Two hours later, Melina had suffered through more than enough fake congratulations and attempts at small talk. If it weren’t for Neeya, and the decent amount of food she’d consumed, Melina was sure that she would have already begged Mac to take her home. While the gifts she’d received were nice—ranging from things as small as pacifiers, all the way up to a giant, pale-blue baby carriage—most of the gifters were less than nice. At this point, Melina was used to it but with pregnancy hormones waging war, her tolerance was at an all-time low.
“Neeya, please excuse me. I’m going to find my husband.”
“Of course.”
Melina left the ballroom and made her way through the house and outside to where the men were gathered. She’d thought the atmosphere inside was tense. It was nothing to what she felt now. Trying her best to ignore the oppressive atmosphere she felt, Melina searched for Mac. When she saw him, she moved in his direction but soon had her path blocked by Anthony.
“Melina, a pleasure to see you.”
“Sorry I can’t say the same about you, Anthony.”
He smirked. “One day, perhaps you’ll see I’m not the villain you make me out to be.”
“And then perhaps my wife will see that she was exactly right,” Mac said.
He came up to Melina and placed his arm around her waist. The two men stared at each other for a long moment before Anthony cleared his throat.
“Well, as I said earlier, congratulations to you both on the upcoming birth of your son. I wish you both the best.”
With a mock bow, Anthony walked away and Melina shook her head.
“He is so full of shit.”
Mac laughed. “That’s one way of putting it. So how are things inside?”
“Fake. Boring. The usual. I see it isn’t much better out here.”
“No. It isn’t. Everyone is on edge, looking at each other and wondering who can be trusted and who can’t.”
Screams pierced the air.
Melina watched as police stormed outside with guns raised.
“Everyone, hands in the air.”
Mac protectively placed Melina behind him before doing as he was ordered. Melina did the same. She watched as one by one each of the men were handcuffed and arrested, including Mac and Luca.
“What are the charges?” Melina asked.
The police continued to ignore her.
When she attempted to confront the one arresting Mac, her husband shook his head, silently begging her to let it go. She swallowed hard. This wasn’t the way things were supposed to be happening. Melina bit her lip as she was forced to watch her husband led away in cuffs … again.
Melina was pissed.
Her husband had been locked up for nearly two weeks.
Two weeks he should’ve been at home to hold her hand.
Two weeks he should’ve been there to feel their child kicking inside her.
Instead, he’d been stuck behind bars on phony charges, away from her and their unborn child. The Pivetti crime family had a real fucking problem. Though Mac was scheduled to be released any minute, that didn’t stop the feeling of unease that gripped her. She’d thought foolishly that with James dead, the biggest threat to her and her family was out of the way.
She’d been na?ve.
So na?ve.
It seemed that James wasn’t the only threat to their future.
Shifting uncomfortably in the chair in the lobby, Melina watched and waited for her husband. She was sick of being here. Sick of having her husband harassed by men who weren’t worthy of shining his shoes. But most of all, she was sick of the air of uncertainty that continued to hover over their futures. A loud slam drew her attention. She watched one by one as various male members of the Pivetti crime family filed out.
Many of them had shadows under their eyes and terse expressions. A few acknowledged her, including Anthony. Melina gave him a cool nod as she watched for Mac. He finally came through the door and then it was closed behind him. Rising from her seat, Melina opened her arms to her husband. Mac surprised her by taking her face in both hands and kissing her hard.
“I missed you, too,” Melina said.
“Obviously. Let’s go, doll.”
Taking her hand in his, they left the police station and got inside the black town car that was waiting for them. When they were comfortably seated, Melina placed Mac’s hand on her belly.
“Your son missed you, too. He’s been overly active since you’ve been gone.”
Mac smiled. “See. He’s already preparing for his man of the house duties.”
Melina rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m just glad you’re coming home.”
“Me, too. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
“What do you mean?”
Mac’s voice was quiet and measured. “Everyone didn’t get to come home, doll.”
Melina frowned as she thought back to all the men she’d seen exit the jail. “Luca and Enzo.”
“Yes. Them and a few others.”
Melina was quiet as Mac’s words sank in. The Pivetti boss was still behind bars. “Why haven’t they let him out?”