FEDERICO

"This is not what I had in mind when I said I wanted to eat out." I maneuver the take out food I'm carrying, to press the elevator button in the hospital. After spending the last few days celebrating our engagement—mostly in bed—I told Elenora I wanted to take her out, but little did I know that this is what she'd end up choosing to do.

She chuckles. "Trust me, Mostro will thank us for bringing him some actual food and you owe me since you didn't want to come earlier in the week." We step out onto the floor Mostro's room is on and I direct her on which way to go.

The men standing guard at his door appear surprised and shocked to see me walking toward them; they eye one another. "Boss, is everything ok?" Nico's eyes flicker to Elenora then back to me.

"Of course, Nico; I'm here to check on Mostro." I clear my throat, it's not common for me to visit when the men are injured. A moment of awkward silence passes before Elenora steps forward.

"Hi, I'm Nora," She smiles, offering her hand to shake. Nico's eyes shift to her then back to me and then to his partner, Eddie before he looks at me again. For fucks sakes!

They act like they don't know how to have a fucking conversation. I tilt my head hoping the idioti catch the movement. It seems to work when Nico picks up her hand but then stumbles figuring out if he should shake it or kiss it. (idiots)

Elenora takes control and shakes his hand. He mutters his name as he glances at me, the fucking idiot.

He gestures to his partner. "My partner Eddie."

"Hello, Eddie," Elenora smiles over at him. I'm somewhat impressed that the younger idiot smiles in return, takes her hand and places a kiss on the back of it.

I let out a low grunt when Eddie lingers longer than necessary and instantly drops her hand.

I wipe the back of her hand on my pants, glaring at Eddie. Nico opens the door to let us in the room and I catch as Nico slaps the back of Eddie's head before the door closes.

Elenora turns to face me. "You're not going to do anything to him."

"What makes you think I would?"

She switches hands with the drink holder she's carrying and grabs the back of my neck to force me to look in her eyes.

"Don't. Touch. Him."

"He knows better."

She presses her soft lips against mine. "I think a verbal warning would suffice."

My lips curl into a smile against hers. "I don't reprimand my men like some weakass HR department."

She chuckles and pecks my lips. "Please just talk to him, polpetta mio." (My meatball)

My free hand finds its way to her ass, pulling her closer. "Did you just call me your meatball?" I brush my nose against hers.

Elenora laughs. "You call me your little potato, it's only fitting that you're my meatball!"

"Only in private." I don't need that shit going around. She laughs again before she gives me a chaste kiss.

"Are you two going to keep torturing me with your not so private conversation while I can smell the delicious food I hope you brought enough to share with?" Mostro's voice comes from the other side of the curtain. Elenora chuckles and pulls the curtain back.

"Hey, you!" She gives him a hug after she sets the drinks down.

"I'd like to point out that she's hugging me, Boss. I'm completely incapacitated," Mostro tells me even though he leans into the hug.

I set the food down on the rolling table. "You're not telling her to stop so..."

"Rico!" Elenora scolds, but I smile back at her.

"What? Can't you tell when I'm joking?"

"No."

"Well, Mostro knows when I'm joking, right?" I look to Mostro for confirmation and he nods, but then I catch the look he gives her as he mouths the word "no". Elenora tries to hide her smile.

"How are you feeling?" She places his food next to his drink. "Do you have to stay here much longer?"

"Nah, I'll be out in a couple of days on light duty. The wound on my arm is just a graze and thanks to you, I get to keep my leg." Mostro exhales loudly, he glances at me for a moment before he continues. "I'm glad you're here, Nora, so I can thank you in person. You could have and should have ran, but you didn't. And I don't need to know why, but I will never forget it and will always be indebted to you. Thank you."

She shrugs. "Nothing a decent person wouldn't do."

"It's not about decency, Nora. You stayed when bullets were flying at us from every direction. You remained calm and even shot a few of those backstabbing motherfuckers," Mostro shakes his head in disgust, while I hope she didn't catch his slip up.

"And then Rico came to save the day with his 007 moves." Elenora teases walking by to sit in the chair next to me, but I pull her onto my lap instead. She feeds me some fries and I hold her hand to kiss it.

Mostro's eyes grow wide, and he sputters out with a mouthful of cheeseburger. "Hold the phone, is that a ring on your finger?"

Elenora proudly displays her hand, grinning at him.

"Wow, this is an unexpected, but pleasant surprise. I thought for sure you'd two would end up killing each other. So...the plans' changed then?" Mostro questions, but I shoot him a glare.

Elenora, is thankfully admiring the ring to notice, but then her eyes meet mine. "Let's be honest, we'll still probably drive each other crazy. But what plan?"

"About the Gallo's," I respond. Mostro busies himself stuffing his face. "I will have to send a message to them—a clearer message to back off your family—your father."

"I think taking out that Elijah guy, did that already." She takes a huge bite of her hamburger. "Mmm, this is so good!"

