Page 137 of Deception

“Maybe they need a little shove.”

“Like a blizzard?”

“Precisely.”

“Get settled in and unpacked. I need to go check on the twins and Adriano, make sure they aren’t causing trouble.” A little slap on my ass and he’s out the door.

“I’d give them about half a day before they’re bored out of their minds and fighting,” I shout after him.

“Less than that if they have to share the bunk beds! Adriano, I thought I told you to separate them!”

I can already hear the shouts, the playful banter, escalating into cussing. A second later, Angelica’s “mom” voice cuts through the noise, “Hey. Watch the language. You’ve got a toddler in the house!”

Several sing-song apologies filter out from the east wing a second later.

A huge grin spreads across my face as I sort through my bags. This is my life now.

My family.

The day slips by, mainly caught up in unpacking, settling Angie and Gigi in, and playing host to a full house. Sunset finds us all around the big kitchen table, better suited to a casual dinner than the dining room.

Carla is beaming with the entire family here, fussing around the kitchen, refilling wine glasses like every adult here is her child.

“You’re gonna get big and fat living up here eating Carla’s cooking, Sandy.” Ciro is on his third glass.

“Just like that? No more ‘boss’?” Alessandro snaps back, rolling his shoulders.

“Not unless you’ve got a mission for us. Other than playing board games and drinking all day. How about Al?”

“Your nicknames fucking suck, Zero.” He smiles, though, looking over at me.

“Ouch! My feelings. Isa, knock his clock off for me, would you?”

“It’s ‘knock hisblockoff,’ dickhead,” Ero echoes into his wine glass.

“Adriano, why don’t you fill us in on your field trip?” I interrupt before food starts flying.

“Not exactly dinner conversation.” Adriano shrugs. “But it went about as well as could be expected. Shit’s definitely gone south, even in Europe. Oops, sorry, Angelica.”

“It’s fine … she’s not even listen?—”

“Shit south!” Gigi sings and all of us freeze.

Right before the entire table erupts in uproarious laughter.

She giggles right along with us, clearly unsure why we’re laughing, but thrilled to be at the center of it. After a few minutes of tearful chuckles, we manage to reset, Adriano sighing and continuing his report.

“Anyway, our supporters and affiliates are pretty much staying neutral, waiting to see who comes out on top. Most of them will just keep working, not take sides, per se.”

“Can’t blame them,” Aless grumbles. “Some loyalty would be nice, though.”

“Don’t get me wrong, they prefer us to the new guy, but with you publicly dead…” Adriano shakes his head.

“Nothing like this has happened in over a hundred years. There’s been squabbles, sure. But a full-blown takeover? And under your watch?” Ciro waves at Carla to leave the bottle. He’s going to be dancing on the table by ten.

“Ourwatch, you mean. And thanks for rubbing it in, jackass.” Aless sits back, running a hand down my back. “The all-powerful Diamantes brought low. It’s hard to believe.”

“Almost sounds like you’re giving up,” Adriano posits, quirking an eyebrow.

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