Disclaimer: I don't own them… SunflowerFran made this pretty. I own any and all mistakes, and I don't share.

Edward:

I tap the ashes of my cigarette into the crystal dish on the windowsill.

I tried to go to sleep but each time I closed my eyes I'm back in that bathroom ... In the old house.

Blue, vacant eyes under red-tinged water.

I shiver and take another drag of my cigarette.

There's a breeze carrying the smoke away from the bedroom and I wonder if the Feds can see the cherry of my cigarette with their camera lenses.

I close my eyes again, and it's all there...

The car

The baby

The bathroom...

I thought it was behind me; that I'd come to grips because I have my son. He survived and so did the other baby. It was … Even. I guess. I shake my head and take another drag.

But here she is, that girl who looks just like her mother, and the fucking Aros are back in town and it's like history is repeating itself.

All fucking over again.

The tapping of my cigarette sounds as if it is echoing in the room.

I get up and walk over to Bella.

She's sleeping. I run my fingers over the skin of her shoulder, gently, and walk out of the room.

I make my way to the living room, and when I get there, I look around and frown. What the fuck am I going to do in here? I rub my hand over my face and sigh.

I hear footsteps on the stairs and a few seconds later, Matteo walks into the room, chuckling when he sees me.

"You couldn't sleep either?"

"I didn't want to wake your mother. Let's go sit outside, yeah?"

I grab two bottles of water as we walk through the kitchen and make sure the alarm is turned off before opening the french doors leading out to the patio.

"So, what has you awake at this hour?" I ask my son, and light yet another cigarette.

Matteo eyes my cigarette. I roll my eyes, tossing the pack across the table.

"Thanks," he says quietly, lighting it and taking a long drag.

"What's up?"

"I don't know. I feel like something big is happening but I don't know all of the details to be prepared for it. And you know me," he shakes his head, tapping his cigarette on the cap of the water bottle. "I overthink everything. "

I nod and stare at him. He's grown up a lot faster than I wanted him to.

I guess it's inevitable in this life. All of this shit, always in your face. It was just wishful thinking on my part that he wouldn't figure things out until he was older.

"What do you want to know?"

"What's the deal with the Aros? Why are they so hell-bent on fucking with us?"

I frown; he couldn't start with something simple, could he.

"I'm going to need something a little stronger if we are going to talk about this shit."

I stand up and walk back into the kitchen. I reach into the freezer and grab the bottle of vodka I have stashed there.

After grabbing two glasses, I walk back outside.

I pour myself a shot and down it, before filling up both glasses and sliding one over to Matteo.

"It all started over a woman ..."

I give Matteo the entire story, leaving nothing out.

Beginning with the Buccieri fuck-up with the Aros, all the way to Felix showing up in Chicago.

I explain all of the bullshit with Alice, and how we tried to save her by sending her to Ireland but she ended up back here, and that's when things went haywire.

My son now knows that Bella delivered Grace; and that I killed Grace's mother.

He knows that the Aros are responsible for the car explosion that took Gianna and Demetri from us.

He knows why I cried like a baby when his siblings were born.

But most importantly, he knows I've loved him since the day he was born, and that I will do anything to protect him.

We sit quietly for a long time and I've finished off at least half of the bottle of vodka.

I'm taken by surprise when Matteo clears his throat.

"So, okay," he nods. "Okay. Mom was involved last time—really, fucking involved. But it sounds as if they were just trying to distract everyone."

He stands up and starts pacing, and I watch as he works through the shit I just told him.

"Grace's mom was another pawn in their game. Another distraction to hide the fact they were doing business in Chicago.

They had everyone moving in different directions and no one noticed that the Aros had basically set up shop right under everybody's nose."

He pauses, and I'm pissed because I feel like a fucking idiot all over again.

"Pops, they made you think it was personal last time. They knew that if they could get everyone's emotions running on high, they would be able to do whatever the fuck they wanted."

"Yeah, I know and it fucking worked."

"Don't you see that they are doing the same thing now? This asshole, Michael, knows that there is a history with Grace, and he's using it to fuck with us. Of course, he wouldn't know the intimate details about how she was born," he frowns and shakes his head. "But he knows that her mom was a huge part of why his father is dead, and he doesn't care what happens to her. Grace is the expendable pawn in this game they're playing."

"Yeah," I say, narrowing my eyes. This kid's brain is moving in the right direction.

"What if we play the same game? Scramble, fly off the handle, put on a show. You know Luca, Frankie and I can completely fuck some shit up, and if we get in trouble, it will look as if you, Mom and Alessandro are off your game. But in the background, we use Grace to help us find out why this asshole is here, what he's planning, and we kill his plan before it can even get off the ground."

"The thing is, I think this kid is emotional about this. He wants revenge and I'm not sure I'm willing to play that game."

"What choice do we have?"

I pull out my phone and dial Jasper.

"Fuck … Hello?" Jasper answers the phone, but it's more like a groan and then I hear a woman moan in the background.

"Seriously, motherfucker? Call me back."

Ugh … Dirty asshole. Why the fuck does he answer the phone when he's fucking?

"What happened?"

