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fratello = brother 

subito = immediately 

sorellina = little sister

dios mio = my god

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Scorpia is working on her new laptop and checking out some buildings with potential that Dino sent her. She looks at the pictures of an empty hotel, not that far from the hospital.

Logan is still in bed,  slightly snoring and she watches him with a smile on her face. Ciro comes in and she places her index finger against her lips and nods at the bed. She follows Ciro into the hallway and he hugs her, before giving her a questioning look.

Scorpia says, short and simple: "Mine. Forever." Ciro smiles and says the doctor is waiting for them in his office. They walk over there together and find Dino and Ricardo in the office already. They both get up to hug her.

She sits down and the doctor looks at her with excitement in his eyes. She waits patiently for him to talk and realizes pretty soon that Dani worked all night. The entire research plan is written up in detail and there are contracts to sign.

Dino hands her a folder and points at the contract on top that says; Research Team Leader. She pulls it out of the folder and hands it to Ricardo without a word. 

He reads through it until he sees his own name on it. 

"What is this?" 

He reads it a few more times and looks at Scorpia with eyes full of tears. 

"Is this real?"

Scorpia nods and says: "There's only one person I trust with this research. And that's you. You can put your own team together and I will speak about my experiences whenever you need me to." 

He covers his face with his hands and starts to cry. 

Scorpia gets up and wraps her arms around him.

He calms down and says: "Noone has ever had this much faith in me."

Scorpia says: "Well that's pretty stupid of them. Because you're worth it. Just sign already. We need to get the ball rolling." 

Ricardo signs and looks at her all dazed. 

She giggles and says: "Pleasure doing business with you. I'm leaving now because I have a lot more work to do."

She walks out into the hallway and Ciro and Dino follow her. She looks into Dino's eyes and he says: "Everything is arranged. The gym is Bruno's, the hair salon Lexy's, and the cafe is Logan's. All without mortgage. That is if you can get them to sign. The contracts are in your folder."

The doctor opens the door and makes eye contact with Scorpia. "You can go home, girl. But if you want to use this hospital as your office a bit longer, you're welcome to do so." He winks at her and she gives him a smile in return. He goes back into the office and closes the door.

They walk into the hospital room and sit down at the table. Scorpia points at the screen of her laptop and asks Dino for more details about the hotel. Dino starts telling about it quietly and says that the hotel would be perfect. Everything's there and it has been empty for only a month now. 

Scorpia nods and says: "Buy it. And what about the security/bodyguard course?" 

Dino slides another folder her way and she reads the text on it with a smile on her face.

Scorpia Enterprise

Scorpia Beauty
Scorpia Hospitality
Scorpia Housing

Scorpia Trading
Scorpia Protection
Scorpia Sports

Ciro says: "We're better off setting these programs and courses up ourselves, to keep full control over them. The fewer people from outside, the better."

Scorpia nods and says: "It looks really good guys. Where are your contracts?" They look at her and she says: "Ciro, I would really like you to be vice president. And Dino I trust you with the trading and protecting side of the business. And all the stuff in the shadows I don't want to know anything about."

Ciro stares at his sister and Dino says: "Ciro's contract is on the bottom. There's no contract for me because I don't want there to be proof of us working together. Your company is going to be completely legal." 

Scorpia looks in the folder and pulls Ciro's contract out of it. She skims over it, before handing it to Ciro with a pen, who is still staring at her without blinking.

Scorpia laughs softly en says: "Sign fratello. Subito." She looks through the contracts and finds one for herself. She signs it and stares at Ciro till he has signed his. He smiles shyly at her and she winks at him.

She looks at Dino and says: "Can you take care of the hotel? I want to meet the boys and girls in the hotel later today. I've read their profiles and I have a few ideas."

Dino points at a piece of paper in the folder and says: "If you sign that authorization, Ciro will be able to buy that hotel legally. I'll take care of the rest." He smiles wide when she signs the paper. 

He hands her a black credit card and says: "Have fun with it, sorellina."

Dino gets up and notices Logan is starting to stir. "Later sister. Come Ciro, let's buy a hotel."

Ciro gets up and hugs her tightly. He whispers: "Thank you."

