Chapter 179
Torq stood in the mirror behind his son and fought to keep from laughing at how serious the little boy was. He was back at the hotel, dragged there by his Bastiano at his father’s urging. Bastiano was sitting in a chair, his foot bouncing nervously in anticipation of Raniero. Antero, however, was their focus at the moment. They were trying to figure out how to avoid the temper tantrum which was likely to happen.
“I’m not sure your mother is going to agree with this. I don’t even know if we’re allowed to bring
her.”
“If she doesn’t come, I don’t want to go.” Antero shrugged pettily with his little fingers trying to clip the bowtie he managed to get from someone in the hotel around Avalanche’s neck.
“Can you bring a dog to a church?” Bastiano asked with one eyebrow up high in his forehead. “I feel a dog in a church would cause my mother’s fingers to make several fast rounds of her rosary.”
Cicciu was looking up the website for the church, “only support dogs.”
“Sorry buddy, but unless you want to fight with the priest on it, I think Avalanche needs to stay
here.”
“What if it’s an emotional support dog?”
The quiet question from the doorway made them all slowly turn. Raniero standing in the entrance
with Tito behind him. Raniero’s eyes watered as he looked at Bastiano who seemed to freeze with his
presence and then look away from him. He cleared his throat, the sting of rejection evident.
“What did you say?” Antero glared at him, “why are you here?”
“I’m here to watch your father marry your mother,” Raniero said gently, “he is my big brother after
all, and I wouldn’t want to miss this. I think if you can find someone to grab you a service animal in training jacket for Avalanche, you can pass her off as Antero’s emotional support dog. It would get
her into the church. Crisis averted.”
“The crisis would be my wife leaving me at the altar when she sees I brought the dog,” Torq grunted and moved to his brother and pulled him into a hug. He slapped him on the back.
“I’m sorry,” Raniero whispered against Torq’s chest. “I fucked up. I am sorry.”
Torq hugged him tight, “you did fuck up, but it takes a man to admit it.”
“I love you, brother. I will prove my loyalty. I will.”
“I have no doubt.”
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Chapter 179
“Dad!” Antero pushed in between the men. “You can hug later. I need you to find me a training jacket for Avalanche.” He looked at Raniero, “I still don’t like you, but you have good ideas.
Raniero squatted down and looked Antero in the eye, “I don’t like me very much right now either, little man but how do you feel about second chances?”
Antero shrugged, “everyone makes mistakes but don’t make the same one twice. My dad told me that.” He looked up at Torq, “right? When we brought Avalanche home without asking Mom first. You said we needed to learn from our mistake.”
“Exactly.”
Raniero held his hand out to Antero, “I would very much like an opportunity to be your uncle. I feel
I was not the best version of myself when we last met.”
“You were a jerk.” Antero reluctantly shook his hand.
Torq bit his lips together to keep from laughing as Antero bluntly called Raniero out. He touched the top of Antero’s head and hugged him to his thigh, “you aren’t wrong, son. He was a jerk. A big jerk.”
“Don’t do it again, Raniero. You were mean to my mom, and I’ll kill you if you do it again.”
The choked laughter from Cicciu at the bold statement from the child was punctuated by Tito turning his face and smacking his palm against a wall as he stifled his laughter..
“Someday, Antero Lozano, you are going to make an incredible boss of this family,” Raniero said seriously. “You already know in here,” he touched Antero’s chest with a finger, “the difference between right and wrong and who to hold accountable. I might need lessons from you.”
“You do hear yourself, correct?” Bastiano spoke angrily. “Asking a five–year–old boy for lessons on
how to be a man?”
Raniero slowly rose to his feet and nodded, “I feel given he was far more mature than I was when I was last here, it makes the most sense.”
“I can’t argue your logic.” Bastiano didn’t even bother to get up from his seat as he glared at his lover from across the room.
Antero looked up at Raniero, “I think Uncle Bastiano is pissed off at you.”
“Language, Antero. Your mother will have my balls if she hears you cursing,” Torq made wide ey
Cicciu.
“Mom wouldn’t want your balls. I once heard her and Amal and Susana talking about how stupid and ugly balls are. Susana even said they can smell bad when they’re sweaty. I don’t think my balls smell bad though. I took a bath.”
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Chapter 179
“Let’s not tell your mother we’ve mentioned balls or the words pissed off.” Torg looked at Tito you already arranging the vest?”
“Yup. Sent one of the security team downstairs to go find one.”
“It’s a good idea Raniero. I might let you explain it to Alcee when she’s asking me how I managed to get the dog in the venue.”
“I will graciously offer my neck up to my new sister to chop. She has every right.”
“This is fucking bullshit.” Bastiano’s words were far harsher than the mild curses floating around the room earlier.
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