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bella donna = beautiful woman 

ti amo = I love you 

grazie = thank you 

signora = Mrs 

nonna = grandma 

mamma = mother 

pappa = father 

sorellina = little sister 

zia = aunt

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Lexy — – –

Lexy is sitting next to Bruno in the car, with a sleeping Enzo against her shoulder. While Lucas tells Bruno where to go. Lexy rubs Enzo's back and he sighs softly. Bruno parks the car in front of the apartment building and looks at her with a smile on his face. She kisses Enzo's head and Lucas says: "Enzo can sleep in my bed. I don't mind."

Bruno turns to him and says: "That is really nice of you, Lucas. But Enzo is still little. When he wakes up in a place he doesn't know, he will get scared. He really needs to sleep in his own bed."

Lexy wants to hand the sleeping Enzo over to Bruno, but he helps Lucas out of the car first. Lucas walks over to the entrance of the building and Bruno nods at the safety seat in the backseat. Lexy lies Enzo down in it carefully and secures him with the straps. She kisses his forehead and gets out of the car. As soon as she stands up straight, she meets Bruno warm, dark-brown eyes.

He touches her cheek and lightly strokes her lips with his thumb. "Bye Lexy. Till next time." He waves at Lucas and gets back into the car. He starts the car and waves one more time, before driving off. Lexy watches the car drive away and then walks into the building with Lucas.

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Lucas asks: "Mom? He is sweet, isn't he?"

"Hmm? Yes, Bruno is very sweet."

Lucas bursts out in laughter and says: "No, not Bruno! Enzo!"

Lexy blushes and looks away. "Err, yes. Enzo is very sweet." She listens mindlessly to Lucas, who is talking about wanting a little brother, just like Enzo.

"Mommy? That's not possible with uncle Logan, right? I mean, he is better than a real daddy, but...."

Lexy snaps out of it and says: "No sweetheart. Uncle Logan can't give you a little brother."

Lucas accepts the answer easily and goes straight to his room once they are inside. He puts his pajamas on and brushes his teeth, before walking into the living room. "Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you mind?"

"Mind what, honey?"

"That uncle Logan kissed miss Pia?"

Lexy chuckles and says: "No sweetie. I kind of like it. Uncle Logan could use a few kisses from a girl."

Lucas nods with a satisfied look in his face. "Do you want to kiss Bruno?" She blushes and looks at Lucas. He looks at her innocently and waits for her answer.

She clears her throat and says: "I might. I am not sure yet."

"Okay. Good night mommy." He kisses her and walks into his room.

Lexy checks on him later and finds him fast asleep. She turns the light off and leaves the door ajar. She was so flustered by everything, that she wasn't the best mom to Lucas. Thankfully he's an independent boy. 

Her phone beeps and she pulls it from her purse. It's a message from an unknown number.

Sleep well, bella donna.
Bruno.

She smiles and walks into her own bedroom.

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Logan—– –

He still can't believe it. She is here, on his couch, with one leg pulled under her and a glass of Amarone in her hand. She waits for him to sit down again. He got up to read a message from Bruno, asking him for his sister's number. He sent it to him straight away and now he's standing a few steps from the couch, looking at the woman sitting on it.

She looks up at him and asks: "What's wrong Logan?"

"I'm just wondering what to call you now. Because looking at you I see a mix of Scorpia and Pia."

She smiles at him lovingly and says: "I will leave that to you. I am sitting here as myself. And that's scary enough as it is. I am not even going to try to come up with another name for myself."

He slowly moves closer to her and places his hand on her cheek. He stares deep into her eyes and says: "Bonnie lass." She turns her face to the side and plants a kiss in the palm of his hand. He holds his breath for a moment, before sitting down next to her.

She says: "Bonnie sounds nice... It was a special day today, wasn't it?"

Logan nods and says: "Yes. A day filled with new information, but full of love as well. Tell me more about Enzo, because he is a special little man."

She tells him that Enzo was left in front of Bruno's door, with a note claiming he was Bruno's son. And that Bruno just decided that Enzo was his, from the second he saw him. And that mamma opened her heart to him right away.

"The mamma that shot one of your brothers in the foot?"