This past week she's been pushing herself to eat too much too fast after having no appetite and gets sick shortly after. But thankfully her stomach settles before the night was over.

***

I shouldn't be eavesdropping, but I can't help myself, peering around the corner to listen to Clara and Elenora during their lunch.

Clara studies the ring on her finger. "You can't marry someone you just met, Nora." The obvious worry is etched across her face. "And you never wanted to get married."

The memory of our conversation flickers in my mind when she had disclosed marriage wasn't for her, perhaps we need to revisit that topic. But I push the idea out when I hear Elenora's response and smile like a fool.

"I know it seems fast, but it feels right, Clara."

"Look at me, Nora." Clara observes her. "You slept with him, didn't you?"

How do women do that?

Clara sits back in her chair in disbelief. "I knew you wouldn't agree to do something like this if you were thinking clearly and seeing things for what they really are."

"What does that mean?"

"Nora, you haven't been with anyone since Leo. And that fucker shouldn't even count, but Federico? Have you forgotten the awful things he said about you the first night he met you?"

I'm never going to live that down, it seems.

"He didn't mean it."

"He didn't mean it?" Clara raises her voice. "Has he even apologized to you?"

Elenora remains quiet, while I realize I never have.

Clara scoffs. "Come on, Nora! What about the girl at the club? If there's one you know there's more, probably hundreds!"

Fucking hell.

"He ended...whatever they had going on. We love each other."

"Love?" Clara stands now and moves away from the table. "This isn't you, you don't do impulsive things. You take your time, you think things out."

Elenora walks to her and holds her by the shoulders. "I know you're worried and I love you for that and for always looking out for me, but I know what I'm doing."

"You do know every time someone says that, something awful happens." Clara has a perturbed look on her face. "He's probably got cameras on us right now, doesn't he?" Her eyes travel around the suite, and I move out of sight. "Blink if he's forcing you to do this. I will cut him, mafia boss or not, I ain't scared."

Elenora's loud laugh fills the room. "Clara, he's not forcing me. I consented not only to marry him but when we slept together, too and if I'm being honest, I was the one who made the first move on him. He didn't want to, he said I wasn't thinking clearly." I smile, vividly remembering the night.

"I guess I don't even have to ask how it was, considering you're marrying the guy." Clara grabs her hand, looking at the ring again. "It's your favorite color, too."

"It was his mother's ring and it was her favorite color as well." Elenora's voice is quiet. "He said when he found out I liked the same color he knew it was fate."

"You don't believe in fate, Nora." Clara responds just as quiet. "You always say our lives are in our own hands and even though life may bring us to certain people or situations, we determine what comes out of those things by our choices."

"Everything will be fine, Clara. Come on, let's finish lunch." Elenora hugs her again and then leads her back to the table.

"So, how bat shit crazy did your mom get when you told her?"

She raises her eyebrows when Elenora doesn't respond. "You haven't told your parents? Your sisters?"

"Pop already knows—well, he knew it was going to happen. And you know my ma, she'll probably pass out and then go crazy trying to plan everything and Luna will probably freak out in excitement. So will Maya; she really likes Rico," Elenora smiles. "But Jackie will be overprotective like you."

"When is the big date then?"

I hold my breath as Elenora clears her throat. "Um, the week before Thanksgiving."

Clara sets her panini down. "Nora, that's less than a month away!"

"Don't freak out. Rico's Zia has a wedding planner who's handling most of it and as my maid of honor I didn't want to overload you with the limited time and how busy your work schedule can be. The engagement party will be this weekend, the bachelor and bachelorette parties will be the week after, then that will give a couple of weeks to finalize everything, the dress fittings and all the last minute details before the wedding."

"The whole thing is a last minute detail! My head is literally spinning." Clara holds her head in her hands.

I decide to head back into the side door of my study and finish the meeting with Domani and a few of the men. But my mind keeps replaying the conversation between them. I'm sure it seems fast, but Elenora and I can't wait to be married.

Once the meeting is finished, a few of the men laugh among themselves as we step out into the main room. They nod or smile at the ladies before they head to the elevator.

Clara cocks her head to the side watching them leave. "I just realized you're going to be surrounded by gorgeous men 24/7."

Elenora winks at me. "Definitely a perk."

"Ladies," Domani walks over to them. "How was lunch?" He grabs a few fries off of Clara's plate.

"Lunch is great, the conversation has been interesting to say the least." Clara informs him. "Domani, you cannot be okay with this whole shotgun wedding."

"Clara, it would be a shotgun wedding if I were pregnant and I'm not."

"Yet," Clara states, munching on a fry.

"I think it's great." Domani sits down next to Clara now and picks up the other half of her panini and begins to eat it. She watches him, her mouth agape.

Domani, completely oblivious, grabs her glass of wine next. "It's like a modern day fairy tale. Boy meets girl, sparks fly, girl drives boy crazy–literally, but they both can't fight this mutual attraction. Sprinkle in a little life threatening action, a jealous, crazy-ass ex and bam, they come together realizing they were always meant to be and can't live without each other and get married, riding off into the polluted sunset of the New York skyline."

