Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rayna
“Matteo Moretti, you better not be sneaking that sweet seventeen-year-old boy a bottle of whiskey!”
“Ahhh, come on Jade. It’s his birthday.”
“Do you want his sister to castrate you?”
“Rayna?” Matteo waves a hand. “She couldn’t hurt me or my pretty face—let alone my more delicate bits. I’m far too charming.”
“I’ll show you how little charming means to me,” I say, menacingly rounding the hall corner. “Watch yourself, little Moretti. You’ll find I have no problem hurting the delicate bits of those who supply my baby brother with liquor he has no business drinking.”
The youngest Moretti son doesn’t flinch. He greets me with a teasing grin instead. “Are you always so beautiful or is it just when you’re this threatening?”
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I warn.
Yordan pouts. “Come on, Rayna, it’s my birthday.”
“Yeah, Rayna,” Matteo parrots. “It’s his birthday.”
I take in a long breath, looking at the flicker of hope in Yordan’s eyes. He wants something normal, irresponsible and silly, but undeniably normal. Even his birthday party isn’t quite normal. It’s a small gathering of people at our apartment with food and refreshments.
Don’t get me wrong, this is what he asked for specifically. But, it’s still an apartment full of mafia members and the occasional baby. Not exactly a typical seventeen year olds birthday experience.
“One drink,” I tell him, voice firm. “And Apollo needs to approve anything else. Don’t let me see it, got it?”
“You’re the best,” Yordan exclaims, stepping forward to grab my face and plant a fast, dramatic kiss on my forehead.
“Don’t get used to it,” I warn.
“I would never,” he jokes.
“All right you two,” Jade says, lightly pushing Matteo. “Get out of here before she changes her mind.”
“What she said,” I agree with a chuckle.
Yordan doesn’t need to be told twice, skedaddling out of my sight within seconds.
“Smart sending him off to be Apollo’s responsibility,” Jade tells me, a small smirk playing on her lips. “I plan to do the same thing with Dmitri when Cesar gets older. I don’t know how to handle a boy who’s technically a man but will always be a baby in my eyes.”
The statement strikes me as entirely too relatable.
“It’s certainly complicated,” I admit quietly. “But maybe more so? Yordan isn’t my son and Apollo isn’t his father. I think we both have to try not to act too parental.”
“I don’t think Yordan would mind if you did,” Jade tells me sympathetically.
“Older siblings are a lot like parents when you don’t have them.
I’ve never had a mom. But my dad and Apollo make me feel like I don’t need one, you know?
I bet Yordan feels similarly. He respects both of you, even when you’re telling him what to do. ”
“Maybe.” I blink, looking around the room. Our main floor is filled with familiar faces, only an hour into the party. It’s a bit crowded in here, but not uncomfortably so.
The apartment isn’t meant to entertain such a large group, but we’ve made it work. Apollo did technically offer Yordan the use of the mansion for his birthday instead of our smaller space. But my brother and I decided that the Morettis have hosted him more than enough times, so we could do it now.
Besides, this way I was able to make all of the food and Yordan’s cake in my own space. It added a personal touch to the day, I think.
“Anatoly makes the twins look even tinier,” I say, smiling softly. The sight of the Morozov guard holding either of Jade’s children is one of the more adorable things I’ve witnessed around this family.
Anatoly Petrov is a huge man, large in stature and in frame.
His shaved head, sculpted features, and muscular body should make him an intimidating sight.
But he has the softest, kindest eyes while he takes care of the twins.
He’s very clearly a trusted member of the family, and I can see why.
He looks like he could stop a speeding car with his bare hands, especially if it were to protect a Moretti or Morozov.
“Ugh, doesn’t he?” Jade replies, smiling sweetly.
“He’s so good with the kids. He was meant to be a doctor like his dad, you know?
But with his size, he was too valuable as a guard.
It almost makes me sad for him, but I can’t deny how glad I am to have him.
He makes me feel less paranoid about anything happening to my babies. ”
I nod in understanding. “And Javi? Does having him around help?”
“Oh definitely,” she agrees. “We don’t take the kids out without a whole team with us, and Javier runs the guards like the freaking Navy Seals or something. Does Yordan like working with him?”
“I think so,” I say, shrugging. “Yordan isn’t big on school. But he was thrilled to find out Javi would be his tutor. He’s a bit of a mafia fanboy, sometimes. I swear he knows more names and faces than I do. By a lot.”
“A good quality to have,” she muses. “You can never have too many connections in this life.”
