63.

Leo arrived home and we were celebrating. Even in this celebratory atmosphere, I couldn't help but sense some tension. All of his caporegimes had come over. Food and wine was flowing freely, there was a celebratory mood all around the Moretti Mansion. However, even then the discussion about the upcoming Council meeting of all the mafia families was a stressful point for everyone. For some crazy reason, Leo's father thought that I was the smartest one of them and I deserved to be the family consiglieri. That decision did not go well with his caporegimes. Hell, that decision didn't even go well with me. I mean anyone who knows me knows how much I suck with taking sane and sensible decisions.

Leo glared at me, his irritation was so visible over his face. I sunk a little deeper in my chair. God, I hated it when he looked at me like this.

"Can someone care to explain why she is in this?" He asked. "I thought we kept our women away from Cosa Nostra."

Holy fuck! I completely forgot the real drama that would happen now. Leo wasn't aware of this new development. He hated it when I pried into his work stuff. He would get really pissed and irritated. I once asked me why, he'd say that it made him feel guilty because he does bad stuff and he wouldn't want me to find out about it.

"She is your consiglieri." Alex said.

Leo stared swearing in Italian. That's the thing about him if he feels things too strongly he switches to Italian. When he likes his food he will exclaim in Italian. When he is in an unexceptionally romantic mood he'd call me amore, Tesoro mio and dolcezza. And, when he's pissed he'd definitely cuss in Italian. This was one of those times when he was unexceptionally pissed. I knew it was wise to stay silent.

Fortunately, Leo's dad arrived and put an end to his cussing tantrum. He explained why he made the decision and all. But, Leo and Alex were still unconvinced.

"... Are you insane? She was the reason why Bianca was dead. DeLuca's will hold a grudge against her and have her killed." Leo said.

"Nonsense." He said. "We cannot cower in fear. Having her there would show our confidence. DeLuca bastards would try and use her as a bargaining pin say they want her in exchange of whatever nonsense they're offering us. By having her as the consiglieri we're strengthening her position, showing them that she isn't negotiable. And, we're declaring a war on them. I hope you feel she isn't negotiable."

"Of course she isn't." He said calming down a little. "But will they accept her? And making her the consiglieri is a bit extreme. She doesn't have that shrewd acumen."

Okay, that annoyed me. I mean he made a valid point but what does he mean? Was he trying to say I wasn't smart enough?

"They call Alex a mongrel for being half-Italian and half-Japanese. You think they're going to take kindly to a woman as a consiglieri? And a woman has never been a consiglieri."

"Seriously, Leo?" It sounded kinda sexist to me.

"Valeria is the best don I know." Don Moretti added calmly. "And half those scared asses don't even have a fraction of Meg's courage."

Leo sighed. "And what is Alex going to do? Has he been removed from his position?"

"No, he's there." He said. "He is my consiglieri. I need him by my side. Meg is your consiglieri. Whatever you do, you do it with her approval."

I gave Leo a haughty smirk. He has to consult me for his decisions. That ought to put some sense into that thick skull of his.

Leo looked unconvinced but he knew better than to disagree with his father. "I can work with that."

"Very well." His father dismissed him off. "You should go, get some rest. Alex and I will take care of the rest."

Leo glanced at me before leaving. I knew that follow-me-we-need-to-talk look of his. I followed him to the secluded part of the balcony. I still remember this place, it was the place where we had our first kiss.

"Okay, Is it too late to ask what a consiglieri is supposed to do?" I blurted.

"What the hell?" He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Why didn't you refuse Papa?"

Honestly even I didn't know. "I just wanted to help you."

He clicked his tongue dismissively and went and leaned by the railing in the balcony. I walked next to him, overlooking the garden in bloom.

"A consiglieri is an advisor. More or less he is a lawyer, it helps if he is one because he can solve legal disputes. He is usually someone the entire family respects because his role includes resolving disputes within the family. He is also someone who represents the boss in meetings and coordinates things with others. Usually, he is like an ambassador and that is why out if bounds during wars."

"Sounds a lot like a wedding planner."

Leo strolled his eyes and smirked. God, why did he look so hot when he rolled his eyes?

"No, it is far more dangerous and tricky." Leo said. "In a meeting, a consiglieri has one responsibility, ensuring that a smooth and diplomatic discussion takes place. Can you make sure they don't let the guns out yet?"

"Well, there was this time I managed to calm down a bride after she caught the drunk groom making out with the bridesmaid... The wedding did go smoothly."

"What the hell?"

"They divorced a day later." I sighed. "But that's not the point. The point is I can deal with conflicts. Just trust me, and let me help you out."

Leo reached for my hand and pulled me close. I hate it when he looks at me like that, with his dark eyes peering inside my soul, it made my heart race so damn much. I literally lost my words when he'd give me the look.

"I care for your safety that's all." He said. "Before you start with your I'm a strong independent woman and a hardcore feminist speech, let me just say I respect your values but I'm just looking out for you and not being a controlling bastard."

