Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Fionn
I want to find Playboy and make sure he never comes near my Riley again.
I’m generally not a violent man, but the shit Playboy is pulling around my girl is making me one.
I help her get her things together, most of it smells like smoke.
Luckily the damage in the apartment can be easily fixed.
We’ve all said we’ll take care of it and we’re going to upgrade the security in all the buildings the family owns.
We’re going to offer the other businesses the option to upgrade their security systems too.
When Riley’s done packing, we make sure all the windows are secure. If someone wants in, they’ll have to break the windows. Which I wouldn’t put past Playboy to do. But at least Riley won’t be here if he does.
“Do you think Fiorella will think it’s weird if we go in?” Riley asks.
“Nope. You don’t know my sister, she loves talking to people and she’s going to love you too,” Salvatore Mancini says as he walks back into the coffee shop.
I tell Riley and Daphne that he’s Fiorella’s triplet brother. Then we tell him what’s gone on today.
“I thought we were done dealing with the Feral Raptors. Scrapper has actually been a really good president.” Salvatore sighs.
“I don’t think he has anything to do with what’s going on. Papà talked to him and he said he didn’t think he was lying about not knowing. Especially after he helped us with T-Rex,” Celestino answers.
“Your papà told us what happened. That whole situation was nuts, how anyone can do what he did is beyond me. But now having Playboy around I can see that maybe a few of them have some screws loose.” I shake my head.
“No joke. But I do like Scrapper, it’s too bad he can’t come here and join us. Then we can let the Raptors go.” Celestino chuckles.
“So you guys have met Playboy before?” Riley asks.
“We have. But when the crap with T-Rex went down, he was one of the ones that said he would follow Scrapper. But now I’m wondering if he was just saying that so they would let him stay in the club,” Celestino answers.
“Where is T-Rex now?”
We all look at each other. I’m not sure she really wants the answer to that. I also don’t know if she can handle the real truth right now. Riley looks at all of us.
“Is he dead? Because I don’t know the whole story, but from what I have heard? I’d want him dead.” She shrugs.
Everyone’s silent for a minute.
“She’s a keeper.” Ares laughs.
I kiss Riley’s head as we all laugh.
“Well? Is he dead?” She laughs.
“He is,” Zio Giacomo says as he walks back into the coffee shop. “The bakery and the cafe will be closing early, I think it would be a good idea to close the coffee shop early too. And Scrapper will be here with his council in a few days.”
“I’ll get some of the guys here today to upgrade the security system. Then we can work on the fire damage,” Ares says.
“Thank you. Maybe we need to board up the windows, inside and out. Until we get the renovations done,” Eros suggests.
“I’ll call Paxton and see what he suggests we do,” Celestino says to them.
Some of our extended family lives in Wintervale, Montana. Paxton Vandenberg is a carpenter and whenever we need help with construction things, we call him. He and his family own the general store there.
“I bet he’ll be here by tomorrow.” I laugh.
“He probably will.” Zio Giacomo laughs.
We hear Celestino laughing as he puts his phone away.
“They’re all coming. Pax said they’ve finally hired some help so they don’t have to close up the store.”
“You mean there’s more family?” Riley asks.
“Oh, there’s so much more family that you haven’t met yet.” I laugh.
“Do you like hockey and baseball? Motorcycle racing?” Salvatore asks.
“In fact, I do like all of those. Why…?” She squints at Salvatore. “Don’t tell me you know players and racers.”
“Maybe we need to have a barbecue tonight. That’s the easiest way to see the family. Or at least the ones that live here in Lake Renegade.” Eros smiles.
“Where do the others live?” she asks.
“Well the Vandenbergs live in Wintervale, Montana, and the Rousseaus live in Storyville, Colorado,” he explains to her.
“I don’t think I’m going to remember everyone.” Riley laughs.
“They’re my family and I still forget names sometimes.” I laugh.
“That sounds good. I’m heading back now, are you staying open?” Zio Giacomo asks Riley as all the mamas come in from the bakery.
“No, I think we should close. Fionn said Daphne and I could meet Fiorella.” Riley smiles.
“Good, that way you all can tell her she should close up early too.” He nods.
