Mob Boss Series Book #1: The Russian Heir

Chapter Twenty Two: Family Reunion Part 1

Bryce's POV
Being raised by a woman who was once a super model exposed me to runway shows at a young age. I remember sitting in the front row with my father watching tall beautiful women walking down the runway. Sometimes dad would shield my eyes from anything he thought I was too young to see. He has never missed any of my mother's shows. She always winked at me every single time she strutted down the runway past me.

I have not been to a fashion show since the last time she walked the runway. It was years ago before we moved to Russia.

My grandparents insisted on spending the day with Lettie and I. So far, so good.

"You keep glancing at your watch. Do you have somewhere else to be?" I asked him.

"You would think all these years would teach me patience." He chuckled. "I hate bringing Kei to runway shows. She has to meet the designer and buy something in the collection." He rolled his pale blue eyes.

"Were you ever disappointed in my mother for choosing to be a model?" I asked him.

He folded his arms across his chest. "Very." He answered without hiding the disappointment in his eyes. "I wanted more for her. I'm not saying that this is not a job but it's not what I was raised to believe in. Marcelle excelled in business school, top of his class too. He has been the CEO of Bale Industries for over twenty years now. I won't lie, he's my biggest achievement and I'm proud of him for that. Marcella went to nursing school. I wish she would have been a doctor instead but she turned that down for nursing. Which is okay. Ella is an architect. Matt and Miki also excelled in business school. They are both CEOs. Maia is a real estate guru and has even added a subsidiary to Bale Industries. All that and there is Bella." He shook his head.

His eyes lit up when he was talking about uncle Marcelle.

"Is uncle Marcelle your favorite?"

"No." He answered firmly. "Why do you ask?"

"Because your eyes lit up when you talked about him."

"He's my biggest achievement. That I won't deny. Is he my favorite? No. Marcelle is not my cup of tea. Don't let anyone lie to you kid. Every parent has that kid they are extremely fond of and that kid they keep wondering what went wrong. I won't use the word favorite. I'll just say that Marcella is the one closest to my heart. The one I'm mostly at war with is Marcelle. Twins but two extremes. Who do you think is closer to your father's heart between you and Brody?"

"I'm not sure." I chuckled. "Brody has the brains. He and dad can have seriously intellectual conversation."

"It's not about brains. If it was that sapphire eyed devil would have been the one I'm fond of the most. He's the brightest bulb."

"And the dimmest?"

"I'm not going to answer that." He bust out laughing.

"And your favorite grandchild?"

"Oh boy. I am spoilt for choice where that is concerned. I love all of you."

"Is it Juan?"

It is obvious Juan spends a lot of time around nonno. They are close. I hate it. Before we moved to Russia and I stopped seeing nonno every other day, I was always with him.

"No. Juan and Marcelle, same person." He answered with widened eyes. "That shit is creepy. It constantly feels like I'm raising Marcelle again but the difference is that Juan lacks emotion. But the groundwork is th same."

"Where do I rank?"

He smiled at me. "Let's step outside." He pulled his cap low. I followed him to the streets of Milan. There's a gelato place across the road. He loves gelato. If there's anything he won't share it's that.