My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin

Since the parent-teacher meeting and the minor parking incident, Lucian’s plans for the day had been pushed aside. Instead, they went home to rest and share a family dinner — it had been a while since they’d eaten together.

"Eat well, Madam," Nolan said as he set the last dish on the table, giving Ashley a knowing look.

Ashley smiled, her cheeks going pink. "Nolan, don’t tease me."

"Haha," he laughed. "Shall I head back to my place once they come down?"

"Hmm..." Ashley thought about it for a second, then nodded.

Nolan glanced toward the kitchen to make sure everything was in order. She had helped him set up while Primo and Lucian went to change.

"I’ll be next door if you need me," he said, as always, before heading out.

Ashley watched Nolan’s petite figure until her smile softened.

"Nolan," she called. He stopped and looked back. "Thank you. These past few days... thank you."

There was so much she wanted to thank him for, but the list would have been too long. Even so, she was grateful for everything he had done. He may not have been the first person to show her they cared — there had been someone among the Di Carpio household — but he was the first whose care hadn’t gotten them killed.

His smile softened. "You don’t have to, Madam," he said with an encouraging nod. "I’m just glad everything is fine now."

With that, Nolan bid her an early good night and slipped out through the side door.

Ashley’s smile stretched wider. "Me too," she whispered.

Just then, she heard footsteps on the stairs. She turned to find Lucian and Primo coming down to join her at the table.

It had barely been a week, but all three of them quietly knew they had missed this.

Just the three of them, sharing a meal, talking about nothing in particular, and watching Ashley get worked up over the smallest things. Tonight, it was the van owner.

As they ate, Lucian paused.

He glanced at Ashley, who was still going on about the absurdity of the man with the van, and then shifted his gaze to Primo, who was listening to her with complete attention.

And in that moment, he realized something.

He and Primo could no longer live without her. He had tried to convince himself otherwise this past week, but it was simply impossible.

As the realization settled over him, his hand reached for hers.

"That little shi—" she caught herself just in time. She paused and turned to Lucian. "Huh?"

Primo blinked and looked at Lucian too, curious.

"..." Lucian held her gaze and squeezed her hand. "Sorry."

Both Ashley and Primo blinked.

"I mean it," he said quietly. "I... made a huge mistake."

Primo kept his observant eyes on Lucian, reading the sincerity there. There wasn’t a trace of reluctance in Lucian’s expression. Just a quiet, steady accountability.

The first time he had heard Lucian apologize, it had been stiff and forced — back when Ashley had gone after him to stop him from leaving.

This was nothing like that.

Sorry... Primo thought, turning the word over in his mind. One he was still learning to use himself.

"You already said sorry," Ashley mumbled, leaning back slightly. "Why do you keep apologizing?"

Then she noticed Primo watching. She straightened, lifted her chin, and cleared her throat.

"Good!" she declared. "Apologize when you should!"

She turned to Primo. "Right? When you’re in the wrong, you say sorry! That’s how it is!"

Primo nodded firmly, keeping a note of that.

"Hehe," she laughed, pleased with herself, before looking back at Lucian. She clicked her tongue softly and leaned toward him. "Forgiven, but not forgotten. Don’t do it again, okay?"

He nodded. "Never again."

She smiled in satisfaction. "Now let’s eat."

With that, the three of them returned to their meal, the last of the tension gone. There were still things Ashley wanted to discuss with Lucian, but they both understood those conversations could wait.

Not in front of Primo.

And so the evening passed quietly, the three of them idled at home until, before they knew it, it was nearly bedtime.

*****

As usual, Ashley tucked Primo in. She was browsing the shelf of children’s books nearby when she felt his eyes on her back.

His lips had curled into a soft smile by the time she turned around.

"How about this one?" she asked, holding up a familiar children’s book.

Primo nodded, and Ashley happily settled back beside him.

"I’ll read this one since I don’t think I’ve gotten to it yet," she murmured, then caught Primo watching her with an unusual intensity. "Primo, what is it?"

He shook his head.

"Come on, tell me," she urged. "I’m not reading a single word until you do. Or... should I just sing instead?"

Alarm crossed his face almost immediately, while hers twisted in mock offense.

"You haven’t even heard me sing yet," she muttered, sighing. "Primo, I’ve told you — if something’s bothering you, just tell me."

She paused as her own words landed on her. She should have done the same — told that seasonally oblivious Lucian instead of assuming he would figure it out on his own.

Hesitation was written clearly across his face, but she waited.

Then, slowly, he sat up and faced her. He signed,

[Earlier at the meeting, you said Dad... and Mom.]

His brows rose as he carefully gathered the courage to share what was on his mind. The expectation in his eyes was unmistakable.

Ashley furrowed her brows, then looked back at him. "Mhm. Isn’t that what we are?"

"???"

"Lucian and I," she said simply, then pointed to herself. "He’s your dad, and since he’s my husband, that makes me your mom, doesn’t it?"

She tilted her head. "Or was it too soon for me to say —"

The rest of her sentence disappeared as Primo threw himself at her, arms wrapping tightly around her.

For a moment, Ashley went still. She looked down at the little boy holding on to her, and before she could even think, her arms came down around him.

"Primo," she said softly. "Sorry."

A quiet sadness flickered in her eyes. "That’s been weighing on you... and I didn’t even know."

She held him gently, her voice softening. "I learned a lot this week. Primo, I may not be the perfect mom — honestly, I don’t really know how to be one."

She drew back just enough to look at him, and he looked up at her.

"But until I figure it out... I’ll be there," she said with a small smile, smoothing his hair. "Parent-teacher meetings, birthdays, graduations, Christmas, New Year’s — all of it. I might run late sometimes, just like today, but I will be there."

"So be patient with me, hmm?" she added softly.

Her brows rose when his little finger appeared between them.

[Promise?]

She laughed quietly and raised her own pinky. "Pinky swear?"

Primo looked at it with faint reluctance. It was a little childish. But he hooked his pinky around hers all the same.

"That’s a promise now," she said.

As their pinkies came apart, Primo looked at her and signed, with just a hint of hesitation,

[Can I call you...] He didn’t finish, but she was already pinching his cheek.

"Is that even a question?" she laughed. "Why, because I’m a stepmom? Stepmoms are moms too! Just like how fur parents insist they’re parents."

She teased him until she had him properly tucked in. "Sleep now, okay?"

He nodded, eyes still on her.

She smiled. "Good night, Primo."

Primo closed his eyes. Then opened them again, finding her still there. His hands slipped out from under the blanket.

As Ashley read his signs, her heart stilled for just a moment. Maybe it was because it was the first time. But her heart melted, and her eyes filled with nothing but warmth.

[Goodnight, Mama.]