She laughs and explains to him that they had no clue that she could shoot that well. They talk about her family for half the night. She tells him she doesn't really live with Mister Gentile, but that she has a room in Bruno's apartment. And that they are staying over at mamma's house right now. She explains she only uses mister Gentile's house to transform from Scorpia to Pia and back. But that the people at school believe she lives above the pizzeria.

She says: "About Enzo... I have a special bond with him. Mamma found me in front of the house when I was five. I was hiding in a car wreck full of bullet holes, in the pouring rain. And she lifted me from the car and has made me feel loved ever since."

"Jesus Bonnie. Is there something you haven't been through? And you're twenty-five, right?"

She nods and sighs. "I have so much baggage Logan, that it could take a lifetime to tell you all about it. I have lived as two different people for a long time. Because I needed a purpose for all the love inside of me and because I wanted to prevent all the anger from devouring me from the inside."

Logan nods and says: "I understand that all too well. I didn't visit home much during those five years of illegal fighting. Because I was beaten to a pulp most of the time. I didn't want them to know about it and I couldn't fight well when I thought of them. Besides, it's not like Salvatore's men gave me a choice. All my suppressed anger came out one day and I killed my opponent when I was paid to lose that fight. I was nineteen and grew up way too fast. So when Lexy called me in tears, I took it as my way out. "

She asks: "Has fear kept you from going back to Scotland?"

He frowns and says: "Ah, Lexy told you. I don't think Salvatore will ever give up and I'm afraid that he will know about it, the second I show my face in Scotland. I don't want to put anyone I love in danger."

She places her hand on top of his and he looks into her eyes. They recognize the dark side of their soul in each other and there are no words needed. Their eyes and hearts speak volumes and a relaxed, loving feeling settles between them.

Logan grabs her hand and says: "Come. Let's go to bed. You need your rest, to be able to control a classroom full of four-year-old monsters tomorrow."

She laughs softly and follows him. He opens the door for her and she walks into the bedroom. She sees a big bed, made of wooden pallets with fairy lights hanging from the headboard. There's a shower in the left corner, with a small sink next to it. There's a small desk against the wall on the right, she puts her backpack down on top of it and opens it. She pulls a tank top, shorts, and her toiletries bag from it.

She starts to remove the make-up from her face and looks at Logan through the mirror, who is taking his shirt off. She holds her breath when she sees his chest is covered in scars. She brushes her teeth, before turning around and walking towards the desk to take her jeans off.

Logan tries to sneak a peek at her through the mirror, while he washes his face and brushes his teeth. He rinses and turns around, to find her sitting on the bed. He sets his alarm and slides between the sheets. He pulls them back and smiles at her.

She slides under the sheets and seems unsure for a moment. She eventually decides to snuggle up to him and places her hand on his chest. 

He wraps his arm around her and lets out a relaxed sigh. "Good night, bonnie lass." 

She whispers good night back to him and sinks into dreamland.

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Her phone rings bright and early the next morning and she sees it's Bruno. She picks up quickly and hears Enzo wailing in the background. She sits up and Bruno says: "I have zia on the phone. I swear to you. Oh Enzo, pappa's lost here."

She sends him a video call request and sees a red, crying face appear. She asks: "Enzo? What's wrong baby?"

Enzo stops crying from the shock of hearing her voice and stares at the phone. He hiccups and asks: "Soppia?" He smiles slightly and she smiles back at him.

Bruno breathes out slowly and says: "He wanted to climb into bed with you this morning, but you weren't there. I'm sorry for calling you so early, but I was desperate."

She says: "It's fine Bruno. You know I would do anything for Enzo."

Enzo says: "Soppia! Ti amo! Soppia away?"

"Yes, sweetie. If you're really quiet, I'll show you where I am." She turns the camera towards the sleeping Scot.

Enzo whispers: "Ogan." She turns the camera back to herself and Enzo says: "Kiss!" She blows a kiss at the camera and then he says: "Ogan kiss too!"

She laughs and says: "I'll give Logan a kiss from you, okay?" Enzo nods and waves.

Bruno lets out a sigh of relief and says: "Grazie sorellina. I'll talk to you later. Say hi to Logan for me."

She hangs up and turns to look at Logan. Logan looks at her with a kissy face and she laughs. She bends down and presses her lips against his. "Mmm. Good morning Bonnie. Coffee?" She nods and checks the tall man with the messy hair out. He winks at her and says: "If you want to take a shower, feel free. I'll stay out of the bedroom until you come out."

