I wake up the same time as Jax's alarm. He quickly switches it off and rolls back to face me. He places a kiss to my forehead making me smile softly.
"I'm going to the gym." He says and I nod.
Once Jax leaves I climb out of bed and head straight to the bathroom. I have a quick shower and then once I was finish I blow dry and straighten my hair before getting dressed.
I put on a blue and white checkered skirt and a white shirt before putting on the matching blazer. I then do my makeup but whilst I was in the midst of doing okay Jax came back and had a shower.
Whilst Jax got dressed I made our bed and then woke Alannah up and put on my white Dior heels before heading downstairs for breakfast.
"Morning." We say smiling and taking our normal seats. Breakfast seemed weird this morning, most of the time it was normal for all seven of us to have breakfast. But on some days where something significant had happened it was a little awkward.
"So uh, Lara are you all packed and ready for Brazil?" Matteo asks and I nod smiling.
"Yeah." I say and he smiles at me.
"Well it'll be extremely odd to not have the pair of you around here." Matteo says making me smile.
"What about me?" Amara asks and Matteo just takes a bite of his food.
"Well it'll get you out of here for a bit and we won't have to listen to your constant whinging." Matteo says and Amara rolls her eyes.
"Charming." She says before taking a mouthful of her food.
After breakfast I take Alannah upstairs and get her ready. After making her bed we head downstairs to say goodbye.
All the boys were stood in the foyer saying goodbye to Amara, well except for Jax. "You girls ready?" Jax asks and I nod.
After Alannah gave both Rocco and Matteo the longest hugs and said goodbye she went straight into Jax's arms. Rocco had a confused and shocked facial expression which made me giggle.
I hug Matteo first and he hugs me back just as tight.
"You're going to be the best leader ever, might give Jax a run for his money." He says making me laugh and pull back from the hug.
"Keep being a charmer, won't you?" I ask and he smiles.
"Of course I will, that's not even a question." He says and I turn from Matteo to Rocco.
Rocco and I don't hug he just give me a nod.
"It was nice meeting you Rocco." I say and he nods.
"You too Lara." He says and I smile and then turn to Jax.
"Let's get moving." Jax says and we head to his car.
I sat in the front beside Jax and Gio was in the middle in the back between Alannah and Amara.
The whole journey was silent, even Alannah didn't talk. Jax had his hand resting on my thigh the whole way to the airport and didn't move it once.
Once we got to the airport I take a deep breath and step out of the car. Jax's security that had also came in separate cars to the airport put our luggage on the plane.
I helped Alannah out of the car and we walked over to Jax who was talking to his security. He turns to me and smiles softly before looking down at Alannah.
"I hope you're going to be a good girl for your mom." He says and she puts her arms up signalling she wants him to pick her up, which he does.
"I'm going to be a good girl I promise." She says and I smile.
"Good." Jax says and kisses her forehead.
"When you get home tonight you'll have to tell me everything you want for Christmas so I know what to get you." He says and she nods excitedly.
"Alannah are you ready?" Amara asks sticking her hand out for Alannah to take.
"I love you." She says and kisses Jax's cheek.
"I love you too." Jax says putting her down and she waves goodbye to Gio before taking Amara's hand and getting on the plane.
"All set sir." A man says and Jax nods and thanks him.
"Take care of Amara won't you?" Gio asks and I nod.
"Of course I will, her and Alannah are my first priority. Don't worry, you will see your girlfriend in December." I say and he smiles and hugs me.
"I'll leave you two be." He says getting into Jax's car.
"So time has finally come." He says and I glance over at the plane.
"Yes it has." I say and he sighs.
"Well it's only a month." He says and I nod.
"Don't get stressed, you're gonna be amazing Lara I promise." He says making me blush.
"Thank you." I say and hug him.
I pull away from him and look at the plane.
"A month seems like a long time." I say and he smiles and holds my hand. "
It will fly by, you'll be so into your work you won't even want to come and see me." He says making me roll my eyes.
"Of course I would want to come and see you, don't be silly." I say as we walk over to the stairs.
"Text me when you get there." He says and I nod. I stand on my tiptoes and quickly kiss him.
When he pulls back from the kiss he sighs and looks up at the plane. "You sure you don't want to come back home with me?" He asks and I roll my eyes playfully.
"You know I have to go." I say and he groans.
"A month it is." He says and hugs me one last time.
I pull back from the hug and look up at plane again.
