Little Angel

Chapter:41

Vivian Flammery.
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The cobblestone streets of Florance shimmered under the afternoon sun, and for the first time, the beauty held no allure for me. Right now, the nervousness is eating me from the inside. My palms were slick with sweat, and my heart was a frantic drum against my ribs.

In the opulent confines of our sleek limousine, I sat anxiously, my thumb tapping an erratic rhythm against my palm. Gabriel noticed my unease and reached out to take my trembling hand in his.

“Are you alright, Bellissima?” Gabriel’s voice, usually so smooth and reassuring, carried a hint of concern. He glanced at me, his blue eyes searching mine. “You’ve been quiet all day.”

“I’m fine,” I managed, forcing a smile. “Just… a little nervous.”

“About what?” He lifted a brow, his expression skeptical.

“Meeting your nonna and nonno,” I admitted, my voice a mere whisper. “It’s… just a big deal, you know?”

''Amore mio,'' he whispered soothingly into my ear, and a gentle smile spread across his face, his deep voice as always a salve to my nerves. ''Nonna and Nonno will adore you. You are the love of my life, and they love me. By extension, they will love you too.''

I nodded, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Yes, Gabriel loved me, and his family loved him. But what if they didn't approve of me?

I am not from their world, and I have nothing to offer Gabriel but my love. What if they thought I was not enough for him?

Hannah shared my apprehension. It was her first time meeting her Italian family as well, and the weight of their expectations pressed heavily on her young shoulders. I would have reassured her, but I am having a nervous breakdown myself.

Gabriel reached over and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Nonno and Nonna are going to love you both; stop worrying for nothing," he reassured.

Daisy, our three-year-old bundle of joy, obvious to our nervousness, squirmed in my lap, her tiny hands clutching a stuffed animal as she bunched in anticipation of meeting her great grandparents. Hannah sat beside me, a mixture of anticipation and trepidation etched on her young face. It was the first time either of us had met them.

My heart pounded in my chest as we approached the quaint Italian village where Gabriel's family resided. I couldn't shake the nervousness that gnawed at me. This was my first time meeting his beloved Nonna and Nonno, and the weight of their judgment hung heavy in the air.

As we pulled into the cobblestone driveway, I noticed Gabriel's hand tighten around mine. He gave me a reassuring squeeze again, feeling still very uneasy. ''Don't worry, amore,'' he whispered. ''They'll love you.''

As we approached the majestic estate where Nonna and Nonno resided, my anxiety reached a fever pitch. Italian tradition was paramount in our family, and the thought of meeting Gabriel's grandparents filled me with a strange combination of excitement and dread.

And it didn't help that Gabriel's dad just told me how hard it is to win them over and how long it takes him to convince them that he will take good care of her daughter.

He had a video call with me last night and kept on scaring me until Madre slapped him on the head and told him to stop scaring me for nothing.

She had assured me that they would love me, and even if they didn't, which would not have happened, I have them.

I am lucky that his parents love me. You can't tell that they are a mafia family if you don't know it, but then when I meet Gabriel, I can't tell either that he is a fucking mafia boss.