The drive home was quiet. Jessica and Letty hugged Lucy and I, telling me we'll talk tomorrow, on the flight. That caught Enzo's attention as he looked over at me. The girls thanked the guys again, for their help; then they left together, getting in Jessica's car.

Lucy, despite the ordeal she just went through, is nonstop talking to Topo, filling him in on everything that happened since Chicago. He glances at me, no doubt surprised at how chatty she is now, compared to how she was when he first met her.

When we walk into the apartment, Miles and Kai stand quickly, alert and guarded. 

"What the hell happened, moms?" Miles exclaims. "These two guys came and we had to freaking fight them. And then these guys showed up and we're like okay, it's round two, yo." Kai gives Miles and exasperated look then rolls his eyes.

"But it turns out, they're the good guys." Miles finishes and then gives me a long hug as does Kai. And then they move on to Lucy.

"Where are the two guys?" I question, looking around the apartment.

"We took care of them, of course." Topo informs me.

Kai approaches the guys and extends his hand out to Enzo. "Mahalo. Thank you for being here for our family." He man hugs Enzo. He moves on and does the same to Joey and Topo.

After Miles does the same, I tell them to go to bed since we have an early flight. They each say their goodnights and Lucy hurries over to Topo, giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before running to her room.

"She's grown a lot since Chicago. Not the same shy, little girl. Super talkative now." Topo sighs sitting on a chair in the living room.

I laugh, "You have no idea but she has her shy moments." I move to the couch and Joey and Enzo join us.

"I like your place, it's a hell of a lot better than our dump, in Chicago." Topo laughs, leaning back.

"Hey! I liked our little dump of an apartment." I chuckle and Topo joins me.

I look over at Joey and smile, "You let your hair grow out, again. Annalisa said you had cut it super short when she saw you at the wedding—oh my gosh, Anna! where is she, is she okay? And Sam?" I look over at Topo.

"Anna's fine. Better than fine."Joey laughs lightly. "And so is Sam. They're both pissed, we wouldn't let them come. And yeah, I let it grow out again. Annalisa likes it long, she likes the curls." He smiles softly and I smile back.

"She has something to tell you and made me swear not to say anything, because she wanted to be the one to tell you, so call her asap." He hands me his phone after hitting a contact. I smile widely when I see the contact name for "Babe" as the phone rings.

She sounds like she just woke up when she says hello, but her voices sounds and feels like home. Once again, tears blur my vision. "Anna..."

She inhales sharply. "Stella?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Sam!" Screams into the phone and I have to hold it away from my ear. She cries, "I'm so happy they found you! We've been looking for so long. Rocco and Mateo have been working on tracking you but everything led to dead ends all over the world, you haven't been to South Africa have you? Topo eventually convinced to Enzo, to go back to Chicago and we talked to Zeeko.

At first, Zeeko was hesitant to tell us anything, which I don't blame him. But then he told us he gave you family contacts in New York, California and then Miami. We tried New York first but they said they hadn't seen you, only heard of you. Then we went to California and they told us they knew you but didn't know where you would be because you only were there for two months almost four years ago and then finally Miami."

"What is it? Are you okay?" I hear Sam ask her. Annalisa takes a deep breath and then she talks to Sam, "It's her, they found her."

"Baby girl? Where the hell have you been? We've been searching high and low for you, girl." Sam says into the phone.

"Well I'm found, now." I chuckle. "I've missed you guys so much. I can't wait to see you guys. I didn't even give the guys a chance to tell me where you are."

"We are in New York." Annalisa tells me.

"I'm headed there for work tomorrow!"

"You are? What are you doing for work? Oh my gosh, I can't wait to see you! I have so much to tell you! Joey didn't say anything did he, I told him I'd kill him if he did."

"No he hasn't said anything, he said you made him promise not to tell me." I laugh.

"We're getting married!" She squeals into the phone. I look over at Joey and he grins at me. "And that's not the only thing, we're having a baby!"

"What? Oh my gosh! I so happy for your Anna!" I exclaim happily.

We're getting married in three weeks. I was really putting the pressure on Enzo to find you because you're my maid of honor, you know. Just like we always talked about." She says her voice filled with emotion.

"As more time went on, I though maybe we were too late and you were gone...like gone, gone." She sobs into the phone. "But Enzo wouldn't give up. He kept saying he'd find you." I look over at Enzo who's watching me too, intently.

"I thought the same for you guys." I sniffle. "When are you due?"

"December, so still a ways to go. Joey's hoping the baby comes on Christmas" She laughs into the phone. I ask her how she's feeling and she tells me she's fine, with some nausea and always tired.

