Love vs. Law

Chapter 43

"What do you want Ben?" I asked once we were alone
"To say sorry. I shouldnt have told your husband your baggage." He said as I rolled my eyes
"My husband has a name and its Luca." I said sarcastically
"Is the baby his?" He asked making me laugh
"You are so pathetic Ben. Yes that baby, my son is Luca's and he has a name. Dante James DeRosa." I said as his face soften
"James after dad?" He asked
"Yes after dad." I sighed
"Are we done Ben? I honestly get why you kept everything from me. I left for five years and now I'm married with a kid. I get it. I really dont deserve to be in this family anymore." I sighed hearing something crash behind me turning to see my grandma
"Carrie you are home!" She yelled running to give me a hug
"Hi Granny." I smiled as we pulled away
"I thought we talked about you bullying your sisters Ben." She said pointing a finger at him
"Granny she should have stayed gone. Its better for her and our family." He sighed as she slapped him upside the head
"Carrie had to have a good reason." She said defending me like always
"She met a rich guy and got married. Shes just a gold digger." He said loudly as a throat cleared behind me and I saw it was Luca
"Thats not how I see it." He said as my grandma looked back and forth between us
"Holy hell. Is this your man?" She asked checking him out
"Yes. Granny this is my husband Luca. Luca this is my Granny." I smiled
"Nice to meet you." She said going to shake his hand
"Nice to meet you too bello." He said as she smiled even bigger
"Oh an Italian man. Lets go have a walk." She said putting her arm through his and walking back outside with him
"Well he won Granny over." Ben sighed
"Why do you hate me so much? Its been like this since we were kids Ben." I asked
"Because you look like her. You look like Roz. JJ does too but she didnt leave like you did. You have always been looking for a way out of this town and you found it. While I am stuck here just now making ends meet." He sighed admitting the truth
"You can ask me if you need money. We would give it to you in a heartbeat. Your family Ben." I said quietly
"Ya cause I should be asking my little sister and her husband for money." He said sarcastically
"I paid off all of moms bills without a problem. Think of it as an investment for Beccas future." I said as he shook his head no
"I cant do that Carrie. Im not that type of man and you would just hold it against me." I sighed leaving me alone
"Fucking siblings." I muttered in Italian as I went to search for Luca
"I think Dante is hungry." Mom said passing me a fussy baby
"If you see Luca tell him Im in my old room." I said as she nodded

"My big strong boy." I cooed at him as his eyes slowly started to close and I heard the door open quietly
"I think we should be getting home babe. Dante is falling asleep." I said quietly
"That would be a shame I just got up here." Rachel said sitting on the bed across from me
"Hi." I said awkwardly
"Im sorry about Ben. He has been on edge lately." She shrugged
"Why?" I asked turning Dante to burp
"We are trying for another baby but things just arent working out how we hoped." She sighed
"Oh. Im sorry." I said hoping it would end the conversation
"Its fine. If it happens it happens." She smiled
"Im also sorry about high school. I know I wasnt the nicest towards the end of it. I wish I could go back and change it." I said shifting Dante
"Its fine now Carrie. Its all over. The past is in the past. Maybe we can have a girls night and talk about everything we have missed in our lives." She smiled as I nodded
"Yes we can. You can come over when ever you want and I will kick Luca out." I laughed as she laughed
"He is a cutie. I did think your kids would have the Jareau blond hair." She laughed
"He does have the blue eyes." I smiled remembering when he first opened them
"Who would have thought you would marry some hunk from the city covered in tattoos?" She laughed as I smiled
"I dont know but those tattoos just make him hotter." I laughed
"What happened to Austin?" She asked as I stiffened
"Im not sure. He was bothering me and Luca for a while and might have been paid off." I shrugged like it was nothing
"And your mom told me about your car being blown up." She said as I internally cringed
"Some idiot is targeting New York social lites. We werent the only ones. Im just happy Dante wasnt with me." I smiled keeping the lie going
"Hey babe we need to go." Luca said barging into the room
"Ok." I said trying not to sound worried in front of her
"Let me know about girls night." I said giving her a hug before leaving
"What happened?" I asked getting in the car
"I will tell you when we get home. Put Dante to bed first." He said speeding towards the house

"Ok Dante is down. What is happening?" I asked now fully worried
"Our safe house in Italy was burned down. Three staff members died." He said as I gasped knowing we should have been there instead
"Does that mean?" I asked knowing what that answer would be
"Yes. We have to stay here longer. I need to work things out with another Italian group about letting us use a safe house with them." He said as I just nodded understanding
"But they know this is my hometown. Austins family is from here. His mom and sister live here damnit they know we are back." I yelled
"They do but we ran background checks and they have no ties with Austins dads family in Russia. Phones are tapped and we have twenty-four hour watch. You dont..." He started to say before I cut him off
"You dont leave unless I am with you or two of my men." I mimicked before walking off to the living room leaving him alone