The Dons Daughter

8

After Saltano got settled in my room, I went to get Datu. It was hard for the three of us to still be here. This is my father's home, and I already don't like him, and I'm looking for a reason to leave.

Saltano brought an overnight bag seeing that he has to leave for Russia first thing in the morning. He wants me to come with him, but I'm not sure now that Datu is with us. I don't want to put him at risk since he's a newborn.

But, I might just pull an Ike and Tina...let me stop right there.

Bringing Datu back to my room, I see Saltano is already dressed for bed. Placing the car seat with Datu in it on the bed, I grab my pj's and head to the shower.

——

Wrapping my hair, I come out of the bathroom to see Saltano feeding Datu. Seeing that they are occupied, I pull out my suitcase, and start to pack things. "What are you doing my love? Come to bed."

"I'm packing me and the baby's things. I made my decision, we'll go with you. Jave can tag along for protection, and Jessé can help me with the baby. You or Vincenzo won't have to worry about us."

Carefully replacing Datu in his arms, Saltanto comes to give me a kiss on my head. "I'll go inform your brothers. We'll leave here for the Jet at 4 in the morning. I can't wait to introduce you to my family."

I'm gonna admit it, I'm scared to meet the family. Who's to say they'll take it as good as mine did? But, hopefully, they are as cool as Saltano and accept me and our baby.

Damn, I like saying that as well

Our baby

Whether it's biological or not, he's our son to love, nurture, and grow.

Finishing up the packing, I pull both suitcases to the outside of my door. This was going to be tough, and I've never been to Russia, so I don't even know how the weather is this time of year.

Walking down the stairs, I'm met with arguing, and of course, crying. First things first, I try to find Datu. Seeing him in the arms of Jessé, and seeing Saltano being held back by Brooks, while Vincenzo is saying something to my father

I can only imagine that he found out about my friend and child. "She won't be living here with the enemies' son and spawn! They both gotta go!"

Making myself know, "one, don't call my son a spawn, two, no one wants to be here with your deadbeat ass anyways," turning to my brothers, I say the most painful thing, "The three of us leave at early hours with Jave and Jessé. V has already approved of it. When we get back, we'll return to Saltano's home. I can't have them here if we're not welcomed."

——

Wrapping her hair, Rosabella places a baseball cap on top of her durag. It's four in the morning, and the two teens were trying to leave the house before her father could wake up and see the baby. While yes, he saw the small child hours before, only two of the eleven brothers were awake.

Between having to get up for medical injections, and feeding Datu, neither Saltano nor Rosabella got much sleep. When it came time for the plane ride, Datu was handed to Jessé as soon as they got comfortable in the air.

Rosabella fell asleep against Saltano's chest, but Saltano couldn't go to sleep. He had too much paperwork to do before they landed, as well as meetings to get ready for.

He had already warned his cousins who were with Rosabella when he met her that she may not remember them.

Of course, the girls paid Saltano no mind while on FaceTime and continued to prep for the arrival of Rosabella. What the family wasn't aware of until they walked into the house was that there was a child accompanying them.

——

"I'm gonna warn you, even though my family is Russian, the root of the family's native tongue is Italian, so that's what will be spoken mostly, until meetings are started." Nodding, I slide out of the car behind Saltano and hold onto his right hand. In his left, is Datu's car seat. "Also, most of them are physical with their love language, fair warning."

Jessé and Jave were not far behind us at all, and Chase was texting constantly making sure everything was okay.

As Saltano opens the door wide, I hear nothing but laughter and chatter all around. As we make it into the kitchen, everyone stops.

Hearing Jessé say, "oh shit" I try not to cower behind Saltano. "Hey everyone, this is my fiancé, Rosabella, and her brothers, Jessé and Jave,"

Jave sends a nod at his name and Jessé waves his fingers. "And last but certainly not least, this is our son, Datu."

"Omg! I have a grandchild! I call dibs!" As a short, brown-haired woman comes over to us, she brings the four of us into a group hug. "Hi! I'm mom, it's nice to meet you all. Now, hand over Datu Paolo!"

As I watch Saltano's mother interact with Datu, I wish that I could watch this happen with my own mother. Sadly, I'll never see that day.

It's as if Saltano could sense my change in mood, because he pulls me closer to him, and I lay my head on his shoulder. Whispering in Italian, "va tutto bene Bella, sono proprio qui, e non ti lascerò tanto presto" [it's alright Bella, I'm right here, and I'm not leaving you anytime soon]

Wiping my few tears, I watch as Saltano's family interacts with mine, and we become one big family. Hopefully, it's the same when all eleven brothers are here. It's not hard to miss the giggles that are sent our way from a group of girls.

Not long after arriving, Saltano has to head to a meeting. Jave and Jessé head to the living room with Datu and Saltano's mom, whose name I learned is Donna, while I cleaned a few bottles and prepared milk.

The group of girls quickly come over to where I am and assist me, "oh, you guys don't have to do that! It's nothing much I can't handle-"

Being cut off my what seems like the oldest, "you are the first girl Saltano has ever talked about, let alone brought home. Plus, you don't remember us?" Taking a step back, I really look at all of the girls.

When I get to the last one, she is shorter than the rest, "I remember you most of all! You were yelling the whole time that you're the life of the party! I never put two and two together."

Finishing up, I put the newly fixed bottles on the side of the refrigerator and head to the living room with the girls. Going in, I see Datu is asleep in Jessé's arms while Donna talks to him. Jave seems to be on FaceTime with Vincenzo and Chase, so I just sit in between the two and lay my head on Jave. "Tired?" Nodding my head, I tell him I'll head to my room with Datu in about 30 minutes.