The morning sun began to rise over the Morretti estate, casting a soft glow through the grand hallway. The house was slowly waking up, but it wasn't the usual peaceful start to the day. Alexzander quietly slipped out of one of the guest rooms, adjusting the collar of his shirt, his expression carefully composed. Behind him, Lily followed, her hair slightly disheveled and her cheeks flushed as she tried her best to make her exit unnoticed.
But the Morretti family, notorious for being both observant and always present when least expected, wouldn't make it easy.
Just as Alexzander and Lily stepped out into the hallway, Xavier came strolling from the other direction, a cup of coffee in hand. He nearly walked past them before doing a double-take, his eyes widening with surprise. His face lit up with an almost gleeful smirk. "Oh, no way," he muttered to himself before his voice boomed through the hallway. "Oh-ho! What do we have here?"
Alexzander shot him a glare that could melt steel, but Xavier was unfazed. He leaned against the wall, openly staring between his older brother and Lily with an expression of pure amusement. "Alexzander, Lily..." He paused, clearly enjoying the moment. "You two have been... busy."
Lily, already flustered, groaned internally. "Xavier, it's notâ"
"Not what it looks like?" he cut her off, his grin growing wider. "Come on, Lily. Do you really think anyone's going to believe that?"
Before she could stammer out a response, Callum rounded the corner, already dressed and ready for the day. His sharp eyes flicked to Alexzander and Lily, and his expression shifted into one of restrained amusement. "Oh," he said simply, arching an eyebrow. "So... this is happening."
Alexzander sighed. "Callum, not you too."
Callum shrugged, his lips twitching as if he was fighting back a grin. "I mean, it's not exactly subtle. You've been avoiding this for how long now?"
Alexzander tensed, clearly trying to remain composed, but with Xavier and Callum standing there, the situation was quickly getting out of control. "I don't have time for this."
Xavier leaned closer to Callum, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Bet he's wishing he'd stayed in bed just a little longer."
Callum snorted, shaking his head. "Too late for that."
From the other end of the hallway, Greyson appeared, his usual calm and aloof expression in place as he observed the chaos unfolding. He took a slow sip from his coffee cup, his gaze settling on Alexzander and Lily. His reaction was subtle, as alwaysâa slight raise of his brow, a flicker of curiosity in his eyesâbut nothing more.
"Morning," Greyson said casually, as if the tension in the hallway didn't exist.
Xavier's grin turned devilish. "Greyson, you're missing all the fun. Looks like our dear brother had a sleepover."
Greyson blinked, his eyes moving between Alexzander and Lily again. "Noted," he said simply before sipping his coffee once more.
Lily, now completely mortified, tried to smooth her hair down, muttering, "Can we not make a big deal out of this?"
"Too late," Callum chimed in, his voice still calm but clearly enjoying the spectacle.
And then, just when Alexzander thought things couldn't get worse, Angelo strolled into the hallway. Fresh from his morning workout, Angelo was all muscles and energy as he wiped his brow with a towel. He noticed the gathering and grinned. "What's going on?" He glanced at Alexzander and Lily, and it took all of two seconds for him to put the pieces together. His eyes widened, and then a broad grin split his face. "Wait, wait. Don't tell me. You two finallyâ"
"Angelo," Alexzander growled, his patience wearing thin. "Not now."
Angelo laughed, walking up to his older brother and giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Hey, I'm not judging. Just surprised. Took you long enough."
"Can we all just let this go?" Alexzander snapped, his voice low and filled with frustration.
"Let it go?" Xavier laughed. "This is gold. I'm never letting this go."
As if on cue, Austin arrived at the scene, rubbing his temples as if dealing with a minor headache. He was carrying a medical kit, clearly preparing for the day's work, but the sight before him stopped him in his tracks. His sharp doctor's eyes quickly assessed the situation, and a knowing smile tugged at his lips. "Really, Alexzander?" he asked dryly. "Lily?"
Lily, feeling cornered by the sheer number of brothers now crowding the hallway, groaned. "Austin, please don't start."
Austin shook his head with a quiet chuckle. "I'm not starting anything. Just... wow." He raised his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk on his face made it clear he was amused. "I have to admit, I didn't see this one coming."
Lily buried her face in her hands. "This is a nightmare."
The chaos of the moment was shattered by a familiar voice calling from the stairs. "What's all this commotion about?"
Everyone froze. Isabella, with Massimo right behind her, descended the stairs with an air of authority that only a mother could command. Isabella's eyes swept over her sons, then to Lily and Alexzander standing awkwardly in the hallway. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Alexzander," she said, her voice calm but with that dangerous edge that made her presence so commanding, "care to explain why everyone's gathered like this?"
Alexzander took a deep breath, trying to muster any semblance of control over the situation. "Mom, it's nothing. We were justâ"
"Nothing?" Isabella interrupted her eyes sharp as she glanced from her son to Lily and back. "I don't think everyone would be out here for 'nothing.'"
Massimo, standing quietly next to his wife, said nothing for a long moment, observing the scene. His expression was unreadable, but there was a flicker of somethingâperhaps amusement, perhaps something moreâbehind his eyes. "I trust you're not going to make excuses, Alexzander," he finally said, his voice low and calm, though it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken expectations.
