Marry Me Mafia

The Interview

Renee walked into the kitchen and witnessed one of the cuesta sights she'd ever come across. Antonio was practically being held hostage by Hannah and Ava, over a nearly empty bowl of cream cheese frosting. The girls each had wooden spoons with a generous amount of frosting. Antonio was holding the bowl over his head, as if he were protecting it with his life from a pair of tiny starved wolves. "No!" he shouted, "You have enough! Eat what you have, and if I have any left, I will give you both the bowl!" Antonio looked at me almost pleading, "Signorina, pre favore, Help me, they are wild animals." Renee couldn't help but laugh, "Hannah, Ava what will your uncle Nico think, if he sees you both in here, fighting poor Signore Antonio?" Hannah and Ava stopped their assault and both pouted, "But, Auntie, he promised us frosting." Being called "Auntie" took her aback for a second, but she quickly recovered, "Well I see two wooden spoons covered in frosting, so it would seem that Signore Antonio gave you the promised frosting." Hannah and Ava looked at each other, both taking a massive bite of frosting from the spoons. "Now why don't you go sit down at the table, before your uncle comes down, and I will personally get you each a big cinnamon roll?" The girls pouted, but walked over to the table sulking the entire way. Antonio took a deep breath, and thanked her. "No problem, can I get their breakfast and two sippy cups of milk please? Without a word, Antonio handed over two Disney princess plates, each with an enormous cinnamon roll each and the matching sippy cups both with whole milk. "Thank you, Antonio," she whispered. "Prego, Bella," he replied. Renee turned and was careful not to lose a hand. She placed the breakfast in front of the girls carefully, before grabbing her own plate and joining them at the table. Halfway through her own bit of blissful cinnamon goodness, Nico made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen. He walked over to the kitchen table and absently kissed his nieces' heads, before laying another one on Renee's cheek. "Good morning to my three beautiful princesses." "Eat, before your little band of heathens here, get it all." Renee said, picking up her own plate and taking it to the sink. "Oh, they'd leave some for their favorite uncle, wouldn't you girls.?" he called to the girls. "Uncle Nico," Hannah replied with her mouth nearly full of the sugary bread, "You're the only uncle!" Nico nodded, "True, so that would also make me the favorite?" The girls just giggled and kept eating. Renee looked over at Nico, now dressed in a pair of dark blue dress slacks and a cream button-down dress shirt. 'Damn', she thought, 'I could eat him right here.' She then looked over at the clock on the wall, 8:40AM. She looked back at Nico, who was watching her carefully. She just looked into his eyes, and mouthed, It's almost time. Nico made a small nod, and walked over to sit down at the table beside the girls. "OK, girls, we are having an important talk today before the nice people come to interview us. First things first, is your room clean?" The girls nodded yes, mouths still chewing. "Good, the people are going to ask you a lot of questions about Auntie Renee. What did we agree to say?" In unison, the girls said, "Auntie Renee is gonna be Uncle Nico's wife. She is beautiful, smart and brave, and we love her very much." Renee could only smile as she glanced at Nico, "Stockholm Syndrome?" Nico just shrugged. "OK, girls, what do you say when they ask when Auntie Renee and I are going to get married?" The girls looked hard at their hands for a second, before looking up and ingenuously spouted, "Yes, and we are going to be their flower girls, because auntie promised." Renee walked over and placed her hand on the girls' shoulders, "OK, that enough girls, you both go upstairs to your room, and I'll bring the interviewer up to you when they get here." The girls wiped their fingers, and took their plates to Antonio who kissed their heads. The girls took the elevator, leaving Nico, Antonio and Renee in the kitchen. Antonio excused himself to take out the trash, and Renee walked over to Nico. "I hope this goes well." Nico held her close, "It will. Come on, let's go into the living room. We can wait for the inquisition there. They sat together on the sofa, fingers softly intertwined. They went over birthday dates, and the entire story of how they met. At his late brother's wedding, she was someone's plus one. She and Nico had almost instant chemistry, but he was very patient with her, not wanting to push, as she was fresh out of a bad relationship. He proposed last month, and she had said yes. He hadn't told his family, as they had just had the girls and didn't want to appear to steal anyone's thunder. He even added that, for the girls' benefit, they had restaged the proposal last night. "I don't think we'll have a problem convincing them we are together, "Nico kissed her fingers, "I can't stop wanting to hold you." Renee blushed, "How can a dangerous mafia boss, always make me always feel safe?" Nico just shrugged, "I don't know who that can be, I am just a successful business owner." To which, Renee rolled her eyes.

