CHOSEN BY THE MAFIA

Santiana’s POV “Am I the one having a baby or you?” She deadpanned. Maria and I stared at each other with sheer panic in our faces, eyes darting from the growing pool of water on the floor and her huge belly. A skin scraping scream pierced through the air followed with a hand going over my mouth almost immediately. I know how crazy that sounds but that’s “control freak” Maria for you. Maria always had to be on top of things forgetting this time that “the thing” was inside her and not under her. Luckily, I had packed a due day bag because I knew Maria well enough to know how to be prepared. How lucky. The control freak has finally lost control. No one knew what to do. Speechless faces and unreadable expressions all through the room. Including mine, which I fixed almost immediately remembering that this was my event, my store, my business and my business image riding on how this all plays out. Switching to business woman Santiana, I start handing out roles to everyone in sight. “Call 911” I almost yell to Mr Tribbiani and he already knows not to argue so he pulls out his phone and dials immediately walking to the front door for some quiet. “Get towels” I bark at Mrs Peralta the nice mother figure of the community, regretting almost instantly while registering the scared look on her face but I didn’t have enough time to apologize and shoot her a sorry look hoping it would suffice for Christmas cookies this December. “Keep breathing steadily” i coax to a very unbothered Maria who is still stuffing her face with whatever she can find. I manage to convince her to sit down so I can think without the weight of a pregnant woman pulling me down. I reach for her phone and speed dial her emergency contact- her husband, obviously. Who’d be far more than happy to leave work for his woman any day, he is the boss he can do literally whatever the f**k he wants. AND HE’S A MAN, A MAN IN THE MAFIA- and to no ones surprise, Mr Sanz picked up on the first ring of the phone eager for his wife’s voice, and evidently disappointed when he hears mine but brushes it off cause he knows it has to be an emergency for me to call. “What do you want?” He grits. “Your head on a stick and your body on fire.” I reply. “…but I’d rather you come see your child come into this world or something like that, Mr Sanz.” I continue. I hear his breath hitch, I have the upper hand. “Where? When? Tell me everything.” He asks. I contemplate teasing him and making him apologize for always being so smug but I decide against it. “Her water broke maybe five minutes ago and as you probably know she’s cooler than a cucumber right now.” He lets out a small sigh. “But we are having and event here and if she stays any longer, she’ll deliver this baby herself so we need you to come take her to the hospital room i trust you have prepared ahead of time?” Brief silence, giving him opportunity to ask questions or say something, he doesn’t. “Great, set your car GPS to ‘The WILDFLOWER CHAPTER.’ and call when you’re here.” Mr Sanz hangs up without saying anything and I know he’ll be here in less than 10 minutes. I breeze into the other rooms of my store. The flower shop is packed with a few beautiful fairy looking women and the sight was so beautiful i may have snuck a cute picture or two. The library was quiet and dusted with a few bookworm teenagers and college students, quietly picking out what works for them. I see a teenage girl reading a book I know a little too well to get mistaken, and I just smile…glad to see some golden gem books still getting some love. Just as I was appreciating the community Ive built, the phone rings and im pulled back to reality. I don’t need to check the name on the screen to know who was on the other side of the line. I walk back to meet a less calm but still stubborn Maria, im guessing contractions have started. “Are you going to keep staring or are you going to help a pregnant woman go deliver her baby?” She quirks manipulatively. I refuse to argue because I can’t win against a regular Maria, I stand no chance against a pregnant and now contracting one. I motion to help her and we head outside to meet her husband who is waiting eagerly by his-LIMOUSINE??? Did this man just pull up to pick up his pregnant and in labor wife at my grand opening in a freaking LIMOUSINE??? You know what? Who am I kidding? Maria getting less and less cool by the second has a decent grip on my arm obviously telling me im not making it back to my grand opening til she says so, so I comply. She wants a whole seat to herself and every other seat is occupied with everything a baby can ever need for at least the first two months of its life so I was stuck sitting next to Dante. Just as I’d hoped, all his attention is immediately shifted to his wife and incoming child. He had the softest expression Ive ever soon on him with his eyes locked on his family seated across him. A soothing quiet fell upon the space within this limo and lasted til we got off at the hospital. We were met by 4waiting nurses and what I think was 5 doctors fully prepped and ready to handle this birth. Maria’s grip is still firm on my hand so I am glued to her side, each and every step. She has finally stopped fighting it and is letting the professionals work. We notice Dante getting jealous on the side so she pulls me in and hugs me. “Go back to the office and kick some business ass and I swear if you say a word.” I move my hands over my face like im zipping up my mouth and throwing the key away and kiss her on the cheek. “I love you and please text me as soon as you can” last part mostly directed to Mr Sanz. Maria called out to her husband… “Dante.” and he immediately rushes over, now she’s wheeled into the birth room reserved for her. Off they go to bring my niece or nephew probably godchild into the world. I go downstairs to fill some documents for safety purposes, hit the vending machine and call an uber back to the wildflower chapter. I enjoy the peace I had on the ride back because for some reason I didn’t feel safe at my new store yet but that’s how it usually goes. I brush the thought back as we arrive. I see my cousin and the car ready waiting for me but we both knew I wasn’t going home still. “Santi” Mateo hollers. “Go home, Matty.” I reply. I step into my building feeling the hairs at the back aid my neck stand which is odd considering I am always accompanied but at least 3men half my size. They lock the door behind me and I go straight to my office. I plop down on my couch and take my first deep breath of the day. Eyes fixed on the take out on my desk, I see a writing on it but before I could think more into it, I drift off to sleep.