"I'll see you soon." I say and he kisses my forehead and I walk up the steps. I get to the top of them to see him still standing there.
"I love you." He mouths making me smile.
"I love you too." I mouth and he slowly starts to walk backwards to his car.
I take a seat by Alannah and Amara. Alannah had her seatbelt on had her head looking out the window as she watched the cars drive away.
"How long?" She asks putting her head on my shoulder.
"23 days." I say and she nods.
Not long after take off Alannah fell asleep.
"Thank you." I say and Amara looks up from her glass of wine.
"You don't need to thank me Lara, I wanted to come." She says and I smile.
"How did Gio take it?" I ask and she sighs.
"He wasn't happy about it obviously. Ever since we started our relationship we've constantly been together." She says and I look at her confused.
"Isn't that a good thing?" I ask and she shrugs.
"I guess, but he's always there and I think a bit of distance will do good for us. I want us to last and being around each other all the time just isn't going to help." She says and I nod.
"How did Jax take it?" She asks and I sigh.
"Completely supportive of it actually. He thinks it'll do me good to come back to Brazil and show everyone who their leader is." I say and she smiles and takes a sip of her wine.
"Sounds like Jax." She says.
****
We land in Brazil at 7pm, New York time but 8pm Brazil time. Alannah was extremely tired as it was now her bedtime. I picked her up and carried her out of the plane and down the steps.
"Its nice to see you again Miss Fernandez." Mario, my driver says and I smile.
"You too Mario, it's been a very long time." I say and he nods.
"Would you like me to take her?" He asks gesturing to Alannah.
"I've got her but thank you." I say as we head to the first car.
"Mario this is Amara, shes a close friend and she'll be staying till I find my feet." I say and he nods.
"Its nice to meet you miss." He says and she smiles.
"You as well Mario." Amara says as Mario opens the door for her.
I put Alannah in her carseat and we head back to the house.
The closer we got, the more sick I felt. I was returning to the home where I had lost so much.
As much as I didn't want to be here, I have people that are relying on me now. You're doing this for Carter. I remind myself all the way to the house.
We get out of the car and I take Alannah inside with Amara walking by my side.
I step into the foyer and look around but all I seemed to remember was the blood bath this foyer was the night everything happened.
"Lara it's so good to see you." Marco says coming over to hug me.
"Its good to see you too Marco." I say and Alannah hugs him.
"Marco you remember Amara right?" I ask gesturing to Amara.
"I do, it's nice of you to come and stay with Lara, Miss Ricci." He says and she smiles.
"There's some food in the dinning room, help yourself. One of the maids will come and take you to your new rooms." Marco says and I nod.
Us three girls head into the dinning room and eat the food that was in there.
I send a quick text to Jax so he doesn't turn into the hulk whilst trying to get an answer from me.
Once we had enough Alannah was practically falling asleep so we got taken to our new rooms.
My room was now my father and Claudia's old room, except it had been completely re decorated. Alannah's room was next to mine and Amara's was next to Alannah's room.
I leave Amara to settle into her own room whilst getting Alannah ready for bed.
Most of her stuff from her old room had been transferred into this room.
Alannah was too tired for a bath so I brushed her teeth and got her into some pyjamas and let her fall to sleep. I put on her night light and then head out of my room.
I knock on Amara's door and wait for her to let me in. Once I go in I see Amara lying on her bed. I lie beside her and sigh.
"Don't you have a meeting to attend to?" She asks and I sigh.
"I'm so tired." I complain turning on my side and she does the same.
"You've got people Lara, you haven't been here in ages. You're people are lost and upset and they've lost people. You need to go and show them they still have you." She says and I sigh.
"Spoken like a true Ricci." I say sitting up as she smiles.
"Alannah is next door, keep an eye on her for me. I don't plan on being gone for too long but it's her first night here so she's bound to have a nightmare. If she has one whilst I'm gone, call me and I'll be straight back." I say and Amara nods.
"Stop stressing and go and be the leader we all know you can be." She says making me smile.
"Have you got an earpiece in or something because you're talking like the boys." I say and she giggles.
"Just go." She says and I roll my eyes playfully and head down to Marco's office.
I knock on his door and wait for his call before entering.
"Ah Lara, come in." He says and I take a seat.
"You don't have to knock Lara, from now on this is your empire." He says and I smile.
"We can get on to business talk in a moment I just want to know where my dad is." I say and he takes a sip of his coffee.
