The Search

Chapter 15

Jade

Dinner was festive and the only boring person happened to be my Father. We had turkey for dinner and the aunts quickly went out last night to get gifts for the kids that could be placed under the new tree.

My brother's even got some for their spouses and the other way around. James even gifted me a necklace he thought I would like. Of course he put it in my room where no one would know.

Right as I'm about to take a sip of water the dining room door bursts open and in steps very familiar faces. I immediately stand but Alexander pushes me behind him raising a gun to Nikolai and my kids.

I go to speak but Nikolai's voice booms across the room, "you put your hands on my wife again and I will cut them off, do you understand me?"

They are all guarded by vests with FBI written in bold letters, a mafias true enemy really.

All faces turn to me momentarily, my brothers and Father completely shocked. "Mommy!" Ollie yells running forward before Nikolai can stop him.

He passes Alexander pushing him slightly as he is stunned in shock and runs into my arms.
I lift him up into a death grip kissing his head and cheeks.

He giggles as I put him down and he and pulls me to the rest of my family. Alex and Sophie hug me, Colten and Kit joining in. Lastly Nikolai stands holding Lexi and I lunge forward kissing him and hugging Lexi at the same time.

I take Lexi into my arms and she giggles happily, pushing her little hands against my cheeks.

I'm pushed out of my dream like state when a throat clears, I look to my left, my Father and Brother's glaring fiercely at Nikolai.

"Jade," my Father grits, "won't you introduce us?"

I clear my throat standing tall and lightly bounce Lexi who is trying to eat my hair. I start to point to them as I introduce them "This is Nikolai, my husband, Lexi my youngest, Ollie, Colten and then the twins, Sophie and her boyfriend Kit and..." I pause, "Alexander, who we call Alex."

Alexander, my brother straightens, real tears filling his eyes as he takes in my son. It seems he's realized Nikolai and I named Alex after him.

Alexander steps forward, "like, as in my name?" He looks at Alex. I nod in response and my kid looks at me in surprise.

"Really?" Alex asks me, "this guy?" He asks obviously pissed. He steps up to his uncle getting right into his face. Nikolai steps forward in panic. "The one who kidnapped my mom and treated her like dog shit to the point she ran away."

Alexander clenches his jaw bending his head back to where my Father stands, not moving a muscle. "I hate to do this Jade, send them in." He orders.

A bunch of armed guards swarm around us startling Lexi, she begins to cry. Kits reflexes has him reaching for Sophie and Nikolai reaches for Lexi and I. Alex grabs Ollie.

"Papa." I call out tears gathering in my eyes, "don't do this."

I silently beg for what seems like forever. They expected I would always follow their rules, one being no boyfriends. Well surprise.

But I've changed and they mean the world to me, the only reason he's raised guns at us now is purely for control. 

My Father must realize I have a family, and that they are also his as well.

His eyes visibly soften and he waves his hand for them to back off a bit and stop aiming the guns right at me and my kids. "I only want to talk, have a seat, let the kids eat." He says sitting back down telling us all to as well.

Nikolai puts a hand on my back apprehensively stepping forward. When James comes to interfere Nikolai stands his ground giving him a warning look.

The men in the mafia family have always been protective, but theirs a difference between protective and controlling.  Nikolai in fact, hating people who tried to control others. 

All the kids take a seat and I put Lexi on Nikolai's lap so I can go help Ollie get food. I cross over to him and begin dishing it up for him and I help cut up the harder things.

Everyone is dead silent but I feel their eyes watching me as I make a plate for Lexi as well. "You didn't tell us you were a mother." Luca states looking at the kids.

"I didn't know if they would have been safe or not," I shrug sitting down and take a sip of water.  Guilt flashes across his face, but not long enough I feel bad for being up front about it.

"They would have, your husband not so much." James glares, "seems to me he's on the wrong side, an FBI agent Jade?" He tsks.

Nikolai leans back putting an arm around my shoulder. "An FBI agent who's been keeping your daughter safe during the 18 years you couldn't." He smirks.

He gets a reaction of James but my Father just leans back taking a sip of whiskey. But he eventually speaks up ending the bickering around the table, "how did you meet?"

The unexpected question makes me pause, "we met working at the diner and well that led to other things such as the twins." I ignore his angered gaze helping Lexi eat another piece of Turkey.

I laugh, honestly kind of scared what their reaction might be.  "You started a life for yourself." Hudson says smiling instead. 

"Yes, I have my own fashion company, the parfaits?" I ask and Alexander's wife pauses.

"Oh, I go to your stores all the time, they're amazing." She gushes suddenly blushing when everyone looks at her. Alexander looks at her with pure admiration, kissing the back of her hand. 

He then looks at me with a proud gleam, but I look down at Lexi ignoring him. 

"Thank you." I smile and look at my kids, "of course I have made the best family as well." I grab Nikolai's hand and tickle Lexi sides who giggles.

Father looks at Sophie to Lexi and then back Sophie again. "You had more Italian principesse." He smiles rather fondly. Who knew so many emotions could swarm a room in one evening. (Princesses)

I nod, "yes, they followed my lead on that one."

Everything dies down, and soon everything goes back to reality. "The only problem is, how are you all going to stay here?" He asks. I pause my body tensing all over again.

What is with him and keeping me in god damn Italy.