Family First | *Rewrites in Progress*

It's Not An Invitation

Quinn's POV

Rod's face looked uneasy as the phone rang out next to me, before locking eyes with me. Gabby was asleep across his lap, tired from the small amount of training he'd insisted on doing with her today, and her feet lay perched in my lap.

"That's a burner phone. Who the fuck has the number to your burner phone?" he asked quietly, locking eyes with me. I shrugged, not knowing, and picked up the small, cheap cellphone, realising the number was an Australian one.

Answering the call, I placed it on speaker, before putting it close to Rod and I's ears.

"Hello?" I answered, sinking my voice back into a mafia tone.

"Buona sera, Quinn," the voice drawled smoothly.

Only one Italian who lived in this country could have that calm manner.

"Thomas Cuore."

"Sì. So your father has told you about me?" he asked. There was no hint of malice in his tone, just as my mother had said.

"No sir, my mother spoke about you when we were little at mafia balls. She knew your wife, Tina and your sister-in-law, Daniella. I'm sorry about her passing," I said, genuinely sincere. My mother used to tell me stories of herself, Daniella and Tina, as she had been their pen pal during high school.

"My deepest condolences for the passing of your own mother, Quinn. Losing one's mother is the cruelest curse the world has to offer."

Gabby shifted, her feet moving off of my lap, and Rodrigo gathered her in his arms, gesturing he was going to take her to bed. I put a thumb up, and he rolled his eyes, before flipping me off.

"I appreciate that, sir. But I do know you have not come to express just your condolences. What can I do for you, and how did you get this number?" I asked, my tone becoming more direct. Thomas laughed on the other end, but it sounded pained.

"Just like your father. I call because I am curious about why you have turned up here of all places, and why a week after your arrive, a gunman with a black lion tattoo shows up at my home, killing one of my men. As for your number, I've had it since I was alerted of your presence here," he answered calmly.

Shit.

If they had managed to follow me here than...

I'd fucked up big time, and had placed Thomas' mafia in my position. Their mafia was neutral in the feuds, besides the occasional spat with my father's mafia, but if anyone thought we were allied, then one would presume Thomas had picked a side in a war he knew nothing about.

A war that had already consumed one mafia.

"Are you certain it was a black lion?"

"So, you're familiar with Vince's men then. I assume that is why you are on the run? Vince's men have buried their way into your father's mafia, threatening his only heir?"

I nodded, but realised he couldn't see me. "How did you-?"

"-connections, boy. I was the one who helped Florent and his wife out when Pierre went down at Vince's hand. So he's active again?"

"Yes sir."

"I knew I should've killed him when I had the chance." There was a muffled sound in the background, and a feminine voice spoke to Thomas quickly in Italian. Tina was obviously listening in on the phone call now.

"Well this changes things," the woman spoke, her voice airy, but with a silent fury. "We're hosting dinner tomorrow night, I expect you to be there with Rodrigo and the girl."

"I'm sorry wha-"

"It's not an invitation, boy. If you're not there, I'll be offended," Tina said sharply.

Her voice sounded as if it could kill simply with a word. No wonder Anastasia had used her mother as a threat to Jacob last week.

"I-okay. Where's the-"

I was cut off by the sound of the line going silent, followed by a small text message. Thomas had message me his home address, followed by the time Tina expected me to be in their home.

"So, I guess dinner's sorted for tomorrow?" Rodrigo asked from the doorway, his lips turned up in a grin. For someone who scowled most of his life, he had only grinned this week whenever the Heart family was mentioned, especially at the mention of Anastasia.

He liked teasing me about my 'crush'.

"I guess so," I answered, looking down to my usual phone as a small instagram message appeared from Anastasia. Rod made a weird coughing noise, and I glared at him, as he put his arms up in surrender

"Don't mind me bossman, I'll leave you to go flirt awkwardly with Miss Bossman," he said, running out of the room just as my shoe came into contact with the doorframe he had been leaning against.

From: Anastasia Rose Heart

Sorry I didn't get back to you, I've been in hospital all day, and then a crazy ass gunman came through and killed one of our guards. I would say it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Quinn, but today's not ended great :(

From: doggielover15

Oh wow, that's completely understandable. Why were you in hospital, are you alright? Who hurt you?

I cringed at how desperate I sounded, and felt my heart rate spike as the little bubble on her end appeared, disappearing once before appearing again. If she had answered me, obviously she had asked her father about me. As Thomas Heart's daughter, she wouldn't just continue speaking to me, not when I knew Thomas had gone to great lengths to assure I wasn't a threat. 

From: Anastasia Rose Heart

oh, I just fell into the pool and split my heel open. Hazel looks worse though, she had stitches in her eyebrow.

From: doggielover15

let me guess, from the pool?

From: Anastasia Rose Heart

😂

How'd you guess? my brother accidentally knocked her over and she smacked her head on the edge of the pool. 

Anyways, I need to go, it's been a long day and I'm tired. Have a pleasant evening, Quinn.

Even through her messages, she seemed so kind, like no bad thing could escape from her body. I signed off with a quick goodnight, before throwing my phone onto the opposite couch of my apartment, sighing. 

I'd managed to snap up the apartment with a credit card that I had put in my grandfather's name last month just in case, and was glad it came with enough room for Rod, Gabby, and I. The credit card could not traced back to my family, as it had been my mum's father, who had died when she was a child.

Shit.

I had dinner with the Heart family tomorrow.

And I would get to see the face of the angel who had plagued my dreams all week long.