Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16: Natalie woke to golden sunlight streaming in through the windows. For a moment she was terrified because she wasn't in her normal room and then she remembered her night with Giovanni. She flinched at remembering the news her mother had told her, but then smiled sleepily as she remembered the kiss that she had shared with Giovanni. Just thinking about it made her blood warm in the most utterly delightful way. She turned, expecting to see the beautiful features of Giovanni, but instead she found an empty bedside. Her brows furrowed and she felt the sheets and found them cool so he must have been gone for a little while. She sighed and then noticed a small sheet of paper laying on the pillow. She opened it and let her head fall back onto the soft pillow, grinning as she read it.

"Dearest Natalie, I did not want to wake you, but I had business to attend to. I hope you slept well. I know I did. Have a good day, mi amour. I will see you soon. Love, Giovanni. P.S. You have amazing legs. I would love to see more of them."

Natalie blushed, but couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. She could stay in the bed all day. The room smelled of Giovanni around her and she took in the scent, let it warm her from the inside out until tingles ran over her skin. She made herself swing her legs out of the bed. Smiling softly as she stared down at her legs, she stood and made her way back to her bedroom. Once there, she stripped out of her clothes and hopped into the shower.

The hot water beat down on tense muscles making them languid with warmth and relaxation. As she lathered her body with a delicious smelling vanilla body wash she wondered what type of 'business' Giovanni had to attend to. She couldn't help the swirl of cruel thoughts that entered her mind. Giovanni murdering somebody-though he probably had someone to do that job. Giovanni blackmailing somebody and more awful thoughts. She didn't like what he did. Why couldn't he have some other type of job? Why couldn't he just be normal?

She knew, though, that if he wasn't the boss of the mafia that she probably never would have met him and if she was being honest with herself she couldn't see.

She couldn't see just having a fun summer with Ciara, flirting with random new guys every day and then going home to her drunk and high mother who needs to be cleaned up of vomit and urine.

Sure, she had NO idea what to expect with Giovanni right now, for many reasons, one being that her own psychotic father wanted her six feet under. Pushing the thoughts away as she noticed herself tensing up again.

She rinsed off the soapy suds and stepped out so that she could towel-dry her hair and apply a little bit of makeup. Then, she pulled on some denim shorts and a yellow tank top with a white cardigan.

"Hey Nicholas!" She called as she came down the stairs and found him in the kitchen.

He smiled at her and if she didn't know better was assessing how she was.

Giovanni probably told him to keep an eye on her.

She scowled at the thought, but quickly replaced it with a tight smile as she sat down in front of him.

"How did you sleep, Ms. Brown?" He asked and she narrowed her eyes at the 'Ms. Brown', but then blushed as she remembered how well she slept with Giovanni holding her in his powerful arms.

"Good." She mumbled and he quirked an eyebrow but remained otherwise silent which she appreciated because she would probably go as red as a tomato. She got up and filled herself up a cup of coffee and sat down.

"My wife and children will be coming over later this afternoon." Nicholas said and Natalie almost fell out of her chair both from excitement and shock.

"Really?!"

He nodded, looking slightly amused.

"Awesome!" she said and toned down her voice a couple notches after seeing his wince.

"What time?" He looked down at his watch.

"In around an hour or so." He said and stood to walk out of the room.

She blinked.

Well, guess that conversation was done. She bit her lip as she debated what to do for one hour. Shrugging, she decided she would do what she does best when she is excited and nervous. She will bake like there is no tomorrow.

An hour later, Natalie was covered in various ingredients needed to make her special strawberry mousse pie.

She knew what it would taste like. The warm, crispy, buttery and flaky crust giving way to the soft silky strawberry mousse that would melt in your mouth after each deliciously sinful decadent bite and the homemade whip cream that caressed your tongue like thick silk.

She heard voices close to the kitchen and she made her way over to the mirror in the massive hallway bathroom. She wiped off a smear of whip cream that was on her cheek and pulled her hair out of its messy ponytail so it fell down her shoulders. It was still a little bit wet from her shower, but she didn't care. Taking in a deep breath, she stepped out and into the kitchen. The first thing she noticed was Nicholas.

She could see a smaller form in front of him, but his big form blocked out the person. Natalie almost fell over her own feet when two small bodies latched onto her legs.

She looked down and found two children holding onto her legs for dear life. The little girl had dark hip-length ringlets, and big blue eyes and a small cupid bow shaped mouth. The little boy had a mess of dark black curls as well, one falling over his small forehead. He had blue eyes as well. They both had dark beautiful olive-colored skin tone that had a smattering of beauty marks.

They were both beautiful children.

Natalie let out a giggle and Nicholas straightened as he moved out of the way. A small woman held his hand. She was, if Natalie was to guess, Nicholas's wife and the children's mother. She had the same dark-olive colored skin tone, her hair was waist length, dark black and had a slight wave to it. She had big eyes the color of melted toffee.

Natalie could tell just by looking at her that she was a spitfire.

She was holding Nicholas's hands and right as she caught sight of Natalie she let out an ear-bleeding squeal and shot forward to wrap Natalie in tiny arms.

"Oh you are so beautiful!" the woman said, her voice with a slight Hispanic accent.

"I love her already!" She said as she pulled herself back from Natalie.

"I am Ana-Marie! It is so wonderful to meet you!" she said and Natalie grinned shyly.

"I'm Natalie." Ana-Marie nodded and looked down at her two children and set tiny, dainty hands on her hips as she muttered words in Spanish under her breath.

"What did I tell you about scaring people you just met!?" she questioned.

The children-still latched tightly to Natalie's legs-looked down guiltily.

"But mom-ma! She is so pretty! And her legs!-"The little girl started and then paused to rub small chubby hands up and down Natalie's legs.

"They're so soft mom-ma!" The little boy finished.

Natalie blushed as Ana-Marie giggled and began to pull them off.

"I am sorry about them. This-"she patted her daughter's head "Is Louisa. And this-"she rubbed a finger down the chubby cheek of the little boy. "Is Marco." Natalie smiled and kneeled down so that she could hold out her hand.

"I'm Natalie. It is very nice to meet you." She said.

Both children blushed and reached out to hug her which surprised Natalie.

Then, she laughed and gave them a gentle squeeze before standing and walking over to the fridge to pull out the mousse pie that had been setting.

"I made some dessert. I hope you like it." Natalie said and bit her lip and she set it down on the table. Louisa and Marco instantly started jumping up and down excitedly.

"Mom-ma! Can we please! Please!" The kids whined and Natalie bit back a giggle as Ana-Marie sighed dramatically.

"Fine. One slice for the each of you. Go wash up and then you can go eat out on the porch with daddy." She said and both kids ran to the sink, bumping shoulders to get to the sink first.

Ana-Marie came closer.

"I hope Giovanni is treating you well. I think you and I should have lunch so that we can talk about some things." She whispered and Natalie stiffened as a bundle of nerves tightened in her stomach. She nodded wearily and Ana-Marie smiled reassuringly.

"Thank you for this. Now, you are about to witness how fast and how messy these children can be." She muttered and Natalie chuckled as she cut a piece and placed a slice on each small plate. Wondering, as she did so, what Giovanni was doing at this moment and wondering if he was okay...

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Short chapter! I will work on a new chapter tomorrow which will be a lot better. I am just super tired tonight. I can't wait for you to read what I have planned! I really hope you like this chapter! Vote. Comment. Follow. XX, my loves! <3