I hum, nodding shortly. “I’m coming to learn that.”
“Ugh, Cesar is trying to open Yordan’s presents again,” she groans, setting down her drink. “Let me go stop him. Talk soon!”
I chuckle as Jade jogs over to her son with an almost goofy pep in her step. Deciding I could use a hit of fresh air, I make my way toward the balcony doors, discreetly letting myself outside. I don’t come out here often, but the cool atmosphere outside is a good way to get a break from the crowd.
I didn’t expect to find anyone already doing the same thing.
Leon is sitting on one of my two patio chairs, holding a small plate as he looks out into the horizon.
“Overwhelmed?” he asks, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Only a little,” I admit hesitantly. “I’ll probably go back—”
“Sit,” he interrupts, nodding to the chair next to them. “You can disappear for a few minutes. Don’t let me deter you, I’m the one invading your space.”
“You’re not invading,” I tell him, slowly moving toward the open seat. “I just didn’t expect anyone to come out here.”
“I had to get away from Armani,” he explains, shaking his head. “My socks aren’t the same shade of black and I think his head was going to explode if I didn’t agree to change them.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “He’s a particular guy, that brother of yours. He keeps sending boxes of electrolyte drinks to our doorstep.”
“Hydration saves lives,” he quotes, attempting to imitate his younger brother. “It just means he cares about you and Yordan. He does the same thing to me.”
“I feel like there might be some kind of unresolved trauma there,” I reply, half-amused, half-concerned.
“It seems likely,” he agrees. “Now, I’m going to eat this turnover because I’m starving, and you’re going to tell me why you needed to escape.”
My eyebrows lift at his assertive tone. “Oh I am, am I?”
“Naturally,” Leon says, smiling before taking a bite of his blueberry pastry. “I happen to be a great listener.”
“It’s nothing, really,” I tell him with a shrug. “Just a lot of people. They’re all nice, but it’s still a lot at once.”
He hums, swallowing a bite. “I hear you spent time with my sister.”
“I did.” I nod, thinking back to the chaos that was yesterday. “Both of them? I guess? I’m still not really clear on the whole blood marriage thing. I don’t really get the dynamic but maybe I was too overwhelmed meeting new people to process it.”
“Ahh,” Leon says. “Ana, yes. The way she and Cassio got married, it’s just an old tradition. Just think about it like my father adopted her. She’s not an in-law. She’s considered blood now, hence blood marriage.”
“I guess it’s pretty simple when you say it like that.” Maybe a bit odd, but plenty of cultures have symbolic traditions that aren’t the norm. “So, you’re in town for the event tomorrow? Yordan’s excited. He liked helping out at the orphanage with Ana before. She told me the kids love him.”
He’s been there a few times in the past month, offering to volunteer after speaking to Ana and Cassio about their work there.
Ana was adopted, as was her mother. While she lived in New York City, she practically worked at a large facility there.
Since moving here with the Morettis, she has started helping out at a local place, getting them more funding and resources.
And of course, spending time with the children directly.
It’s her passion, and Yordan seems to find it as rewarding as she does.
“Yeah, Leo and I are here for it,” Leon confirms after swallowing another bite. “Dad’s with him now, he’s having a bit of a grandpa day.”
I smile at the concept. “That’s sweet.”
“It’s nice when we can find the time.”
“No Bastian and Cleo?” I ask curiously.
Leon’s face drops. “No. No, not this time.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”
He waves a dismissive hand. “It’s fine, just…yeah, a sore subject about covers it. Cleo doesn’t like to think about the time that Leo was away from us, and even though we wouldn’t have him if it weren’t for Ana, she doesn’t…Anyway, I’d prefer to talk about anything else, honestly.”
“Completely understood,” I agree, bobbing my head. “We could talk about the fact that you’re ruining your appetite for pizza and cake with a simple blueberry turnover.”
Leon laughs, shoulders shaking. “Oh, Rayna. I always have an appetite for pizza and cake.”
“Shall we return for some, then?”
“I suppose it’s about that time.”
No one seems to have noticed that we were absent when we reappear. And after a few slices of pizza, socializing with the large group becomes easier. Leon pulls me into conversations, and Jade does the same. I learn that the Morettis are all close, but some are more so than others.
For instance, the younger set of twins called Nico and Remo appear to be the least social. Neither have made an appearance, but Yordan doesn’t seem to mind. Of course, Emilio and his wife haven’t come either. Though, I doubt they were formally invited.