Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 473 -

*Olivia*

As the days passed, my anger faded the fall of the tide against the shore. Like the waning of the moon, a peaceful calm settled over me and my little life. My day usually went the same way, a constant routine that all the books said was good for Elio's development.

Gio would often kiss me before heading to whatever work he had that day. Sometimes he'd leave for hours and I never knew where he was or what he was doing, but I didn't mind. Truthfully, sometimes I didn't want to know what he was doing.

I doubted the Don was heading out to plant daisies for kids with cancer.

After Gio left for the day, I spent my mornings with Elio. He'd gotten much better with sleeping later in the morning, and that allowed me a bit more time to rest before getting up for the day.

And after days of ignoring my problems, watching my son begin to walk on his own through the garden, gaining more of his balance each day as he paused to pick up the crunchy leaves on the ground, I realized something very important. Elio ran over to me with a wide beaming smile, hanging me the orange leaves that had only just begun to fall from the trees.

I gently closed my fingers around the leaf, giving Elio a small smile as I stretched out my other hand and laid it on top of his unruly curls. I rubbed his head, a warm feeling creeping over my heart as I took in the wide, innocent, and hopeful eyes that gazed up at me.

"Thank you, Elio, you did such a good job."

He giggled, stumbling into my legs and thrusting his arms up at me expectantly. I laughed, gently laying the leaf on the porch table and lifting my son. I hitched him on my hip and he curled into me, yawning under the afternoon sun. His back and curls were warm from the heat and he smelled of the sunscreen I had put on him but I hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go for a single moment, in fear that I might miss a single memory of him growing up. Like my father had.

I never wanted him to question his worth, to feel lost and lonely, or that he had to always be behaved to be loved. He didn't. He would never have to hold back his emotions like I had.

Elio should be Elio and he should know that no matter what, I would love him until infinity ends.

"I love you," I murmured into his curls, gently swaying with the soft breeze around us. I hummed a melody I didn't quite know the name of, being here and present with my child.

"Mama." He yawned, leaning on my shoulder as his little eyes closed and then opened as he startled himself awake. He did it a few more times, struggling not to fall asleep as he cooed at the swaying leaves in the trees, but eventually, his tired little body couldn't keep up with his curious mind.

His breathing evened out and he fell asleep in my arms, clutching strands of my long hair. I smiled softly at him, gently rubbing circles along his back as I soothed him to sleep. He needed a nap before lunch anyway, so I kissed his forehead, bringing him inside.

I settled onto the couch in the suite, still holding my sleeping baby in my arms as I pulled my phone out of my pocket and glanced at it. There was a text message I had yet to answer. From Sal.

I appreciated him giving me the time I needed over the past few days to figure out what I wanted to do, but today, I had finally made my decision. Without my emotions getting in the way and having significantly calmed down, I knew what choice I was going to make.

My father had missed my entire life. He barely had any memories of me from when I was a child and though it had been his choice to leave, I understood why he felt he had to. Could I have done the same if I had been in his place? Would I have been able to leave Elio?

I sighed, laying the flat of my palm across my son's back, feeling his every soft breath. It was reassuring and grounding to make sure he was still here with me. I could never have survived having to leave my child. And maybe everyone was right.

Maybe the reason my father survived without me was because I was expendable, that he didn't care enough to try to stay or take us with him. But I refused to believe that.

From the moment he walked into my life again, he'd been trying to prove something to me. He said he wanted a relationship with me. Gio said he wanted to get back at him, that my father was using him. My mother had no good words to say of him.

Even Dahlia was skeptical of Sal's history but for some reason, I trusted him. The way he pleaded with me to understand why he left, how he respected my face even if it hurt him to watch me leave, he had to be telling the truth.

So I would believe him. I would continue to believe him until he proved me differently. And if I was wrong, I could get hurt. But It was a choice I had to live with. I had dreamed of watching him walk up the steps of our house since I was a kid, of him being there one day to wipe away my tears when I fell and comfort me after a nightmare.

His absence had left a huge hole in my heart growing up, and though I'd filled it with the love of the people around me, I still had a place for him right here. I wouldn't push him away over things he couldn't control.

I especially couldn't fault him for being part of a crime family. Hell, I was married to the head of one, after all. How could I condemn him for doing the same thing and still look Gio in the eye?

I picked up my phone, shooting a quick text to Sal. 'Would you want to come over for lunch today at the compound?'

I was surprised at how quickly he'd sent a reply, and I smiled at the few spelling mistakes he'd made in the rush.

'Of course. Is noon or one okay with you? I can't wait to see you, Livi.'

Just as I responded with a text to confirm noon, the door to the suite opened quietly. I glanced up, my phone dinging as Sal sent back a 'See you then.'

"I invited Sal to lunch today," I said casually, as if there was nothing weird in my statement.

Gio paused in the doorway, glancing at me with dark eyes. I couldn't see any emotions on his face but his body was tensed, his fist clenched around the brass doorknob.

When his eyes flickered to the phone in my hand and then to Elio as he napped away, I almost thought he would say no, to try to tell me that I couldn't invite my father over for lunch or that I couldn't even see my father. Instead, he said, "Okay."

