The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (rocket ebook reader txt) 📖

"You are glowing." Alessia noted, after watching River almost dance around the kitchen for a few more moments.

"Nothing makes a surgeon happier than being back in the ER." River turned to the Italian goddess with a bright smile on her face. Alessia laughed out loud – it was not everyday that you meet a woman who was happy and glowing because of her extreme work schedule.

"I am glad that you get to go back to what you love." She said sincerely. "The past few months you were nothing but a mother. And I hate to think of you as just that. It's a waste of potential."

River smiled as she nodded. Most people would not clearly understand the meaning behind the words that Alessia had spoken but River understood very clearly because she had lived it.

She loved her children. There was no question regarding it. But being their mother and only that was just not who she was. She was a surgeon just as much as she was a mother. All of these were parts of the jigsaw puzzle which made her who she was and if any of it was taken away, then no matter how much anyone tried, she always felt empty, the missing part calling out to her.

Dr. River Johnson. That was who she was.

Mommy of Lucas and Kiara. That was also her.

And these were two parts of herself that she would not give up for the world. She would compromise with the other parts of her identities but she could not with these.

.

.

.

"Papa, pick me up!" Kiara whined as Mateo laughed, picking both of his kids up and placing them on each of his shoulders.

He scrunched his face when a drop of ice cream from Lucas' cone fell on his shirt but that really did not matter more than his children's happiness, now did it?

"Papa, I can walk!" Lucas whined, wishing for the opposite of his twin sister.

Mateo rolled his eyes as he lowered to the ground and helped Lucas off of him. These two were so different yet so similar, and so much like their parents.

In short, they were perfect and Mateo was the proud father of such a perfect pair of children.

"Where to next, bambini?" Mateo asked his babies.

"Can we go back home?" Kiara asked. "If mommy hasn't left yet."

"Mommy will be gone by the time we get back honey." Mateo pouted as he looked up at his little girl.

"Oh." Kiara really was a mommy's little girl. She always needed her mother away.

Lucas, on the other hand, was at the border. Nobody was exactly sure whose side he was on.

He loved both his parents and talked to and about both of them the same way.

"Then let's go to the beach?" Lucas asked.

"Sure." Mateo smiled.

"I want cotton candy!" Kiara exclaimed.

"Sure." Mateo laughed.

He walked over to the car, holding Lucas' hand and Kiara on his shoulder and helped them to their seats. He buckled them in and walked over to the driver's seat.

He was about to open the door when a strong force threw him off his feet, and he landed on his back.

His eyes widened when he heard the loud sound of vehicles colliding. He looked up to see a blurry image of his car, the crying face of Lucas and then red spots blinded him until all he saw was darkness.