Page 3 of Family Matters

Right after the conversation with Graziela ended, Donna Fabrizia summoned all those working for her and ordered them to only obey her granddaughter from that moment on. Also, she didn’t speak ill of Luca in front of the other woman, and even was polite on the rare occasions his name or the one of that librarian were brought into discussion.

Donna Fabrizia relaxed into the armchair, a smile of satisfaction playing on her still beautiful lips. In spite of her intelligence, sharp instincts, and negotiations skills, which helped her to become a successful businesswoman, Graziela was still very naïve in many ways. To think that someone like her grandmother, who was used to giving orders, and wasn't used to being ordered around, would take a step back without a fight was a big mistake.

Of course the men would continue to listen to me and my orders, Donna Fabrizia said to herself, letting out a small, low laugh. In the Mafia world, loyalty went both ways, and it was her who helped the Rinaldi soldiers with money and favors when they were in need. Listening to Graziela was another of her commands they blindly followed.

Leaving that bastard and his friend the librarian alone wasn’t something Donna Fabrizia intended to do. The two, and the red-haired devil’s spawn will one day pay in droves forgetting in the way of her plans and ambitions. That day wasn’t very far away, only this time, her revenge methods would be different, less direct.

Rumors had it the librarian, or better said the sorcerer, had a bastard son, of whose existence he claimed he had no idea about. Even if the so-called husband of the father would welcome the boy with open arms at first, his continuous presence in the house would serve as a reminder that his significant other could fall into temptation again.

Donna Fabrizia would just relax in her favorite armchair and watch that seemingly united family disintegrate bit by bit. The Cavallieri sorcerer would be too busy to save his perfect little world to notice what happens around him, and when he’d finally see, it would be too late. He, his good friend Luca, and the precious heirs they fought so much to protect would perish in the fire she’d start.

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“Here they are, the prodigal children, they are back from their loving grandparents.” Brian’s voice was filled with paternal affection as he looked out the living-room’s window and saw the van driven by Malaspina parking in the driveway.

Bart’s mother climbed down from the van, laughing. “Poor Andrea, Blaise gave him a run for his money! This one will be three times as fast as you, when you married Bartholomew.”

“Papa, look, the boy has beautiful eyes, like you and us!” Breanna jumped from the vehicle straight into the librarian’s arms, pointing to Liam, who was standing in the doorway.

“That he does, sweetie. He's your oldest brother.” Brian kissed the little girl’s eyes and nose, then put her down and hugged his mother-in-law. “Hi, mom, nice to see you again.” He turned to Blaise, who just stepped down from the van. “Hello, champ, I heard you outran Malaspina again.”

“Hi, son.” A loving smile on her lips, Bart’s mother patted her son-in-law on the back. She wanted to say something, but the sight of Liam made her gasp loudly instead. “Look at this young man, he is the spitting image of you, when you came to our house for the first time!”

“Mom, he's my oldest son Liam.” Brian affectionately spoke, wrapping the young man in a warm gaze. “I only found out about his existence a couple of hours earlier.” He turned to the young man. “Son, this lovely lady here is Lydia Hastings, my husband’s mother, and a second mom to me.”

“He's beautiful.” Lydia smiled and gently caressed the young man’s cheek. “Welcome to the family. You can call me Nana Lydia or Granny, like all my other grandchildren do.”

“Nana Lydia sounds great.” The young man tentatively extended his hand in the woman’s direction. “I’m Liam, but my mother, stepfather, and their two sons also called me spare parts. You know, because of the…well…” His voice was barely a whisper as he pointed to his eyes.

“What an insensitive, cruel thing! How could they, especially your mother, who, of all people, should have takencare of your soul and kept you out of harm’s way?” Bart’s mother enveloped the young man in a warm hug.

Liam breathed in the delicate scent of Lydia’s perfume, that comforted him. When she released him from the embrace, he turned to his father and gave him an intense stare. “I’ll go home to pack my things and I’ll come to live with you. If your husband agrees, that is.”

“Of course I agree.” Bart came from the house, looking disheveled, a wide smile on his face, Breanna, shy Simon, Dane, and Jeremy hot on his heels, giggling. “An extra hand in ruling the rebellious horde is always welcomed.” He gestured with his head to the four kids.

“Most likely, you are going to need help.” Luca, who until then witnessed the scene in silence, pulled his phone out of the inner pocket of his coat. “Malaspina is already here with the van, I’ll call Leon, too.”

“Um…” Liam swallowed hard a few times. “Isn’t that the name of the long-haired guy, the one who took my drink and poured a glass of iced water over my head?”

“And the one who pointed you to the library, yes.” The answer came from Brian, in a slightly amused voice. “Don’t worry, he’s one of the good guys.”

“If you say so…” Liam mumbled, not entirely convinced of his father’s words, in spite of the reassuring voice they were spoken in. “What do you prefer to be called?Father, dad, or do your children have another name they use for you?” The young man changed the subject.

“Your siblings call Bart dad and I’m papa, but if you feel uncomfortable, it’s okay to call us by our given names.” Thesmile that started to form on Brian’s lips vanished when he said the last part.

“Papa and dad it is, then.” Liam didn’t give the librarian time to reply; almost running, he went to the van and stepped into it.

Malaspina, who patiently waited inside, started the engine, heading to The Base, where Leon and Tanner were waiting for them. As he drove, the head of The Council’s guards discreetly studied Liam. The young man sported an almost shocking resemblance with his Capo, and the man asked himself if the two, most likely father and son, shared the same personality traits, too.

The two helpers were waiting on the side of the road, just outside the rescue complex’s gates. Tanner was the first to get in, and he greeted Liam respectfully, telling him how honored he was to meet the boss’s older son. Leon, on the other hand, didn’t say anything; he just gave the young man a soft, kind smile, in stark contrast with his stern attitude from earlier.

Once they arrived at their destination, Liam stepped inside the cold mausoleum his stepfather’s house was and gestured to the men to follow him to his room. It took the four of them less than an hour to pack everything; the youth only needed the clothes and personal belongings he bought with the money he earned from different jobs he took over the summer vacations.

When the last box was filled and sealed, Liam took it and left the room without looking back. He didn’t want to spend asingle second more under the roof where he knew nothing but heartbreak and humiliation all his life.

CHAPTER 3

To Liam’s great relief, none of the people inhabiting his stepfather’s house were there or came while he and his helpers packed and loaded the boxes, bags, and suitcases into the van. The young man was grateful to all the forces governing the universe for that, because he wasn’t sure if he could have stood their presence now, after catching a glimpse of what a loving family looked like.

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