~~~~~

I knew I should just be glad they were alive, all three of them, but I was just so angry. Here I thought I knew everything there was to know. The truth sucked. I’d been lied to my entire life, so how was I supposed to just move on? Since I wanted to let some anger out, I was in the yard, running laps around the garden. We all tried to stay fit, our jobs often depending on our ability to breathe. Running helped with that.

“Damnit!” I shouted to the quiet morning air, my jog stopping as a slight fog rolled in from the mountains. “Why?”

I was still filled with adrenaline. Mother was pulling the strings with Grandfather’s help. Father knew, but did nothing. I’d been a pawn since childhood and played right into their hands. All to stop Vespus because Arnie wanted to incite a world war using Accardi contacts. My ‘parents’ observed me growing up to make sure I was capable of doing the job like the scientists they were and what was worse? It was all for their selfish gain. Omertà be damned.

They practically ‘designed’ me to do it with all the training regimes, coursework, and the threat to withdraw the family if I didn’t succeed. My parents and my grandfather used my love of family to keep me to their strict teachings. There were times I pushed my body past its limits just to prove I could do something! I took a deep breath, trying to quell the rush of anger increasing my heart rate. They didn’t deserve the energy I was giving them.

“Lili…” Nicolo appeared, making it stop instead, and I jumped away with a lifted magnum aimed for his head. “Ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“What do you want?” I questioned, unclenching my fingers to force myself to relax and put my weapon back in its holster. “It’s too late to go back to bed.”

“I actually wondered if I could join you for a bit.” He hadn’t mentioned anything about what happened at the diner that day, so I assumed the worst, but he smiled as he continued. “We don’t spend much of our waking hour together not working. I wish to spend more time with you.”

Now that I was learning the truth about my family, one thing became clear about Nicolo. He didn’t know what was going on. It wasn’t his fault. I nodded to him, then without a word, broke into another jog. I didn’t have to look to know he was at my side, his presence actually soothing away some of the irritation I’d been dealing with. A bird cried out as dawn peeked through the leaves of nearby trees.

“I hope you’re not here to convince me to forgive my parents?” I was the one to break the gentle quiet of the morning, then stopped to get a sip of water before looking up at him. “Because I’m still rather upset about it.”

“No. They are your parents and grandfather. You have to decide for yourself what to do.” Then he placed a hand on my shoulder, garnering my full attention. “I do think you should forgive them, though less for them and more for yourself. Just remember; no one said forgiving them meant you had to associate with them.”

I knew it was true, but the betrayal was really frustrating. I’d done everything for family and the Omertà for them to only think of themselves. I needed time to think about them. Nicolo took my hand, then interlocked our fingers before pressing his lips against the back of my knuckles. His green pools displayed a mixture of lust, love, and care as he gazed at me, then his free arm wrapped snug around my waist, drawing me into his arms. Not only was he warm, there was a comfort there I’d avoided noticing before.

“I would think my beautiful wife has learned; the family you choose matters more.”

There was a knowing look in his gaze as my face flushed, but I looked away in a huff. My mother ordered my marriage to Nico because she knew. Everyone knew, even me. I forced myself to remain in denial. I tried to sacrifice myself for family, but my mother wouldn’t let me, just so I could ‘understand her.’ She ordered me to marry him because she knew I was in too deep. My free hand shifted from his shoulder to his cheek as I gave him a gentle kiss.

“My heart chose you.” I was sweaty from my run, still heaving as I tried to catch my breath, but I needed to share this affection with him. “I love you, Nico.”

“And I love you.”

He seemed just as awestruck as always, yet it was easy to ignore in favor of his ever–hardening body. I shivered as he licked his lips, the visual bringing to mind several pleasing memories, before I shook the thought away. We escaped our duties long enough. It was time to get some work done. He held me tight for a moment longer, chest shifting as he took in a deep breath, then dragged himself away. He looked disappointed for a single second, then puffed his chest out confidently.

“I had some business to discuss with you when you’re finished with your run.” Nico smirked as he stroked my cheek, then kissed my forehead. “Take your time and get all that anger out. You’ll feel better.”

~~~~~

Things were only starting to get back to normal, but I was a little surprised to find him on his laptop when I returned. He’d even thought ahead and put a sticky note on the back of the computer screen reading ‘video call’ in cursive. I wanted to focus on the business he mentioned earlier, since I’d been so upset about my family, we hadn’t really talked in a few days. I didn’t mind waiting, though Nicolo did, if his frown was any sign.

“Just deal with it. I have to go.” He closed the laptop, then clasp his fingers together, elbows on his desk as he looked at me. “Am I allowed access to the Accardi Family App?”

