His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika

“Chris, if you want to go back home and sleep—you can go to sleep.” I cracked a smile at his zombie sta3 AM when we had finally reached the hospital, but the baby was definitely taking her time.
“No, what if the baby suddenly comes and the car breaks down or something crazy happens like a sinkhoget here in time?” He ranted as he exactly proved my point. He was so tired.
“You don’t even know what you’re saying, go home and get some sleep.” I sighed as I raised myself frombed so I could take a better look at him. “Shut up, I’m fine.” He mumbled.
“Serena!” Ramiro burst through the door again with Amanda following behind him. Seeing them in theirand actually in the hospital was definitely different from the safehouse.
“Your mom and Cesca are on their way.” He told me as my eyes widened. What was wrong with these peAM?” I asked as Ramiro nodded his head. Was that even allowed?
“You told me the baby won’t be here for a while, so what’s the rush?” I yawned and laid back. “This is soin any pain, I could do this every year.” I smiled while Ramiro and Amanda gave each other a look.
“If you feel so comfortable I think you should get some rest while you still can, Serena,” Amanda told me“Yes, I’ve been watching some birth videos and they do not look nice—maybe you should get some sleeagreed and pulled a scared face.
“Stop it, you guys are overreacting—I have been through worse, so I really don’t think I have to worry.” Ireferring to the Fabio situation. I doubted childbirth was any worse than Fabio.
Nothing could make me cry anymore, not even a baby.
~
“I think I’m dying.” I cried in Lita’s and Cesca’s arms the next afternoon while Christian and Beau gave mlook. “That’s it, you’re never having babies again.” Beau spoke as he wiped away my tears.
“We were actually planning on having six.” Christian stopped Beau from talking me into any crazy ideas whead. “No, just one,” I spoke through tears.
“Yes, sure,” Christian reassured me and held my hand. “It looks like you want to kill all of us, so if you wa“No!” I yelled at him. “Please don’t leave, I’m scared.”
“We’re not going anywhere, Christian doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Francesca spoke and push“Are you sure she’s fine? She looks like she’s dying.” Christian asked Ramiro.
“That’s because I am dying,” I agreed with him and looked at Ramiro who was holding a needle in his hayou really can’t take it anymore—“ He spoke but I shook my head in defense.

“No, there’s no needle going in my back—I’ve seen enough needles for today.” I turned my head. “I’m dactually, I think I just like to overreact.”
“You’re so stubborn like your dad.” Lita pouted and held her hand against my head. “Where’s dad?” I asthat I had even called him dad until Lita’s face lit up. The stuff pain did to me.
“He’s right outside, just like everyone else.” She smiled. “Okay.” I huffed and focused my attention on Behere for the delivery, right?” I asked him, but the look on his face said enough.
“Serena, the poor guy obviously doesn’t want to.” Christian decided to save him from the situation. “Desthink your brother wants to look at your…you know.”
“I don’t care, he can stand at the front,” I complained. Beau being my twin meant a lot to me and I wouldhave him here. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just stay outside, Serena.” He rejected my offer in his usual calm to“How about your sister, Carmen?” Christian suggested.
“Carmen?” I spoke surprised. Carmen, the same little sister who had only given me eye rolls and side-eyehere?
“You know, she seemed really sad that you didn’t ask her to be here,” Lita told me while I started feeling she never asked me so my first thoughts automatically went to my mom, Cesca, and Beau.
“Carmen?” I asked once again as my mom nodded her head. “She was just too shy to ask you, but she wmiss the birth of her first niece,” Lita spoke.
“When she found out Emilio was having a boy, it ruined the entire pregnancy for her. She loves Milo, butbe a girl so bad.” She sighed.
Right, Milo. The same Milo who did not have a mother anymore, because of childbirth complications. “Oeven think about it.” Lita held my hand after seeing the scared look on my face.
“Were you there when it happened?” I asked and looked in her tearful eyes. It was obviously not somethto talk about. “No,” She gave us a sad smile. “At that time we weren’t on speaking terms so I wasn’t therneeded me the most—and that’s why I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be here with you until the very last sepromised.
It was always interesting to see how open she was in sharing her stories and seemed completely unfazedelse’s presence in the room. “Don’t worry Serena, Milo’s mom already had health issues.”
“And you are extremely healthy and the baby is extremely strong.” Ramiro tried to lift the mood. They wethan the unbearable pain everything was going as it should.
“Aren’t you going to tell us what happened between you and Emilio?” Beau bluntly asked. At times it wasee how much he had taken over from Lita. He had no problem asking the wrong questions at the wrongwondered the same, but unlike Beau, I had a conscience.
“After I had Carmen and Luke, I hated myself and did not want to experience a childbirth ever again—bethe two of you too much,” Lita confessed.
“I took out my anger on everyone, including the birth of my first grandson—and you might’ve not noticof you coming back here was the glue this family needed.” She smiled. “Emilio came to support you aftebeen through and he did it for you.”
I felt tears roll down my cheeks and not long after I started bawling. I did not know whether it was Lita’s pain I couldn’t live with, but once I started I couldn’t stop.
“My poor baby, did they make you cry again?” Christian sighed and pulled me into a tight hug. “From noshare good stories.” He spoke as he looked at everyone.
“You care so much for me.” I sniffled and leaned my head against his. “Yes, yes—I know.” He chuckled anfinger to the door.
“Someone go and get Carmen.” He instructed while Beau followed his instructions and walked out the dyou’re so kind-hearted and I’m so happy I have to have you as my daughter-in-law. I have no idea what me.” Francesca suddenly spoke which made me cry out even more.
“Mom.” Christian rolled his eyes as he once again wiped my tears. “Serena?” I heard Carmen’s voice anddoor. She stood hand in hand with Beau while he led her towards me.
“Come!” I told her and stuck out my hand so she could hold it. “What’s with the tears, you’re scaring melaughed. It was the first time I had touched her and perhaps the first time we were even having a convers“We are the only two girls in the family, and I want us to get along.” I pouted through my tears and movher cheek. “Please stay with me for the delivery?”
“M-me?” Carmen asked as I nodded my head. “Yes, you.”
“Oh my god, here you all go again.” Christian sighed when he noticed the tears on Carmen’s face. “I cananymore, I’m heading out for a while.” He announced and walked out the door.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Carmen smiled and pulled me into a hug. “Seeing you all get along wLita smiled.