"Well, I let you get back to bed. I'll call you when I get in New York, tomorrow. Okay?"

I hand Joey back his phone back,  and I hug him, congratulating him. "This is the best news ever, Joey. I'm so happy for you guys."

"Thanks, I'm pretty excited." He gushes.

"So, what's this work thing you're going to New York for?" Enzo questions.

"Oh, um. Just doing some training for a club." I tell him, standing to dump out the ice in the sink, but really to avoid his penetrating gaze.

"So you've been working as a cook or chef?" Topo questions. "You've always been a good cook." He says smiling. 

"Yeah, and you made some damn good cakes and pastries growing up." Joey chimes in.

"Are you guys hungry? I could make something." I change the subject.

"I think we're good, its pretty late anyhow." Enzo answers for everyone. "But I'm glad you're headed to New York, you can come with us. Cristian is meeting with a new Don, who's taken over most of the families since the fallout from Giovanni's rebellion attempt."

That reminds me..."I know it's a long shot, but...did Cristian find out if anyone survived, back home?" Enzo shakes his head no at me.

I go back to what he just said and question, "Wait, only one person is in charge of the other families, that were left at the Gathering?"

"It appears so. Cristian, wants to meet with him to see if he's stable or if he's another Giovanni, might as well nip it in the bud before he becomes a real problem...Speaking of Giovanni, he put out a hit on Jimmy. Looks like Jimmy turned on Gio right from under him."

I laugh, "No, he didn't. I mean, I wouldn't put it past him to do something like that. That's why it's so great." I tell them about what I've been working on and what I had Tej do with Gio's and Jimmy's accounts.

"That's fucking genius." Joey says in awe.

"Fucking ruthless," Topo grins.

Enzo even smiles back at me. "You are one of a kind, Stella."

I smile telling them, my boss's boss arranged for me and the kids to fly to New York together, so we could meet up once we get there.

Enzo shakes his head at me. "Nope, you heard Cristian, someone is going to be with you always. Plus we have the jet, so it's no big deal."

My phone lights up before it rings and I see Sean's name. Jessica must have called him. I pick it up quickly, "Hello?"

"Stella! Jessie called me, are you okay?" Sean's asks anxiously.

"Yeah, I'm fine. We're all fine. I'm sorry if you were worried and I'm sorry Jessica had to go through that."

"Worried? I'm fucking freaking out, what if Gio has others watching you or sends someone else tonight? And don't apologize this wasn't your fault." He says almost angrily.

"Calm down. I really doubt it. And even if he did, I have my own set of personal body guards with me right now" I smile at the guys who are all watching me curiously.

"Yeah, Jessie told me your brothers came. Said they saved you guys." I hear the curiosity in his voice but he doesn't push it.

"I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" I tell him.

He's sighs deeply into the phone. "Fine, okay." He's quiet for a moment before he speaks again. "Stels...I...I..." He pauses, "I'm just really glad you're okay."

"I am. Don't worry. I'll talk to you tomorrow, goodnight." I hang up the phone.

"Who's that?" Enzo asks. I glance up at him as I hang up the phone. Topo and Joey are also watching, waiting for me to answer.

"A friend." Enzo arches his eyebrow. Topo and Joey side glance each other but don't say anything.

"Anyway, you're welcome to stay. I can sleep with Lucy, if one of you wants to take my bed and there's a sofa pullout." I offer them.

"I'll stay. Topo and Joe will head back to the hotel, we're staying in." Enzo informs me. I nod and then walk over to Topo and Joey, hugging them each and thank them again.

I turn back after locking the door behind them and hug Enzo. "I still can't believe you're really here, Enzo." I say into his chest.

He pulls away. "You should know I would never stop until I found you." He wipes the tears from my face and places a kiss on my forehead.

"Go get some rest, we have plenty of time to talk and catch up." He tells me. I hug him again before I head back to my room.

<><><><><><>

I hang up the phone after speaking with Rio, letting him know I won't be on the flight, with the rest of the group but will be heading to New York with my friends on their plane. He wasn't happy, and asked a lot about the attack yesterday. But I assured him I was fine and would still be coming.

I also texted Letty and Jessica that I would be coming on a different plane but would meet up with them once we arrived.

"Do you think he was the one who taught mom how to fight?" Miles asks in a hushed whisper.

"Maybe, but from what Lucy was saying, bruddah is one bad dude. She said he fought like four guys at once!" Kai informs Miles, also whispering.

I peek my head through the entry opening of the hallway. I stifle my laugh, noticing Kai and Miles are literally hovering over Enzo on the sofa couch. Watching him like he's some sort of science experiment.

"His tattoos are badass, though, right?" Miles asks.

