Book 2✔️ Between The Mafias

5. The one with the Shirtless Cowboys

"Emi!" Shirtless Jack got down from the stallion gracefully. I ran to his embrace, taking in his familiar warmth, inhaling his skin that smelled like the afternoon sun and home.

Leonardo cleared his throat, taking my attention back to him. "Sorry, Leonardo this Jack. Jack, this is Leonardo. He will be staying with us for a while as my guest. Come on, Leonardo, I'll introduce you to everyone. They're usually at the back."

Matteo put our suitcases inside the house before going back outside to stand on guard near the car. Jack, Leonardo, and I  joined the others at the back of my childhood home.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. You need to get one of your guys to get a few bottles of fine whiskey from town. Get those back here as offerings if you want your stay to be enjoyable." I grinned at him. He paused his step while still resting his hand on my back. From the corner of my eye, I could see Jack was leading the stallion towards the stables to have him settled with the rest of the horses.

"Emilie!" Shirtless Sam and shirtless Danny both came walking my way from the barn area.

"Damn it, Emilie! Why are all the guys here are shirtless? Should I take my shirt off too, just to get your fucking attention?!" Leonardo was getting annoyed. I could see the tension in his stance, his jaw clenching as if his anger was about to flare. His hand gripped my waist tighter.

I laughed at him. "Leo, it's the afternoons. After hours of rounding the cows and training the horses, their shirts were usually drenched with sweat. They will dress again, after their showers. Don't tell me you're jealous?" I teased him, poking his side.

"Emilie you're always making me jealous. I already told you. You're my weakness." He whispered his words in my ear. I touched Max's ring. It has become a habit now that Leonardo frequently makes advances towards me. I needed to remind myself that I have Max. That I'm carrying his child.

Sam and Danny hugged me tightly, making Leonardo clear his throat once again. But he tried to remain calm and waited to be introduced. "You guys! You need to put your shirt on. My city friend here is not accustomed to men showing too much skin." I looked at the Italian mob boss grumbling. My smile grew wider in mischief.

"Right! And you're in a habit of bringing guys back home now, Emi? Who's this now?" Sam was asking for it. He stepped closer, obviously trying to be intimidating.

Wow... Down Sam, he's got a gun.

"Sam, Danny, this is Leonardo, my friend. He will be staying with us as my guest. Leo, this is Sam and Danny. Now, where are Celia and Papa? I'm going to look for them. Leo, do you want to freshen up?" I asked him.

"I'm good Emilie. I'm just going to take Matteo around the ranch's perimeter before dark if it's possible." He looked at me knowingly. The guys gazed at me but they just shrugged and left us alone. Saying they were going to get ready for dinner and that they would meet us later.

"Right, erm... Okay, I guess. I don't know what you're going to tell the guys. But I'm not comfortable with them knowing that you're with the Mafia and my life is in danger." I whispered my words to Leonardo. Sam and Danny had already left to go clean up.

Leonardo escorted me into the house before going out and joining Matteo to check out the premises. I left him be and got inside the house only to be greeted by Celia's and Papa's voices. They looked like they were having a serious conversation. It only took moments before Papa noticed me. He looked at me and studied my expression before he raised his eyebrow like he realized something had happened to me. Something that I should've told him earlier before coming back home. Because at the same time, Celia was giving me that 'I'm sorry' face.

Shit!

"Afternoon Papa. Is there something wrong?" I hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"When are you going to tell me that you're pregnant? I didn't expect this from you, not before marriage. We're traditional people. We have values. Is he going to claim the baby and marry you? Is Max here with you now?"

"Oh Papa...I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I let you down." My tears started to flow. All the frustrations, in addition to being confronted by Papa, had torn down my walls. Hearing him tell me that I didn't have family values and had pushed and twisted more pain, forcing my heart to hurt.

I shamed him.

Celia came to me and hugged me. "I'm sorry sis, but it just slipped out of my mouth. I know you wanted to tell him yourself. It's my fault. I truly am sorry."

"Celia! Stop it! Let your sister speak for herself."

"Papa, it's complicated. But he had asked to marry me already. He even bought the ring, before knowing I was pregnant. But we needed to wait. I love him and he loves me, Papa. My baby will have a father and a grandfather that will love him. Also, an aunt who will spoil him rotten." Celia was in happy tears, taking my ring finger and admiring it. Papa finally relaxed, settling back down on his chair.

"So, is he coming today with you? He hadn't asked my permission to marry you. As I said, we are a traditional. I have words to speak before letting my oldest daughter live with someone and start her own family." He took my hand and kissed my temple. Papa actually looked sad when he said that I was leaving him for another man.

"Oh, Papa. I'm not going anywhere. Nothing will change. I will still come here and visit you with my little cowboy."

He finally grinned. His face looked brighter.

"So, it's a boy? I've always wanted a little cowboy." Celia and I both laughed.

"Max thought, it'll be a boy. But he was okay with having a princess too." Celia was sighing beside me, looking like a happy aunty already.

"Alright then...so, that settled. Now, where is he?"

"Max is still in the city Papa. He has his other business to take care of. That's why I said it's complicated. I have to wait for him to settle his business stuff first. He's having issues with his father's side of the business. But as soon as he's done he will come here. I will make sure of it. You can warn him, spank him, and do anything you deem appropriate to make sure that he will take good care of me in the future."

Papa laughed at my words. "Look, Emilie, don't take too long, okay? I don't want Max to change his mind about you. Not that I want to push him to be my son-in-law. But this is his responsibility as a man. He has to man up." Papa explained, stroking my cheek lovingly.

At the same time, Leonardo decided to enter the house, making everybody turn around to see him.

Ugh...perfect timing as always.

****

Amanda: Your Dad is on point, sweet Emilie.

Amber: He is...but I'm also here for the shirtless cowboys 😏😉

Angelica: As am I 🥰

Ivan: Really, Ange? 🙄