My Home Country

The plane finally touched down on my dad’s private airstrip. After our meeting, I managed to catch about four hours of solid sleep. I gently nudged Shay awake, and she slowly opened her eyes.

“Are we there yet?” she asked, blinking, trying to focus.

“Yeah, we just landed. Let’s get up and get dressed. My dad’s probably already waiting for us.”

Peering out the window, I saw a line of cars parked on the tarmac, ready to whisk us away.

Shay and I quickly got dressed. She glanced at me, a smile playing on her lips. “I can’t wait to see this country. I’ve seen pictures online, but I’ve heard it’s even more beautiful in person.”

A low chuckle escaped me. “It is. I’ve lived here my whole life, and it still takes my breath away. Once we’ve sorted everything out, we can explore as much as you want.

“But you have to promise me one thing: don’t leave the castle unless you’re with Conner, Noah, or me. No one else is allowed to take you beyond those gates. Got it?”

Shay nodded as the plane came to a halt. We all disembarked and piled into the waiting cars for the short ride to my dad’s estate.

Shay gazed out the window like a kid in a candy store, drinking in the rolling hills, lush greenery, and stunning beauty of the country. Her eyes widened as we passed through the gates to the massive castle perched on a hill.

I could tell it was more than she’d expected. I was used to it, having grown up here, but I could see how someone seeing it for the first time might be overwhelmed.

“Noah let out a sigh of contentment. “Man, it feels good to be home.” He took a deep breath, taking in the familiar surroundings.

“Yeah, this place never fails to amaze me. Even though we grew up here, it’s still a sight to behold,” Conner agreed, gesturing towards the house.

Shay was still staring out the window. I leaned in close to her, causing her to jump slightly. “What do you think, love?”

She turned to me, her smile wide. “I can’t believe how huge it is. When you said castle, I was picturing something smaller, not something that rivals Buckingham Palace.”

Conner grinned at her. “It’s actually bigger; you’re only seeing the front. This place goes way back, and I used to get lost in it before I learned my way around.

“There are so many different halls, passageways, and levels that you could end up in the dungeons if you’re not careful. They’re not in use anymore, unless his dad’s put them back into operation.

“But it has that old smell of death and musty scent you’d expect from something built in the 1500s. It was a king’s castle back then.”

The castle is a gleaming white, with four levels visible above ground and two more underground where the dungeons and former slave quarters are.

Sharp peaks adorn the top, housing rooms that could be used, but they get too hot or cold, so they’re mainly used as lookouts.

The castle sprawls over an acre and a half of land, and extends back another two acres. It’s filled with countless rooms, ballrooms, kitchens, and around fifty bedrooms in total.

The guards live in smaller houses near the main castle while on duty, and return to their families when off duty.

The cars pulled up to the stone porch that wrapped around the entrance. After getting out, I offered Shay my hand. She took it slowly, her eyes wide as she took in the massive structure.

As we climbed the steps, the front door swung open and my mother rushed out, quickly wrapping me in a hug.

“Bentornato!” she exclaimed.

She started to chatter away in Italian before I gently placed a finger on her lips. “Mom, we have a guest who doesn’t understand Italian. Let me introduce you.”

She turned to Shay, and before I could say anything, she pulled her into a hug.

“Oh my! He’s finally found a woman who’s captured his heart. I’m so happy for you two on your engagement. Let me see the ring!” She grabbed Shay’s hand to inspect the ring.

Shay looked at me with wide eyes, and I rubbed the back of my neck. I’d forgotten to warn her that my mother could be a bit overzealous at times.

My mom examined the ring, then dropped Shay’s hand and gave her another tight hug. Shay let out a grunt as my mom squeezed her. I stepped forward, pulling Shay back to me as she took a deep breath.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Santone. Zane told me a lot about you while we were on vacation.”

My mom scoffed, looking at me. “Please, call me Emma. Come, you must be starving after that long flight. I have dinner almost ready.”

She took Shay by the hand, practically dragging her into the house. Shay looked back at me over her shoulder, and I smiled and followed at a more leisurely pace.

“I forgot how excitable your mother can be,” Conner said, watching my mom pull Shay down the hall. Shay was trying to take in all the exquisite decorations that adorned the walls, ceilings, and floors.

“Yeah, I forgot to warn her that my mom would practically kidnap her the moment we arrived. She’s just really excited about the proposal and wedding.

“She also knows about the pregnancy, so that’s adding to her excitement. She’s been nagging me for years to find someone so she can have grandkids.”

Forest, trailing behind us, let out a low whistle. “This place is impressive. I thought our houses were nice, but damn. They don’t hold a candle to this.”

“One of the perks of being top dog over here,” I replied, glancing back at him as his eyes roamed over the walls and ceilings. “They don’t let you live in just any old house.

“This place was seized from the original owner back in 1910 by my father’s ancestors. It’s been in the family ever since, while they ruled over the country.

“This place has seen some modern touches, but we’re obliged to keep it as authentic as possible. The bathrooms and plumbing got a facelift, but most of what you see is straight out of the 1500s.”

“I can see why Dad was so drawn to this place. It’s incredible.” His smile was infectious.

Suddenly, a high-pitched squeal echoed from another room. We all sprinted towards the sound, finding my mom and Shay in a room. Mom was running her hand over Shay’s belly, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

“She just confirmed it! I’m going to be a grandma! I can’t wait to hold this little bundle of joy!”

I let out a sigh, glancing at Shay whose eyes were fixed on my mom. “I need to go see Dad. Mom, try not to overwhelm her too much. Please!”

She dismissed me with a wave of her hand, not even looking up. The guys and I turned to leave, heading towards my father’s office.

I rapped on the door, and his voice drifted out. “Come in.”

I nudged the door open. He glanced up, then broke into a smile. “Ciao, figliolo.”

“Hey, Dad. Mom’s got Shay with her, and we wanted to discuss what we’ve discovered so far.”

He gestured for us to come in, and Forest closed the door behind us.