AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He doesn't do anything by halves.” Carm jokes as he gets out of the car and turns to unload the suitcases. Casimira starts to unbuckle Ares from his car seat and Benny and Luca pull up behind us.
“We're going for three days. Who needs four suitcases?” Carmine asks as he drops Casimira's largest suitcase on the tarmac.
“I don’t know what I'll need. Gotta be prepared for every situation.” Casimira shouts from the back of the car before coming round to stand next to Carm, Ares propped on her hip.
He folds his arms looking down at her. “You prepared for a snowstorm too?”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t come crying to me when you realise you forgot sunscreen.” She says pointing to Carm's small duffel bag.
He shrugs. “I don’t need sunscreen.” He definitely does. He has the complexion of a sheet of paper.
She raises a knowing brow. “You're not having any of my aftersun either.”
She's been packing and repacking Ares’ suitcase for the past two days. She's got everything including the kitchen sink in there. She's turned into such a responsible mother. I love to see her take care of Ares. I always knew she would be a great mother but to see it happen In front of your eyes is something else.
We all board, taking our seats as the stewardess offers us hot towels and drinks. Her hand lingers a little too long whilst offering me mine. “Mr Moretti, is there anything else you would like?”
Casimira scoffs a laugh at the obviously flirty tone, an amused smile on her face.
“I’m good,” I tell the now bright red stewardess.
Cas rolls her eyes at me and I try to suppress a laugh but don’t do so well. She narrows her eyes at me, amusement still lining her features. “It's not funny. If the roles were reversed you would have blood on your hands by now.”
“Can't argue with that,” I say grabbing her chin and kissing her. She gives me a look that tells me ‘I’m way too full of myself’ but relaxes back into me. She should know there’s no one else for me. She's my equal in every way and I adore her, it’s almost an obsession at this point. Healthy or not, there’s no stopping it.
Ares falls asleep on her chest, cuddled into her as we take off and Casimira soon falls asleep too. I look down at both of them looking so peaceful and a sense of protectiveness comes over me.
It’s strange. When she told me she had a baby, I didn’t know how to feel because of how it happened but when I met him, I felt love for him instantly. As time has gone on it's only grown, when I look at him, I don’t see anything other than Casimira, I’m starting to look at him as if he's mine just like Casimira is mine. Mine to protect. Mine forever.
40
Casimira
Antioquia, Colombia
It's midday when we land in Colombia. It’s barely an airport, more like a private landing strip in the middle of the jungle. The warm air hits my skin as the jet door opens, the sun beating down making the cracked tarmac radiate the heat back into the air and I automatically have a smile on my face. It’s a welcome break from the cold weather back in New York. I’m built for a hotter climate.
There are two big modified Jeeps already pulled up by the small aircraft hangar waiting for us. Two guys leaning against them. The smaller of the two pushes off and begins walking towards us.
Enzo grins at him. All white teeth and manly excitement as they both clap hands and pat each other’s backs with a lot of enthusiasm. Luca does the same and he actually smiles. It’s one hell of a contrast to his usual face. “You got big,” Enzo says, jabbing the young guy in the stomach.
He elbows him back lightly. “Could say the same to you.” He pretends to measure his height next to Enzo.
“Here, meet my girl,” Enzo says motioning towards me. There’s a slight immature flutter in my stomach when he says ‘my girl’. It makes my face crack into a smile wider than is appropriate. I shift Ares onto my other hip and hold my hand out for him to shake. “Casimira.”
He shakes it firmly and politely smiles, not looking at me for too long. “Nero.” He glances back at the plane as if he’s waiting for someone else to get out.
“She’s not here.” Luca cuts in bluntly.
“Dunno what you’re talking about.” Nero shrugs, turning his attention to Carm and holding his hand out for a handshake and grins. “Golden balls.”
Carm looks mildly amused as he shakes his hand. “My nickname’s getting around alright.” He says more to Enzo and Luca than anyone; they both share an amused look.
“You remember Carlo? He's my guy. He’ll drive you to your villa.” Nero says waving the other man forward who doesn’t look very interested in the whole interaction.
“What? You haven’t got time for us?” Luca asks in mock offence, his chin jutting out.
“Can’t, I have to head back to Vegas for a meeting. I tried to rearrange but you know what my dad’s like.” He shrugs, palms in the air.
