The very next day;

I gazed upon the grand villa where don Valentino resides.it’s towering iron gate fit for a kings fortress.

My hands clench the iron like rods with a vice like grip,making my knuckles turn a ghastly shade of white as I wait patiently for someone to show up and face me

Seconds pass,then minutes,followed my hours.And still I refuse to leave until I speak with the great Don Valentino,that makes me shiver with fear any time he is near.

I expel the weight of apprehension from my body as I watch one of Don Valentino’s men exist the villa and makes his way towards me.

flickering the lower right side of his jacket open,the man rest his hand on the gun that is attached to the holster,resting his forefinger on the trigger

“What are you doing here,Miss Ivy?”Je growls in a thick Italian accent that would have sounded hot is he wasn’t working for the enemy

“Well since we are on a first name basis,I’m going to assume that you know who I’m,and why I am here?”I can not control the tone of snarkiness that coats my words with affection.

A serious looks masks his face as he takes a step back from the gate.” I do know why you are here.And it gives me great pleasure to tell you that Don Valentino has given me strict orders to inform you that you can go back to the swamp where you came from.”

“To the swamp?Do I look like Fiona from the movie shrek ?”I hiss with disdain in a high pitched tone,feeling quite offended with his choice of word.

“No you do smell like trouble,and we can’t have you contaminating our air with it.Don Valentino has enough of trouble on his hand as it is”He growls .

“But-”

“I suggest you leave before he sees you on the security camera and comes out to see you for himself.” He challenges me,cutting my sentence short with an exasperated sign.

Everybody knows that when you have been dismissed by Don Valentino,you leave with out batting an eye.

That’s unless you are willing to bear the repercussions,which could result in your death and the annihilation of your bloodline

“Riccardo!”A familiar female voice disperses through the air,and dip shit turns around to the owner of the voice

I suck on my upper teeth as I shift my gaze upon deep shit that I know is named Riccardo to.....Sofia

She walks towards us,running her forefinger along her gold chain necklace gracing her neckline.As her chocolate brown eyes meet my hazel irises,her blood red coated lips pull back into a sinister smile

“Miss DeLuca,”Riccardo dips his head upon saying her name.”Miss Bish-“

“Ivy,dear...”Sofia purrs as she reaches the gate,ignoring Riccardo all together.”and what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”Dropping her hand from her neckline,she places her hands on her hips with one side of her lip curling upwards

“I have come to talk to Don Valentino regarding Savannah,”I begin “Now that Rose has passed,Savannah is going to need all the family she has now,more than ever.it takes a whole village to raise a child and all that.”I add

Her eyes narrow into thin slits,”Would you like to come in and see Savannah? I am sure she would love to see you in return,”

A wave of goosebumps rides every inch of my body.”seriously?”I reply,unable to hide the excitement on my voice

Maybe I judged her too soon.

“Of course,amore.I am not a monster,and I think it is very courageous of you to show up like this unannounced and ready to face the devil himself.”Sofia coaxes

“I don’t think Don Valentino will share the sentiment,Mrs. DeLuca,”Riccardo interjects with a serious look on his face.

Sofia bluntly turns to the side to face Riccardo head on,”you don’t need to worry about Don Valentino,I will handle him when the time arouses.Now,open this gate and allow our guest access the villa.”she demands In an authoritative voice that makes me giggle on the inside.

Take that,Riccardo you Dip shit!

“Si,Mrs.DeLuca,”Riccardo responds,unlocking the gate at the same time,and he pulls one side wide open.

“Come on then,amore,”Sofia hums gently as she turns on her heel and makes her way toward the villa.

As I approach the villa,following Sofia,my eyes fixate on the extravagant plants that surround the perimeter.Towering trees,miniature gardens,and menacing gargoyle statues stand guard on either side of the enterance,beckoning me to enter the lair of the rich and power.

Glancing behind me,I catch sight of Riccardo tailing me with his index finger poised on the trigger of his piece yet again.a sense of uneasiness creeps upon me,causing me to quickly return my gaze ahead of me to conceal the fiery emotions that are brewing within me.

Sofia’s unexpected display of courtesy has caught me off guard.she has granted me access to enter the villa without any fuss to see Savannah.

She leads me through the lobby of the villa and straight to the other end of the estate,through another door that take us back outside.

“All right now come alone,little Savannah is just around the corner,”Sofia says as she continues to briskly walk through the yard.

I quicken my pace to catch up with her.After all the last thing my need is for Don Valentino to catch me in his backyard,alone

“Oh savannah honey,can you come here per favore?”Sofia calls out in a singsong voice as she stops walking.

I,too,come to a standstill as I step beside her and allow my gaze to fall on Savannah,who is sitting on a blanket playing with her dolls.

As she set her dolls on the blanket,she gracefully rose to her feet,making sure to skirt of her dress remains below her kneelcaps at all times.

“Buongiorno zia Sofia,”Savannah say in Italian with a soft voice as she stands in front of us with her head dipped,and her hands clasped in front of her.

“Good morning to you too,tesoro,”Sofia replies as she places her index finger under Savannah chin and tilts her head upward to meet her gaze.”there is someone here that wants to see you,”Sofia drops her hand and lets it fall to her side as she uses her other hand to motion towards me.

Ever so slowly and I feels like time is slowing down,Savannah turns her head and the second our gazes collide her eyes grow wide.”Mamma?” She says in a trembling voice,battling not to keep forward and wrap her small arms around my waist.

Lowering myself onto one knee,I wipe the tears that are now falling down my face and I shake my head.”No cupcake,”my voice trembles,“I’m your aunt Ivy,your mamma’s sister.”

I hold my arms out for her to run into them.but a dark shadow suddenly cast over us causing Savannah to inhale sharply and step back from Sofia.

“What is the meaning of this Sofia?”Don Valentino snarls surging through me.”why is Roses sister here,on my property,without my approval?”he continues in thick Italian accent.

He sound pissed.

“Ivy is savannah famiglia,Don Valentino and you of all people should know the importance it is to have famiglia close by,”Sofia replies in a stern voice that fail to hide the slight tremor rising her words.

“I don’t need you to tell me what is significant and what is not.you forget that you are a guest living under my roof,which means you must abide by my rules.”Don Valentino snaps,not having a bar of Sofia’s excuses for defying his demands.

“Perdonami,I will learn my place.”Sofia says in a hushed voice as she holds her hand out for Savannah to take and when Savannah places her hand on Sofia’s,Sofia leads her away

“So much of you handling him,Sofia,”I mutter as she saunters away leaving me to face Don Valentino all on my own

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