"You're father has stayed at the safe house. He promised to be there tonight for the meeting. But he can't stay here, which obviously I don't blame him for of course." He says and I nod.
"Everyone is so very excited for you to take over. Especially since you have to choose someone you trust to become your right hand." He says and I smile.
"I can't believe you want me to take over fully." I say and he looks at me confused.
"I don't see why you think I wouldn't want you too." He says.
"Well it's just the mafia belongs to the Rodriguez family and I'm not a Rodriguez. I know it's always been a Fernandez and a Rodriguez but I would just think you would want both names to carry on. I mean you can have another child Marco, raise them and when they're 18 they can take over." I say and he smiles.
"You'll make a great leader Lara, you aren't selfish and want the best for everyone. But personally I don't think I have it in me to raise another child especially with a women that isnt Arabella." He says and I smile sympathetically at him.
I can't imagine how hard it is for him. I would be devastated if I lost both Jax and Alannah.
"I don't mind the one name going on, although I'd prefer it to be Rodriguez name. Carter was a great ruler for all of a day." He says and laughs softly.
"But maybe the Rodriguez name was destined to end with Carter." He says and I nod.
"I'm sure he would of been the best leader this mafia will have." I say and he smiles.
"I beg to differ Lara. I think we all knew that you would be the best leader this mafia will ever have and I think that's why it was Carter's dying wish." He says and I nod.
"You have a kind heart. The type of heart that shouldn't be involved with this and we all know that. But the way you are with the men is amazing. You listen, you care for them and the most important factor is that you respect them Lara. Everyone will bow down at your feet because you're the type of leader anyone in any type of job would want." He says making me smile.
"Thank you Marco." I say and he nods before standing.
"I think we should head to the warehouse, don't you?" He asks and I nod.
We get into a car that Mario drives to the warehouse whilst Marco fills me in on the bits that I've missed.
"The biggest problem we have is numbers. Don't be shocked when you go in there." He says and I nod.
Once we get to the warehouse Mario opens the door for me and I thank him as I get out of the car.
I head towards the warehouse with Marco at my side. There was no one in sight as we first stepped inside.
"They're in the conference room." A familiar voice says.
I turn to see my dad standing there taking a sip of a brown liquor. He looked different. He looked more tired, more drained. I smile sympathetically at him before rushing over and giving him a hug.
"How have you been sweetheart?" He asks pulling away from the hug and I nod looking up at him.
"I suppose Jax took excellent care of you or shall I prepare a jet to take me to New York immediately." He says and I smile.
"He did." I say and he nods.
"Good." He says smiling.
"How's Alannah?" He asks and I nod.
"She's lots better. I think she needed the getaway." I say and he nods.
"Well I'm glad you're both doing good." He says and I smile.
"You ready?" Marco says handing me a file as we stop outside the conference room.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I say and they smile at each other before opening the door.
As soon as the door opens every man in the room stands.
I take a deep breath and walk down the aisle down the middle to the long desk at the front of the room.
I go to sit in my normal seat when Marco coughs and gestures to his seat.
I sit in it and thank him as he sits in Carter's old seat. Then once we're sat everyone else sits.
(From here all the talking will be in Portuguese I just can't be bothered to write in both languages.)
"It's nice to be back home and it's nice to see that so many of you are still here. I just want to say that if you lost someone and you're struggling you can always talk to me about it." I say looking at the faces around the room.
Some men were looking sad, some looked as though they had no emotion and others seemed happy.
"As most of you know, I don't have a lot of experience with being a leader. But here right now I can promise to try as hard as I can." I say standing and begin to walk up and down the aisle of the room.
"I firstly want to apologise for not being here myself in a time where you all needed me or could've atleast done with me being here. I was gone for a while but if you think I haven't been keeping up to date with everything going on here, you are wrong!" I say and smile at those who I catch eyes with.
"I have grieved just as hard as the rest of you have. I personally went through and read the names of those who were killed and I was the last person to talk with Carter. I felt every single death as well. So you can trust me." I say and Marco nods at me which gives me the courage to keep going.
"Whilst I was away in New York I worked alongside Jax Ricci, Giovanni Moretti, Matteo Ricci and Rocco Ricci to take down the Russian mafia." I say gaining a few weird looks from a lot of people, they clearly didn't like that.
"Italian mafia are allies to us as they're a close friend to me personally." I say.
"Because the leader is your daughter's father right?" Someone asks making me turn on my heels.
