Page 229 of Made in Love and Blood

He gave up California when he took the boss’s seat. That state no longer promised him safety and security due to factors he’d allowed. While he could have tried to work it out with the narcos now running the show, it wasn’t worth it. That brought danger that he didn’t care to risk with his twins. They wouldn’t touch Frankie, though. Or Nico.

Her status as an Olympic athlete made her too high profile to try something, especially during the games, but he planned ahead, just in case. The team of security he and Nico carefully arranged for her never let Frankie out of their sight.

In fact, one of the security on the team—the same Gabriel that had taken a job as Frankie and Nico’s head of security on their estate—could be seen off to the side of the video Nico sent once Salvatore finally got it to play. The man clapped and shouted across the field, but the little boy jumping on a flat barrier and throwing his little hands high took up all of his grandfather’s attention.

Nico spoke from behind the camera. “What’d Mommy just do, Dami? What’d Mommy do?”

That kid walked at nine months old. Chased a ball before he turned a year and a half. He refused help navigating stairs. He had ambition, skill, and a fearlessness his parents encouraged every day.

Salvatore didn’t even worry to see those jean-clad legs and black sneakers bouncing on a barrier between the people and the field. He just grinned at the two-year-old’s excitement and how those eyes of his, dark brown like Frankie’s, lit up. He might look like his father, every inch of Nico stared back from that kid, except his eyes. Those came from her.

“What did Mommy do, Dami?” Nico asked his son again.

Damiano bent at the knees, all his energy balling into his tight fists that he pressed against his leather jacket, emblazoned with Team USA colors and patches. “Mommy won fucking gold!”

Salvatore laughed so hard he almost dropped his phone.

In the background, just before the video cut off, Nico muttered, “Yeah, can’t show that one to Mom, little man.”

Salvatore’s gaze drifted over the faces staring his way as he focused on the television again. There, Frankie had finally gotten away from her team just long enough to make it to the sidelines. The camera caught a kiss between her and Nico, another rare sight between them whenever her team had been the center of attention. He handed a kicking, reaching Damiano over the barrier, and someone else tossed a flag that Frankie easily caught.

“That’s my girl,” Salvatore murmured as Frankie did a victory lap. A well-earned one with Damiano on her hip.

Six weeks later, Salvatore would get better news. A second grandchild would soon make their appearance, conceived on the night Team USA won Olympic gold. When he asked Nico about the unexpected pregnancy later, he admitted that’s what Frankie wanted. It wasn’t unexpected at all.

She didn’t want to keep playing soccer. And she’d changed her focus at school so she could finish before her second child was born. She wanted to be a mom. Not part-time. All the time.

Three more grandchildren would follow, like little steps, every two years after.

Damiano Nicky.

Nicole Carina.

Christopher Nicolas.

Andre Salvatore.

Angela Dove.

That big dining room table, empty for so long...their family finally filled it.

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The In Love and Blood saga continues in...Darling, Dove.