"You're not controlling bastard... but you're an asshole." I shrugged. Well, I wouldn't leave a chance to make fun of him.

He pulled me closer, whispering in my ear, "Is that so?" He said, teasingly.

I shrugged, "Yeah you doubt me. I deal with you, I can deal with some big bad guys."

He chuckled, "No offence babe but you're way too reckless, you'd get yourself killed." He said. "These people are dangerous. Really dangerous. And, I don't doubt you I just want to protect you from my world."

Protect me. I don't know why that phrase fucking triggered me. I understood his concern for me. But, I was tired of being treated like some fragile damsel in distress. I might not be a badass fighter like Amy but I like to think I'm brave enough to hold my own. Hell, I want to be his better half, his teammate, his lover and his best friend. I do not want to be Leo's liability.

"You know I'm not afraid of your world."

"I know." He sighed. "My world is bad. You don't know how bad it is babe. And god forbid, you shouldn't ever know it."

I crossed my arms, "Maybe, you shouldn't be a part of that world if you're so afraid for me. This isn't a permanent solution we really need to think about us and we can't think of our future if we constantly have to watch our backs and live in fear of someone killing us."

Leo pulled himself away from me. Oh well, when will I learn to hold my tongue or to be diplomatic? Normally, when it came to work, Emily told me that I had a knack for resolving even the most horrible arguments and negotiate with clients. Yet, when it came to love and relationships, I clearly lacked diplomacy. I guess I was so tired of being diplomatic that with my loved ones I just wanted to sit back and speak my mind, without the fear of being judged. Each day there's so much pretending, so much compromising and so much walking on eggshells; I just wanted to speak what I felt. Unfortunately my brutal honesty always ended up hurting someone.

"We've had this talk million times now but I'll humour you once again for the sake of argument." He said. "If I leave this, what the hell can I do? This is the only thing I know."

He had a point, he always did. Dejected, leaned over the balcony overlooking the beautiful flowers. I don't know how the gardens in Moretti mansion always looked so aesthetic and beautiful. It didn't matter what season it was or if the flowers were in bloom or not, the garden always looked beautiful and meticulous. I've been told that it is Leo who takes up the task of maintaining the gardens. He is very particular about the gardens. Sometimes, when we'd have an argument, I'd find him in the garden to cool his mind.He loved flowers and every time he took a life he would grow a plant. Judging by his blooming and extensively green garden, I know I should be terrified but I find it adorable. Maybe, the creepy gangster shit is rubbing off me.

"I don't know... maybe you could become a florist or something."

I expected him to laugh at that. Obviously, it was a stupid suggestion. What mafia boss becomes a florist because his girlfriend said so? That sounded absurd.

"That actually isn't such a bad idea."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, you don't have to do this thing where you agree with me until I tire myself out and stop the argument. It was an absurd suggestion, I get it."

"No you don't get it." A wide smile appeared on his face. "So, Nico told me that one of our legitimate cover up organisations bought this dying company and it was called Rosabella."

"I've heard about it."

I remember attending a wedding planner's convention and Rosabella had made this exquisite flower arrangement of a tower of pink roses. It was the highlight of the convention. Many wedding planners preferred to work with them because of their long-lasting roses. Hell, even I'd worked with Rosabella for a few weddings. However, lately they'd been having bad business. Eventually, they said the company was sold. It was a shame because their floral arrangements were impeccable.

"Rosabella was owned by one of my father's childhood friends. He was diagnosed with cancer a while ago and he wanted to go on a world tour. He had to sell off his company but he wanted someone who would retain the values Rosabella stood for. So on dad's insistence Nico and I worked out a deal and had one of our legitimate fronts buy Rosabella. We have brought the company but we still need a plan to raise it back, I doubt we can make Rosabella achieve its former glory."

Oh my god! Oh my god. If this is true, then my suggestion wasn't so bad.

"Okay so hypothetically speaking... why don't you focus on your legitimate business."

"It is tough but not impossible." He said. "For years, Nico has been trying. Even Alex has been handling the transfer but its not easy."

"But you've been working on it?"

This was news to me. Leo seldom spoke of his business and I was fine with it. As a person he was very secretive and needed his space. I could understand that, even I hated it when someone was unexceptionally nosy. But, he did share some stuff with me.

"Since years." Leo said. "Although it is a slow process. Even if I do it would take years for me to become financially stable."

"Then do it. I will support you. We can stay together."

Leo's eyes widened. "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

Well, when he put it like that I realised what I'd just said. We'd been travelling together and spent so much time with each other, moving in didn't even seem like a trouble now.

I nodded.

"We can... if you want to... I mean you do know that I don't mind taking the plunge with you. I mean remember that time when I did think you were proposing me and you weren't? Well, I was ready to say yes then." That memory still makes me cringe. Stupid Nico, I will kill him for that.

