28 - Extended Family

Valeria

My head rested on Lorenzo's chest as I hear his soft snores.

My mind drifts to my father. Oh, how much I miss him. He was everything to me and I was ready to sacrifice everything for him. He was gone too soon and I still can't comprehend what the hell happened. I am also still in shock that I have killed my mother. I became a killer, my mother's killer. But weirdly, I don't regret it. It was wrong, yes, but I could not let it go. I know it is not an excuse just because she was awful to me, but it is what I knew to do then. Would I do it again? No. I wouldn't kill someone, ever. It is wrong and I am never doing it again.

Maybe the only thing that I regret is committing this crime, but I don't regret doing it to her, you know?

"You okay, my love?" Lorenzo's voice startles me. I was so in my element that I didn't notice him waking up.

"Just thinking about my dad," I murmur, my head still on his bare chest.

He is so comfy.

"Are you okay?" he asks, playing with my hair.

"I don't know...I miss him so much," I reply.

"I will always be there for you, mi amor, and I am sure your father is looking out for you. He will always be here," he replies, placing his left hand on my heart.

"I love you," I say, kissing his cheek.

"Yo tambien." (Me too).

"Are you ready to meet the rest of the family today?" he asks, changing the subject.

"Yes, I am so excited. I hope they are good as yours, though," I reply.

"Don't worry, they are. Besides, I will stay beside you the whole night."

"Good because I miss you," I say, earning an amused look.

"You know...if I leave for a few minutes, you get crazy," he teases.

"I know and it is frustrating, trust me. I am just...attached I guess."

"It is okay, my love. I am attached too and I always miss you."

I smile shyly and draw circles on his hairless chest.

"Lorenzo..."

"Si, mi amor?"

"Can I have a kiss?" I ask as I look up at him.

He smirks and nods. "Of course." He leans in and kisses my forehead. My heart fills with love.

I smile at him and place a kiss on his chest.

"Let's get up or else my father will have our heads."

"You are right," I reply, getting up.

We both shower and get ready. His cousins are coming in two hours, so we have to be ready before then.

I wear a pink flowery sleeveless dress while Lorenzo wears a simple white shirt and black jeans.

I pair my dress with white heels.

I put a little bit of makeup and leave my hair down in waves. I spray perfume, Elizabeth Arden Fifth Avenue, and look at myself in the mirror.

"You smell heavenly," Lorenzo comments.

"So do you. Men's perfume is always the best," I reply.

"Seriously? You think that?"

"Darling, all girls think that. Also, they stay longer," I explain.

"My ego just increased," he says with a grin.

"Oh, shut up."

We both laugh as we leave the room to join the rest.

Lorenzo has two uncles and two unties, Damian and Luca, and Perla and Candy. I don't know what his grandmother thought when she named her daughter Candy. It is not a bad name, but I feel it is a pet's name. Though, I do admit it is unique.

"Good morning," I greet everyone. Lorenzo and I sit beside the twins while the rest sat across from us.

"When are they coming, papa?" Sarah asks Gabriel, who was too busy staring at his beautiful wife.

Valentina is wearing a black dress with red lipstick, grabbing everyone's attention. Gabriel is so exception. I guarantee he has been looking at her for a while even before we came in.

"They will be here soon, darling," he replies after a few seconds, probably because Valentina nudged him to focus.

"I am definitely not looking forward to meet them," Sophia comments, earning a glare from her parents.

"Why?" Sam asks.

"They are annoying, they talk too much, and they are very and I mean, very curious," she replies, shaking her head. "I don't want you to talk to me this evening."

"Why?" Poor Sam asks.

"Because then they will know and will start asking so many questions," she explains.

"So?"

"So, Samuel, they will plan our wedding," she snaps, making us all laugh, including her parents.

"Oh...I don't mind," he says, eying Gabriel, who glares at him in return. "I-I do?"

"Anyways, we are not speaking," she says and turning to us, "And I advise you two to not talk as well. They will eat you alive!"

"You are exaggerating, Sophia," her mother points out.

"Mom, do you remember what happened when I brought my guy friend to my birthday when I was sixteen? They planned our wedding when we weren't even dating. He was just my guy friend."

"Yeah...you're right," Valentina mutters, looking at Gabriel from the corners of her eyes.

"You guys are making me so nervous to meet them," I speak up.

"Don't listen to them, darling, they are not that bad," Gabriel assures me, but I don't believe him.

