Page 62 of Days Of Valentino

“What’s going on?”

“You’ll find out when everyone gets here,” he says, walking past me to the table and chairs.

I look at my wife. “Any idea?”

“Nope. But I’m sure it’s fine, right? I mean, everyone is going to be here, so everything is fine?” Livvy replies.

“Yeah, they’re probably announcing another family vacation or something,” I tell her. “Come on, let’s grab one of the good seats before everyone else gets here.” I take her hand and lead her over to the table. Whatever this dinner is about, I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.

I purposefully sit in the middle, right in front of the basket that Pops likes to use to ensure our family dinners don’t end with someone in a body bag. If the basket is out, then one of usisn’t going to like whatever it is he has to say.

Great, and I wore my good suit too. I’m going to kill anyone dumb enough to get blood on it.

Episode Twenty-Nine

Today is a day that’s well overdue. I can’t believe that we haven’t already done this. I tried to talk my wife into it on multiple occasions, but Holly always tells me she doesn’t need it and that life is just too busy.

Well, now I’m making time. I decided I wouldn’t give anyone a choice in the matter. I’ve wanted to give this to her since the first moment I saw her sitting in my chair at Helena’s café.And today, I’m making it happen. With the help of Savvy. My daughter-in-law. I would have rounded the other girls into the planning but they’re all way too eager to tell their husbands everything. Savvy knows how to keep a secret, especially when she knows how annoyed Matteo will be when he finds out she knew and he didn’t.

Those women are truly amazing. How my sons managed to secure such amazing wives, I have no idea. They’re all fucking hitting above their paygrades. Especially Matteo. Savvy has always been like the daughter we never had. I have a special place for her in my heart. It feels like just yesterday she was running around in pigtails, chasing my son down wherever he went. Now, Matteo is the one constantly doing the chasing. Although I think he’s been doing that since he was about thirteen.

Theo, my eldest, is the most sensible of all my kids. Then again, given his legacy and the fact he was destined to take over the family, he never had much choice but to adopt a serious nature.

The twins? They’re a whole other ballgame. If any of my kids were going to give me a heart attack, it would be those two. They’re not so bad now that they’re grown, but when they were young… Fuck, those boys were the very definition of trouble.

Being a father is one of the best things I’ve ever done. Being a grandfather, though? That’s even better. My grandchildren are fucking amazing humans. They’re going to be the next generation leading this family, carrying on the Valentino name, and they’re going to do a great fucking job of it.

“Why are we all here?” This question comes from Luca.

“You got something better to be doing than spending time with your family?” I ask him with a raised brow.

“Yeah, recovering from a gunshot wound,” he deadpans.

I roll my eyes. Luca is our catcher. Of bullets, that is. That one has been shot more than I can count. It’s as if his body is a magnet. “You’ll survive. Not like you haven’t done it before,” I tell him.

“You all need to relax. It’s important we’re here,” Savvy scolds everyone sitting around the table.

“You know? What the fuck, babe? Why don’t I know?” Matteo grumbles from beside her.

“Because you have a fucking big-ass mouth, and if I told you, you would have told them and then the surprise would be ruined.” She gestures to his three brothers.

“Not true. There are plenty of things I don’t tell these fools.” Matteo smirks. To which, Savvy shakes her head.

“What are we waiting for? The Pope?” Theo asks, getting impatient.

“We have two more guests arriving. But first, weapons in the basket.” I point to the table. I will not have today ruined by bloodshed, and when these fuckers find out who I’m letting into this house, who I invited to this event, there’s more than one of them who will want to spill blood.

“Pops, who you expecting?” Theo asks me.

“You’ll see. Weapons,” I repeat.

Groans and mumbles float around the table as everyone disarms themselves. Why the fuck these idiots think they need to be strapped up to come to a family dinner is beyond me.

Once the basket is filled, I pick it up. “This night is for my wife. If any of you fuckers do anything to ruin it… Well, let’s just say there are fates worse than death.” I point around the table. “And you all will do well to remember that everyone who enters this house is a guest of mine, so keep your opinions and thoughts to your-fucking-selves,” I warn.

I walk through the house before dumping the basket in the living room. I really don’t want anyone armed. Not that theyneed to be to cause destruction. They can do enough damage all on their own. I’m actually surprised this place is still standing with how rough my boys were growing up. My grandchildren are just as bad, but at least I can send them home with their parents.

“Nonno?” The voice has me turning around. I love this kid. She’s like a mini version of me, probably more lethal.

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