SWNOVELS Mila: The Godfather: Part 2 – Chapter 74
MILA
“Thank you for being my person.” — M
The second I unveiled the present I got Riagan for his birthday, nerves started to sink in. “If you don’t like it, that’s okay! You don’t have to. I just wanted to give you something to smile at whenever you pass this hall. I—” When he says nothing, I grow nervous. I hold my breath and watch as he steps closer to the mural and touches his mother’s face. I try to capture all the little details of the old photo. Not only her beauty and essence but the pretty butterfly hairpiece she has in the photo and the young Riagan, who is touching her cheek with his small fingers. They’re both smiling wide while staring into each other’s eyes. I didn’t get to have that kind of love. A love so fierce and true between a mother and her child, but I’m glad he had it. I guess that’s what captured my attention the moment I saw the photo. The tender expression on her face while she looked at her son. I can tell from the photos of them together that his mother, Natalia, was the heart of their little family. The softness to Cathan’s harshness.
She was very beautiful and clearly a huge part of Riagan’s heart. That’s why I chose to paint her in this cold and empty hall. But maybe I overstepped?
“Riagan, are you okay?” He’s not saying anything, and I’m having trouble deciphering what he’s feeling at the moment. I don’t like it when he’s quiet. I don’t like it at all. Stepping forward, I touch his back, and that’s when I see it.
The big, brave, and strong man I love so much has tears in his eyes, and for a moment, I panic, thinking that perhaps I did something wrong. Maybe the mural is a bad reminder. I should’ve thought about this better. Since Riagan has given me more than I could dream of, I just wanted to give him and his father something to be reminded of the woman they both clearly still love so much.
Before I get the chance to open my mouth and apologize for making him sad, he turns, and even though he has unshed tears in his eyes, there’s a beautiful smile on his handsome face.
The same smile that makes my heart race.
“I love you so fucking much, butterfly.” His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me closer. “This… this is breathtaking. I don’t even know how to put into words just how perfect it is. You’re so fucking talented, baby.” He breathes closer to my face. I watch his blue eyes shine, and I no longer feel nervous. I feel… loved. Cherished and appreciated. I don’t feel useless. Not anymore.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it.” He squeezes me, making me laugh. “You’re incredible.”
“Good.”
He drops a kiss on my nose and then asks. “What made you draw this?”
“I was curious and wanted to know more about your childhood. When I saw this photo of you and your mom, it made me smile. It made me so happy to see you so happy. And I wanted to paint something that would make you smile every time you saw it.” I touch his cheek, trying to hold his gaze for as long as I can. “I think the love and bond you had with your mom should be on display, Riagan. Now, she’ll be not only in your heart but in this home as well.”
He stares at me without saying a word, with an intense look on his face. I love the way he looks at me as if he’s not sure if I’m real or not. No one ever looks at me like he does. I don’t want them to. Just him. Always my Riagan.
“She sent you to me through the butterflies. I know it now. I feel it.” He breathes, pulling me closer, and all I can do is try to calm my racing heart that’s trying to escape my chest and fall at his feet. “I was cold, and then I saw you, and suddenly, the world didn’t seem so dark and empty.”
The butterflies?
Then, I think about it, and it all hits me in full force.
The butterfly that repeatedly hit my bedroom window, trying to come inside on the morning I met Riagan.
The butterfly costume.
His mother’s love for butterflies.
Huh.
“She loved you very much.” I touch his cheek, and he kisses my open palm. “You just have to look at her eyes, and you’ll see it. I believe love as pure as that doesn’t die, even if the body does. I think your mom found a way to love you even when she was away from you.” I choose to believe in love. Love never dies, not even if his mother did.
He grunts but says nothing. He just hugs me close while we both stare at the mural. My heart is buzzing with happiness and love. He loved the gift.
My art.
“I’m glad you found me, butterfly.”
Hugging his side, I smile big.
When I stumbled upon him all those years ago, I wasn’t looking for him. I went out looking for something. I didn’t know back then what it was, but I do now.
I was looking for freedom.
For peace.
For love.
Him.
“I’m thankful to my lucky stars, Riagan. They led the path to you.” I whisper.
He smiles at me, then turns me in his arms until we’re chest to chest again. Staring at his lips—those luscious lips of his, all I want to do is kiss them. Kiss him to show him just how much he’s wanted. Just how much I love him.
And I do.
I kiss him like he means the world to me.
Like he’s all I see and feel.
Because he is, and I do.
He is everything.