You Again (Completed) ✔️

56.

Cole's POV

Half an hour later, we pulled in front of an Italian restaurant. The driver stepped out of the car and opened the door for us. Riley was the first one out of the car, and she headed straight to the restaurant's door.

I step out next and wait for Eliana to leave the car. "Can I hide behind you when we get in there? I don't want to face our Uncle's."

She laughs. "That's not going to work, Cole. They found out you were here when they returned from their Italy trip."

"So, they went home?"

"Yes, they needed to find a way to get you back into the family." She grabs my arm and leads me to the restaurant. She opens the door, and we enter.

Looking around the room, I see hanging lights that don't make it bright, candles on tables, couples holding hands and whispering things to each other, and some rose petals on the table as well.

I should bring Julia here when I bring her to New York to meet my family.

My five uncles stand up when they see us approaching the table. Mario, the eldest of my uncles, steps forward and holds his hand out to me. "Hey, Cole. It's good to see you again."

I shake his hand. "Same back at you, Uncle Mario. Why didn't you stay in touch after Dad passed away?"

He looks away from me as he says. "We don't associate with families that turn their back on the family. Do you remember what happened to Uncle Giuseppe?"

Shaking my head, I say. "No, I've never been told the story."

He throws his head back and laughs. "Damn, my brother didn't want you to know anything that happened in the family." He points at the chair opposite him. "You should sit down while I tell you how Amalia's family came to power."

A waitress with black and brown hair looks at us and says, "Can I take your orders?"

Mario smiles at her and says. "Can you come back in ten minutes?" looking at us, he added. "Do you want anything to drink?"

We placed our drink orders, and then I waited for my uncle to start the story.

Riker is sitting at the head of the table. He leans forward, "Mario. We've heard this story too many times. Maybe it's good that Cole doesn't know about it."

Mario ignores him and says, "Your great-grandfather Alessandro was the head of this family, but he had an affair with the Nanny. When the Nanny found out she was pregnant, your grandfather left the family. He made sure that one of his brothers took over. Leaving his wife and kids to fend for themselves. He started his own family and became a Marino. That name meant more than the Mesi's. After Alessandro had another son, he found out that due to complications during the pregnancy, she might not be able to have any more kids. Alessandro went back to his ex-wife and had sex with her. He wanted more kids, and then, during a holiday he took with his new wife, she got pregnant again, and then he made sure that he wouldn't be in touch with his old family again. When the eldest son was twenty, he took over the family and married a woman connected to the Moretti mafia family, which is located in..."

I cut him off by saying. "Los Angeles. That's how Amalia became the head of the family. That family isn't as huge as ours, is it?"

He shakes his head. "It's smaller, but it seems like the Marino family is falling apart because a woman is in charge. I doubt her husband will be able to make the Marino family great again. I'm starting to think they've seen their final days."

I don't think Amalia is ready to be defeated, so she comes to Los Angeles to practice with her favorite cousin.

After picking up my menu, I looked through it before choosing a pizza for dinner.

The waitress returns with our drinks and places them in front of us. "Can I take your order now?"

We place our orders, and she walks away.

Antonio clears his throat and says. "Now that we've got you here, Cole. We want you to join the family again. We're not doing that well without the correct heir at the head of the family."

Looking at Riker, I say, "Riker's doing a terrific job. Why are you all trying to get him pushed aside?"

Mario hits the table and says, " Your father let his twin take over, and it made us lose money. Riker is doing a better job than his father, but he's not a businessman. That's you, Cole."

"No, that's my final decision. I won't jump because that's what you want me to do. My father wanted me to have a normal childhood, which I got. Then, my cousin found me and trained me. If it weren't for Riker, I wouldn't know how to fight and use a gun." Standing up I look all my uncles in the eyes and say. "Riker's keeping the job. If you go against him and cause problems I will come back and kill you all."

A smile spreads across Riker's face. He looks at me. "You still have my back after all these years."

"I'll always have your six, cousin. If you need me I'll come. I'm not going to let people run you out of something you're made for."

The waitress returns a couple minutes later and she places the food in front of us. We thank her as we get our meal. She walks away from the table and talks to another waitress who looks in our direction and giggles.

Angelo, our third uncle smiles at me. "I'm glad that you're sticking to decision that was made for you by my brother. He was smart to get his family away from this. Sometimes, I wish it was me that got away and that my family was alive right now."

I never knew he had a family. I really don't know much about my family at all and that's because Dad didn't want me to know too much.

"I'm sorry."

He reaches for his glass of water and takes a lengthy drink. "Don't be. It was my fault I left my family at home without any security. Another family broke into my house and wiped out my family. After that day I couldn't imagine being with anyone else and I became a killing machine. I took out every member of that family and it still doesn't make me feel any better."

"Losing your family isn't easy. I miss my parents every day, but if it wasn't for Julia's family I wouldn't be strong enough to decline being part of this family again."

Angelo nods. "I want to meet the girl that's made my nephew so happy."