Book 2 - Between The Mafias ✔

The one with the Shirtless Cowboys

"Emi!" Shirtless Jack got down from the stallion gracefully. I run to his embrace, taking in his warmth, inhaling his skin that smells like the afternoon sun.

Leonardo was clearing his throat, gaining 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, then stand on guard near the car. Three of us joined the others at the back.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. You need to get one of your guys, to get a few bottles of fine whiskey from town and get them back here, if you want your stay to be enjoyable." I grinned at him, he was walking resting his hand on my back. While Jack was putting back the stallion, with the rest of the horses.

"Emilie!" Shirtless Sam and Shirtless Danny, came walking my way from the barn.

"Damn it, Emilie! Why are all the guys here are shirtless? Should I take my shirt off too, just to get your f*****g attention?!" Leonardo was very tense, I can see his jaw clenching. His hand gripped my waist tighter.

I laughed at him. "Leo, it's the afternoon, after hours of rounding the cows and training the horses, their shirts 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 touch Max's ring. It has become a habit, now that Leonardo always making advances towards me. I need 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 tries to remain calm and wait to be introduced. "You guys! You need to put your shirt on. My city friend here is not accustomed to a man showing too much skin apparently." I looked at him smiling wide.

"Right! And you're in a habit of bringing guys back home now Emi. Who's this now?" Sam was asking for it.

Woww... 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, you want to freshen up?" I asked him.

"I'm good Emilie, I'm just going to take Matteo around the ranch if it's possible before dark?" He looked at me knowingly. The guys looked at me but they just shrugged, and leave us alone. Saying they're going to get ready for dinner, and will see us later.

"Right, erm... Okay, I guess. I don't know what you're going to tell the guys. But I'm not comfortable them knowing that you're with the Mafia, and my life is in danger." I whispered my words to him. Sam and Danny already left to take showers, and get ready for dinner.

So Leonardo escorts me to the house, then went out to Matteo to take a look at the premises. I leave him be. And get inside the house to be greeted by Celia and Papa. They look like they're having a serious conversation. Then Papa looked at me like he knows something, that I should've told him earlier. Cause Celia had that I'm sorry face look.

Shit!

"Afternoon Papa. Is there something wrong?" I hugged him and kiss 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 he here with you now?"

"Oh, Papa...I'm sorry, I'm sorry if I let you down." My tears started to flow, all the frustration, now confronted by papa, him accusing me that I don't have values.

Celia came to me and hugged me. "I'm sorry sis, but it just slipped out of my mouth. I know you want to tell him yourself. It's my fault. I'm 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 I still have to wait. Look I love him, and he loves me, papa. My child will have a father, and a grandfather that will love him, and an aunt that will spoil him rotten." Celia was in happy tears, taking my ring finger and admiring it. Papa finally relaxed and settled back down to his chair.

"So is he coming today with you now? He hasn't asked my permission to marry you. As I say, we are traditional. I have words to speak, before letting my oldest daughter live with someone, and start her own family." He took my hand now and kissed my temple. He actually looks sad, about me 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 is brighter.

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

"Max thinks, it's a boy. But he's okay with having a princess also." Celia was sighing beside me, looking like a happy aunty already.

"Alright then. So that settles then. Now, where is he?"

"He's 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 postpone and wait for him to settle his business stuff first. He had complications, with his father's side of the business. But soon as he's done he will come to you. I will make sure of it. You can beat his ass off, to make sure he will take good care of me in the future." He laughed at my words.

"Look, Emilie, don't take too long okay? I don't want him changing his mind about you. Not that I want him as a son-in-law. But this is his responsibility. He had to man up." He stroke my cheek lovingly.

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