Clara and Elenora glance at each other and burst out laughing.

I smile as I pick up Elenora's wine glass and take a sip. "Feeling good?"

"Yeah."

"Good lunch?"

"Mmm-hmm." She scoops out a spoonful of the triple chocolate mousse dessert she's eating. "Your chef is a lot better than the one at Luca's hotel." She kisses her fingers in appreciation. I can't help smiling as I watch her.

She eats another spoonful. "This chocolate mousse is the best I've ever had."

"Let me try some." I lean down to kiss her and sweep my tongue inside her mouth in a deep kiss. I feel a bit light headed when I pull away, and by the dazed look on her face I know Elenora does too. I peck her lips three times, it's becoming a normal thing for me to do.

"That is pretty good."

We smile at each other, but then I remember we're not alone and glance over at Clara and Domani who are both watching us.

"Damn, I'm still not sure I like him, but that was pretty hot." Clara sighs, causing Elenora to chuckle. "And...I will say you seem happier than I've seen you in a long time."

I rest my hand on the back of Elenora's neck and squeeze. "Domani and I need to head out to meet with an associate in Brooklyn. But are you sure you don't want me to come with you tonight to tell your family?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. If I'm not back by ten you can send a search party."

"That's not funny, Elenora." I don't mean to snap, but she knows I'm not taking any chances when it comes to her safety. "I'm sending Smiley and Ciccio with you. They know what to do if your nonno even thinks about laying a hand on you."

"Please, if anything my nonno will be the happy one; he's getting rid of me essentially, but thank you." She stands, wrapping her arms around me. "I'll see you later." She gives me a chaste kiss, but I hold on to her face and give her a lingering kiss.

I sigh, turning to face her friend. "Clara, I can have someone take you home if you'd like?"

"Nah, I'm good. Unlike my gorgeous, crazy friend here, I don't have psychopath exes or gorgeous mafioso men after me. Plus, I had planned on spending the day with Nora anyway, so I'll go with her to visit her family, too."

"Speaking of men; you and Joaquin still together?" Domani questions, keeping his eyes cast down as he buttons his suit.

Clara scoffs. "Nope. He pulled the ol' in and out, bang and begone, screw and scram, hump and dump, smash and dash, fuck and flee—"

"We get it." Elenora interrupts her. "He's an asshole."

"Wait, I've got more. The obvious classic, wham, bam thank you ma'am, but then there's pound and bound, cum n' run, tag and release—"

"Tag and release?" Domani chuckles. "That's a new one."

Clara continues. "Don't forget dine and dash, copulate and capitulate and finally ejaculate and evacuate."

I find myself laughing, too. "That's a good one."

Elenora swats my arm. "What? She's clearly not heartbroken and has a sense of humor about it."

"Anyway, I'm pretty sure he only hooked up with me to get Nora's number for Diego," Clara stands and takes a drink from her wine glass.

A part of me wonders if he's made any other attempts to call her.

"Other than the call outside the hotel that you overheard, I haven't returned his calls after everything that's happened," Elenora answers my internal question, crossing her arms.

I uncross her arms and bring them around my shoulders before I wrap mine around her waist and nuzzle her neck. "I know you don't like me telling you what to do, but I would prefer if you stayed away from him all together. Please."

She holds my face in her hands. "Since you asked so nicely...I will consider it." She chuckles at the irritated expression on my face. "I'm kidding, I won't meet up with him, but I will at least return his calls and let him know that I'm with you." She kisses my lips. "And only you."

"Ti amo, la mia patatina." (I love you, my little potato)

Clara makes a choking sound; I turn and see Domani clapping on her back with her coughing fit and wine spills down her shirt.

She sputters,"Did you really just call Nora your little pussy?"

"What?" Elenora laughs. "No. It means little potato or potato chip; you need to brush up on your Italian, girl!"

"Nora, it means pussy, look it up." Clara insists before she swats Domani's hands away who was helping her dab at the wine stain on her chest. She glares at him. "Excuse me, handsy. I got it, thanks."

He shrugs and walks away smiling and winking at Elenora and me.

I wrap my arms around Elenora. "It means both, actually. But I use it in reference to a potato, because when you cook a potato well, it's soft and tasty. And you're definitely soft and tasty, amore mio." (my love)

"Okay, well as fun as it is to be reminded how single I am in the last ten minutes, don't you two have a meeting to go to?" Clara heads to our room. I'm not a fan of how comfortable she is in our home. "I'm borrowing a shirt, Nora!"

"I think she likes me." Domani says after she closes the door.

Elenora and I both chuckle. She walks with us towards the elevator. "You two be safe." She pulls on the collar of my shirt and whispers. "Especially you, mio polpetta." I smile against her lips as she kisses me. (my meatball)

I walk into the elevator and turn to wink at her before the doors close.