it was 9:04AM when the doorbell announced their visitors. Renee walked over and opened the door to find a heavy-set woman in her 50s holding a clipboard, followed by a tall slender woman with long blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail, wearing a very fitted black skirt suit. The heavy woman introduced herself as Mrs. Yolanda Brooks from DCFS, and the other woman was Dr. Valarie Skinner, Family and Childhood Trauma advocate. Renee called Nico before turning back to Mrs. Brooks and Dr. Skinner. "Babe!, DCFS is here, can you bring the girls down?" Dr. Skinner raised an eyebrow, "Babe?" she repeated. "Oh, yes, I am so sorry I haven't introduced myself. I'm Renee, Nico's fiancée." Mrs. Brooks looked almost relieved, "Oh honey, I am so glad to meet you. It didn't show in my records that Mr. Frenetti was engaged. How long, if you don't mind me asking?" Renee knew very well that the game had begun. "Well, technically, we've been dating for almost a little over 4 years. Nico and I met at his brother's wedding. I had come as someone else's plus one." Nico stepped up behind her and flawlessly finished the story. "We just clicked immediately, we danced and talked. It was like we had always known each other." Dr. Skinner's face took on a pinched look. "Well," she said, "I am just going to walk around and do my evaluation." Renee didn't miss a beat, "Oh here, let me show you around, I wouldn't want you to get lost." Nico, I'll show her to the girls' room first, ok?" She looked over to Mrs. Brooks, "It was a pleasure to meet you, I hope we get to talk a little before you leave." Mrs. Brooks just smiled and nodded. She and Nico sat down on the sofa to talk. Renee escorted Dr. Skinner toward the elevator. "Please one moment," Renee asked as she pressed the open button. "Dr. Skinner, are you the court-appointed family counselor as well?" Skinner didn't look at Renee directly, but answered, "Yes, today is supposed to be my first interview with... Hannah and Ava?" She read off the girls' names from her clipboard. Renee had a prickly feeling about the good doctor, so she started the game with a punt, "Losing their mom and dad so young is very difficult, but the girls have a solid support system here. Nico and I both just love them so much." The elevator dinged and the doors opened. The two women stepped inside. Dr. Skinner looked down at her clipboard, I also have no records relating to you, Ms. Renee…?" "Sonnier," Renee replied. "I can help fill in those gaps if you like." Renee knew this woman probably came to do more than evaluate. She had that air of a narcissist who thought she could get whatever she wanted, with enough tight clothes and makeup. Renee knew her type. Renee had a sister who was the exact same way, and they had been no contact for years. Renee figured she'd stomp this flaming turd into the ground where she belonged." I'm a military veteran, U.S. Navy, E-7. My specialty was Cryptologic Technician and Electronic Warfare. I held a TS/SCI clearance until 2025, honorably discharged in 2018, 3 college degrees, including one from Harvard Law and another from Syracuse University. I own a business, I own my own home. Nico and I love those girls fiercely, and I will never try to take the place of their mother. Oh, nice suit, by the way, Marshalls?" Skinner looked as if Renee had just pissed on her shoes. "Thank you, umm no, I think it came from Macys. So you have an impressive military background. What about your status as a veteran?" Renee knew where she was going, "My status? Not certain I am following you?" Skinner thought she had found a c***k in the armor, "Well, as a medical professional, with these girls' best interests at heart, can you tell me, do you suffer from PTSD?" Renee had her, "That is a strangely personal question about private medical records, Dr. Skinner. I think if you want that information you will need a few signatures, including my own. Or perhaps I should contact the state medical board and the AG's office for clarification?" The door to the second floor opened and Renee stepped out casually. "Or we can just end that line of questioning here, unless you'd rather bring that up with Mrs. Brooks downstairs?" Skinner smoothed her skirt carefully stepping out of the elevator. "Ms. Sonnier, you seem defensive, any reason," she retorted. "Renee just smiled at her, "No reason