Page 87 of Loving the Enemy

Epilogue

Michael

It’s been six weeks since the whole Gallardi cartel fiasco, and I am pleased to say things in the Vitali home have gone back to normal. Pop is feeling much better and is getting around more. After hearing about the wonderful time Zaira and I had in Florence, he and Mom decided to take an extended trip. They left two days ago, and the house seems really quiet without them.

Alex continues to work at my side, and every day, I see him growing into a man more and more. He is going to make an extraordinary underboss when Sal retires, which should be in the next year or so. I have noticed over the last several weeks that Alex has taken a liking to Mia. She comes over here often to visit Zaira. I don’t have the heart to tell him Marco has been waiting for her to come of age for a while now. I think a good healthy love triangle will do him good. When Mia turns eighteen those boys are gonna rock her world.

Gina is doing great in school and working hard to graduate early. Hell, if I knew when I was her age that was an option, I would have jumped on it. But then again, probably not. I fucking hated school. She and Zaira spend a lot of time together, and it warms my heart they get along so well. Gina needed another woman in the house, and Zaira has filled the role of sister beautifully.

Ricco is still Ricco. He is the best of men and the most loyal. He takes my life in his hands everyday and stands by my side proudly. I am—hell, the whole family is lucky to have him in our corner. Zaira has mentioned on several occasions that she needs to find him a nice girl. He definitely needs a woman in his life, but I made it perfectly clear to my wife it is not her job to find him one. She promised she would not meddle in his love life, but frankly, I don’t believe her. I know when the right one comes along, Ricco will know it, just like I did with Zaira. Now if I could only get my wife to see that.

Speaking of my lovely wife, life doesn’t get any better than now. She is and always will be the light of my entire world. She recently gave me news that has totally thrown me for a loop. I keep thinking, how in the fuck am I gonna manage this along with running this family? How could she spring this on me? And when I asked her that, her response was “but, baby, these things happen.” What the hell is that shit?

In all seriousness, I couldn’t be more overjoyed. Zaira and I are pregnant! Dr. Siegel says we can expect our little bundle of joy in late spring. I’m gonna be a fucking father!

Everything comes to fruition. Even though we have lost, we still continue to go on. Life is short, and I have learned it is what you make with the life you have been given that is what makes it worth living.

I will continue to strive to be worthy of my wife and family. I will also try to be the man Zaira sees I am, and I hope to be an even better father. I will continue to run the Vitali family as I see fit and thank God every day for the many blessings He has given my family and me.

The end.