She feels completely at ease and takes her clothes off. She turns the shower on and notices a bottle of shower gel and shampoo in one. She chuckles and steps into the cubicle to wash herself with it. She walks out of the bedroom fully dressed and with her make-up on. Logan is sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand.

He smiles at her and gets up. "I'm going to shower and get dressed quickly. There's coffee on the table for you." She sits down and takes a sip of her coffee. She looks around and sees a picture frame on the wall. She gets up to look at it. It's a picture of Logan, Lexy, and Lucas.

Logan emerges from the bedroom rather quickly and walks up to stand behind her. He places his hands on her shoulders and smells her hair. "Mmm, we smell the same now."

She laughs softly and says: "Yes. Our little secret."

"Do I have to make you sandwiches to take to school?" She looks up at him and he looks back at her with a cheeky grin on his face.

She plays along and says: "Yes. Two, please. With peanut butter."

He chuckles and says: "Come with me downstairs, to see what I have there. But peanut butter should be do-able." He makes her two peanut butter sandwiches and plants a kiss on both of them, before putting them in a paper bag. He grabs an apple from the fruit bowl and hands it to her. She puts the sandwiches in her backpack and takes a bite from the apple. They walk out holding hands, on their way to Lucas.

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Logan rings the doorbell and Lucas opens the door without looking up. "Good morning uncle Logan, I am almost done. I just need to put my shoes on." He turns around and starts to walk away. 

 Logan clears his throat and Lucas looks over his shoulder. His eyes almost fall out of his head as he turns around. "M-miss Pia?"

She smiles at him and he runs over to her for a hug. "Good morning Lucas."

He runs inside, yelling: "Mom! Miss Pia's here!"

Lexy peeks into the hallways and says: "Good morning! I'll go and help Lucas with his shoes."

Logan rubs Pia's hand with his thumb and she stands on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. 

"Eww! Not again! Mommy! Uncle Logan just kissed miss Pia again!"

Logan yells: "No, I didn't! Miss Pia kissed me! Again!"

Pia pretends to be shocked and hears Lexy say: "Yeah, that makes sense, doesn't it? You said uncle Logan was the sweetest yesterday."

Pia and Logan laugh softly and Lucas thinks about it, while he puts his backpack on. "Okay... Mommy, I'm ready. Have a good day at work."

Lexy comes running over for a hug and says: "Bye honey. Have a good day!"

Lucas steps outside and wriggles his hands in between Logan and Miss Pia's, wearing a big grin on his face. They walk to school that way. And once they reach the schoolyard, Lucas runs off to play soccer with his friends.

Logan checks a message on his phone and says: "I'm off to see Bruno." Pia gives him a questioning look and he says: "It's about the tournament. Don't worry, I know you need to fight. I'm just trying to make it as safe as possible with Bruno. And we're figuring out a way to get Dino to introduce you."

She nods and asks: "Are you going over to the gym to meet him?" He shakes his head and reads the address out loud. She looks at him in shock and says: "Good luck." 

She turns around, takes a few steps, and turns around to face him again. She says: "That's mamma's house. Enzo will be there too." She waves at him and he feels the anxiety rush through his veins.

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Bruno — – –

Bruno had to explain to mamma where Scorpia was of course after Enzo cried her awake. He knew she went home with Logan, but tried to explain to mamma that Scorpia needed to talk to him. Because he used to fight in Salvatore's tournaments and knew people from that world.

He should have kept his mouth shut because she said in a firm tone: "Invite him over!"

Enzo hears the name Logan and starts to sing a song he came up with himself. "Ogan, Ogan, Ogan. Ti amo! Ogaaaaaaaan." Bruno chuckles when he sees the expression on his mother's face.

She asks: "Enzo has met him already?"

Bruno sends the message with the invitation to come over to Logan and says: "Yes, yesterday. It started with 'ti amo' and ended with a kiss."

Enzo says: "Ogan sweet." He gives his nonna a serious look and nods.

Mamma looks deep into Enzo's eyes and says: "Well... if Enzo says so. And even from the moment he saw him..."

Enzo says: "Lucas sweet too!"

Mamma stares at Bruno all confused and Bruno decides to tell her about last night. He gives her the most important details about Logan, Lexy, and Lucas and about eating pizza at Mister Gentile's pizzeria.