Lily stood frozen, her heart pounding as the silence stretched on. Alexzander, standing taller now but clearly feeling the pressure, gave a resigned nod. "No excuses. It happened."
Isabella's expression softened, though only slightly, as she shifted her gaze to Lily. "Lily, my dear," she said in a tone that was gentle but carried an unmistakable authority, "if this is serious, you'll have to be prepared. Our family doesn't operate like most others."
Lily swallowed hard and nodded. "I know. I'm... I'm ready for whatever comes."
Massimo, ever the quiet observer, gave a small nod of approval before locking eyes with Alexzander. Smiling at him lightly indicating his approval
"But where is my daughter?" Isabella asked, her eyes scanning the room. Even after all the commotion, Evangeline hadn't come out.
"Oh, she went out early, said she had some business to attend," Angelo responded casually, glancing around as the others nodded in agreement.
Just then, Angelo's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, saw it was Eva, and promptly put it on speaker.
"Hey, berry, everything alright?" he asked, his tone relaxed.
"Yes, is there anyone with you right now?" Eva's voice came through, calm but serious.
Angelo raised an eyebrow, glancing at the room. "Yeah, Mom, Dad, and the brothers. Why?"
"Great. So, I'm on speaker?"
"Yes."
A brief pause followed before Eva continued, her voice steady but laced with something unspoken. "Okay. I have to go to Brazil for a week or so. Something unexpected happened there."
The room fell into an immediate, tense silence.
"Brazil?" Callum spoke first, his sharp mind instantly going into tactical mode. "But we have no business there, no connections."
"I know," Eva replied, her tone firm. "It's a matter from the past. I need to make my mistakes right."
Massimo's brows furrowed, his authoritative presence filling the room. "What mistakes, Eva?" His voice was calm but there was a weight to it, the former head of the mafia still very much in control.
Eva hesitated for a split second before responding. "It's nothing that will impact the family, Dad. But it's something I have to handle alone."
"That's not acceptable," Callum cut in, crossing his arms. "You know how dangerous Brazil is, especially if we have no support there. You can't just go without backup."
Austin, always the calm voice of reason, stepped forward. "What exactly are you walking into, Eva? If this is tied to your past, there could be more danger than you realize."
Eva's sigh came through the speaker. "I appreciate the concern, Austin. But it's personal. I'm not risking anyone but myself."
Xavier, who had been unusually quiet, broke the silence with a lighter tone, though there was tension in his voice. "Eva, if you're going to be gone for a week, at least tell us you'll be back in one piece. We can't lose our movie night planner."
Greyson, who had been leaning against the wall, quietly watching, finally spoke, his voice low but direct. "You should know better than to go alone. If it's about the past, then that's all the more reason not to go unprepared."
Xander, who had been working on his temper lately, couldn't hold back this time. "Are you serious, Eva? You're just going to up and leave, not even explaining properly? What if something goes wrong?"
Before Eva could respond, Isabella stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with a sharpness that only a former assassin could possess. "Evangeline," she said, her voice like ice, "I understand the need to settle things from the past. But you don't disappear into another country without a plan, especially one as dangerous as Brazil. Whatever this is, you need to share it with us."
There was silence on the other end for a beat, and when Eva spoke again, her voice was softer. "I can't involve you all in this. It's something I need to fix."
Massimo's deep voice cut through the tension. "Eva, you are part of this family. We don't do things alone anymore. Not you, not any of us."
Angelo, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up, his voice steady but filled with the weight of his position as the head of the French mafia. "If you're going, I'm coming with you. Brazil isn't a place you go alone, berry."
Eva let out a soft chuckle despite the seriousness of the moment. "You've got enough on your plate, Angelo. This is my mess to clean up."
"And yet you're still my sister," Angelo countered, his tone unwavering.
Another pause, and then Eva's voice softened once more. "I'll be careful. I promise."
"That's not enough," Isabella said firmly. "We're sending someone with you."
Eva sighed again, knowing she wouldn't win this argument. "Fine. But only one person. I don't want a whole entourage. It's subtle work."
Massimo exchanged a look with Isabella, his expression unreadable. "Callum will go," he declared, his tone leaving no room for debate.
Callum nodded, already planning the logistics in his head. "I'll make sure everything stays under control."
"Great. I'll meet you at the private jet," Eva said. "Thank you... everyone."
Before the call ended, Xavier's voice cut through one last time. "And don't forget, we're rescheduling movie night when you get back!"
Eva chuckled. "Deal."
As the line went dead, the family exchanged looks, the weight of what had just happened settling in the room. Though they were used to danger, it was always different when it involved one of their own.
"I don't like this," Xander muttered, crossing his arms. "Something feels off."
"We'll be ready," Massimo said, his tone firm. "Callum will make sure nothing goes wrong."
Isabella glanced at her husband, her assassin instincts still sharp. "And if something does?"
Massimo's eyes darkened. "Then we'll handle it."
The room fell quiet again, but one thing was clearâno matter where Eva went, her family had her back.
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"HIS" name will be revealed in the next chapter!!!!