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sorellina = little sister

fratello = brother

scusi = excuse me / sorry

ti amo = I love you

grazie = thank you

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Bart stops in front of the cafe and Marisol curiously looks at it through the window.

Scorpia gets out of the van and walks in through the front door. She makes her way over to the door at the other end and hears a voice behind her.

"Hold it! Where do you think you're going, Miss President?"

She turns around and says: "Wherever I want to go, cause I'm the boss." She shoots Logan a challenging look and he grins back at her.

He closes the distance and kisses her softly. "Hi, Bonnie. You look good."

She runs her fingers through the hair in his neck and says: "Hi Logan. I feel good. But I'm only here to grab some gym clothes. Bruno is teaching his first boxing lesson in the hotel tonight."

He follows her into the hall and she stares deep into his eyes. "Bonnie? Dani wants to talk to me. Ciro told me that because I blocked her."

"You should. I think it could be helpful to her and maybe even to you." She ascends the stairs, grabs her gym bag, and throws her clothes and sneakers in it.

She comes back down and finds Logan still standing where she left him. "Logan?"

"Why would I talk to her? You didn't want to see her anymore either. I don't get it."

"I talked to her at the office. She was there. And I'm done with being angry at her. Talk to her."

She kisses him and says: "I have to go. Bart and a pregnant, fifteen-year-old girl are waiting for me." She walks into the cafe and Logan follows her a bit dazed. He watches her walk outside and get into the van.

Bart helps Marisol out of the van when they arrive at the hotel. "Can you take her to her room Bart? Because I'm sure she's tired. I'll go and see if Ciro's in his office."

Bart nods and Scorpia pushes the door to Ciro's office open.

He's on the phone but gestures at her to come in. She sits down on the chair in front of his desk and waits till he hangs up.

"Sister. Do you want something to drink?"

"Yes, a glass of water please." Ciro pours her a water and searches her eyes to see how she's doing. She takes a few sips and says: "I know you called Logan. And that Dani wants to see him."

"Sorellina... I didn't believe it at first when Dani told me. But you know this place has an excellent security system. And because of that, I was able to listen to a recording of what you said to her."

Scorpia takes another sip of her water as Ciro scratches his head. "Sister... I can't believe what you said to her. When did you become so wise?"

She shoots her brother a look that says it all.

Ciro says: "Yeah, scusi. But seriously. I'm very impressed by you. And so was Dani. She sat here crying for almost an hour. She wanted to talk to me, but mostly to Logan. She wants to tell him face to face that she doesn't love him. That she never did. And she wants to explain to him that she didn't get that before."

Scorpia drinks the last of her water. "I hope she gets it. For her. Because offering your body to whoever wants it is fine when you're a guy. As a woman, it will leave you with only one reputation. And that's not a positive one."

Ciro looks at his hands on the desk. "I feel a bit offended now."

Scorpia grins and says: "You should be. You're the school example of a whore..." Ciro looks up at her with a shocked expression on his face and Scorpia laughs. "My dear Ciro, it's none of my business. I just hope you're being safe. And try not to do it in this office anymore. Because I still have that image in my head."

Ciro shakes his head and says: "I'm going back to that bar tonight. Because I clearly missed something."

Scorpia shoots him a naughty look and says: "Yes, do that. If you find it, we'll be even. But take Dino with you. I don't think he should go alone. It might be too much for him."

Ciro knows she won't drop any more hints and says: "The movie theater is restored to its full glory. People can request movies and there's a popcorn machine, snacks, a coffee machine and a fridge full of drinks. You made everyone really happy with that."

Scorpia thanks him and asks him about the children's home. He tells her a young woman runs it, who has been a victim to Salvatore too. She started by giving a home to all the kids that were born in his organization and she tries to give them all the love and attention they need. The young mothers come over to help her sometimes. The young woman is sweet and driven, but she's struggling financially.

Scorpia thinks about it for a second and says: "Could you transfer some money to her, to keep her afloat? And set up an appointment with her, so I can visit the place. I would love to see it."

Ciro nods and types something on his computer. "Are you going to assist Bruno tonight, sorellina?"

"Yes. Let's see how shocked the boys are going to be when they find out I know how to box."

"You should consider a competition. Or matches to promote our work here."

"That's smart Ciro. I'll think about it. Do we have to discuss anything else?"

"No. But I would like to say that I'm glad we're talking again."

"Get up Ciro." He gets up and she hugs him lovingly. "Ti amo, fratello."

"Ti amo, Scorpia."

"Have a good day. Off to my own office I go."

