FEDERICO

"Federico, please forgive my daughter's obscene behavior. We are indebted to you for helping us during this time." Tiziano Borelli shakes my hand.

"Yes, we are so appreciative of your offer and your willingness to protect our girls especially, Elenora. She is not who you see today. She has a hard time trusting people...men. Please do not let her impertinence make a final opinion of her," Teresa pleads.

The older Borelli scoffs. "She will not be so disrespectful going forward. You have my word on that, Signore Barone." From the gleam in his eyes, I can only assume he was the door she walked into last month.

"Do not worry, famiglia Borelli, I have had worse things to deal with in life than that of a young woman's combative personality," I assure them. "Now, I do not mean to overstep, but will the girls be secure tonight? I don't think any chances should be taken. The Gallo's will jump on the chance to hurt or even kill someone close to you given the opportunity."

Fear and worry take over Teresa's features as she leans into Tiziano trying to find comfort in the situation they find themselves in—that I helped orchestrate.

"We don't have anyone working tonight," Tiziano informs me. "But I could ask Carlo to stay with them. They usually ask to be dropped off and take a Lyft home or vice versa when they go out."

"Perhaps you can find out which club they are going to for the birthday celebration and let me know. I will send a few men there to keep an eye on them," I offer.

"Grazie, Federico, that is so generous of you." Teresa smiles and kisses my hand. (Thank you)

"Federico." Tiziano stands in front of me and takes a deep breath before he speaks. "My children are my life. I cannot thank you enough for what you are willing to do for us. Please know that I entrust my Elenora to you. I know her life and perhaps even her heart are in your hands now."

I nod trying to contain the triumph I feel, knowing they're letting me in. "I will be in touch about the family get together we will have in a couple of weeks so that our families can meet." I stand, buttoning my suit and head out after excusing myself.

I can't help chuckling thinking about the interaction with Elenora. I was prepared for my past to come up, but I assumed it would be brought up by Tiziano himself, given his connections and profession.

She may have found out through the short lived courtship between Luca and her sister; he must have shared some details to sell the cover.

Luca couldn't go through with what was required, so he ghosted the sister. He was never invested in this plan and participated more out of loyalty than anything.

Whereas I've come too far to be pushed away by a stubborn, ill-mannered spoiled princess. Granted, if I hadn't fucked up that first night when she overheard me talking shit about her, I wouldn't have to be working so hard to earn her trust.

But she doesn't realize I'm already in her mind—and heart, without knowing it was me who kissed her in that empty room at the hotel.

I knew our conversation during the speed dating didn't go as planned and I needed to save face. I found myself surprised when I was compelled to kiss her.

As the kiss progressed, she let herself go and gave in. I still don't understand why I didn't want to stop, but remembering her return the kiss and the sounds and gasps she was making has me curious to find out what else I could make her do from my touch.

I shake the lust filled thoughts from my mind; that will come later. I need to keep my focus and there are other ways to fill those needs.

"Grrghh!" A small voice catches my attention. "Seriously? Why? Someone please tell me why?"

I move towards where the voice is coming from and peer inside the kitchen entry. The youngest of the Borelli sisters sits at the counter with her book bag and papers scattered on the island.

"What a waste of time. I mean, for real, when am I going to need to know the area of a para-parallelogram if I'm going to be a Veterinarian? And who makes these names up? The problems aren't hard enough they have to make the stupid name hard to say too? Sheesh!"

"Buona sera." (Good evening)

"Aaaaahhh!" The little girl screams, almost falling off the bar stool.

I rush to catch her from falling back and she looks up at me confused. "Pinocchio?"

I roll my eyes as I sit her back up on the stool. "My name is Federico. I didn't catch yours, signorina."

"I'm Maya." She holds her small hand out for me to take; not in a way to shake, but to kiss. "I just turned seven this summer. I like to draw, 5SOS is my favorite band because Luke is BAE. I prefer sunsets over sunrises, because I need my beauty sleep and I'm a Pisces."

I smile before I take her small hand and bend down to kiss the back of it. "Charmed."

"As you should be." She smiles and I take note she's missing her two front teeth.

"So, why are you sneaking around in my house Pino–fred–fed–uh–"

"Call me Rico and I wasn't sneaking, I was leaving after meeting with your parents."

"Are you really going to marry my sister, Nora?" She raises her small eyebrow while folding her arms. Besides the lighter eye color and hair of Maya, the resemblance between her and Elenora is uncanny.

"How do you know about that?"

"I'm a good listener," She responds. "So, are you?"

"No, it will just look like I will. It's to keep her and the rest of your family safe."