really, but I can also say that you have no reason to ask me about my private medical records, as they are not pertinent to the welfare of the girls. Now I suggest you get on with your evaluation, or I can simply make a call and get a new doctor assigned to their counseling sessions," Renee had enough. She knew all too well the look of a woman who saw a rich single man with kids and thought they'd found a payday. Dr. Skinner looked furious at being called out for her bullshit. Renee simply tilted her head up, turned and walked to the girl's room; the door was ajar. "Hannah, Ava, this is Dr. Skinner. Remember? She is the doctor the judge sent. She came to talk to you girls about how much you loved your mommy and daddy. She also wants to talk to you about your Uncle Nico and me. Hannah and Ava are playing on the rug with dolls. They both turned around and jumped up, hugging me fiercely, "Auntie! Breakfast was so good. Tell Antonio thank you for us, please?" Renee smiled at the two little angels, "Oh, sweet girl. You can both tell him at lunch, OK, baby? I know he'd rather hear it from his favorite princesses." "Right now though, I'm going to sit over here on the bed, and Dr. Skinner here is going to talk to you both, OK?" In unison again, the girls agree, "OK." Dr. Skinner looked uncomfortable with me remaining in the room. She smiled thinly, "I'd rather speak to the girls, alone Ms. Sonnier." Renee raised an eyebrow. "Well, my mother used to say that if wishes were horses, beggars would ride." Dr. Skinner's face pinched, "It is in your "fiancée's" best interest to cooperate with the family counseling sessions. Renee just smiled back, not appreciating her tone one bit. "I'm sure, but as Nico is their guardian, and as his fiancée, I am also their guardian, I am not comfortable leaving two young minors in a room with a stranger. I'm sure you'd agree?" Skinner forced a smile, and gave up. So Renee walked over and sat on the bed, pulling out her phone, she covertly went to her AI photo recognition software app and took a quick photo of Dr. Skinner. While Skinner was asking questions like, Do you miss your mommy and daddy? Did Uncle Nico or your Aunt ever scare you? All the while, Renee was working. It took less than 20 seconds before she had found several indiscreet images from the good Dr. Skinner's OnlyFans page, not to mention three fully nude ones from a sugar baby website. "Well, that's enlightening." Renee remarked to herself. Dr. Skinner was using a doll now, trying to have the girls complain about inappropriate touching. Hannah and Ava looked at each other, almost appearing to speak telepathically. Hannah was the first to speak up, "Your weird! I'm going to tell my uncle Nico about you! Ava started crying, her ears turning red. She jumped across the room into Renee's arms. "Auntie, I don't like her, please make her leave!" Renee stood up cradling Ava. She looked right at the doctor, and coldly said, low and menacingly, "It's time for you to leave. NOW." Skinner startled, stood up, quickly adjusted her skirt, and began trying to explain that counseling was a process and someone like me, who was uneducated, would surely not understand. Renee noticed the door moved just a miniscule amount. She realized quickly that the elevator door must have opened, so Nico and the interviewer had come upstairs. Renee held Ava tightly and spoke clearly, "I do not find your behavior towards the girls professional in any aspect, Dr. Skinner. I have watched patiently and silently as you have made several attempts to coerce the girls into making false accusations of s****l and physical abuse towards both myself and their uncle. I find you repulsive in every way, but most of all, I despise women who attempt to use their bodies and positions to prey on the weak." she continued, seeing Nico and Mrs. Brooks appear in the doorway. "I will be placing a call to the AG's office as well as the Louisiana Board of Medicine, for an ethics review, immediately. " Dr. Skinner had poor Hannah's hand in a death grip, the little girl's eyes were full and tears were dripping down her soft cheeks. "So, I am only going to say this once, RELEASE MY NIECE'S ARM, NOW." Dr. Skinner looked down, and her eyes widened when she realized immediately what she had done. She released Hannah's little arm and the child ran crying to Renee. Renee could make