She kisses his cheek and says: "I need you, brother. That business brain of yours, but your love most of all." Ciro blushes a little and she says: "Can you make sure that Dani gets a nice bonus? Because she's been working all night." Ciro nods and hears Logan moan. The brothers walk out of the room and Scorpia sits down at the edge of the bed.

She looks at Logan with eyes full of love. At his messy ginger hair, the tattoo, the scars, the stubble, his lips, and finally into the sleepy, light-grey eyes of the man that owns her heart. A lazy smile appears on his lips and she smiles back at him. "Good morning handsome Scot."

He sits up, smiles wider, and says: "Good monnin' Bonnie." She hands him a cup of coffee and grabs her own from the nightstand. She pulls her legs onto the bed and lifts the lid of her cup. She takes a small sip and moans softly.

"Logan?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life."

"If I asked you to sign a contract without reading it first, would you?"

He nods and says: "Give me a pen." He thinks she's joking, but she gets up from the bed. She grabs the contract and a pen and folds the stack of papers in a way that only shows his name and where to sign.

He signs it immediately and Scorpia looks at him with shiny eyes.

"Are they coming to remove all of my organs now?"

Scorpia laughs and says: "Yes. Except for your heart. Because it was already mine before you signed this."

Logan chuckles and pulls the contract from her hands. He reads it all and sees he's the sole owner of the cafe and that the mortgage has been paid off. He stares at Scorpia and stammers: "H-how? ... W-why? ... What?"

Scorpia stares deep into his eyes and sees a whirlwind of emotions in the light-grey orbs. "I do want something in return though. I want to live there with you and I would like to ask you for some internship spots there. And..."

She lays her hand on his heart. "I want to be here. Forever." 

He looks at her with watery eyes and asks: "You want to move in with me? You want to be in my heart forever? Can I be in yours forever too? And an internship?"

Scorpia kisses him and says: "We can go home. My home is with you. And yes, you have to be in my heart forever. I'm going to help kids who fell victim to the Salvatore's of this world. Provide them with a roof over their heads, education, work, and medical help when needed."

Logan looks at her and asks: "You want to move in with me?"

Scorpia giggles and asks: "Are you getting too much information at once handsome?"

Logan nods and says a bit dazed: "Live together."

Scorpia gets up and says: "Let it sink in. I'm going to give Lexy a call."

Logan whispers: "Oh god. Lexy."

Scorpia dials Lexy's number and she picks up right away. "Sister! How are you?"

"I'm good. I need your help. Could you please gather some clothes for me and bring them to the hospital with Bruno. I'll send you a message with a list of the items I need. Oh, and I love your brother. Bye!" She hangs up before Lexy can respond to it and sends her a list of clothing items.

Logan stares at her in shock and she asks: "What's wrong?"

"Err, nothing. Kisses?"

Scorpia laughs and walks over to him for a kiss. She kisses him passionately and Logan pulls her on top of him. He slides his hands down to her butt and lets out an annoyed sigh when he hears someone clear his throat.

Ricardo stands in the door opening and says: "I can come back later."

Scorpia kisses Logan again and gets up. "No, I need to discuss something with you." She points at the table and Ricardo sits down across from her. She explains her plan to help kids who fell victim to the mafia and asks him to be there when she talks to them. To help her figure out their mental state.

Ricardo nods enthusiastically and looks at her with happy eyes. "Thank you. For everything."

"You're welcome. I trust you and that's why I want your help."

Ricardo gets up and says: "See you this afternoon. Good luck with it all."

Logan gets up and says: "Wow. You're hot when you're in business mode. I'll go shower quickly before Lexy gets here to kill me."

Scorpia's eyes darken and she says: "Yes, you do that. Gives me some time to look at you." 

He grins and pulls clean clothes from the bag in the corner and walks into the bathroom. He leaves the door open and Scorpia gets up to lean against the door frame. She watches him undress and soap up his body agonizingly slowly. She hears footsteps come closer and reluctantly closes the door.

Lexy comes in with an arm full of clothes and drapes them over a chair, before giving Scorpia a warm hug. Bruno is right behind her and hugs Scorpia too. His eyes look for Logan and Scorpia says: "In the shower. Please sit down for a bit. I'll give you something to read while I get changed." She hands them both a contract and takes her clothes off.

It's deadly silent while she changes. She looks in the mirror and studies her reflection. Black pumps, stockings, a tight, black skirt, white blouse, and a tightly fitted jacket.

