"Why are you still awake?" I whispered, half asleep myself. Usually Angelo would have been passed out by now, but he wasn't. He was wide awake and staring up at the ceiling.

He looked away from the ceiling and down at me, "I have a lot on my mind, amore. You're not really helping either."

"What's wrong? What did I do?"

"You're not telling me something."

"What are you talking about?"

"I found something in the bathroom this morning," he took a deep breath in, "It was in the garbage actually. Do you know what I'm talking about now?"

Of course I did.

I had a weird feeling this was where this conversation was going to go. I was seriously hoping it wouldn't though. I, however; nodded, "Yeah, I know what you're talking about."

"How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me right away? I don't like secrets, especially not the big ones."

"I took it a couple nights ago. I had to get my thoughts straight before I went and told you. Soph needs at least one normal parent," I waited for him to say something, anything, but I got nothing, "Are you excited?"

"Ehh," the way he said that was sheer adorableness. "Not at the moment, but I'm sure it'll grow on me soon, like Soph did. You do have a bit of a tummy already. Must have caught this one a little late."

"I was thinking the same thing." It was odd because I was wearing a baggy tee shirt and you could still see the smallest bump in the world. It took me awhile to start showing with Sophia, so this made me wonder how late I actually did catch it. "Watch it be twins."

"Yeah, let's not jinx it please."

"Okie doke. When do we tell Soph?"

Angelo chucked nervously, "Never."

__________

She was taking it worse than a death. Try to imagine that for a moment. This little three year old was crying harder than I pictured she would if she was standing at her own father's funeral. It was quite the sight.

It was kind of embarrassing actually.

Angelo, Soph and I all stood in the middle of mafia HQ's living room. We had just come back from our very first doctor's appointment for baby D'Amico number two. Sophia threw herself on the floor and screamed as if she was in the worst pain imaginable. A couple Mafiosi had walked in to see what was going on, but left quickly after seeing Angelo.

"What's wrong with il fiore?" A new but strangely familiar voice came in. I looked up from Sophia's temper tantrum to face the unwanted guest just to let myself be terribly disappointed.

I thought this move would get me away from this man.

Tony, stood next to Angelo, looking down at Soph in all of her dismayed glory. She wasn't embarrassing very often, but when she was, she went out of her way to do it.

Angelo finally took the few steps needed to reach Sophia on the floor and picked her up. She calmed down for a second before resuming, "Come on, Clo," Angelo turned and started heading for the door. I chased after him, making sure to give Tony an evil glare on my way out.

"Where are we going? I thought you had stuff to do here."

"I'll come back after I take you home. It's obvious that someone," he paused to look at Soph, "needs a nap."

That wasn't a good thing to bring up.

She hated even the word.

"No!" She screamed bloody murder and started trying to wiggle her way out of Angelo's killer hold around her.

He glanced back at me, looking as if he wanted to be done with Soph for the day, "I thought we had escaped the terrible twos. We were making progress. What happened?" He asked.

"She found out she was going to be a big sister. It was too early apparently."

"You won't love me anymore," she pouted.

Angelo and I both stopped walking and gave her the dumbest looks we knew how, "That's impossible, Sophia," I said, trying to be reassuring.

"You drive us up a wall sometimes, but we still love you and we always will," Angelo finished.

She stayed silent for all of two seconds, "I don't want you to have a baby."

"We can't change it, Soph."

"I heard Soph threw quite the temper tantrum earlier," Dom said as we walked towards the room everyone was waiting for me in. "Doesn't like the idea of being a big sister?"

"Not really. I kind of hope that was just her three year old, sleep deprived side talking though. I don't know if I can deal with that for the rest of Clo's pregnancy."

"Speaking of Chloe," he paused just for a brief moment, "Is this meeting going to be about that call?"

I nodded, "Sì."

"Has someone gathered up more information?" He asked as I opened the door and walked into the noisy, crowded, cigarette smoke filled room. I used to like that smell, the taste even, but I couldn't do it anymore. It was bad for the little one, and I would never put her health in jeopardy. I, however; couldn't help the fact that I was her father. I just didn't count that as a health risk.

"Good question. I'd like to know the answer myself."

"About the call?" Tony asked, while blowing a puff of smoke out. I nodded. "Well Stefano and Luca had the call traced to Chloe's parents home, as we know, but upon further investigation by myself, I have come to the untimely conclusion that the call wasn't made my anybody in the Cruise family."

"Than who made it?" I asked.

"Lucky for you, I have the answer. Austin Cruise's transaction history tells a story of a couple million lost dollars. I believe he paid someone, I don't know who, to make the call."

"Ok, well how does your suspicion help us?" Marco asked. "You can't get anywhere on suspicions. Why does this person want to contact Chloe? What deal does he want to make with her? And why would her father pay someone to do what he could have easily done himself?"

"All good questions, Marco. I have no idea."

Marco leaned back in his chair, "You're not very helpful. Almost useless actually."

"Marco, I want you, Luca and Enzo to hop the next plane to Los Angeles. See what Signor Cruise knows about this-"

And of course I was cut off mid thought by someone barging into the room. I couldn't get a complete sentence across if it was going to save my life. Mariano came in, his headset still on from listening in on calls going around our small establishment, "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I think you're going to want to hear this," he tried to catch his breath, "The same number called your house, this one was almost five minutes long. Five minutes of truly disturbing things."

"Like?" I asked anxiously.

"Shoot me if I'm wrong, boss, but I think we may be dealing with repercussions from the Rossi Family."

The room had never been so silent for so long before. I swallowed hard, "The Rossi family?" I could barely get the words out. I wasn't afraid of much, but I wasn't one to willingly deal with the Rossi Family. I would rather have to go war with the Russians than the fucking Rossi's. "How do you know?"

"Subtle hints, but they're definitely there."

"Who answered this time?" As far as I was concerned it was just Chloe and Sophia home, and the last thing I needed right now was for Chloe to be talking to these people.

"Well...both girls. Sophia was only on for about a second before Chloe got it."

"What was said this time?"

"It was a bit of a threat actually."

"Are you going to tell me what was said or do I just have to stand here and assume the fucking worst?"

"He said that if Chloe doesn't find a way to get away from Italy and escape to Los Angeles in a week, he's going to kill her dad and go to war with us."

I really tried to hold back my anger right at that very moment, I wasn't sure how well I was succeeding though, "Did Chloe say anything?"

Mariano stayed silent, giving me the answer that I didn't want.