"Look at all his scars, he's been in some battles, brah." Kai comments.

I walk up behind them quietly. "What are you doing?"

"Aahhh!" They both scream and then Enzo jumps out of bed. Aiming his gun at us.

"Whoa, don't shoot, brah!" Miles cautions Enzo with his hands up.

I laugh holding my stomach. Kai and Miles scowl at me. "You scared the shit out of us, moms" Kai says grumpily, plopping down on the barstool.

"Well, you shouldn't be sneaking up on someone sleeping anyway, especially Enzo. He's not known as one of the deadliest assassins for no reason, you know." 

Kai and Miles look at each other, with their eyebrows raised. "Cool!" They say together.

"What's cool?" Lucy asks but then stops mid stride, her attention on Enzo as he yawns and stretches. His arms out stretched high above his head, he's only in his underwear.

"Hey Luce, you got a little something right here..." Miles teases as he pretends to wipe drool from her face. She slaps his hand away and blushes, peeking over at Enzo again, who's on his phone now, rubbing his hair messily.

"Stella just told us, Enzo is one of the deadliest assassins, in the world." Kai informs her.

"one of  the deadliest? You mean the deadliest." Enzo says cockily.

"Well, behind me that is." I say cheekily as I pop some fruit in my mouth. Enzo laughs throwing his head back.

"Wow, really?" Lucy asks, her eyes wide in admiration.

"No, I'm kidding, but Enzo is no joke, that's why I told Kai and Miles not to sneak up on him, like they were doing."

"We weren't sneaking, more like admiring" Miles says.

"Brah, that sounds weird. I'd rather say we were sneaking." Kai states. We all laugh. 

After everyone is dressed, we all eat breakfast together. Enzo tells them about some of his favorite memories of us as kids. They each take turns telling Enzo about how we all met and share their favorite memories so far or places we've visited or lived in, too.

A knock comes at the door as we are all grabbing our luggage. Lucy checks the peephole before opening and Topo and Joey walk in.

"You guys ready?"

We grab out stuff and load up the large SUV with our stuff and then make the drive to the airport.

"Are we flying in a private jet?" Kai asks as he stares out the window at the plane waiting for us.

"Wait, are you rich and never told us?" Miles asks just as mesmerized.

"You guys are such dummies. Have you not paid attention to anything at all? Mom is like Mafia royalty." Lucy says proudly as we get out of the SUV.

"I wouldn't go that far, Lucy." I tell her amused. Sure, it was an elaborate lifestyle growing up, but definitely not royalty.

"Actually, she's more on the money than you realize, Stella." Enzo says, chuckling grabbing mine and Lucy's bags. I narrow my eyes at him then look at Topo and Joey. Topo nods his head slowly as he walks past me. Joey averts his eyes avoiding my questioning look.

"What are you talking about?" I ask him.

"You know Timo was your father, obviously and he was the head of the family in New York and over the East coast, for twenty plus years. But what he never told you about your family, is... you guys are basically royals in Italy."

"What?" I stop walking, "I thought that was you and Cristian?"

He laughs, "Cristian told me you called him King of Kings and in a way he is, I guess. At least when it comes to the darker side of this world...He totally let that go to his head by the way." He shakes his head, " anyway, your grandfather still holds a lot of weight in Italy and even here, but he stayed out of the way in the states, while Timo was in charge."

"Gran...grandfather?" My mind is spinning.

"Yes, I only found out after everything happened. He stepped in after what happened with Gio and then eventually put this new Don in charge that Cristian's meeting with. But your grandfather doesn't know you're alive. We didn't want to tell him anything until we found you."

"Is...is my grandfather...is he Isabella's dad or Timo's"

"Timo's. Gio is the only remaining Dante living." Enzo says.

"Signorina Bracco, what a pleasure to see you again." The captain of the plane and some of the crew, stand in the entry of the plane, welcoming us.

"Captain Rossi!" I give him a hug, startling him. "It's so good to see you again, too." He laughs and returns my hug.

We make our way back to the seating area. The kids are excitedly looking over everything, inside the plane.

The captains voice comes through the speakers shortly after and we take our seats. He instructs us to remain seated until he notifies it's safe to move around.

I look out the window, letting everything sink in that Enzo just told me. I have a grandfather, who's alive and never met. The news, that because of my relation to him, I'm considered some sort of mafia nobility, seems absurd but stranger things have happened.

I lean back feeling content as I look over the kids, my friends and family. Things are finally coming together after all these years apart, after all the secrets, pain and death. 

~~~~~~

Just a couple of more chapters left! Things are going to get interesting (*wink, *wink)

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