger door for Hailey, which comes to a shock because it's very rare when she actually waits for me to open her door for her.

I stick my hand out for her to grab and help her out of the vehicle and close the door. Taking her hand in mine, I reach for the little bag with my free one and take it from her as we make our way into the house.

The house smells absolutely amazing the second we step inside and my stomach is instantly growling. As much as we enjoyed ourselves in Italy I missed everything about being back home, the food, the comfort, my family, everything.

"Isaac? Is that you baby?" My mothers soft voice is instantly coming out of the living room.

"Yeah it's us ma."

"Give me the bag, I'll go get everything ready," Hailey says softly.

I hand her the bag and watch her go upstairs before heading towards the living room to find my mom sitting on the couch with my father laying on the couch asleep, his head on her lap.

I walk over to her and lean down to place a kiss on her cheek, "hi mom."

She smiles, "hi honey," and is quickly grabbing ahold of my chin, pulling the facial hair that I've grown out. "I hate this damn goat tee, it makes you look so much older."

I smile and pull my face away and lean down to kiss her one more time, "my woman likes it so it stays. How long has he been out?"

She shrugs and begins to brush her hand through my dads hair, "twenty minutes tops."

As in love as my parents were it was rare seeing my dad in such a calm, relaxed, state around my mother, he wasn't one to nap often.

Everyone knew how much my dad loves my mom but he hardly showed any PDA around anyone outside of his house, and if he did it was really quick.

Hailey actually loved seeing my dad and mom engage each other.

Ma drops her voice down to a whisper, "maybe do it before dinner, he needs a little pick me upper, it's been a rough day."

I frown glancing down at my dad, could it be because of me, because of what I told him or something else.

My mothers instantly sitting forward and is reaching for my bruised knuckles just like my wife did a few minutes ago, "did you do this or him?"

"I did ma," I pulled my hand away and placed it behind me, "it's nothing."

"It's not nothing, honey, your dad told me what you said."

I shake my head, "I really don't want to talk about it right now mom."

She nods but doesn't push the matter and I'm completely grateful for that and is shaking my dad awake a couple seconds later.

He stretches his body out and I'm taking a seat on the coffee table behind me, in front of the couch they're sitting on.

"Where's Hailey?" My dad yawns as he stretches his arms out once he's sitting up. "Did you guys eat?"

I shake my head, "we didn't, she'll be down in a bit, she's grabbing something from upstairs."

Right on cue Hailey begins to descend from the stairs and make her way into the living room with two bags in her hands, "we brought gifts," she beams with happiness holding up the bags.

"One for Mrs. Matteo," she smiles, handing my mom a bag.

"Thank you baby, you shouldn't have."

"We wanted too," I say as Hailey walks past me with a glimpse of anxiety behind her eyes as she looks over at me.

I'd be lying if I said I was just as nervous as her right now but between the two of us she's probably playing it off better.

"And one for Mr. Matteo," she hands the bigger bag to my dad.

He gets up from the couch and is bringing Hailey in for a side hug, "thank you Angel but Adriana's right you guys really shouldn't have. Did you like Italy?"

"Oh I loved it," she smiles as she backs away from my dad and is taking a seat right next to me on the couch. "Open, open, I wanna see," she waves towards the bags.

My mom doesn't bother to open her bag just yet, instead she watches my dad yank the wrapping tissue paper from the bag in his hand, we all watch him patiently actually as he empties it out.

Once all the tissue is out he's pulling out the small cigar box from inside and is instantly laughing softly himself.

"You didn't.." he smiles, glancing in our direction.

"He did," Hailey titters beside me, "he said they were your favorite."

"They are," my dad tells her and motions to put the box bag in the bag.

"Open the box pops."

He frowns although he's still smiling and is pulling the box back out and is lifting the lid up revealing the onesie.

"What is it?" My mom questions.

"I don't know," pops frowns and is taking the onesie out and placing the box down.

"Read it out loud," Hailey smiles, practically falling off of the edge of the table, she's enjoying every moment of this.

"You think my dad is scary? Wait till you meet my grandpa," he reads the onesie out loud, his smile slowly starting to leave his face as my anxiety starts to rise. He flips the shirt over and continues, "he owns the mafia. Baby Matteo April 2023."

He immediately puts the baby outfit down and is glancing over at Hailey and I, and then back to my mother, "you knew?"

She nods.

"Perché non me l'hai detto?" He questions, asking her Italian why she didn't tell him.

"Lei non lo sapeva," I tell him and reach for Hailey's hand as she frowns, looking over at us.

"You're not happy?" She frowns..

"I had my assumptions, yes, they only just confirmed it with me today as well, Carmelo."

Pop scoffs, tossing the onesie onto the couch he makes his way over to the mini bar in the corner of the living room.

"You're upset.." Hailey mutters under her breath.

"I don't know what I am, Hailey," he grumbles as he reaches for a glass.

"You're not happy so you're obviously upset," Hailey grits as she stands up and grabs the onesie. "I didn't hear congratulations from pop pop."

I immediately snort as I try and suppress the laugh that's attempting to come out and ma's quickly smacking me on the leg.

I reach for Hailey's hand, "give him a couple minutes," when glass is suddenly stuttering in front of us.

"You've been gone three weeks, Isaac, three fucking weeks and you already get her pregnant! What fuck did I tell you?" Pops exclaims.

There he is.

"Dad-"

"Oh your son got me pregnant before our honeymoon, before the wedding," Hailey hisses, opening up her cardigan, exposing her small tummy, crossing her arms along her chest.

I love how much bolder pregnancy has definitely made her.

My dad looks over in her direction, down at her stomach and I can't tell if he's either fuming or defusing at this point, he's always been so good at masking his emotions, they were so nonchalant from time to time.

I get up from the table and stand in front of Hailey, "it wasn't intentional, dad, it just happened."

"I didn't want you guys to be young parents," he says, oddly calm.

"I know."

"Carmelo.." my mom grumbles under her voice as my dad makes his way back to us and he's instantly wrapping a hand on the back of my neck and is pulling me in for a hug.

I immediately release the breath I was holding and wrap my arms around him.

One dad down, one more to go.