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

"River, are you even listening to yourself?"

River ignored her mother and continued tossing clothes and toys into the suitcases and Mateo soon joined her.

Her mother just stood there, glaring at the both of them.

Mateo was very proud of River at this point, because any other ordinary woman wouldn't have been able to handle a situation like this. But she was handling herself very well. Too well. He knew she was suppressing a volcano about to erupt inside her. And he was worried she would have yet another panic attack but for now, she was dealing with it.

"This is what you always do River. Make the worst decisions and ruin everything. And then we have to clean up after you."

River stopped what she was doing and stood up, turning to her mother. "You did that when you joined that gang and you did it again getting pregnant by a criminal. But this time, your kids will have to pay for your mistakes."

River stared at her mother; her jaws clenched and then sighed. "I understand that you are terrified and angry and helpless but that doesn't mean you can go around saying all that you did and call the father of my children a criminal. Especially not in front of them. And I am thirty years old; I think I can clean up after my wrong decisions myself now."

She turned to him. "Let me grab my things. And we will take my car."

"You sure?" He asked.

She stopped and thought for a moment.

"Actually no. What if it's rigged with a bomb or tracker or something?" She sighed. "You think someone can bring a car with two car seats?"

"On it." Mateo quickly texted Adam to do what's necessary and also find how that motherfucker had managed to get into the house when he had put some men to guard the place.

"River..."

"Mom, I am trying so hard to be rational here. I understand, okay? I understand how you feel. But trust me on this, we will come back once all of this calm down." River said, sounding as calm as she was in the hospital.

"I know baby and I am sorry." Susan said finally. "I am sorry I said what I did."

"It's fine Mommy." River smiled. "I know you didn't mean it."

She hugged her mom and then turned to Mateo. "Can you get these while I grab my things?"

He nodded and she left the room while he grabbed the many suitcases with their children's clothes and toys.

"Please keep them safe." He looked up at Susan who looked terrified of him.

"I will. They are my family."

Mateo took the baggage and walked out and was met with River and the kids in the living room.

The kids ran to their grandmother and hugged her waist. "Mommy said we are going on vacation."

"Grandma, why won't you come with us?"

"Because Grandma got work babies." Susan Johnson said through her tears.

"Take care." River's grandmother said as she hugged her. "And get some meat under your skin while you are at it."

River rolled her eyes as she pulled away, slightly groaning as she straightened her back.

"We should go."

"Mister, Mommy said you are an actor!" Lucas came forward. "How come I have never seen you on TV?"

Mateo turned to his baby mama and raised his brows. She shrugged. She was making excuses for the criminal tag.

"I am not that famous."

"Then you need to work harder."

"Alright little man." Mateo bit his lips while River let out an ugly chuckle.

His phone buzzed. It was Adam who had texted that he was downstairs.

"Let's go." He said and before he could say it, River kept her phone and smartwatch on the coffee table. Unlike Mateo's, her gadgets could be tracked.

Mateo smiled at her and got most of the luggage while she took the rest.

They were nearing the door when it opened and in walked Sebastian and Alison Shane.

"What's going on?"

"We have to leave Shane." River said.

"Oh no you don't. Not with him." He looked so red and annoyed but the least terrified. "You don't even know who he is!"

And before River could say anything, Adam and Ricardo burst in through the door.

"There are snipers on the block. We need to go now!"

"Nobody's leaving this place!" Sebastian glared. He had figured out who these people were, as well.

Mateo sighed. Not this again.

It was a very stupid and rash decision and the consequences were bad but at that time, it felt right and so he did the first thing that came to his mind.

He dropped the bags, pulled River to him and trained a gun against her head.

"Let us go or she dies!"

Everyone gasped, their children cried and River muttered "Mateo, you dumbass!" as she elbowed him in his abdomen, hard, but that didn't stop him as he motioned Adam and Ricardo to get the kids and their stuff and got out of there.