"I've decided to trust him," I told Gio calmly. "Could you please try to do the same? I deserve to know my father and Elio deserves to know his grandfather."

Gio pushed his hair back from his face, giving me a blank look before he shut the door behind him and made his way to the couch. He gently sat beside me, careful not to wake Elio, and threw his arm around my shoulders. I let him pull me into him, scooting over to lean my head on his chest.

"Okay," he said softly. "But for my peace of mind, please don't go to his house, just in case you might be spotted by someone else who lives there or one of his bosses, okay?"

"Deal," I murmured, smiling as I shut my eyes and breathed in his cologne. And I knew we would be okay.

Sal arrived for lunch exactly at noon, dressed in a well-worn suit with patches on the elbows and clearly not the best fit, but probably the best he had. He greeted me with a huge smile, even shook Gio's hand, and asked to hold Elio as we led him into the kitchen.

"He's so big now!" Sal grinned, thrusting Elio into the air above him. "Aren't you, kid?"

Elio giggled happily as Sal pretend he was an airplane, making a whirring sound as he flew him into the kitchen and set him gently in the high chair. Elio squealed with laughter and I smiled from behind.

Maria had served lunch already, and I took my seat next to Elio with Gio beside me and Sal on the other end, right next to Elio's other side. I had to admit I was a bit jealous when Sal offered to feed Elio and he managed to get my picky son to eat his entire plate of vegetables.

Elio didn't even seem to notice, thinking it was some kind of game as Sal pretended to play air guitar, singing loudly and off-key to old rock songs my mom never used to listen to. With every other word, he'd stuff the spoon into Elio's mouth, the one-year-old too mesmerized by the music and movements to realize he was being fooled.

By the time I was as old as Elio, Sal had already vanished from my life. So I could admit I was a bit envious watching how great my father was with my son. If things had been different if Sal had been able to stay, would he have treated me the same?

Would I have grown up knowing the lyrics to all these songs?

It didn't matter now.

Gio excused himself halfway through to get some paperwork done in his office and though I was a bit disappointed, I was thankful for him being so cool about this. He kissed me on the cheek, then ruffled Elio's hair before taking the rest of his sandwich upstairs.

"Thank you so much for believing in me, Livi," Sal said to me happily. "I can't tell you how much it means to me that you'll still let me be here in your life, and the life of this little one."

He grinned, bopping Elio on the nose, who giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world.

"That tends to be my thing, apparently, giving people second chances." I laughed. "Gio says I'm too nice for my own good."

"I agree with him there." Sal grinned, but then softened, giving me a caring look. "But I'm glad you are, Livi. You have a kind heart, we need more people in this world like you. I hope you never lose that part of yourself."

His smile fell, faltering at the edges and for a moment I thought I saw a glimpse of guilt and remorse in his eyes, but it was gone so quickly I couldn't be sure.

It must've been the light, I thought.

"I've got to use the restroom, Livi," my dad announced suddenly, getting to his feet.

"Oh, sure," I told him, giving him the directions.

He nodded, leaving me and Elio in the kitchen alone. I took the opportunity to help Maria out by cleaning up the mess left behind. I managed to wipe down the counters and table, clean up Elio's sticky fingers and face, and even do the dishes, but there was still no sign of Sal.

Anxious and unsure, I waited at the table as Elio grew fussy, wanting to be let down to play and run around.

"Mama!" he whined, struggling against the straps of the high chair as he held his sippy cup in his hands. His lips were turned into a pout, eyes watering, and I finally caved.

"All right, all right, baby," I laughed, unlatching him and pulling him into my arms with a fake groan. "You're getting so heavy. Soon, you'll weigh more than Mommy."

He thrust his sippy cup into my face and I barely had time to grab the plastic cup before it slammed into the side of my cheek.

"Not nice, Elio," I told him firmly, readjusting my grip on him so he couldn't hit me in the face. He pouted, sipping on his cup as he reached out his hand toward the doorway.

"We've got to wait for-" I started to say, but then I heard a shout from down the hall, rather loud, though I couldn't hear the words that had been said. I frowned, knowing immediately that something was wrong.

"All right, let's go, baby," I whispered, being extra careful as I turned into the hallway. I followed the sound of raised voices, holding Elio protectively in my arms.

When I got upstairs and turned the hallway, I finally saw what was making all of the noise.

Gio and Sal were staring at one another, dark looks on their faces and bodies tense like they were getting ready for a fight. Clearly, their exchange had not been friendly.

"I don't care what you're trying-" Gio growled.

Sal spat out, "You don't deserve my-"

At the same time, both of them looked like they were one inch from throwing the other to the ground and pounding the life out of them.

"What the...?"

Everything fell silent as Gio and Sal jumped, turning to me with wide eyes. Their mouths shut with a snap, both falling quiet under my surprised glare.

I glared at the two bickering middle-aged men, turning from one to the other as I held Elio on my waist and my other hand on my hip.

I should've known this was going to be a disaster.