Carole Mortimer - Men of Power

That leaves Julie, the perfect choice, but she’s on the brink of getting engaged. One day soon she’ll be married and have children of her own. Shawn doesn’t want her burdened. More importantly, he fears that Margaret would interfere with Julie’s household and cause trouble. It could ruin her marriage.

I’m afraid you’re the only one we can turn to in full confidence. You’re the only person who could control Nicky’s grandmother and still be fair to Shawn’s family.

Since you’re the only person Uncle Aldo can’t control, we have no fear of his influence over our son.

In the meantime, it’s a comfort to know you’ll embrace our sweet Niccolo. With you guiding him, he’ll lead a wonderful life. I realize it’s asking a lot, but if anyone understands what it’s like to live with someone besides your parents, you and I do.

Just remember this is only a precautionary measure. Nicky hasn’t been born yet, and nothing’s going to happen to Shawn and me. We’ve found love. We ‘re going to live a long, happy life and have a big family.

But just in case …

On a groan, he reached for his cell phone. He’d promised to call his uncle. There was no question Pietra’s death had affected the older man. He had to be suffering some remorse that there’d been no reconciliation. But such an event wouldn’t have happened unless his uncle had made the first move.

Pietra had been too hurt by the dynamics inside their uncle’s household. Now it was too late.

The doctor had advised him not to come to the funeral. It would put too much stress on his heart if he was hoping to recover. Massimo inhaled deeply.

How did anyone recover from this nightmare? He hadn’t even seen the baby yet.

But Julie had,

No woman will ever love him the way I do.

He needs constant love and security.

He’s missing his parents terribly.

Introducing him to another stranger this soon will only frustrate him further.

Despite her impassioned accusations, which had come home to roost, the torment in those smoky-blue eyes had reached down into Massimo’s soul where anger over so many things lived.

“Uncle?”

“Figlio mio .” Aldo’s voice trembled. “Have you seen her?”

He closed his eyes tightly, but nothing would shut out the image. “Yes. I’ve just come from the mortuary.”

His uncle cleared his throat several times. “I’d hoped to be there and see her boy.”

Massimo remained unconvinced on that score. “You’ll get your chance.”

“Dr. Zampoli says it won’t be for a while.”

“The good doctor doesn’t know everything.”

“What do you mean?”

A shudder wracked his body. “I’m coming back to Italy, Uncle.”

“For how long?”

“Long enough.”

“Don’t feed me lies, Massimo.” The excitement in his voice was tangible. “I can take them from anyone but you.”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Guido. He and Lia are getting the villa ready in Bellagio.”

“What’s wrong with my house?”

His lips compressed. It hadn’t taken two seconds for his uncle to start dictating. “I want Nicky to be raised in his grandparents’ home.”

A long silence ensued before his uncle blurted, “You have custody of the boy?”

His uncle’s shock brought a satisfied curl to Massimo’s mouth. “That’s right.”

The older man wanted Massimo home running the business, but not under these circumstances. A baby in residence frustrated the plans he’d orchestrated for Massimo’s destiny years earlier.

“I know the perfect woman to look after him.”

Of course he did, and Massimo knew exactly who it was. Everyone knew. His uncle was as transparent as the cat who’d licked all the cream. But such a split-second recovery explained the envy on the part of his business rivals.

“So do I, Uncle.” Pietra had called her sister-in-law the perfect choice. Massimo had just been presented with living proof that Julie Marchant loved the baby to the point she was willing to fight to the death for him.

No other person besides himself would place Nicky’s welfare above every other consideration. Such a demonstration proved beyond doubt he could trust her with their nephew.

A few e-mail photos didn’t do justice to her slenderly rounded figure. Like her brother she possessed those classic features reminiscent of the Swedish blood in their ancestry. They were exceptionally good-looking people.

The existence of Shawn’s golden-blond sister on the premises would add a new component to an old equation, ensuring a different outcome he wouldn’t allow his uncle to manipulate.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this day, Massimo.”

But for a horrendous tragedy, his uncle would have been forced to wait forever.

“I’ll let you know when I’ve arrived in Milan.”

“When’s the funeral?”

“Graveside services are planned for the day after tomorrow.”

“Good. That gives Dante and Lazio time to get there.”

For Pietra’s sake Massimo was glad to hear his cousins were coming to represent the family, even if it was only upon his uncle’s orders. Massimo was even happier that Sansone wouldn’t be with them. When he wasn’t there to order his younger brothers around, there wasn’t as much tension.

“I’ll reserve rooms for them.”

“Excellent. I told them to take the company jet. Now that I know you’re coming home with the baby, you’re going to need it.”

For once Massimo agreed with his uncle. The thought of taking a five-month-old baby halfway around the world on a commercial airliner had been a daunting one.

“Mind the doctor, Uncle. Ciao. “

The selfish part of Massimo would like nothing better than to continue working at his favorite hobby with his nephew in tow, but he’d made a promise to Shawn and Pietra. The jungle was no place to take a baby. Maybe in Nicky’s teens.

Julie hadn’t been far off. His hobby was an addiction.

But for now his nephew deserved everything Massimo could give him. As she had said, he needed love most of all. Being his aunt, she would always provide that, even after Massimo didn’t need her help anymore.

Until that day came—a day he couldn’t think about right now—they would figure things out as they went. Though he was considerably older, she knew a hell of a lot more about babies than he did. He’d never even changed a diaper.

Unfortunately for Nicky, he was stuck with a substitute father he hadn’t even met yet. Massimo assumed the rest would fall into place in time. How difficult could it be to give a baby a bottle?

Speaking of which, he took some water from the bar’s minifridge to quench his thirst. Old habits died hard.

Fifteen minutes later he arrived at the town house and knocked. Behind the front door he could hear an infant wailing.

Niccolo …

The sound tore at his gut, making his pain excruciatingly real.

Mr. Marchant opened the door. Beyond his shoulder Massimo could see Julie’s mother. He recognized them from pictures. Both were dark blond. Attractive. She was walking around with the baby, trying to calm him down. There was no sign of Julie.

“We meet at last, Massimo. Come in.”

* * *

“Kendra? This is Julie again.”

“Oh, hi!”

Relieved the cute teenager was home she said, “Do you know any tricks to help us? Nicky just keeps crying. Even my mother can’t get him to stop. Before I call the doctor again, I thought I’d find out what you do to help him settle down.”

“Try the little musical swing they bought last month. He likes that.”