Page 19 of Winter Love

It’s amazing how one hour can drag on and feel like a year. I’m worried about what they’ve found out about William. The amount of men they brought and that are still coming is what worries me. If they didn’t think it was a big deal, they wouldn’t bring so many guys. I make sure to stay close to Lukas for the rest of the night.

Customers stare at our guests and it makes me laugh. The looks on some of Wintervale’s citizens are funny.

Chapter Nine

Lukas

We finally get back to the house and after we all get comfortable, we wait for them to tell us what they know.

“So we want to start with who we are. The Mancini family, we’re mafia, mine and my wife’s papàs came from Italy and Ireland. They created the town of Lake Renegade Township, where we live,” Enea tells us.

“And my family is a motorcycle club. My papà and my wife’s papà came from Italy and Ireland also. They brought their club and started the mother chapter here. Enea’s wife, Gráinne, and my wife, Caitríona, grew up together. So our families have been working together in Chicago to end the old ways and start new ways of doing things,” Giacomo explains.

Holy shit. Mafia? Motorcycle club? What have we gotten ourselves into?

“I know it seems like a lot when you’ve never been in our world. But you need to know this about us before we help you.”

“Thank you for telling us, I’ll admit it’s a little scary thinking of mafia and MC’s.” I chuckle. “We only know what we see on TV and in the news.”

“That’s what everyone says when they find out who we are.” Antonio laughs.

“So on to what we’ve found about William. I don’t know what he told you about himself, but I’m willing to bet that he lied. William is part of the Russian mafia. His father has been a high-ranking officer since before William was born.”

“Did you say ‘Russian mafia’? He said he grew up in a small town in Ohio...that he has three brothers and two sisters. He never mentioned his mom.”

“William was born in Russia, his father brought him here when he was five. He does have three brothers and two sisters. And they live in Illinois. We’re not sure what happened to his mother. But we will find out.”

“Did you meet any of his family?” Leonardo asks Emma.

“I met his father once by accident. We were out to dinner and he came to our table. He was kind of scary, and William didn’t want to introduce me to him. But he said he was Williams father and he needed to talk to him. He was gone for about fifteen minutes and when he came back, he was really angry. That was the first night he hit me.”

I clench my fists as I hear Emma tell everyone what William did to her. This asshole is going to wish he’d never met my girl. I look around at everyone in the room and all their faces mirror mine.

“Do you have family?” Enea asks.

“I do. My parents, two sisters and two brothers. And before you ask, no. They don’t know anything about this and I really don’t want them to know.”

I wrap my arms around Emma and hold her. I can feel her trembling.

“You’re going to have to talk to them. I understand you don’t want to, but I have two daughters and if one of them went through what you did, I would want to know. My youngest daughter, Luciana went through a lot last year. And I think she’d tell you that without all of us, she might not have made it. Family is what keeps us together. You need to talk to yours. If want, you can ask them to come here and we’ll all sit down together,” Giacomo says.

“Giacomo is right. You don’t want them to find outbecausesomething happens,” Enea adds.

Emmanuelle

I know that Giacomo and Enea are right. But I’m so afraid to tell my family. They’re going to ask why I didn’t tell them when it happened. I knew if I did, my papa and my brothers would have tried to find him. I don’t know what would’ve happened if they had. I don’t think I could handle it if one of them got hurt.

“We can ask them to come here, baby. We’re here for you and you know your family will be too,” Lukas says to me.

I sigh and finally nod at him.

“I’ll call them tomorrow and ask them to come.”

“We should all get some rest, we’ll take shifts and keep an eye out for William. I know you said earlier that you haven’t heard from him. But I highly doubt that he’s left Wintervale if he was here. And if he wasn’t before, I’m sure he will be soon. We’ve dealt with men like him and I’m sorry that you got caught in his web,” Antonio says.

“Do you think there’s a chance he’ll give up?” I ask.

“No. He won’t. He’s planning something, and all we can do is be ready. The rest of our guys will be here tomorrow night. Whatwe need now is for you to trust us. No one goes anywhere alone. Not even to work, one of us will be with each of you at all times,” Enea tells us.

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