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

River sighed. She was so mad that the voice in her head had become way too frequent. This mini bitchy version of her used to rear her head once in a blue moon and now River was having full blown conversations with her. River wondered if it had anything to do with the cookie accident – who in their right mind poisons cookies? It's so mean!

River wondered if the drug had some necrotizing effect on her brain tissue.

No, it means you are terrified out of your wits but you just don't want to accept it and it's eating away at your scarce brain cells.

River sighed and shook her head violently. She wondered if she was really going crazy – that was kind of the last thing she needed right now.

River opened the bedroom door very slowly, not wanting to make any noise that would wake the three up but they already were.

And Mateo's legs were up in right angles, Kiara lying on top while he held on to her arms while she posed like Superman. Lucas was taking pictures with Mateo's phone.

River sighed. God, these kids! She felt like she had three of them.

"That is going to come off really blurred." River commented as she walked in.

The three stopped what they were doing and looked at her like deers caught in headlights. At least they had the decency to look scared.

River held out her hand and Lucas handed the phone over to her, hugging her waist after.

"Alright let's make this quick." River said and they started posing as she took the pictures, Kiara and Lucas taking turns.

"Alright that's enough." She said finally, sending some of the photos to herself as well. She had a scrapbook to maintain. "Now, did you two brush your teeth?"

"Yes mommy." The kids nodded, their grins still in place. At least they woke up happy.

"Hmm.. Then follow the noise downstairs and you will find your surprise." River tried to sound enthusiastic but she was feeling very pessimistic so she couldn't bring it to her voice.

Their eyes and grins widened even more, not registering their mother's negative mood. She didn't even think that was possible. They took off like their tails were on fire while her eyes followed them, a smile forming on her face for a brief moment before it went back to a scowl.

"What's going on River?"

She turned to Mateo to see that he had a mixture of emotions on his face – concern, sadness, disappointment, annoyance, anger and frustration.

"Nothing." River shrugged. "I guess I am still tired."

"Are you angry that I brought your kids to the Mafia headquarters?" He asked, sitting up, looking like he was trying to control his annoyance.

River rolled her eyes. River had decided that she would keep it together and let it go, and that it was a small thing and she didn't need to make a big deal out of it but every single time, Mateo managed to get on her nerves with his assumptions. He was a man-child who always jumped into conclusions and decided he was right.

"I am angry." She said finally. "I am angry you didn't tell me you still had contact with Mom, through Benjamin or whoever he is."

"I didn't want you to miss them too much." He said stubbornly.

She blew out a frustrated breath. "It takes a bit more than lack of contact for me to not miss them, Mateo."

"So that's it?" He stood up. "You are being a killjoy for this reason now?"

"How am I being a killjoy?"

"Look at the mirror and you will know how you are doing it!" He exclaimed and walked away, slamming the bathroom door shut, making her jump.

River blew out more deep breaths, trying to calm herself down as she sat down on the edge of the bed. She rubbed her face with her palms.

'What the hell is happening?'

'Why the hell am I acting like this? I should have just let it go!'

She didn't blame Mateo for reacting the way he did because it's like someone had flipped a switch in her head since the last day and all of a sudden no matter how happy she was, her mood just spiraled back to being blah once she was alone or once she was left to just think about life.

Ugh.

'What is happening?'

You know what.

'SHUT UP!'

River shrieked as she covered her ears feeling manic all of a sudden.

"River?" Mateo's muffled voice reached her ear from the other side of the door but she couldn't bring herself to respond.

Her heart started aching.

She started to feel suffocated and a dull long sound invaded her ears.

She could feel her vision blur, clouded with tears.

'What is happening?'

River slid off the bed and onto the floor.

She curled into a ball, trying to breathe.

She couldn't breathe.

"River?" She vaguely heard Mateo's voice as the bathroom door opened.

Black spots invaded her vision as she watched legs approaching her and then all went black.