Winter Love (Seasons in Montana: Winter)

Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Emmanuelle

My family is arriving today and I’m terrified. All the papas that are here remind me of mine. And my papa is going to be angry. Not so much at me for what’s going on, but because I didn’t tell him. My brothers will feel the same. How can I explain that I didn’t want them to go after William? Even saying it in my head sounds dumb. If one of my sisters had said that? I would’ve screamed at them that no matter what, we don’t keep secrets. But that’s just what I did.

I clean to keep busy as I wait for my family to get here. Lukas was on shift last night and it was a busy night. So he’s sleeping until they get here. Two more hours. It’s dragging on like time knows I have secrets to confess, so its torturing me.

“I understand why you didn’t tell your family. Sometimes it’s hard to admit what we’re going through. It took me years to tell mine about the fears I had growing up. I know it’s not the same. But I guess what I’m saying is I understand the fear and not wanting your family to feel bad because of it,” Sebastiano says as he sits at the counter.

I smile at him. “How did you meet your wife?”

“My Schuyler was in a horrible relationship when we met. But I knew from the moment I saw her that she was the other half of my soul.”

Listening to Sebastiano makes me smile. I thought Lukas was the only one that spoke like that. That poetic way he says things to me, making me feel like I’m the only woman he sees. I can’t wait to meet the women in the Mancini and Bastianini families.

“How long until your baby is here? Do you know what you’re having?”

“Schuyler’s due in one month. And no, we haven’t found out. We thought about doing one of those trendy gender reveals. But in the end we said we want to be surprised. We found out with our son, Sansone. As much as I loved knowing I was having a son, I want to know what it feels like to find out when he or she is born.”

“Maybe after all this is over, Lukas and I can come to Lake Renegade.”

“That would be really nice. I think you’d both love it there. We have campgrounds with hiking trails and waterfalls.”

“It sounds wonderful.” I smile.

Lukas

I grab a quick shower after I get up. Emma’s family will be here soon and I don’t want her to have to talk to them alone. When I head out to the living room, I see her talking to Sebastiano. It’s so weird to see him in my house. His identical twin brother, Domenico is the goalie for my favorite hockey team, the Chicago Redhawks. I’ve been trying my best not to be a fanboy about it. I know he’s not Domenico, but because they’re identical, sometimes I want to start asking about the game. It’s been a struggle.

“Hey, baby,” I say to Emmanuelle as I give her a kiss. “Any word on when everyone will get here?”

“Maman texted about an hour ago and said they were two hours out. I’m so nervous.”

“I know, baby. It’s going to be okay.”

“I was telling Emma that I get why she didn’t tell her family. Sometimes it’s hard to tell them things like this,” Sebastiano says.

“I agree. Especially because you know they’re going to want to protect her. Like I wish I had been there to do.”

“I feel that. Schuyler was taken and I wasn’t there to stop it. It’s taken me a while to work past that. I know there’s nothing I could’ve done. But that doesn’t make me feel less responsible.”

“That’s how I feel, we weren’t together when she met William. But we talked and I feel like I should’ve seen the signs. And I’ll spend the rest of our lives making up for that,” I say to them.

“You don’t have to make up for anything. If you say there’s nothing I could’ve done, then there’s definitely nothing you could’ve done.”

I hold my girl and wish there was some way to go back in time and fix this. Maybe I could have found some way to have stayed with her. I know I can’t, but I can wish.

“So how do we find William and Richard? Were you able to see how they know each other?” I ask Sebastiano.

“So far we haven’t found a connection. But it could just be a coincidence that they found each other. I will say that I don’t really believe in coincidences. I think they had a plan for Emma and when she got away from William, they expected her to come back. He’s probably been watching her for a while now. The Russian mafia deals in trafficking and that’s something we’re all against. Our families have never hurt women or children.”

I guess the look on my face is saying I don’t believe him.

“I know it’s hard to believe that mafia and MC’s can be good guys. When my grandfathers and the Bastianini founders came here, they did things that were…bad. But they never hurt women and children, that’s where they drew the line. And now, we’re working on making things better, we own businesses and pay taxes. Salvatore is a Chicago police officer, something that never would’ve been allowed in the old days.”

“I remember him saying that it was a hard decision for him to make. Being a cop. But in the end he felt that it would benefit your family more than hurt it.”

Sebastiano nods. “Our nonno didn’t understand at first. But after talking with my papà and zios, they were able to make him understand. He’s very proud of Salvatore. And soon, Sal will be the Sheriff in Lake Renegade. He’s come a long way and worked really hard at what he does.”

“That’s awesome. I think that’s great that he was able to follow his dreams.” Emma smiles

“After our parents died, I told my siblings that I would support anything they chose to do. Paxton was always building things with our dad and he wanted to continue doing that. And Rhett? Well he originally wanted to be a doctor. But he didn’t want to leave us so he chose to be a pharmacist. He’s the smartest of all of us. And Felicity? Well I don’t know if she’s decided what she wants to do. But she will one day.” I grin.

“That’s like my sister, Giovanna. She was going to medical school, but things happened. She got married to Declan O?—”

“Holy shit. Redhawks defenseman Declan O’Reilly?” I blurt out.

Sebastiano laughs.

“Yep. That Declan. And they have a son, Rowan, who’s a year and a half now. So she’s not sure she wants to go back to school or not. My parents told her whatever makes her happy is what she should do. And Declan likes that Gia can come to all the games. Are you a Hawks fan?”

“Hell yes.” I laugh. “Our dad was from Chicago and he passed on his love for the Redhawks and the Panthers. We got to go to a few live games growing up. But. Now I watch every game on TV. I keep wanting to call you Domenico.”

“It happens a lot.” Sebastiano laughs. “I told Schuyler once that Dom should wear contacts and dye his hair.”

We all laugh.

“You two really are identical. When I first saw you, I thought you were Domenico.”

“Gianluca Mancini, the third baseman for the Panthers? He’s my cousin. He’s a triplet to Salvatore.”

“Holy shit. Seriously? Now I’m officially jealous. I want to be a Mancini.”

Sebastiano laughs. “Well you’re officially family now that we’re here. Family helps family.”

“You guys hear that? I’M A MANCINI.”

Emmanuelle starts laughing with Sebastiano and the rest of the guys come in and look at us.

“Who’s a Mancini?” Galen asks.

“I am.” I laugh.

“Cool. Welcome to the family.” He smirks and heads to his room.

“Did I hear we have more family now?” Leonardo comes in.

“Yep. Vandenberg is code for Mancini.” Sebastiano chuckles.

“Nice. I do have to warn you, we’re a crazy bunch. But loyal as hell,” Enea adds in.

“Sounds like we’ll fit in perfectly.”