"How will pretending to love someone keep us safe?" Maya scrunches up her face in confusion.

"It's too complicated to explain. You will understand when you are older, I'm sure." Not wanting to continue this interrogation with a child, even if she seems smart for her age.

I gesture to the homework laid out in front of her. "I heard you're having some trouble with your math homework? Aren't you a little young to be doing this kind of math though?"

Maya straightens herself on the stool. "I'm gifted." She flips her hair back in a sassy way.

"Well, even gifted people need help. May I take a look?"

Her eyes widen, and she nods. "You want to help me? Daddy's always so busy, and mamma is usually sleeping a headache away, and Jackie works until the mornings. The only one who used to sit with me is Nora, but she doesn't want to live with us anymore." She pouts as she looks at her papers.

"What about your other sister?"

She rolls her eyes, and leans in whispering. "Between you and me, she's not the brightest crayon in the box, if you catch my drift." She taps her head to make her point and I laugh. "One time she helped me and I got a 2 out of 10 on my assignment. I could have guessed and probably got a higher score!" She shakes her small head.

"Well, I can't make any promises, but let's see what we get, okay?"

After we go through each of the problems and she explains how she gets her answers she feels good about the work she's done. "Yes! I still have time to watch my favorite show before I have to go to bed! Thank you, Thank you!"

She leans over and wraps her arms around my neck then kisses my cheek. "You're the best, Rico! And hey, you might not want to marry Nora now, but I know you'll love her, she's the greatest!"

"You're welcome, cucciola, you have a good night." I'm keenly aware of the guilt that's wanting to worm its way in but I shut it out, the way I've been taught to do since I was a kid. (little cub)

Maya skips out of the kitchen. I stand there for a moment, trying to regain my composure and focus. My phone rings and I look down at who's calling.

I head out of the house and get in the car before I answer it.

"Pronto."

"What's her name?" Domani's bored voice comes through the car's speakers.

"Who?"

"Whoever you're pounding into right now, that kept you from answering the phone."

"I'm not doing anything or anyone. I was just leaving the Borelli's home." I lean my head back on the headrest.

"And?"

"It's done. The Paolo situation is taken care of. He didn't even think twice when I offered him the money to walk away." I switch to the handsfree feature in the car and drive away from the home.

"Everyone has a price, Rico. What about the girl?"

"She's going out to celebrate her birthday tonight. I'm just waiting to hear back from Tiziano on where they went." My phone vibrates and I see it's Borelli. "Speak of the devil, he just sent me the club name. I'm sending it to you now, have a few guys rough them up, nothing too drastic and then I'll come in to save the day."

"And you think it will work that quick? From what you were telling us, she's stubborn as fuck. You think one act of valor will make her fall for you?"

I laugh. "Oh, she fucking hates me. But I will eventually have her eating out of the palm of my hand before Tiziano finds out who I really am. So for now, I need to build trust and what better way than to save her and her sisters from being attacked by a few thugs. Then when you come in and try to sway her away it will let us know if we've done enough before we destroy them."

"No turning back now."

I have this nagging thought creeping in the back of my head and I shake it out of my thoughts. "I'll talk to you later, I gotta call Zia Rosetta and update her, Caio." I use the voice command to call my aunt.

"Federico, I was wondering if I'd hear from you tonight or not." Zia Rosetta's firm voice comes through the car's speakers.

"I'm going to make the first move tonight to try to gain the girl's trust, but it's going to take awhile. I want to come across as authentic and genuine as I can for her to trust the process of this relationship. Then we need to have a gathering with their family in a couple of weeks, for them to meet our happy family," I explain.

"Two weeks is too long. Let's plan on meeting at the end of next week, the longer this takes the more time he has to figure out who you are. We cannot afford to lose the element of surprise after all these years. You understand, yes?"

"Si, as you wish then. I'll set it up with Borelli next weekend then."

"Good, keep your focus, nipote. You've come so far." Her voice becomes thick with emotion and I clench my jaw to keep my own in check. "Your parents would be so proud that you are avenging them after all this time, Federico." (nephew)

"Grazie, Zia. I'll be in touch." As I end the call I'm overcome with the hate and pain I smother down every day. I slap my hand repeatedly against the steering wheel and yell out in frustration to let out some of the pent up rage. (Thank you, Aunt)

My parents will finally have some peace, and I will be able to end the lives of the enemies of my family, who have caused us so much pain and grief since Tiziano set in motion the events that took place that ripped my parents out of my life as a child.

He is the only one left and we saved him for last for a reason. He needed to know we were coming for him.

He will pay.

***