Wild One

Fifty

Niccolo

“Do you love me?”

I will never like the other end of this sentence.

“No,” I say into into the phone.

“What?” Luciano cries. “How can say that?”

“Because, you only ask that question when you want something.”

“It's not me,” He says slyly. He says something to someone off the phone, before the line crackles, the phone obviously being passed.

“Zio Niccó!" a small voice says. I hate him.

“Hey there, Luna. What do you need, little one?”

“Can you watch me and Levi today? And tommorow? And the weekend?”

I clear my throat. “I—I dunno, piccola. I am very busy and—it's mostly your Daddy's fault, so—”

“Pleaseee? Pleasee pretty please, Zio Niccó? Don't you miss? I'm almost eight. I'm a big girl. And I'll make sure Levi won't bother you and—"

“Okay. Okay. Put your father on the phone.”

She giggles. “Thank you, Zio Niccó. I love you to moon!”

I smile.

“I love you to the moon and back.”

She hands the phone to Luciano. My smile drops. “I hope you roast in hell, you dirty bastard.”

“So callous, cugino.” He chuckles.

“I hope you know I hate you,” I inform him.

“I hope you know I don't care,” He smirks. I can see it, the rat bastard.

“How's Manon?” He asks.

I shrug. “She's fine. I'm sure she'll be thrilled,” I say sarcastically. I actually don't know if she will be or not.

“I'll drop them off in an hour,” He says hanging up.

This is why no one likes him. I walk into the bedroom, where Manon is sleeping. It's early in the morning.

I'll tell her later. No need to wake her.

I go downstairs, because the estate is not Luna and Levi proofed.

I have Angelo call a meeting.

“Okay, my niece and nephew are coming over today.”

The room starts buzzing. I roll my eyes. “Quiet!”

“This means we have a lot to do. First of all, there is no cursing around them. If I hear it, you will be punished.”

“Second, no guns around them. Do not show it, do not mention it. Definitely do not use it. If a situation occurs where you need to use it, take it to the warehouse.”

“Third, no mafia dealing. Say nothing about the mafia. Fourth, these are my beloved niece and nephew. If you do something, anything to them, they will tell me. I will kill you. And your family.”

“You are to keep them safe at all costs. They are allergic to coconut. That means no coconut anything is in this house while they are. Throw it out.”

“No smoking. Anything. No—”

That went on for a while.

***

True to his word, he drops them off an hour later. They're both early risers, like their father.

Manon is nothing like that, so she's still sleep.

They bursts in the door. “Zio Niccoló!”

“Piccoli!” I scoop them up. They climb on my me, making me smile.

“Down little monkeys. Say goodbye to your father.”

“Bye Papa!”

He waves, kissing their heads. “Be good for Zio, sí?”

“Sí!”

But we all know that's a damn lie. As soon as their Papa shuts the door their off running. Straight to my room.

Oh no.