She looks over at Lexy and sees the tears stream down her face. "Lexy? Are you okay?" She looks at Bruno, who's ghostly pale and reads the contract over and over. She puts a pen down on the contracts and says: "Sign please."

Lexy looks at her and says: "I don't think I can accept this."

Scorpia shoots her a mocking look and says: "You think you have a choice here? You don't really think I will accept no, right? Sign. You too, Bruno." They both sign and stare at their signatures in a daze. 

Scorpia smiles and says: "Nice. The gym and hair salon are now yours. Without a mortgage. Oh and I also set up a study fund for Enzo and Lucas."

Lexy covers her face with her hands and cries softly. Bruno wraps his arm around her and stares at his sister in shock.

Scorpia does her make-up and sees the door to the shower open through the mirror. She smells the familiar shower gel and looks at Logan's damp, ginger hair. He takes a step out of the bathroom as his eyes land on Bruno and Lexy, before they find Scorpia. "Oh hell, Bonnie. You look dangerously sexy."

Lexy and Bruno look at her and Lexy says: "Indeed. Miss president." Scorpia winks at them and Logan cautiously looks at his sister. Lexy shoots him an angry look and says: "No, I haven't forgiven you yet. You didn't know about Mario, but you did promise me and I'm still pissed about that." Logan nods and stays silent.

Scorpia says: "Logan signed a contract like that too."

Lexy looks at Logan and asks: "The cafe is all yours?" Logan nods and she shows him her contract. Logan reads through hers and Bruno's. They smile at each other, still shocked by at all.

Scorpia says: "I do ask for something in return. I need you to take in some interns in the future and I will ask for your services from time to time. I will explain more later. But in short; I'm going to help kids who fell victim to the mafia. I am checking out an empty hotel this afternoon to see if it fits my plans."

She rummages through the folder on the table and says: "You've also received a nice bonus in your bank accounts. So if you need anything new for your businesses, buy it. The money's there."

She picks up a pen and a notepad and writes a few things down. The three other people in the room stare at her and Bruno softly says: "Different armor. Same focus." Logan nods and Scorpia looks up from the notepad.

She mockingly says: "Let's pray I don't take this one off around strangers."

Bruno chuckles and says: "Sorellina, I don't know how to thank you."

Scorpia says: "Just don't. The things you've done for me... You've all done for me. I will never be able to repay you. This is just money. And the amount I have now will never dry up. But your love is worth a lot more to me."

Bruno hugs her and pulls Logan and Lexy into the hug too. Lexy still gives Logan an angry look, but her love for him starts to shine through.

Dino walks in and says: "Dios mio, madam president."

Scorpia chuckles and shows off her look. "And? Did we get the hotel?"

Dino nods. "Yes. Ciro handled it all, the hotel is yours. And if you're ready, we'll go there to pick an office to meet the kids in."

She smiles wide and says: "Good. Now leave the room. I need a moment alone with Logan. And Dino? I expect decent food when we go and check out the hotel."

Dino grins and says: "Yes mam." Bruno and Lexy follow him out of the room, still shell-shocked by it all.

Scorpia closes the door and locks it. Logan looks at her with eyes full of anticipation. She shoots him a naughty look and says: "Ogan! Kisses!" Logan laughs and quickly makes his way over to her. He kisses her passionately and puts his hands on her behind. She pulls his hair and moans softly.

"Mmm Bonnie. That hot ass in a tight skirt should be illegal." She sucks on his bottom lip and shoots him a challenging look. He massages her ass and kisses her again.

"Mmm Logan. I would love to stay here, but I want to give those kids hope as soon as possible. Do you understand?"

Logan kisses the tip of her nose and says: "Of course I do. I wish there was someone like you when I was in their position. Go and help them. I'm going to my cafe. All mine! I'll get the Gentiles to pick up the furniture and I'll take all our personal stuff with me."

She kisses him one more time, real slow, before rubbing the wrinkles out of her skirt. She grabs the laptop and the folder from the table. 

She unlocks the door and says: "Bye handsome Scot. I'll see you later." 

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That's Chapter 39 for you. 

A slow, calm chapter.
Nice for a change huh? 

How do you think Scorpia will do as a boss?

See you for the next update!
XO Hankie.