My jaw dropped as his gaze fell to the phone on the table in front of me. The only people with access were part of the Accardi family, so he had no reason to be jealous. I was also positive he knew it was all family. Then again, how did he even know about it? I had yet to mention it to anyone within the Romano family. In fact, I’m only doing a test rollout now, just to make sure the app works correctly. The app uses a mix of professional grade firewalls, facial recognition, biometrics, and passcodes to keep undesirables out.

“I noticed you’d been working on something for a while now. Figured it was something like that.” Nicolo replied with a shrug, as if sensing my unasked question. “I want to learn all I can to support you and the Accardi in whatever ways I can. Especially with regards to protection.”

“Actually…” I started, walking around his desk with a bit of a smile lifting the corners of my lips. “That would be a wonderful idea! You can even help me test if a certain feature is working.”

“I was expecting you to be a little more resistant to it, Lili.”

“Well, our marriage taught me that it’s a little easier to work together.” I countered, opening the app, and turning it to face him. “Please see if it will allow you access. I need to test the facial recognition.”

The software was designed to work in a specific order in relation to whose business phone it was installed on. Since I made the initial purchase of all the Family’s phones, I of course hacked them, so I could download apps or updates to any of their phones without access to them. Some would consider that a breach of trust, others, a necessary evil. Those in the employ of the Accardi Family were told ahead of time that their phones were monitored, and that I made direct upgrades to them.

“I do not understand, it was a black screen when I tapped on it but now it looks like a tower defense app.” His head tilted as he stared at the screen, an annoyed frown taking over his features. “You made a copycat game?”

“No, it’s because you’re not in the system yet. That’s a protection measure. If it doesn’t recognize you, it displays a tower defense game instead.” I replied, taking a seat on his lap, then directing the phone my way to show him. “Watch.” The app screen changed from tower selection to my app home screen showing accessible files based on family status, and a messenger tab. “The app is set up to adjust to whatever mission and role I assign to someone and changes their ‘accessible files’ in response. Under this tab…” I tapped on the messenger tab, which showed a list of available chatrooms. “Is where you’d message someone. It’s all based on position within the family, which is determined by the admin.”

It would ensure no one had access to all documents, and only give and remove access to required mission intel for successful mission completion. Some documents were only going on there so physical copies could be stored in an undisclosed location. App development took a backburner when we were taking care of Vespus, so I still had a lot of coding and uploading to do before I could even begin to assign roles. I just wanted to get the basic parts out of the way.

“Sounds pretty advanced.” Nicolo waved to the room around us, at the years of documents his family collected. “And super useful in both of our protection. A little bird told me you were the best hacker in the world on top of all the other things you’re amazing at.” Then his gaze narrowed a little as he smirked, his heated hands grabbing my hips. “Perhaps I can give you a hand.”

“A little bird? Who? And you, coding?!” I sneered, but he only chuckled a little, a hand freeing to push his hair back in a way that was absolutely unfair. “There’s no way you know how to code.”

“The bird was Marcello.” Then chuckled again as he held up my former maid uniform. “It’s got a device similar to your design in the collar of the shirt, stitched in so it cannot be easily detected. How did you think I always knew where you were?”

Sparkling green eyes intent on causing me trouble from day one. Who was this man and what the hell was he doing to me? Even now, it was a question I found myself asking often. He pressed closer, lifting a glass of whiskey in one hand as he smirked that devilish grin that always made my heart pound. The mix of alcohol on his breath and aftershave always made me tremble, and my heart leapt into a race as his lips approached, drawing my gaze. How could he have been so perfect without my knowledge?

“This man is just as loud without using his mouth as he was before you ordered that tongue ring!” In walked Piero followed by Marcello and Ginny, snapping me out of my stupor, and away from Nicolo’s arms. “Please, Donna, order him to start talking again! Before I lose my mind! I cannot work under these conditions any longer!”

“Marcello,” I sighed, drawing his tired yet hopeful gaze. “End the silence. We have work to do.”

“Donna Liliana Accardi Romano, allow me to apologize for my untoward and unprofessional behavior. As your second, my job is to follow your orders without fail.” He bowed at the waist before continuing without moving. “I am ashamed of myself. I will bear your punishment with pride.”

“Then remember your position next time. I want you to focus on training Ginny for her promotion to third.” I stated, making his head pop up as if in shock at my sudden decision. “And anyone you think capable of overseeing a territory, please introduce me. I want loyalty starting from the highest. We’re opening a new position. I want Territory Heads in every location, starting now.”

“I agree. Be subtle, Piero, but I want you on the same task.”

Change was on the horizon for the Romano and Accardi families, and Nicolo and I were starting it. When our words registered to Ginny, Piero, and Marcello, their eyes widened. They knew this meant some of the older families could be replaced in favor of new blood. Times were changing, so we needed to keep up. We couldn’t stick to tradition and stay protected anymore. I’d long been planning for it but now was the time to burst that bubble.

 

~~~End~~~