Page 224 of The Umarova Crime Family

“It’s such a relief. How do you like your eggs?”

“Any way, honestly. I’m not picky.”

“Okay, dealer’s choice it is.”

Xava’s in her element for about fifteen minutes while she makes breakfast. She ends up making some bacon gravy and then grabbing some freshly made bread out of the bread box on the kitchen counter. I honestly can’t remember if we had bread when we got here, but I think Rolando grabbed some groceries last night when he was out getting me some clothes.

“I’m going to make sure the rest of my family knows that we’re together when I get back to Greece. I want them to know you’re more than a fling, that you’re important to me, and that I don’t plan on letting you go. I know we haven’t spoken about this in great detail, but I can see a future with you, Xava. Things are easy with you. Things flow naturally. They aren’t difficult like they have been with other women I’ve been with in the past.”

Xava’s just finishing plating my food and hands it to me with a fork already on it. “No lie, it’s a relief to hear you say that. I know we’re together, but I was curious how serious you really were about us.”

“I’m very serious about us. Truthfully, I can see you by my side for years. It might be a little too soon to say that by some people’s standards, but I’m speaking the truth.” I haven’t ever been someone who speaks from the heart like this, but Xava brings out a different side of me. She’s making me realize it isn’t bad to trust and just let shit be. I’m not guarded with her, though. I can find myself talking to Xava for hours upon hours about any subject. I’d even start discussing the Organization with her because that’s how comfortable I am.

“I’m going to tell my family soon too. Now that I know how serious you are about me, I feel more comfortable with telling them.”

“Awesome. I heard you talking to someone the other day at the house, and I kind of am curious what was going on.” I’m not trying to be nosy, but Xava did seem to be stressed a lot more than usual. I never really gave a damn about many women before her, but the thought of Xava being stressed really bothers me.

“I’d bet that was my adoptive mother,” she states as she makes her own plate.

Rolando comes into the kitchen, and Xava makes him a plate as well, but he walks off and goes to eat by himself.

“Do the two of you have a complicated relationship?” I don’t know too much about it, but I want to learn more. I want to learn everything I can about Xava.

“We didn’t before, but after everything came to light, it got a lot more complicated. I felt like she lied to me for so long, so it made me… have an issue trusting her, I suppose.”

“What do you mean?” Did she have an issue because her adoptive mother hid her true identity, or is it something else entirely?

Xava takes a bite of her food and ponders her thoughts. “It’s hard to explain to outsiders because you’ve known who your family is your entire life. There hasn’t ever been an ounce of uncertainty or even a split second where you’ve felt like you weren’t a Galanis, right?”

“You’d be correct.”

“That’s what makes it so difficult for me. I always felt a little off. It’s probably because I was adopted, but it meant something completely different when the truth was finally revealed to me. I felt like I was living a lie. Not to mention, it hurt that she knew everything the entire time. I asked her so many questions over the years, and she chose not to say anything to me. She chose not to be honest and to instead continue lying. That hurt me deeply, deeper than she could ever know.”

“That makes sense. Are you working on your relationship with your adoptive mother?” I’m not trying to pry, but I am curious.

“Yes and no. It’s hard. Complicated. She feels like she didn’t do anything wrong, and that messes with my head. She was paid for taking care of me, Ambros. I was literally a job to her.”

Ah, and now I see why things are so complicated. Xava isn’t sure if her adoptive mother gave an actual fuck about her or if she was only a paycheck. God, I can’t imagine being put in that position. I’m sure it makes her doubt a lot. “The only way you’ll know for sure is if you communicate with her. I don’t think you’ll find out quickly. It’s going to end up being something that takes a lot of time, but if she proves herself to you and is persistent, then it means that she actually does give a damn. You know?”

Xava nods and takes another couple of bites of food. “I just wish things weren’t so complicated.”

“Life is complicated. Look at the situation we’re in now.” I chuckle as I finish a bite of my eggs, and Xava laughs. She tosses her head back lightheartedly and makes me feel like she actually found it funny. Things have been so stressful as of late, and all I want for her is to relax a little bit and have a good time.

“What about your family? I’m talking about mine, but I haven’t really heard much about yours.”

“Mmm, well, mine is complicated in our own right. You know my father is old fashioned, and my mother falls in line behind him. Whatever he wants to do, she automatically supports him even if it doesn’t make any sense. Neither of them wants to make modern changes to the business or other matters. If they don’t adapt, it’s going to cripple us. I’m hoping I take over before that starts to happen.” I’m sure Xava can read between the lines.

“They’re really pressuring you to be with someone Greek, huh?” She raises both her brows, and there’s a somberness in her eyes.

“Yeah, they haven’t adjusted their views, and I doubt they ever will.”

Xava takes a moment to process that information, then licks her lips slowly. She gnaws on her bottom lip for a moment before she speaks up. “What does that mean for us? What’s going to happen to us… if they never support the two of us being together?”

“I don’t know, and I honestly don’t care. They won’t take my birthright or my job from me. They’re too family oriented. I think they’re going to be forced to accept us at some point or another.”

I hope she realizes I’m willing to do whatever we need to do as long as we’re happy together. I don’t care if I piss my family off. I’m my own man, and no one is about to tell me how to live my fucking life.

“I hope they do. I don’t want them holding me against you, Ambros.”

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