"You're saying that if I asked you to take the next step with me, you would?" He crossed his arms. "I'm just wondering what will you tell your parents. You seem to be a bit ashamed of me, don't you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Leo, I'm not ashamed of you. I just want us to be certain before I introduce you to them. You saw how the Samar thing panned out. I don't want to risk introducing a boy I'm not sure about to my family. I have to be certain you're staying. If I introduce you to my family it means you're family and for that I've to be sure you won't abandon me."

"You think I'd abandon you?" He asked.

"I've to be certain." I shrugged. "Also in your case we have cultural differences. I guess I'm a bit terrified of my parents and their reaction to me dating a non Indian guy."

I thought he would be get defensive or argue. But, he simply smiled. This was a really sensitive issue and I hope I hadn't hurt him.

"I understand... but can we talk about this later?" He said. "Right now I need to think up a strategy for the meeting and I also need to sleep because I was up all night in police custody."

God, I hope I did not hurt him. His face was inscrutable. I couldn't really make out what he was feeling. But, he'd told me in a subtle way that he wanted space; he needed to rest. Even if my anxieties were driving me crazy, I decided it was better to let this topic rest for a while.

I guess he too noticed the worried look on my face because he pulled me close and softly kissed my forehead.

"Get some rest, Dolcezza." He murmured. "from what I hear you were worried sick when I was taken in."

Worried was describing it lightly. Believe me, I would've killed Samar for taking Leo away. If I had it my way, I would've stormed in the custody and taken my boyfriend myself. Sadly, I wasn't strong enough for that so I had to settle with scheming and plotting alongside Alex and Leo's dad.

Leo held me for a moment longer. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. He still applied that heavenly smelling cologne. God, it was so comforting being held by him. It was like all my worries disappeared. There was no gangsters chasing ur or no family to convince about our relationship.

Sometimes I wish things were simpler for us; maybe then we would be happy. But then I realise both Leo and I are social creatures. We are both deeply attached and devoted to the people around us and engross ourselves in the things that we do. Sometimes, I feel as if both of us have a tendency to solve others problems to distract ourselves from our own troubles.

"I'll be in my room if you need anything." He said before leaving me.

After he left, I lingered by the balcony for a while longer, watching the flowers in the garden below. Even when he wouldn't tell me, I'm certain he was thinking about a solution for our problem. Somewhere, I knew that he was trying to work out some way to stop his illegal business and switch into a legitimate one, making sure that the people who work under him aren't left to fend off on their own.

Initially, Leo would've never thought of this possibility. But, eventually he did consider it just cause I said it. Honestly it made me so happy like he genuinely changed his stubborn ways for me. And, here I was afraid to tell my parents that he was my boyfriend.

I took a deep breath and dialled my phone. It was high time I sort this out.

#

"Okay what is wrong with you?" Ritesh blurted on the phone.

I had curled up comfortably on a bench in Leo's garden. I was browsing through some colour schemes for an upcoming wedding. I had my earphones plugged in and I was talking to Ritesh at the same time.

So, I had dropped the Leo bomb on my mom and dad. I talked to my mom first and told her that I was seeing someone and it was quite serious. At first, she was confused. She thought it was Samar. I told her that I faked it because I was afraid they wouldn't accept Leo. Well, mom was shocked. To be honest, she did not think I was serious. Dad however was a different story. He scolded me.

Anyway, it happened that he and mom and I had a huge argument on conference call. Ritesh and Riya heard it that's why he called up to check up on me.

"I had to tell them one day or the other."

"I understand but that was insane okay." Ritesh sighed. "That was so crazy bold. Uncle and aunty are fuming."

I expected this. I knew this would be a difficult news ti digest but they would be fine. I'm sure once they met Leo they'd see how amazing he is.

"Everything gets better with time." I said. "Let it rest. Eventually they would come to accept it."

"Let's hope so." Ritesh said. "By the way Riya is inspired by you. She says someday she wished she had the guts to come out to our family. She supports you and you know so do I."

Oh my god... that warmed my heart. My little baby cousins were so adorable. They were young yet they possessed so much maturity. My parents couldn't understand that I can love someone from a vastly different background yet these little kiddos understood it and my parents didn't.

I felt someone whack my head. Irritated, I turned back and saw Nico standing behind me. He gestured me to remove my earphones. I tole Ritesh I had to go and I'll talk later.

"What?"

"You should hear this." Nico said. "Leo plans on proposing you."

I rolled my eyes. I am not falling for this shit again. He had his prank with me, not for the second time.

"Fuck you." I said.

Nico shrugged, "I'm just trying to prepare my sister-in-law."

I looked at him skeptically. "Yeah right. Because it turned out so well the last time."

"Come on." Nico sighed. "I'm serious okay. He would kill me if he knows I told you."

"You told me the literal same thing the last time."

Of course, Nico was lying. Leo was way too busy sorting out stuff about this. He wasn't going to propose, certainly not today when he had to think how to overcome his enemies.

Nico shrugged, "Fine... don't tell me I didn't tell you earlier."

I plugged back my headphones and ignored him. I had work to do and I had no time for Nico's pranks.

#