Mamma tries to understand it all and asks: "Lexy?"

Bruno says: "Lucas' mom, Logan's sister, and Scorpia's hairdresser."

He hears a car coming onto the driveway and Enzo runs off towards the front door. Bruno checks who it is first and opens the door when he sees Logan getting out of the car.

Enzo runs out and yells: "Ogan!"

Logan smiles wide and picks the little boy up, as soon as he is close enough. Enzo wraps his arms around Logan's neck and kisses him. He happily says: "Ti amo!"

Logan blushes slightly and says: "I love you too, munchkin!" Enzo giggles and Logan walks over to Bruno. Bruno nods at him, smiles, and walks inside. Logan follows him with an excitedly chatting Enzo on his arm.

They walk into the kitchen and mamma is standing there with her arms crossed, looking at Logan. Logan hasn't noticed her yet, because Enzo is busy kissing him. He tickles the little boy softly and laughs with him.

He suddenly notices the short, round woman standing there with her arms crossed and looks into her investigating brown eyes. Enzo realizes that he has lost Logan's attention and looks over his shoulder. 

"Nonna! Ogan! Sweet!"

Mamma tries not to laugh and asks: "Hi Logan. Have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Logan says: "Hi signora. No, I haven't eaten breakfast yet."

She smiles when he says signora. "Take a seat boy. Enzo hasn't eaten yet either. He needed to calm down first."

Bruno says: "Yes, sit down. I'll go grab us some coffee." Logan looks at the kitchen table and sees the highchair. He walks over there and sets Enzo down in it. He sits down next to the boy and sees Bruno whisper to his mom. Bruno puts two mugs on the table and walks back to get another one and a jug of orange juice.

He sits down next to Enzo, at the other side of the table, grabs a roll from the bowl in front of him, and hands it to Enzo. Enzo takes a big bite and it doesn't take him long to be covered in chocolate. 

Logan chuckles and Bruno asks: "Jam or chocolate?"

Logan raises his eyebrows and says: "Jam." Bruno hands him a roll and when he takes a bite, he sees the jam inside of it. He takes another bite and Bruno's mom pours orange juice for everyone, before sitting down at the table too.

She says: "Everyone calls me mamma or nonna in this house... I'm not sure how to introduce myself to you. I've never had to before." She laughs softly and says: "My first name is Anna."

Logan looks at her kindly and says: "Nice to meet you mamma Anna."

She smiles at him and asks: "Do you like the jam roll?"

He nods and says: "I love it!"

Enzo yells, with a face covered in chocolate: "Ogan! All gone!"

Logan looks at him with a big smile and says: "Good boy!"

Bruno gets up to get a wipe to clean his son's face and Logan takes a sip from his coffee. Mamma Anna studies him with a smile on her lips, while Enzo drinks his juice loudly. Bruno wipes his face clean and counts down from three. 

Enzo yells: "Nonna! Duckies!"

Logan chuckles and mamma Anna gets up and grabs a bag full of stale bread, before lifting Enzo out of the highchair. Enzo runs towards the backdoor while yelling bye. Bruno laughs and watches his mom and son walk out.

Logan breathes out and finishes his coffee. Bruno looks at him and asks: "Were you nervous?" Logan nods. "Did Scorpia tell you that you were coming to mamma's house?"

"Yes, after wishing me good luck. And after that story about your mom shooting your brother in the foot..."

Bruno laughs and says: "Yeah, I get it. But mamma has already given you her seal of approval. There aren't many people out there who know her first name. And Enzo is extremely picky with who he loves, so that speaks volumes."

"Yes... that still makes me a bit uncomfortable. But he's so sweet, that you can't do anything but love him just as much in return."

Bruno smiles and thinks about the little boy that changed his life drastically. 

He looks at Logan and asks: "My brothers visit your cafe sometimes, right?"

"Yeah, Friday nights mostly." He sees Bruno think as he grabs his phone.

Bruno starts to type and says: "Now lets hope that Dino feels guilty. And that he's curious enough to meet me in your cafe. And if he brings Ciro, I have a plan for you too. Because I am willing to bet that Ciro wants to introduce someone to that tournament too."

Logan immediately understands and nods. They talk through all the details they know so far and decide to take Logan's car to go to the tournament together. The Harley's will stand out too much. 

