Riccardo balls his fists as his cheeks redden. He turns his gaze on Gwen and glares at her. She gives him a look as if to dare him to try her. Instead, he spins on his heels and storms for the door. Frances slinks out after his father like the pet he is.
“Disgusting,” I say under my breath.
I’m beyond tired of pretending to be in love with him. Frances is only out to save his ass and protect his own family, not mine. He will cover my children for as long as it benefits his. That’s the one thing I can trust about him.
Lucas, Gwen, and I move from the room to ensure Riccardo exits my home. We step out into the hall as Beth reveals herself from my hidden room.
“That’s a huge problem. I think it’s time we send word to your father,” Gwen says. We’d been planning before Riccardo decided to show his face to comment on what I found him watching earlier.
She’s right. I need to talk to my father but knowing Riccardo has reached out to others makes me wary of the families. I don’t know who else he went to. I find it hard to believe he placed all his eggs in one basket.
The wrong basket at that. This wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried to usurp my family. It didn’t work then and it’s not going to work now.
“I can no longer trust anyone. I need to go to my father myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lucas says.
I give him a smile. Now this is a man I can trust. “No, I need you here to watch over my boys. Gio, Jace, Dario, and Dante are my world. None of this matters if something happens to them. That man has a hard-on for Gio and Jace. They’re not safe around him.”
I plan to win this war, but I need Lucas here to watch over our children. He’s the one person I know will care for my boys like I would because they are his and Jace is as good as his. He’s been raising him for our lost friend.
“I’ll go,” Beth says.
“But what about the girls and Carl?”
“I’ll talk to Carl. We’ve always known this could be a hand we’d have to play.”
“We should talk to him tonight. I’ll come with you. Maybe I can help smooth things over.”
“You don’t have to.”
I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze. “I want to, and I’d like to talk to Ny. I’m sure Gio is going to drop her home if he hasn’t already.”
I’d like to see where Nyla’s head is. I feel responsible for all of this. I’d like to help her navigate things as much as I can. I haven’t told Beth what I found the kids doing. She doesn’t know what has set this all in motion.
Like the soldier she is, she’s just ready to go. I love that about her. I trust her with my life.
CHAPTER 3
Baby Soldiers
Ava
“Hey, babe, I’m back, is Ny home yet?” Beth calls into the house as we arrive.
Lizzy comes running into the common area with a smile on her little face. She’s tall for a three-year-old. I get why Carl doesn’t want his youngest child around my life. I’m not offended.
Which is why I don’t take it to heart when he enters the room with a frown once he sees me. Carl has done a job or two for me, but he’s chosen to take a step back in the last few years as Beth has started to train Ny with Jace and Gio.
Nyla has been skilled at hand-to-hand combat for years. However, the trip to Italy with the boys didn’t sit well with Carl. What the kids did disturbed him.
I think he hates my son. He’s not going to be happy to find out Gio and Ny have been dating for the last few months. The two think they’re hiding it from me and Beth, but we know.
Wait until she finds out about Jace.
I sigh at the thought as I scoop Lizzy up into my arms. “Hey, tiny bug. Why don’t you come with your Auntie Ava into the kitchen?”
Lizzy smiles, showing off her tiny teeth. I pinch her little cheek. She’s so adorable.
“Carl, let her take her. We need to talk,” Beth says as her husband gets ready to speak.
He releases a breath as Lizzy and I leave the room. We don’t get far before their voices start to rise. I knew this wasn’t going to go over well. The man has never understood Beth’s loyalty to me.
“How about a cookie?” I coo at the small child in my arms.
“Cookie, yes, please.” She gives me that adorable smile again, revealing the dimple in her right cheek.
I place her on her feet and go into the pantry to grab a cookie. Lizzy steps inside to peek at me as the silent alarm goes off, notifying the household that someone has entered the property with a vehicle that’s not recognized.