Page 48 of The Mafia Princess

“What’s that?” Remington asked.

“It’s a group of Elders that help us make decisions. I set it up when my father died, and I was pregnant with Aryanna. I didn’t want your father to make any decisions. Antonio disassembled the council when they tried to tell him how to do things, but unannounced to him, they are still together and working behind the scenes.”

Her mother sighed. “When we found out he was going to get you killed, we set you up as Remington’s valet. James has become a confidant for your father. When Antonio told him his plan, it was James that got you out of the country and with someone he knew could protect you. The fact that you would live in the Maclean’s mansion helped because we know what a fortress it was.”

“The assassin attacked her the first night in the hotel and then tried to sneak into the mansion,” Remington said.

“I’m assuming he’s been taken care of?” James asked.

Remington nodded. “Yes.”

Her mother had a hand to her mouth. “How bad were you hurt?”

Aryanna looked at Remington and then back toward her mother. “Just a few bruises. It was nothing serious, I promise.”

“Your mother never left you without protection,” James said.

Her mother squeezed James’s shoulder. She could see the love and affection they had for each other. “The council, several trusted guards, and a few maids.”

“Did Lucile know?” Aryanna asked.

“Yes, but she swore to secrecy.”

“Who is that?” Remington asked.

“She was my nanny,” Aryanna said. “Now she’s just my friend. Or I thought she was.”

Remington gripped her hand. “She still is, Love. What she did was try to protect you the best, maybe theonly, way she could.”

“I have to tell you that she wanted to kill your father when she found out about him trying to hurt you. I talked her out of it,” James said. “She would immediately be put to death, and she said she didn’t care as long as you were safe. It would have put our plans on hold for a bit longer. We’re weeks, maybe days away from taking him out, and then your mother can take her rightful place again.”

She caught the sweet look between her mother and James.

“What will happen with you two?” Aryanna asked.

James grimaced until Aleah smacked his shoulder. “James and I will marry and live in Malta. He hates the thought of being called King, but he’ll get used to it. We’ll also spend a lot of time here. I wouldn’t dare take my man away from his own castle.”

James snorted out a laugh.

Her mother looked back at her. “Do you think eventually you’ll be able to forgive me?”

Aryanna looked at Remington and got his smile of approval before turning back to her mother. “There’s nothing to forgive, Mama. We’ll just need time to get to know each other again.”

Aleah’s eyes filled with tears, and she pressed her hands against her chest. “Thank you. Would you mind if I hugged you? I’ve been waiting for so long.”

Remington lifted her to her feet, and her mother immediately engulfed her in a hug. She let her mother weep and even shed a few tears herself, even though she was still in a bit of shock.

James said something, making her mother gasp and turn to him.

“You have to stop calling me a baby, James.”

“When you stop acting like one, I will,” James said.

She saw Remington cover his laugh with a cough, and she couldn’t help smiling herself.

“Let’s go in to eat,” James said. He grabbed Aleah and pulled her against him. “Helena has outdone herself with a homecoming feast.”

They sat around the dinner table until after midnight, telling story after story. Aryanna could show her mother some of the wedding pictures, which prompted her to cry again, and his father heckled her. It was funny to watch. She couldn’t remember seeing her mother this carefree and happy.

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