I stared at my grandpa waiting for him to tell me why he wanted to talk with me and why my dad was also here with us. I had a feeling it has to do with what happened this morning.
"What happened to you when you were in America?" He said after a while with the most emotionless face. So I was right, it is about this morning.
"I already said more than I wanted this morning. Can't I tell you when I'm ready?" I said almost defeated. I knew he wasn't going to let this go and I had a feeling he was going to know by the end of the day.
"No, I want to know now." He said with a final voice.
"If I tell you now you can't say anything to my brothers or cousins. I want them to know when I am comfortable. I would also like to tell you when I'm comfortable but I don't think that's an option." I said, wanting to get this over with.
"Alright I can do that. Now tell me, I want to know everything."
I ended up telling him everything starting with when my mom first met Michael to when she killed him and herself. He often stopped me when I would talk about how Michael abused my mom and me and asked me to elaborate. I feel like he wanted to know how far Michael took it.
I could tell that he hated Michael because the look he was giving when I would talk about what he would do was a death look.
In the end I wanted to know something as well and I used this opportunity to ask.
"Since I told you guys my whole life story you have to answer this question, truthfully."
"Alright what is it?"
"Are you guys in the mafia?"
Luciano's POV
Right now all of us were sitting on the upstairs balcony watching the sun set. The boys finished playing football and nonno, papa and Val are still not here.
"So how has Val been with you guys?" Luca said from beside me. Vince, Luca, Leo, and Marcello formed a little circle around me seeing as how we talk about work all the time.
"She's been doing better, but I think what happened this morning will be a little set back. I realized she doesn't like to be forced to talk about things. Also it takes a while to build up trust." I answered them.
"About that. What happened to her in America?" Marcello chimed in.
"Not my story to tell. When she's comfortable she'll tell you guys. Just give her time and don't force her to say anything. We need her to gain our trust so she would be able to confide in us." I said trying to stress the fact of not forcing her and how important it is to gain her trust.
Right as I finished talking my phone started ringing. I took it out to see who was calling me and I saw that it was papa. I wondered why he was calling me when we are in the same house. Either way I still answered.
"Hey papa, why are you calling me?"
"Hey, could you come to my office with Vince, Luca, Leo, and Marcello."
"Sure, but did something happen?" I answered while gesturing for them to get up with me.
"No nothing happened, just get here quickly."
"Okay I'm coming." I said then ended the call.
"Hey guys my dad wants us in his office. I don't know why but he specifically called for us. He didn't say what was wrong but he assured me nothing happened." I said as we made our way inside and towards the stairs to go up.
Val's POV (A little bit before)
When I asked that question I saw that dad's face paled a little. I'm gonna guess that I'm correct.
"Why would you ask that?" Nonno said trying to cover up that fact that he's internally panicking.
"Don't try lying to me. Before I came here I searched you guys up and there were many articles talking about how you guys are involved in the mafia, it's just they never found solid proof." When I finished it looked like papa was going to answer with a lie so I stopped him before he answered.
"Look I don't care whether or not you are involved as long as it doesn't affect anyone innocent I can deal with it because I had my fair share of guilty/sinful people. Please don't lie to me. You want to gain my trust, start with telling me the truth."
They exchanged a look, then my dad went to go call somebody. Nobody said anything when my dad came back. They were waiting for someone to come up.
After a couple of minutes there was a knock on the door and Luciano, Vince, Luca, Leonardo, and Marcello made their way inside. They all took a seat while looking confused as to why they were here. After a while my dad started talking.
"Neonata, do you want to repeat your question now that they are all here?" I didn't know why he called them in but I figured it might be because they are responsible for all the work related situations, and I guess this is work.
"Are you guys in the mafia? I asked nonno because I told him my secret and I felt like it was only fair if he answered this question for me, and truthfully. But seeing as how dad brought you up here along with all of them I'm guessing the answer is yes." I said facing Luciano, seeing as he was the oldest of them.
He hesitated before answering me and looked at nonno and dad. When they nodded he turned back to me to answer me.
"Yes. Does that change anything for you?" I don't know. Did it? I feel like I need to know more.
"Can you tell me what it is you do?" I have a rough idea of what a mafia does but I want to make sure.
"We sell/transport drugs and guns. We also launder money. You know that we also own casinos, bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc. Those are usually used as a front for money laundering but some of them are legitimate."
"This may sound stupid or cringy but do you hurt anybody innocent? Because I'm not an idiot. I know that being in the mafia or any criminal organization there is gonna be death involved."
"It's not a stupid question and you're right there is death involved. It usually happens to rival families, traitors, or people who threaten the safety of our family. We try to keep innocent people out of it." I stayed quiet for a while.
I thought that maybe knowing they killed people would scare me away but it didn't. In fact I was interested in learning more.
"Are you okay sorella?" Vince asked me.
"Yeah. I'm not scared which worries me but what's scarier is that I'm interested in learning more."
"Okay if you have anything you want to know come ask me, papa or anyone that's in here. Papa retired a couple years ago making me in charge." Luciano said.
"Alright that's all I wanted to know. I'm going to go sit with nonna and everybody else. Thank you for being honest with me." I said to nonno and dad.
They all told me bye or a 'see you later' as I got up to leave.
Luciano's POV
Once she got out and the door shut I turned to papa and nonno.
"How the hell did she know about the mafia?!?" I asked because I was genuinely confused.
"First lower your voice and second, she figured that because we had money that we were famous so she searched us up before she came here and a couple articles were about how we might be tied to the mafia and things like that." Papa said.
"Isn't it good that she isn't scared?" Leo chimed in.
"It will make it easier to teach her self defense. At least now you don't have to sugarcoat it or lie to her." Vince said.
"Alright let's just keep an eye out. So far she seems okay with the idea. If she wants to know/learn more about it I'll answer her truthfully. Let's not worry over this." I said while getting up and making my way toward the door.
"Luciano is right. Unless she comes to you with questions let's leave it be and not worry ourselves. For now let's just enjoy the rest of the day." Nonno said.
We all made our way back to the balcony where we saw everybody. The girls were talking with each other and the boys were playing board games.
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FanfictionTaken from her family at age 2 Valentina has only remembered her mother. Her mom made sure she was loved. But what happens when one day she is told her mother is no longer with her anymore and she has to leave to Italy to live with her father and 6...
