Page 29 of Little Fury

Once the guys are gone, I thank Harry and Beth for a great Christmas and make my way up to my room. Marcus follows me up and flops on the bed with me. We turn towards each other, just relaxing.

“I have something for you.”

“Why? You already gave me a Christmas gift.” I remind him.

“I know, but that sweater was just an added bonus because I didn't want to give you this in front of everyone.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised.

Marcus reaches into his pocket and removes a small box, putting it in my hand.

“But why? We never do more than one gift for each other,”I ask, still confused.

“Because I saw this and wanted you to have it,” he informs me.

The box is small and wrapped in a dark blue paper with a gold ribbon tied around it.“Did you wrap this? Cause it seems pretty well wrapped, and I’ve seen how you wrap gifts.”

“Don’t be a jerk. But no, I didn't wrap it. The girl at the store did.”

I laugh at him, and he looks at me, just shrugging his shoulders and grinning.

I untie the ribbon and open the paper. Inside is a small leather box.

Opening the box I find a beautiful ring inside. It's not flashy with diamonds or jewels but multiple thin cords of metals. Gold, rose gold, and platinum. They are all entwined, creating a stunningly beautiful pattern.“It's beautiful,”I whisper.

Marcus removes the ring from the box. “If you look closely inside the weave, our two birthstones are encased there. I lean over to look closer and see a ruby and emerald nestled into the entwining cords.

“It's so amazing. Thank you.”

Grinning at me, he grabs my left hand and slides it onto my index finger.“I wasn’t sure of the size, so the jeweler inNew York advised getting it made a bit larger so you could wear it your entire life.”

“You got this made for me when you were in New York this summer?”I asked him, honestly shocked that he had planned ahead.

“Ha ha, Ava, I know what you're thinking, and I do plan ahead.”

“No, you don't. This is completely a fluke!”I tell him through my laughing.

“Wow, I think I need to take that gift back. You seem like you don’t really appreciate it.”

“No, I love it, I really do. It's one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given.” I tell him honestly.

Satisfied, Marcus grins at me again and settles onto my bed. I lay down beside him, looking at the ring. I twist it around my finger with my thumb, loving how smooth it feels.

The next few years pass very much the same. School, training, friends, and the family we have on the ranch. Holidays and birthdays. The only thing that was ever out of the ordinary was Marcus’s family requesting time with him throughout the year. Not his father- Enzo, he never bothered with him. His mother’s family saw him multiple times a year. Whenever business brought any of them to the States, Marcus flew to meet them.

When Marcus was fifteen years old, he was gone for a week to see his family. A few days after he returned from his trip, we got word his younger half-brother and stepmother were killed in a car accident. Harry and I went with Marcus to New York for the funerals. Marcus’s father didn't say much to us at the funeral. He shook Harry's hand and nodded at his son; he barely looked at me. The funeral was large. The Mafia world has customs, all families acknowledge the death of a family member.

Marcus asked for a few minutes alone with his brother before they lowered his casket, so, Harry and I made our way to the waiting limousine. We’re the last ones in the cemetery while we wait for Marcus.

“So, Little Ava, what did you glean from today?”Harry asks me, with his training mode voice.

I sigh, knowing answering him isn’t optional.“Enzo was sad. I think he really did love his wife and son. He has none of that for Marcus. He dislikes you a lot, and I think it'sbecause you’re respected in his world, and he is merely tolerated.”

“How do you know he is barely tolerated?”

“Because while all the families were here, I’m pretty sure all the representatives were like fifth cousins. No one of any importance showed. That makes me believe the other families don't respect Enzo Rossi.” I explain my logic.

Harry looks at me with the barest of smiles.“Correct. What else?”

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