She walks into the office and asks Manon what's new. Manon hands her a stack of papers to sign again and Scorpia sits down at her desk. She's halfway down the stack when she sees Lexy come in with a huge canvas, covered by a cloth. Lexy comes up to her, smiling wide and pulls the cloth off.

Scorpia stares at the four bare chests with the Bonnie tattoo on the left side. She smiles wide and Lexy fans herself. "Sister, there's only one brother of mine on there. Getting this made almost killed me."

Scorpia laughs and says: "I want it above the door. So I can look at it from my desk."

Bart gets up and asks: "Do I have to hang something up?"

"Yes, please. I want this canvas above the door."

Bart's eyes curiously scan the canvas, widening them as he realizes what he's looking at. He walks out of the office to get some tools and a step ladder.

Scorpia chuckles softly and Lexy winks at her. "Do you have time to get your nails done, sister? Cause Emilia just got her first certificate."

"Yes. I'll come to the beauty salon this afternoon. I'm curious to see what she learned."

Bart drills two holes in the wall, taps plugs in them, and puts screws in them. He hangs the canvas above the door and Scorpia leans back in her chair. She looks at the chests with a warm feeling in her heart.

Manon stares at it with a blush on her cheeks and sighs.

Bart gets down from the step ladder and knows one of the guys is Logan. But he doesn't understand why there are three other men with a Bonnie tattoo. And he's afraid to ask. He puts the tools away and sits back down at his desk.

Scorpia asks: "Bart, are you going to be at the gym here tonight?"

"Yes. Dino told me to go and check it out. And I've seen videos of Bruno. I would like to see him box in person."

Scorpia smiles and says: "Great! I'll be there too."

Manon asks: "Do you want something to eat?"

Scorpia says: "Yes, I'd love to have something to eat. Could you get me something? I'll finish signing these papers and read through the mail while you do that. And you two have to eat something too of course."

Manon promises to get something to eat for everyone.

Scorpia signs the papers and answers the phone in between. She has the phone wedged between her ear and shoulder as she signs and says: "Yes, that's possible Ciro. I'll ask Bart to take me to the children's home Monday morning. (...) Yes, Bart will. Haha (...) Yes. (...) Grazie. Ti amo."

She hangs up and talks to Bart as she signs the last documents. "I'm invited to visit the children's home on Monday morning. They take care of kids who are born from mothers who had to work for people like Salvatore. The woman who runs the place has a history with Salvatore too."

She looks up at him and says: "I have to be picked up from home and taken there and I'll be wearing jeans and a T-shirt. But I have a meeting with important people after it and I can't meet with them in my jeans. So after the visit to the children's home, we'll have to go to the cafe, so I can change into my office gear."

Bart puts the appointment into his calendar on his phone and opens the general calendar on his computer to let everyone know he won't be available that morning. "You've got it Scorpia."

Manon comes in with a plate filled with sandwiches and puts it down on the round table in the middle of the room. Scorpia says: "Let's go outside and sit on the terrace for a bit. To get some fresh air and to be literally away from work."

Scorpia carries the plate outside and sits down on the lounge sofa. She takes her pumps off and wiggles her toes happily. Manon chuckles and sits down next to her. "Yes Manon, the shoes your sister got for me are wonderful. And I feel tough and powerful on them. But when I get the chance, I take them off. I can't feel my toes anymore."

She grabs a sandwich and catches Manon and Bart starting at her. She already knows what they want to ask, but leans back and eats her sandwich. She looks at the screen of her phone and opens a message from Logan.

Dani will come to the cafe tonight.
To talk.
I'm still not sure I want to talk to her.
XO

She decides to call him and waits for him to answer. "Bonnie?"

"Hi, handsome Scot. I thought I'd call you, to hear your voice for a bit. Because I'll be home late tonight. I'm assisting Bruno with his training here."

"Bonnie, I don't want to talk to her. I don't want her here in the cafe. I don't get why you're okay with it."

"Logan, talk to her. This once. She sat in Ciro's office for an hour, crying, after I spoke to her. She has something to say to you. Give her that opportunity. I'm okay with it, honestly. Although I suggest you don't talk to her in the kitchen."

Logan yells: "Bonnie! Of course I won't!" She laughs softly and Logan knows she was kidding. "Damn Bonnie. I'll do my best. Ti amo. Have fun tonight. Have a good day at work."

"You too handsome. Ti amo."

Bart looks at Scorpia and asks: "You're just going to let her talk to Logan. While you're not there? I heard that..."

Scorpia raises her hand and says: "She's going over there to tell Logan she never loved him. I made her realize that."

Manon asks: "How?"

"I told her that if you truly love someone, you'll love them forever. Even when the other person stops loving you. And that you could never hurt them. And that that's why it's clear to me that she doesn't love Logan."