"Don't answer the phone when you are … with someone. It's fucking disrespectful and no one wants to hear that shit."

Matteo's face scrunches up and he finishes off the vodka in his glass.

"How am I supposed to look at Zia Giselle now?"

A shudder runs through his body and I laugh.

O_o_O

I walk into the restaurant at the Blackstone Hotel and look around.

It's noisy and busy and I'm already annoyed.

I've talked to this guy on the phone, but he's cancelled this meeting twice. I'm curious about him, and wonder if he'll be on the up and up.

I walk up to the hostess and give her my name. She smiles and leads me toward the back of the restaurant.

"Edward," the man says, with only a slight hint of an accent.

"Miguel," he smiles brightly, and shakes my hand.

"I hope you like tapas," he gestures toward the food already on the table. "I just ordered a little of everything."

The server sets a plate in front of me and asks if I'd like anything else.

"Can I get a beer, whatever you have on tap."

"Yes, sir."

"A beer man. Very good," Miguel raises his glass and takes a drink.

"So, Edward," he smiles, taking a piece of shrimp from his plate.

He waves his hand and laughs, "This is really good. Please eat!"

I place some food on my plate, a little confused by how … jolly this guy is. He's older, graying hair and beard, but he's fit and his eyes are sharp.

"I know your family worked with my brother for a long time."

I nod, and take a sip of my beer to wash down my food.

"Yes, we got along well."

"That's good," his eyes are on me, scheming. "We are dealing with the situation that he is in but we do not want to interrupt this arrangement between our families. You understand?"

"Yes," I answer, eating a bit more from my plate.

I wrinkle my nose as Miguel scoops up octopus from one of the dishes.

He laughs when he sees my expression.

"An acquired taste, maybe?"

"Definitely," I say, pushing the plate away from me.

We eat quietly for a few minutes, eyeing each other, trying to figure out the next move.

"There was someone, he said he was associated with your family."

"He wasn't associated with us," I narrow my eyes. "He's been dealt with."

"Has he?" He asks, with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, his ... family is having trouble letting go. We'll deal with them, they aren't proving to be very ..." I wave my fork in the air and frown. "Smart."

Miguel looks at me for a moment before he laughs, very loud and heartily.

"That's good, I guess."

"It is. You won't have any trouble from our side."

Miguel puts his fork down and takes another sip of his beer.

He leans forward slightly and looks at me, his gaze very intense.

"I like you, Edward. I have a good sense about people," he taps his temple. "Let's finish our business upstairs."

Matteo:

Over the weekend, I pick up a phone for Grace. It's chipped, and I already linked it so that I can track the GPS and tap into her messages and calls.

I keep going over the story Dad told me on Friday night.

There was shit going on everywhere back then.

Felix was fucking with my dad by saying he wanted Mom. Alice was fucking with everyone because she wanted an out; Uncle Jasper was fucking with everyone to find out who he could trust.

The family kind of ditched Mom after I was born … Well, not the whole family, but Nana Esme did, and the others followed. Mom and Dad had a core group of people surrounding them. The same group they have now, it seems.

I wonder if someone got in my grandmother's ear.

Were there moles?

Was someone jealous about how things turned out?

Or, was she actually just jealous that Demetri and Gianna had named Mom and Dad as godparents before I was even born.

There are so many stories I could twist here.

I guess it's impossible to know what everyone was thinking. They were dealing with so many different situations all at once; people were dying, Dad was kidnapped.

It was a shit storm.

I'd love to get another point of view; pick everyone's brain, but I can't even imagine what would happen if I dared to ask. People already look at me with pity on my birthday, and I can imagine it would be much worse if I asked about that time in everyone's life.

I sigh and drop my head against the pillow.

Every birthday is … bittersweet.

I know it's the day my birth parents died, but it's also the day I was born. Mom is really good about making sure it's a good day for me.

I get my favorite breakfast and dinner. She bakes me a cake and everyone sings happy birthday. Spending the day here at home is always the best.

I'm hoping I can avoid the rest of the family this year.

I'll be sixteen in two weeks. Dad let me schedule my driving test for that morning, and I've got that shit. I've been driving since I was fourteen, there's no way I'm going to fail.

A knock on the door startles me.

"Time to get up," Mom calls out.

"Breakfast in fifteen."

O_o_O

Grace is waiting for us by the gate.

I keep my eyes on her as I get out of the car.

When I reach her, I stare at her for a few moments.

My mind is all over the place.

She is the daughter of our enemy.

She is a victim of circumstance.

She has information we need.

She can destroy our family.

She is a pawn … Expendable.

Her blue eyes are moist with tears; fear and sorrow is evident.

I wrap an arm around her shoulder and tuck her into my side.

I look over at Luca, and he looks at Grace for a few moments before his eyes meet mine.

This is it.

There's no going back now.

Let the games begin.

a/n: okay. so … I'm sorry I've been away for so long. RL has been extremely hectic. I do hope you like this chapter.

Thank you so much for all of your reviews and comments. I appreciate them. I'll try not to be away for so long again.

To those of you who celebrate, Happy 4th of July. Military families, thanks to you and yours for all that you do. Be safe and have a great weekend.