All three of them will be wearing the same: black hoodie, black sweatpants, and black sneakers. They will look basically the same with their hoods up and might be able to cause some confusion in case they need to make a run for it. Bruno accepts the spare key of Logan's car and they promise each other that no matter what, Scorpia will make it out safely.

Logan asks: "Are we sleeping at my place tonight?"

Bruno thinks about it for a second and says: "That might be the smartest thing to do. I don't want to sleep in my own house, but I definitely don't want mamma to find out what we're up to exactly. I just need to explain to my little man that I won't be sleeping at home tonight. And neither is Scorpia. Let's pray that doesn't turn into a huge drama."

Logan clears his throat. "There's only one bed though. A big bed, but still..."

Bruno grins and says: "If we keep Scorpia in the middle, I'm sure it will be fine. Now we need to come up with a way to make sure she is not in the cafe with us when we meet my brothers there. And I need to discuss something serious with you."

Logan sits up and looks at Bruno attentively.

"We have no idea what we're going to find at that tournament. And I think we should consider Salvatore figuring it all out and trying to eliminate us. That's why I want to ask you something..." 

Bruno rubs his hands together and says: "If something happens to me, would you be willing to take care of mamma, Scorpia and Enzo for me? I have no one else to ask this from and I would feel a tiny bit less stressed about tomorrow if I knew I wasn't leaving them behind without a back-up plan."

Logan stares at him and is at loss for words. He takes a few sips of orange juice and says: "Only if you promise me the same thing for Lexy and Lucas. I have no idea what we're getting ourselves into. And there's no telling what it will do to me mentally, to be in that world again. But I would feel a lot better too, if I knew they are taken care of." 

They shake on it and mamma walks in with a sleepy Enzo. Bruno picks the boy up and puts him to bed.

When he comes back downstairs, he says, while winking at Logan: "Enzo knows me and Scorpia will be sleeping at my house tonight. Enzo was fine with me not sleeping here. Scorpia not sleeping here is a whole different ballgame. But I negotiated something with him and hope you are okay with it mamma."

Mamma looks up at him and Bruno starts explaining. "I will ask Scorpia to bring Lucas and Lexy here this afternoon. That way you can eat with the kids, while Logan and I do something. Something we don't want Scopria near, let alone the kids."

Mamma looks both men in the eyes and says: "Are Lucas and Lexy staying the night? It would be fun for Enzo. And safer." Her eyes dart to the little cupboard hiding her revolver and Bruno chuckles.

Logan raises his eyebrow and Bruno says: "Mamma is trying to be subtle. But she is basically saying that she has a gun and is not afraid to use it."

Logan smiles carefully and says: "That sure makes me feel better, mamma Anna. And my sister could use some time off. I'll go and call her right now." Logan gets up and dials his sister's number as he walks off. He comes walking back into the kitchen and says: "Yes, Bruno's mother... Yes, Bruno's here... I'll hand the phone over to him."

Bruno looks a bit startled, but takes the phone from Logan. "Lexy? ... Yes, that's correct... Yes, boxing tournament... No, my mom doesn't mind... I promise you it's all fine. And the boys can play together here... Yes, cara... You're welcome." He hangs up, blushes slightly and mamma looks at him with an amused look in her eyes.

"So Lexy is more than just Logan's sister, Lucas' mom, and Scorpia's hairdresser?"

Logan looks at Bruno, who is blushing even more now. He clears his throat. "Maybe mamma. I can't give you a clear answer on that yet. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't interested." He looks at Logan nervously, who is looking at him with a grin on his face.

Mamma looks at Logan and asks: "And you feel the same about Scorpia?" Logan nods a bit shy and mamma grabs a hold of both their hands.

"Boys, listen to me. If you keep that in mind and fight for it, you will stand a chance against Salvatore. Because no one is as dark as he is, so you will never win on that level. Step out of the shadows and into the light at the right time. And let your hearts guide you. Do not lower yourself to his standards!"

The guys exchange a look and mamma nods. She knows her message has been heard loud and clear. 

Bruno looks at the clock and says: "Let's drive over to the school, Logan. And talk to Scorpia during recess."

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Here you go, Chapter 11. Or Capitolo Undici. 

Slightly longer than usual, but it felt right this way. 

What are your thoughts? What are you expecting? 

See you next update! XO Hankie ❥