"Correct but Alannah was born way before I knew Jax was apart of a mafia and way before I knew I was born into a mafia." I say.
"Are you still with Jax now?" Another voice says.
"Yes we got back together when I went to New York. But you don't need to worry about them and that is a promise. Jax and I will not join nations." I say. I probably should've told my dad and Marco before I said that.
"Anyway, these men helped a massive part as well. Rocco Ricci single handedly took out a room of men so they wouldn't do unspeakable things to me. He then also stuck by my side when there was an invasion in their house. Jax taught me how to shoot a gun, properly. I saved Jax, Matteo and Gio and we took Dmitri as a prisoner. The four men tortured him themselves and also let me when I wanted to. They also let me kill him to make a point to their men that I am a rightful and strong women that can control this mafia." I say and take a deep breath.
"Without these men, we would not have made a deal with Russia to make sure they never cause a war ever again. I signed this contract, along with Jax Ricci and Alexei Popvov to ensure that nothing like this would happen under our leadership and for as long as we can hold it off for." I say and the men cheer which was unexpected.
I stand behind the desk that my chair was at and open the file Marco gave me.
"But here today, after ensuring you guys that I am here to stay and that you can trust me. We need to discuss ways of rebuilding this mafia. We lost many significant people that will not be lost. But I will make it up to those families that Carter didn't get to talk to. But we need to rebuild this family!" I say earning a round of applause from the men.
"They love you." Marco whispers making me smile.
"So anyway you can, I want you to raise employment here. I want to appoint new heads of 'areas' so that everything is fair. So I will let you all know in a few days about the changes that's been made but for now I want to thank you all. Thank you for being at my side and not going a stray in such a difficult time. I know its difficult and anyone that needs to talk about anything can always talk to me." I say and the men cheer.
"To our new leader. Lara Fernandez." One of the men say standing up making the men cheer. Marco and my dad both also stand up clapping.
"He's proud of you Lara." Marco whispers in my ear making me smile.
"They're proud of the three of us." I say linking arms with both Marco and my dad.
Once everyone had stopped chanting my name they had sat back down so dad and Marco could talk to them.
They mainly thanked them and then turned to me.
"This isn't the way we would've of chose to officially shift from one leadership to another but." Marco says leaving me confused.
Marco takes out a gun and puts it in my hand. "The ring that I gave my son to shift the leadership is with him now to this day as he is a man and wouldn't do Lara much good. So my mothers ring, the one she had made when my father died and she took over whilst pregnant with myself is what I will gift Lara today.
He took the gold ring from his pocket and it was beautiful. It was a thin band with a light green jewel which Marco explained was to signify Brazil. Then on the inside of the band on one side had Rodriguez carved into it then Fernandez on the other side. I looked between my dad and Marco smiling as I put the ring on. I pulled them into a group hug and thanked them.
"This gun has been passed through generations and I never had the chance to give it to Carter so I guess it's for you." He says and I smiles whilst looking down at the gun.
"Thank you." I say smiling and he nods.
After the conference we went into the office where I signed the papers officially and both Marco and dad looked at each other.
"Well there's nothing we can do from here. Miss Lara Fernandez is officially the sole leader of the Brazilian mafia." Marco says and I smile.
"As kings and queens used to say. Long may she reign." Dad says as we clank our cups.
I step out of the office and talk with quite a few of the men checking and see how they are before I arrive back home.
Once I get home I let Amara know before getting ready for bed. It was about 3am now and I got a call from Jax.
"Morning." He says and I roll my eyes.
"You should go to sleep Jax." I say and he sighs.
"I can't sleep my bed feels to empty." He says and I roll my eyes playfully.
"Anyway, how did it go?" He asks.
"It went amazingly, they seem to love me and I'm now the leader of the Brazilian mafia officially." I say and he smiles.
"I'm so proud of you Lara." He says and my smiles grows.
After talking with Jax for a bit, Alannah came and climbed into my bed which resulted in me and Jax saying goodbye.
Alannah cuddled into my side which made me smile. After everything that happened I'm glad that Alannah is still her by my side. Even though the past year has been extremely challenging, I still have people on my side with the most important qualities on my side.
Love, friendship, loyalty, honesty, caring and sincere.
Even though this year has been extremely challenging I'm glad to be doing what I'm doing. If this year has taught me anything is that life is short, make the most of it. Then that people deserve second chances, don't over think it because life is too short.