out the red marks and bruises on the poor little girl. Certainly some were Donald's work, but this piece of s**t doctor had added gasoline to a bonfire. Renee looked murderous, "You assaulted my niece in our home. When I am done with you, I'm going to hang your diploma over my toilet." Mrs. Brooks had seen enough, she had been on the phone, but hung it up and dropped it into her pocket. Brooks then cleared her voice, causing Skinner to jump. "Doctor Skinner, you will be escorted from this home immediately and placed in a police car on charges of assaulting a minor. I will file a report for a "No-Contact" order regarding the girls and I will also make a recommendation to the court to re-evaluate your counseling services in family court, today." Skinner looked like she'd been slapped and with what little amount of self-preservation she still had, making herself as small as she could and walking past Nico and Mrs. Brooks to the elevator. The girls were completely distraught. They clung to Renee for dear life. Renee had been trying to hold back her tears, but she was failing miserably. Watching that horrible woman try to manipulate Nico's girls just to hurt Renee made her sick. She looked at Nico pleading, "That woman can never come back. That was horrible to watch." Mrs. Brooks stepped toward the girls in her arms, she could see the marks on Hannah's little arm and her face immediately went cold. I am going to make a report. Please tell me everything that happened." Renee looked at Nico rather than Mrs. Brooks. "When we went into the elevator, he said she didn't believe I was your fiancée. Then she started asking personal questions about me. I answered everything that I felt comfortable answering, but when she learned I was a military veteran, she started making these sick inferences that since I was a veteran I had PTSD, and wouldn't be safe around the girls. I told her I wasn't comfortable speaking to her about my medical history, and that if she wanted that information she would need a medical release form. She became visibly irritated and when we got to the girls' room after a moment of watching her with the girls, I commented to her that I wasn't comfortable leaving the girls alone with her. So I sat on the bed opposite where she was, and just took out my phone to check emails and the news. Then I watched as she took poor Hannah's arm when she wouldn't give her the answers she wanted. She kept asking if you or I had hurt them, or touched them. Hannah and Ava were crying, so I stepped up and told her to take her hands off my nieces. The girls were so scared Nico, that woman was crazy. She has no business being around children, period." Had Renee over embellished, yes, but the truth was plain, Skinner had grabbed the girls, hurt Hannah's arm, again, and made under the table threats to Renee. Skinner was trying to falsify the court records to her advantage, so hell no. If Renee had to put on an Oscar-winning performance for the sake of the girls and Nico, then a few tears would fall. Mrs Brooks wrote down every word, before hugging Renee and the girls. "Baby, I am so sorry this happened. I am going to turn in my report about today as soon as I get back to the office. I will request a new family grief counselor too." She turned to Nico, "Mr. Frenetti, I want you to know I am more than satisfied with yours and your fiancée's ability to take care of these little girls. The home is clean, there is plenty of food, the girls are well cared for and are most of all loved." I will let the court know that the first interview is complete and DCFS is satisfied." Nico didn't smile, but nodded, "Thank you, Mrs. Brooks. I'll show you out." Renee sat back down in the bed with Hannah and Ava, who were now sniffling. "It's going to be OK, babies. Nobody is going to hurt you again." Hannah looked up and saw that everyone else was gone from the room. She tugged her sister's sleeve and said that it was OK. Ava looked up, and a smile crept onto her face, "Finally." Hannah and Ava hopped out of my arms, "That skinny lady smelled like bad fruit and farts!" It took Renee a half-bet, before she realized what had just happened, "Did you two do that on purpose?" Hannah looked at her with absolute innocence, "Do what?" Renee realized at that moment that these two little girls had just orchestrated the toddler version of 'The Sting'.