Page 49 of Capo Dei Capi's Daughter

Apparently one of Papa’s contacts in Portugal had found her. By the time they got there to bring her back home, for both our family and Armenians to determine exactly how we wanted to deal with her, she was gone. Continuing to track her, they traveled to Italy, Panama and Japan before completely losing her. With no more leads, they are finally returning home.

Being so close in age, we’ve always been ridiculously close. This is probably the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing him. Taking me into his arms, he lifts me as he gently hugs me.

“V,” he sets me down and looks me over, “it’s time someone says something to you. You’re getting fat.”

“Fucking asshole,” I swat at his arm, smacking him.

“I’m kidding,” his hand rubs over the bump that is beginning to grow, “You look absolutely beautiful as usual. Pregnancy suits you.”

Marco walks past us and his hand slides across Carlo’s back, “We’ll talk more later tonight.”

“Um,” I gesture at Marco and back to Carlo, “What the fuck was that?”

“It’s nothing,” he stutters back at me, “Just finishing stuff from our trip.”

“Bull-fucking-shit,” I snap back at him, “That’s not nothing.”

“It’s nothing V.”

“Hey,” I gently nudge his chest, “Since when do we keep stuff from each other?”

“It probably started about the time you were fucking your hot, older bodyguard in secret,” he grins quite obviously pleased with himself, “But it’s nothing. Really, just tying up some stuff from our trip.”

I’m about to call bullshit again, when Dante walks outside, giving Carlo an easy out of our current conversation.

“So,” Carlo walks slowly towards Dante, “You’re the one?”

“Yes,” Dante begins to crack a small smile.

“You’re the one that fucking knocked up my little sister,” he swings a hard right hook into Dante’s jaw knocking him to the ground.

Dante scrambles back to his feet, ready to beat the shit out of Carlo.

“What the fuck, Carlo,” I yell as I race to get between the two of them.

Carlo puts out his hand towards Dante, “No hard feelings? I didn’t want you to be the only guy to lay a hand on my sister that I didn’t punch in the face. Since I heard my brother already broke your nose, I went easy on you.”

“Your family is fucking crazy,cuore mio,” Dante looks at me as he dusts himself off.

“You better get used to it,” I smile at him, “they’re all going to be your family soon enough.

“Excuse me,” Carlo spins around to look at me, only to find me holding up my left hand to show him my engagement ring.

“Next month,” I smirk at him and sarcastically continue, “I’m hoping to be able to walk down the aisle before I’m too fat for a decent wedding dress.

DANTE

“Congratulations,” Carlo walks towards me and hugs me.

Pretty sure I’m never going to get used to the emotional swings of these Botticellis.

“Thanks,” I hug him back.

“I got distracted when you took a swing at me,” I pull back from our embrace, “your father asked me to hurry up and get you inside for a phone call with Dmitriy Andreyev.”

“For the what?” his face scrunches in confusion.

“I don’t know,” I shrug back at him, “I’m just the messenger.”

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