My Mafia Ex-Husband

Chapter 27 - Giovanni

My heart was pounding in my chest. I could only see fire when I thought of someone putting their hands on my future wife. I had already spoken to Santino and asked him for his sisters’ hand in marriage. Santino was the head of the family, not to mention the Chicago Mafia.

My wife. My Julianna. I would burn down the world for her.

Someone has drawn me out to the warehouse on purpose. To get as many of the men away from the property. I knew it was Dahlia. She will pay for what she has done.

“Gio, let’s move now. We will head into town. We are too far out of the city. Someone will contact us. Cassandra and Gerardo are working fast. I asked Victoria to stay behind and protect Cassandra and my boys.”

We were just outside the city limit when my phone buzzed with an incoming message. s**t. My Julianna!

Gio, amore mio, here is the address to find me. There is a man her helping me. Dahlia has his son. The son needs medical treatment. Dahlia is holding his son hostage. Please find me as soon as possible.

“Julianna, sent me the address where she is being held!” I punched in the address in the navigation system and Santino floored the SUV down the highway toward the warehouse.

My hands were shaking with anger. I will break that b***h’s neck.

“Gio, we will get her back. I need you two married to be godparents to my sons. Cassandra asked me last night.” Santino smiled.

“Just as soon as I hold her in my arms. Santino, now I understand you completely. You would burn this world down for your woman. As I would do the same.”

“Yes, brother. We would.”

We pulled up to a warehouse and parked out back just inside the tree line of the wooded area. Just as I was going to step out of the vehicle, the back door to the warehouse burst open with a man pulling Julianna in front of him running towards us. I scrambled to run out to her as we heard gunfire from the warehouse.

Julianna screamed as she lunged for my open arms. Santino was firing back as coverage. The man behind Julianna was suddenly falling as he was shot in the leg as he protected Julianna view from the shooters.

Santino ran out and grabbed the man’s hand and drug him to the SUV as I put Julianna in the back seat. I held Julianna’s body to mine tightly. I was afraid to let her go.

Santino already had more of our men descending on the warehouse to take care of whoever was left behind. We knew Dahlia was not there. The man named Igor, that helped Julianna explained everything to us on the way back to the house.

Julianna explained how Igor had helped her ad told us of his son. Max, who was three years old. Had medical issues that Igor could afford to pay. Dahlia heard him talking to the people at the hospital and offered him a job. She has not paid him yet.

Santino told him not to worry. Max would be taken care of, and Igor now has a job as Julianna’s personal security. Igor had told us that his wife died during childbirth. We all understood Igor’s position. Dahlia used Igor’s worry and the despair of losing his wife against him.

We pulled up to the house in record time. The good doctor was already there. Victoria was standing at the door cautiously watching.

“Who is that at the door?” Julianna whispered to in my ear.

“That is Vic. Also, known as Victoria Campenella. She is a friend of Cassandra’s. She was the one that helped in tracking the movements here to find out what had happened. Since, we have tightened security. Also, your nephews are expecting zia back home.” I kissed her temple.

“She is beautiful. But kind of scary in the same,” Julianna mumbled.

“I will protect you, my love,” I kissed her temple.

“Oh, get a room, you two. Move it, I need to see my wife and sons.” Santino growled and moved quickly out of the driver’s seat toward the house. Igor waited for Julianna to step out from the vehicle. She smiled and took his hand and led him to the house where I knew his son would be waiting.

I had sent Gerardo a message to run a background check on Igor Kozlov. We found that his parents were factory workers that both died in a factory fire back in Russia. He came to the states when he was eighteen. Started working in a food production warehouse, where he met his wife.

Igor had already told us that he and his wife had married within a year and had their son nine months later. He had told us that his wife had gotten sick a few months prior to the birth of their son. But the sickness was a simple cold at first and developed into something different at the time of the birth of their son. His wife had stopped breathing, and the doctor made the decision to save the infant.

Igor explained everything to the doctor again. The doctor ran a full blood screening. Full check-up and would get back to Igor with the results.

Meantime, I waited outside of Julianna’s bedroom. She wanted to shower first before seeing the boys and Cassandra. She emerged from the bedroom in her lounge wear looking beautiful as ever.

“Gio, let’s go eat. I am starving.” She started for the door.

“Wait, I need to say something first.”

She stopped and looked up at me with her beautiful grey eyes. Her pouty lips just ready for my kisses.

“My love, I was so afraid of not finding you. My heart was hurting. I was more worried that I would never have you as my wife, if we did not find you.”

I dropped to one knee and pulled out the ring I bought when Santino gave me his blessing. I held it out to her. “Julianna Fusco, would you make me the happiest man on the earth and marry me?”

Julianna smiled. “That’s it? Just like that? No courting? No dating? No romance?”

I was frozen in the spot where I kneeled. s**t. Is she going to say no? My heart will stop.

“I, uh, I…uhm…”

“Just kidding, hell yeah. I will marry you. Let’s go. We will eat. Then get dressed and go to the courthouse.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me up.

“Woman! You almost gave me a heart attack. Do you really want to watch me suffer? I will never give you up. Ever!”

“Good, because you are mine as I am yours. Now let’s go. I am hungry. Then we go to the courthouse. I have a friend that works there, and she will get us in to see the judge in no time.”

“My love, don’t you want a huge wedding?”

“Nope, that crap is over-rated. I just want you. No need for expensive cakes and decorations, people that talk s**t, a mess to set-up and not to mention clean up.”

“I will do whatever you want. Let’s go eat. Then later I will get my dessert.” I smiled, wagging my eyebrows at her, which made her laugh and hug me.

This is what I want every day. Laughter and smiles with my woman. My woman.

We made our way to the kitchen where there were people bustling around. The kids were at the table arguing over fruit. Santino and Cassandra made googly eyes at each other. Gerardo was having coffee scouring over his laptop as Sarah gently closing it and handing him a plate of food. Igor and his son laughing in a conversation with the doctor.

My heart felt like it was going to burst. Finally, a real family. But, in the back of my mind, I knew this was just the beginning for all of us. More feelings like something big was going to happen.

“Good morning, everyone! I would like to make an announcement. This beautiful woman has accepted my marriage proposal, and we are going to the courthouse this morning. She does not want a big wedding. So, I am doing what she says,” I announced.

“It’s about damn time Gio. I was growing tired of watching you two avoid each other’s loving looks. Like lost puppies. Whining for each other,” Santino laughed.

“We are so happy for you two. It is just wonderful to have a bit of good news with all the other crap going on. Sit and eat.”

Cassandra gestured to the table where in the center laid trays of food.

We sat and ate in peace. For the moment.