His Bambina

Chapter 33

The next morning I slept in until 10:00. Luckily after the late night of game-show drama Sergio agreed to make brunch around 11:30. I don't feel as crappy this morning, as if a weight has been lifted. Maybe the understanding in Sergio's eyes helped me feel less at fault for my actions.

I take an extra long shower before throwing on my mickey mouse jean shorts and a black long sleeve. I throw my hair into a messy bun then quickly find myself over analyzing my appearance in the mirror.

I'm stalling. I know I am. I scoff at myself, I shouldn't care who I run into downstairs. Even if it's the man who once held my heart. The one I know will always have his hold on it.

My sock-clad feet make their way to the kitchen, and the sound of sizzling bacon fills the room. Sergio is freshly showered after his morning training session. His chirpy 'good morning' is the complete opposite of how Amelia is in the morning, making me giggle at the thought of how they must work together.

I smile and return the greeting before sitting at the kitchen island. The bar stool next to me scrapes against the wooden floor and someone plops into it.

"True or false, you hate us." My eyes meet serious hazel eyes. I stare at him in shock, one for no longer giving me the silent treatment but also for him even thinking such a thing.

"No, Toni, I do not hate you guys. I could never hate you."

He's relieved at my answer, but still doesn't fully relax. "Okay then, true or false: Something- someone made you run."

I cringe, but there is no sense in lying, not when I've already failed to do what the stranger demanded of me. I sigh, "True."

"They're blackmailing you." It's not so much of a question but he waits for an answer anyways.

I flinch, contemplating on telling them everything. I look over my shoulder and decide against it. Despite knowing I can trust the two men in the kitchen with me, I'm unaware of how many eyes and ears my blackmailer has here, if any.

That seems to be all the answer they need. Toni nods and leans his elbows against the counter. Sergio places our plates in front of us, and we eat in silence.

Toni's leg bounces on the ledge of the bar stool telling me there's more he wants to say, but it's Sergio who breaks the silence, "You could've told us you know? We would've helped."

Helped how? Helped get me the men and protection Vincenzo refused to give me? Or would they have helped me get back home unseen?

I deflate feeling silly about the whole thing now, "I know, I should've. I just... I thought I could handle it on my own."

"Well is it?" The two look at me and I feel at a loss. Is it handled?

"I- I don't know." Toni puts his hand on my back, a comfort I didn't know I needed, "You're not alone sorella. You know that, yeah? You're family, and no one messes with our famiglia."

I nod fighting back the tears. Sergio looks around before lowering his voice, "Vincenzo left for a business trip. If we need to go check on your family-"

I shake my head, "No."

Toni chimes in, "Even if we sent a few men, then maybe-"

"No," I look at them desperately, "I already asked Vincenzo for his help and his men, and he refused. He made it very clear he did not have the manpower to 'waste' on my family, and I will not let you two risk going behind his back. With my men and Nico at home with my father that should be enough. Who knows, it could've been an empty threat anyways."

The boys look unconvinced but fortunately they drop the subject. Instead we finish brunch and Toni jokes about how he kicked Sergio's butt in training. The smug look on Sergio's face tells me that wasn't the case, but he doesn't bother arguing, only listening to Toni's fable tales.

The next day the boys invite me to their morning sparring match to be a witness of who truly is the better fighter. Although Toni is extremely great at combat, he's cocky once he gets a few hits in, and Sergio is calm and collected, getting the best of Toni every time.

That becomes my new routine for the next week. I wake up with the sun and train with the boys. After Toni is done getting beat by Sergio, Sergio teaches me some new tricks in hand-to-hand combat before we call it a day and eat breakfast together. Then we go our separate ways which usually entails me pacing around my room trying to keep myself sane.

It's Sergio's turn to make breakfast for the three of us and he decided to put together my favorite of his dishes: strawberries and crepes. Although an extremely sugary breakfast that we most likely shouldn't eat after working out, my mouth drools at the smell.

Bernardo, Vincenzo's cousin, gives me what looks like a glare as he walks past us. I adjust my workout tank top, and self consciously wipe away the sweat on my face. I try to get accustomed to the many stares and curious glances I get from the others who live here. I'm sure they're all formulating their own stories of why I'm spending so much time with these two men and wondering what happened between Vincenzo and I. Do any of them even know I tried to run away?

"Well, well, look who's finally awake." Toni's smile is wide as he pulls in a quiet Emily in for a hug. Her braids are messy and her lilac pajamas wrinkled and she rubs the sleep from her eyes.

She pushes away Toni as he ruffles her hair, then freezes as we make eye contact. Her nose crinkles and her eyes begin to gloss. Like a bulldozer she barrels into me, enveloping me in her embrace.

"I am so sorry-" I shush her, hugging her tighter. She has no reason to apologize for anything, and for her sake the boys still think she was left in the dark as well.

Emily wipes away her tears and sits to my left and Toni to the right.

"Buon appetito." Sergio serves us each a plate and we thank him before digging in.

I moan at the sweet and savory taste as the crepe practically melts in my mouth.

Toni frowns, "You didn't moan for me when I made breakfast yesterday."

I deadpan, "You 'made' cereal and used the last of the milk before we could serve ours."

He brushes my comment off claiming that minuscule detail is unnecessary to the point. Emily laughs which only makes Toni's eyes shine brighter.

"Damn Emily you should've seen this girl training with Sergio today. She just may be ready to take me on."

"Yeah you should come to training sometime!" I nudge Emily and she looks at me wide eyed, as if it's the last thing she'd ever want to do.

Sergio scoffs, "The only time you'll ever see Emily wake up earlier than noon is if her bed is on fire, and even then someone may have to drag her out."

"That is not true!" She throws a spare crepe at Sergio, just barely missing his head.

"Hey, hey, no need to throw food. I would've eaten that." Toni laughs and pulls me in for a side hug as he ruffles my hair as I pout staring at the wasted crepe on the ground. I try and fail to push him away, "Besides it doesn't have to be during morning training, I'll take you down right now."

Toni wiggles his eyebrows, "Oh that eager for me to pin you to the mat, eh?"

Laughter erupts from the table, then a cough from behind us bursts our bubble. Green eyes are burning a hole through Toni's arm, "Is this a habit of yours? Flirting with men in the middle of my kitchen?"

I glare back, of course those are the first thing he dares to say after not seeing me for weeks, "What can I say? It's a very romantic kitchen island."

Vincenzo grunts before leaving us without another word. I roll my eyes. What an egotistical, arrogant, caveman.

" Well, I hope you're not left-handed, Toni, because he's definitely cutting that off later." Sergio chuckles and begins cleaning up our breakfast.

Toni just stares at where Vincenzo once stood, "You've just signed my death warrant. I'm a dead man."

Emily giggles and pats him on the back, "You will be missed. On the bright side, we'll throw you such a beautiful funeral."