We all help Riley and Daphne close up the coffee shop and we head over to Fi’s Boutique.
“Okay, what did I do now?” Fiorella says as she makes faces at her brother.
“Why do you always assume you did something? Guilty much?” He laughs.
“Well, you came stomping into my shop with full gear on and you have people with you.” She rolls her eyes.
“I wasn’t stomping.”
“Elephant.”
Riley’s giggling as we watch them fight.
“Are they always like this?” she whispers.
“Yep. In fact I’m pretty sure all the sibling groups are like this or worse.” I chuckle.
“You’re lucky Mamá’s not here. She’d tell you to stop being so dramatic.” Salvatore sighs.
“Dramatic? Come closer and say that again.” She crooks her finger at him as she squints.
“Are you supposed to look scary?” He laughs. “Look, I’m only here cause I was at the new coffee shop. And for some reason, Riley likes you. I’m guessing it’s because she doesn’t know you. But hey, she’ll figure it out on her own.”
“I’m ignoring you now.”
Fiorella hugs everyone and stops at me and Riley.
“This is Riley and Daphne. Riley’s the owner of Espresso Joy.” I smile as I hug Fiorella.
Riley
“I love your clothes, Daphne and I own a lot of your designs and I can’t believe I’m meeting you,” I blurt out.
Fiorella laughs and gives me a hug.
“I’m so glad you opened a coffee shop. I was planning on coming in today, but I got stuck getting started on my new line that will be out later this year. Maybe you can give me your opinions on the new collection as I design it.”
“Holy shit, are you serious?” I gasp.
Fiorella laughs. “I’m serious. I love having feedback, especially from people who wear the clothes I design.”
I hug her again. “I would love to. Thank you so much.”
“I’ll definitely be in tomorrow for your grand opening.” She smiles.
“Giacomo wants to have a barbecue tonight with the whole family,” Ares tell Fiorella. “Do you know what time you’ll be done today? We’re also upgrading the security on all our buildings.”
“Did something happen?” She frowns at him.
We all tell her what happened today and Fiorella comes and hugs me and Daphne. She really likes to give hugs, I could get used to this.
“I’m so sorry you have a psycho stalker. But don’t worry, you’re family now.”
Fionn takes my hand and squeezes it. Fiorella watches us and smiles. I think I’m going to love being a part of the family. I look at Daphne and she hasn’t stopped smiling either. Tomorrow my family will be coming out for our grand opening. And I’m excited for them to meet my new family.
It’s definitely overwhelming meeting the whole Lake Renegade family.
There’s so many of them. And I’ve now met some of my favorite hockey and baseball players.
I keep telling Fionn that I must be dreaming.
He said that next week I’ll get to meet my favorite MotoGp riders.
This can’t be real, I have to be dreaming.
Tomorrow’s grand opening is going to be the highlight of my career. The one thing I’ve wanted for so long. I still can’t believe my dream has come true.
The barbecue that the Lake Renegade family is throwing tonight is incredible. Every one of the family that can be here, is here. There’s only a few of them that couldn’t make it, but I’ll be meeting them after this weekend.
“I can’t believe this is our life now.” Daphne chuckles as she comes and stands next to me.
“Me either.” I smile as I look at Fionn, who’s staring back at me.
“I love the smile that takes over your face when you look at Fionn. You deserve to be happy.”
I look at her and hug her. I wish she would open herself up again, maybe one day she will.
The rest of the night is filled with laugher and stories.
Listening to the families tell stories is my new favorite thing.
But for some reason, I have a feeling that the Athanasious and Nikolaidises are holding something back. I just don’t know what it is.
“Your babies are going to be huge. Fionn’s entire family is abnormally large. I feel tiny and I’m fucking five eight.” Daphne giggles.
“I was thinking that earlier. Not the babies. But how big all the family members are. They all definitely ate their veggies growing up.”
The rest of the night goes by faster than I want it to.
But everyone assures me that they do a lot of family parties and dinners.
Falling asleep in Fionn’s arms is one of the things I loved when we were together in Ireland.
Tonight reminds me of that night. As I’m falling asleep, I pray that he doesn’t realize that I’m not the one for him.
Because this is where I want to be forever.