Before I could say anything, the doorbell rings and all of us stand up to greet the guests.

A total of fifteen persons entered the house with huge grins on their faces.

I stood behind Lorenzo like a little kid because I was too shy to meet them. "Are we going to ignore each other the whole night so they don't get crazy like Sophia said?" I whisper to his ear.

He turns around and says, "Of course."

Okay...I can do that.

Everyone said their hellos and hugged one another.

"And who is this?" One of the males asks, I assume he is Luca, the uncle.

"This is Valeria, the twin's friend and my third daughter," Gabriel introduces me, making my heart flutter with warmth.

He is so kind.

"Hello, sir, nice to meet you," I say with a smile.

"Look at her being professional." Luca chuckles. "Just call me uncle, darling. A daughter of Gabriel's is my daughter."

"Me too!" Another man says. He is Damian. I know because I have seen his picture before around the house.

I give them a smile and nod shyly. Their wives and children greet me with hugs and my nervousness stills a little bit.

We all sit in the bigger dining room that Valentina designed to fit everyone. She ordered food and brought some helpers to help with the kitchen.

I feel bad because it was my job and now I can't do it. I feel like I have put her in a hard situation because there is no one to make food like before. Hell, she is not even letting me enter the kitchen, claiming that I am a new bride.

What will happen when I actually become one?

Fuck, what if Lorenzo doesn't want to get married? I thought as I look around the room. Lorenzo and I didn't talk about marriage, yet. I do want to get married.

Sadness washes over me but I hide it. I don't want anyone to notice anything.

"By the way, Valeria," Gabriel starts, "James and Jamie are Luca's children. They are twins." He points at the girl and boy, who look to be in their early twenties. "This is Julia, Perla's daughter." He points at the blonde 17-year-old girl. "This is Georgia and her brother, Daniel, they are Damien's children, and finally, Jordan, Candy's son."

They greeted me before, but didn't introduce themselves.

"Nice to meet you all," I say.

They all reply with a "me too."

"Anyways, how is business?" Damian asks Gabriel.

"I don't know, as my son," Gabriel replies, making me smile.

"Oh, he took over?"

"Yes," Lorenzo replies. "Business is good. We have been selling weapons to China and Serbia."

"Good, good. Proud of you, son," Damian replies with a smile.

"Thanks," Lorenzo replies.

"So, Lorenzo, any woman in your life?" Perla asks.

He coughs but quickly clears his throat, not wanting to show them that he is shocked to be asked that question.

"Umm...I don't know?" he answers awkwardly, making me nudge his foot with my leg. "I mean, yes, but she is not here. Certainly not here."

Okay, how about you just point at me?

"Oh Dios mio! I never thought this day would come! Who is the girl?"

"Who is the girl, cuz!"

"Who is the girl, son?"

Yeah, well, Sophia was right. They are very curious and crazy. Thank god I acted as if I don't know what they are talking about and just focused on the dish in front of me.

The last thing I want is for them to know because I have no energy to deal with this.

"She...she is someone you will soon meet," Lorenzo replies.

"Do we know her?"

"No!" He quickly replies. "You don't...she is...she lives abroad."

"Oh, so it is a long distance relationship?" Candy asks.

"Something like that," my boyfriend replies.

"Well, I am so happy for you, son. When will you propose?" Luca asks, making my heart beat fast like a drum.

"Soon."

Fuck.

Is he serious? What if he is not?

"That's my son! Don't take too long. If she is the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, then do it without hesitation. I am sure you picked a wonderful girl, someone who could live with your lifestyle," Luca says.

"Thanks, uncle, and yes, she is the most amazing girl I have ever met," Lorenzo replies.

I could tell he is trying so hard not to look at me. I couldn't even take my eyes away from his gorgeous face.

I am not going to lie, sometimes I wonder what is he doing with someone like me. It is not that I don't like myself or anything, but I am not someone who he usually dates. That is what I assumed when his ex came.

What I also discovered is that he didn't love before. He didn't care about relationships and only did one night. His hard was made of stone, Sophia's words, not mine. I remember spending a whole day with Sophia and Sarah a few weeks back, where they told me a lot about Lorenzo's past.

Not as in his private life, but things like his favorite food or a situation that happened between him and them. I would not agree to listen to something private about him when he didn't tell me about it. Everyone has a past that they want to keep hidden forever, not because they don't trust the person they love, but because they want to close that chapter of their life.

"Oh, I can't wait to meet her!" Candy squeals.