Manon whispers: "Wow. You really love him that much?"

"I do Manon. If I would never see him again, I would still love him forever. He has saved me, more than once. He's my everything."

Bart looks at her and asks: "What about that painting above the door? I mean, one of them is Logan. But..."

Scorpia bites her lip, before saying: "I was waiting for that question. The other three are my exes, who still love me." Manon and Bart both look so shocked that Scorpia can't hold back her laughter anymore. 

"No, they're my brothers."

Bart says: "Huh? Really?"

Scorpia nods and says: "I would appreciate it if we could keep that between us. I don't want everybody to know. I like the thought of people wondering about it."

But why do they have the same tattoo Logan has?"

"It's actually the other way around. Logan and I have been through a lot. We were both close to dying. Logan earned his stripes in my family because he fought for me. Literally and figuratively. My brothers realized while we were in the hospital, that he loved me more than they ever will. And they wanted to honor him and welcome him into the family. Plus show me that they love me. So that's how the Bonnie tattoo came to be."

She looks at the canvas with a soft look in her eyes. "When we were discharged from the hospital, Logan and I got a tattoo as well. We didn't tell each other at the time. He got me through it all by saying he's in my heart forever and I am in his."

She puts her hand on her chest and says: "Here. Forever."

Manon says: "That's beautiful."

Bart looks deep into Scorpia's eyes and says: "I knew you've been through a lot, but from that to running a company like this is incredible. How old are you?"

Scorpia laughs and says: "You know you should never ask a woman that, right?"

"Yes, and I know by now that I can ask you anything."

"Ah, you finally get it. I'm twenty-five."

Manon chokes on her sandwich and Bart's jaw drops. He softly says: "I thought you just looked young. But you really are. It's insane, everything you've been through."

"That goes for you too and everybody else in this hotel. I hope we'll be able to take good care of each other. And that we'll be able to stop the bastards like Salvatore from winning."

Scorpia picks up another sandwich and Manon takes a deep breath. "I can hardly believe you're that young. Even though Bart told me you looked younger in the cafe. Those clothes you got from my sister make you look older."

"Yes, honey. They are supposed to. But I'm sure I looked younger in sneakers, jeans and a T-shirt. More relaxed too. I need this armor to be able to do this job. But it comes off as soon as I'm home. And my favorite thing to do is ride my Harley in my leather pants."

She searches for a picture of Ombra on her phone and shows it to Manon and Bart.

Bart shakes his head and says: "That I gotta see. A small woman on a big Harley."

"I'll come to the hotel on it sometime. Besides, is Johnny good with bikes too?"

Bart says: "Yes, he can even repair trucks. He can do it all."

"Now that's convenient. He can do the maintenance to my bike too then." She put her shoes back on, gets up, and says: "I'm off to the beauty salon to see if Emilia is ready for me. See you in a bit!"

She makes her way over to the beauty salon and hears Lexy say: "I'm sure Scorpia will love them both. She will let you do those."

Scorpia sits down across from Emilia and asks enthusiastically: "Did you learn something new?"

Emilia shows her the designs she made on her practice nails with a huge smile on her face. Scorpia looks at the heart, kitty, rose, scorpion, and the Scottish flag. Scorpia says: "Wow, I'm impressed, Emilia. It looks really good. I'm sure you can guess which one I want."

The girl asks: "The scorpion?"

"Yes. But I want the Scottish flag too. Can you make them on my pinky or is that too small?" Emilia confidently states she can do it and asks Scorpia if she wants red nail polish again. "Yes, that's never going to change. It has to be red."

Scorpia looks at the scorpion on the nail of her left pinky and moves her eyes to her right pinky to see the Scottish flag. She smiles and takes a picture of her right hand to send to Logan He replies fast.

Wow.
Did Ricardo's sister make that?
Pretty, Bonnie.

I'll talk to Dani tonight...
XO

Scorpia replies to tell him Emilia did her nails and wishes him luck with Dani. She adds that she's happy he is giving her a chance to say what she needs to say.

She hears Bruno's voice when he walks into the beauty salon. "Where's my girl? Lexy?"

Lexy giggles like a schoolgirl and runs up to him.

Scorpia chuckles and Emilia checks to see if her nails are dry, "They are dry Scorpia. Thanks for letting me do this."

"No thank you! Logan loved the Scottish flag." She gets up to hug the girl and walks towards the exit of the salon. 

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There you go. Chapter 56 for you.

Any predictions on what will happen when the guys go back to the topless bar?
Or what might happen at the boxing class?
Or when Scorpia visits the children's home.

I'll do my best to get a few more chapters out this weekend.
See you when the next one is ready.

XO Hankie