The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (little readers TXT) 📕

The last two weeks were extremely stressful for Dr. River Johnson. Mateo was in the ICU, healing from the GSW which had fortunately missed any of the major organs. She had wondered how many other times had he taken bullets except the two that she knew of.

But that was the reason she was the most stressed. It was the twins' tutor, Mrs. Nancy Davidson. After the very suspicious behavior that day, River had almost always been around the twins – she refused to leave them alone, especially not with the very obvious rat in the house.

Of course, Nancy was going to grow alert but River had managed to mask it as paranoia after Mateo was shot.

.

.

.

"I don't know. The doctor said he should wake up any moment." Alessia shrugged as she got off the elevator.

It was the kids' break time and the kids were in the kitchen with Janet while Nancy had gone to her room.

"Hmm... Call me when he wakes up." The surgeon sighed as she played with the hem of her shirt.

"Oh look who's up!" River looked up in time to see Mateo looking at her, surprised.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" River asked, quickly sitting up as Alessia passed him the phone.

"Like I was shot in the fucking gut." Mateo said, a smirking playing at his lips.

River took a moment before she burst out laughing, remembering what he said in the OR an year ago.

"Classic." She said as she sat down on a chair. "The bullet got your appendix. Nothing to worry about."

"How do you know that?" Alessia asked as she shoved her head next to her brother.

"I worked there. I have my sources." River shrugged, feeling half her worries wash away now that he had woken up and looked fine.

"Did you contact your family?" Mateo asked.

"Nope." She rolled her eyes. "I am not that dumb."

"But hey, can't you just get them an encrypted phone as well? Only to call me?" She asked, hopefully.

"I had thought about that but it's better for them to have as less contact with you as possible." The Capo gave her an apologetic look and she nodded.

River was glad that they were back to talking.

"And Mateo, I want to tell you something."

River had his complete attention.

"Yeah?"

"It's just that-"

"WE WANNA VISIT YOU!!" The kids jumped in front of the phone and grabbed it from their mother's hand.

"Babies!" River groaned.

"I am not a baby, Mommy!!" Lucas groaned.

"I thought we had decided otherwise?" River looked at her son.

By the time, Kiara had the phone to herself. "Why can't we come visit?"

"Because it's dangerous out here. You have to stay safe."

"That's what I am trying to say-" River started but was again cut off.

"But Dadda-"

"No buts-" Mateo stopped. "Wait WHAT?"

"We wanna come visit you." Kiara pouted.

"No before that." Mateo said; his voice came out breezy.

"I am not a baby." Lucas said.

"No after that." He blew out a breath, waiting anxiously for the answer.

"After what Dadda?" Kiara whined.

"That!" He pointed out, his heart swelling to the point of bursting.

"Dadda." River whispered to them and Mateo felt his lips tug upward.

"Alright. We will be outside." Alessia smiled as she placed a kiss on her brother's cheek. Adam smiled at him and walked out with Alessia.

"You didn't know?" Lucas asked.

Mateo grinned at him. "Of course I did, young man. I just didn't know you knew."

"Mommy told us last day." Kiara hugged her mom while she smiled at him, placing a kiss on their daughter's hair.

"She did?" Mateo grinned at her which she returned with an eye roll. Classic River.

"Yeah, she told us your story." Lucas smiled, climbing onto his mom's lap.

"Hey, I told you my story." River pouted while Mateo let out a laugh.

"When can we see you, Dadda?" Kiara pouted, identical to her mother's.

"I am not the doctor here." He shrugged, his yes back on the mother of his children. The kids too turned to look at her.

"Hmm.." She pretended to think for a moment. "Well, usually you need to stay for another week or so to get out of there. But I guess you could leave early considering you are coming home to a very capable doctor. If you promise to not do any work and get lots of rest that is."

"You think you can do that Capo?" She quirked a brow at him.

He chuckled. "I can pull that off, doctor. I promise."

"And I will be your nurse." Kiara raised her hand.

"And I will do your work for you." Lucas piped in.

"Oh that will be very helpful." He grinned, leaning back on his bed.

"Excuse me Mrs. Adesso?" River looked over at someone Mateo couldn't see. "It's time for their class."

The kids groaned as soon as they heard it.

"They will be there in a moment." Mateo noticed that River's voice had a slight edge to it. Was everything alright?

"Sure."

He heard the door close.

"Let's surprise everyone. If anyone asks, say Dadda isn't coming for another two weeks." River smiled sweetly at the children but her eyes held fear.

"OKAY!!!!" The kids hugged her and turned to Mateo. "Bye Dadda!" They waved in unison.

"One more thing." Mateo said. "Call me Papa."

"Papa?" They both sound equally confused.

"It's Dadda where I come from." He smiled, his eyes darting towards River who had her eyes on the door.

"Okay.. Papa." Kiara tested the word in her lips and grinned.

"Papa." Lucas nodded and smiled.

"Okay bye babies." River smiled at their children, brushing the curls off of Lucas' face.

"I am not a baby Mommy!" Lucas groaned as he kissed her cheek.

"Bye Mommy!" Kiara kissed her other cheek.

"Bye Papa!" They turned to the phone and Mateo air kissed them which they returned before climbing off her lap and running out the door, closing it with a bang and yelling a "Sorry!!" from the other side of the door.