The Mafia And His Angel, Part 3 by Lylah James
Chapter 34
My head was drowsy when I woke up. Blinking my eyes open several times, I tried to stare around the dark room.
Only a lamp was on.
I turned my face to the side to see Alessio sitting on the couch next to my bed. He wasn’t alone, though.
In his arms, Princess laid there. Actually, she was laid on his chest. Alessio had a hand supporting her head and the other over her butt.
Her cute round cheek was pressed against Alessio’s chest, her eyes closed as she slept soundly.
“You’re awake,” Alessio murmured quietly.
“Was she crying?” I wondered out loud.
Alessio shook his head. “No. I just felt like holding her.”
It appeared like this would be an everyday occurrence.
“How long was I asleep for?” I questioned, trying to sit up.
He stood up with our baby girl still held tightly in his arms. “About an hour. Everyone is waiting to meet you and Princess.”
My eyes widened, and I smacked my forehead. “Oh no. I fell asleep. I’m so sorry. Why didn’t they come in? They could have met Princess while I was sleeping.”
Alessio placed Princess back into her crib and came to my side. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he smiled. “I forbid them from coming in. They would have disturbed both your and our daughter’s sleep.”
“That’s not nice. They have been waiting so long to meet her,” I fought back with a hard look.
Alessio shrugged. “Don’t care. You were tired, and that’s more important.”
“Call them in now. It’s time they meet the little one,” I replied with a sigh. I couldn’t help but smile though.
With a sigh, he went and did as he was told.
The door opened, and a few minutes later, everyone started to pile in.
Lyov and Isaak practically pushed everyone aside and came inside excitedly. Poor Viktor was crushed against the side of the door.
Then in came Viktor and Phoenix. Nikolay and Maddie were last.
“How are you feeling?” Lyov asked, coming to stand in front of my bed.
“Tired but happy. I can’t wait to go back home,” I replied.
He nodded. “Of course.”
I saw his eyes seeking the crib. When his gaze found it, he looked at me, as if asking for permission. With my nod, he walked over there.
Alessio was already standing beside the crib protectively.
Isaak came to my side and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Thank you for giving everyone this gift. I haven’t seen Lyov this excited and happy in years. Decades.”
My eyes blurred with unshed tears as I watched Lyov stare at Princess. He was speechless and held a fist to his mouth. I knew he was trying to hold in his tears.
Isaak walked over to the crib too, standing beside Lyov.
“She is a beauty,” Isaak announced proudly.
“Why is everyone calling her beautiful? Newborns look like a bunch of old potatoes,” Viktor drawled with a laugh.
Did he just call my daughter ugly? That earned him a fierce glare from me.
“Move. Let me see the potato,” Viktor said. He sauntered to the crib and stood beside Alessio.
And then silence.
“Potato, my ass,” Maddie chuckled in my ear.
Viktor’s eyes widened, and he froze. He looked completely mesmerized, just like the other three men standing around her crib.
I noticed that Phoenix had made his way there too. Only one person was missing.
When my eyes met his, I found him leaning against the wall in the far corner. Always alone. Always reclusive.
“Why are you there?” I asked softly.
Nikolay shrugged, his eyes going to the crib. He looked like he wanted to be there, but he stayed still.
“Don’t want to scare her,” he finally replied, pointing at his scars.
My heart stuttered at his words. Did he really think that?
I had the urge to go to him and wrap him in a tight hug.
Shaking my head, I looked back at the five gathering men. Nikolay belonged there. With them, watching over my daughter.
Phoenix stepped away. He made this way to his cousin. “Stop being a pussy,” he said lightly.
I smiled when Phoenix dragged Nikolay to the crib. The poor guy appeared frightened.
And then they were all standing around the crib.
It was an impressive sight. Six big muscled men standing around a crib that held only a tiny baby.
From my bed, I couldn’t even see the crib…let alone her.
Viktor had his head practically shoved inside the crib. Alessio puffed his chest out, looking very proud.
“Fuck. This is not good. Not good,” Viktor muttered quietly. I saw all the men nodding in agreement.
Huh?
“Definitely not good,” Lyov added just as quietly. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“She has them wrapped around her tiny fingers already,” Maddie muttered, sitting beside me.
I simply nodded. It was true. Was it possible to say that I was the happiest mother alive at that moment?
My princess had all the love she needed. All the love I never had.
“You did good,” Maddie continued.
I held her hands in mine as we watched the men watching the princess.
A knock sounded on the door, and I called out a soft, “Come in.”
Evaline walked in with a large bouquet of flowers. “Hey, babe!” she said cheerfully, coming to my side.
“How did you get here?” I asked, astonished as she hugged me.
“Viktor sent me the private jet. I came as soon as I got the news,” she mumbled back quietly.
Her eyes went to the boys, and she raised her eyebrows in question. Maddie chuckled. “You don’t even want to know, girl.”
“Looks like she’ll be leading them with just a flick of her finger. I can imagine them wagging their tails and following behind her,” she replied with a humorous laugh.
“Have you thought of a name yet?” Evaline continued.
“Uh huh. Alessio and I will announce it when we get home.”
We had the perfect name for our princess. And we couldn’t wait to share it with everyone.
“I’ll just wait for the boys to finish with their admiring so I can see the princess,” she said with a sigh.
“You’ll be waiting for hours. I don’t see them moving anytime soon,” Maddie laughed.
I laughed because Maddie was absolutely right.
“Well, never mind then. My turn to hold the princess.” Evaline winked before walking to the crib. She pushed her way between the men and bent down.
Holding my baby girl in the crook of her arms, she smiled. “Look at the little cutie. She is so adorable and so small.”
“You’re supposed to hold her neck,” Alessio said urgently. He moved and tried to hold Princess with his hand.
“Emm…I know how to hold a baby, Alessio. And I am holding her neck.”
“Make sure the blanket is wrapped tightly around her. Ivy said it keeps her warm. Like she’s still in her mother’s womb. Don’t move her too much. She’s sleeping…”
Oh well.
I leaned back and watched the drama unfold.