Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Beta'd by HollettLA.

There's no summary for this one. I never wrote one. Oh well. There's obviously a time gap between Kylie and Sonny POVs - about 7 months.

Also, our favorite wiseguys from Las Vegas make appearances in these first few chapters - the Maisano family from Cara's Grand Series! For those you who haven't read Grand Tale, Grand Vendetta, or Grand Finale...The Maisanos were featured in a couple of chapters in "Riders on the Storm." Anthony Maisano (I LOVE HIM!) and his son Nicky came to visit NY, when there was a party for Edward Sr. at Eclipse. Then, Nicky Maisano was in the Las Vegas chapters, when Aro and Skip popped Heidi. Remember?

Enjoy :-)

"Back in the Saddle"

Chapter One

Sonny/Santino POV

It was no surprise when Nicky Maisano got down on one knee and asked Carli to marry him.

She said yes, which wasn't a surprise, either.

While we convened at my parents' for an early dinner with our distant "relatives"—the Maisanos from Las Vegas—everyone wore a smile.

My cousin, Carli, was a starry-eyed mess.

Months ago, at her brother's wedding—Ant's wedding—Carli left the reception with Nicky Maisano. My brother noticed, as did a few others, and no one cared. Especially not Dame and me. I mean, I thought they were sneaking off to a hotel. My cousin likes sex, but I wouldn't exactly call her a ho.

I don't know. She could never seem to keep a man. She'd either get sick of them, or they wouldn't stick around. I thought being single was her thing. Carli always seemed happy, and even happier when she moved to Manhattan.

But then my father got a call from Anthony Maisano.

Carli had gone back to Vegas with Nicky, and she stayed for a couple of weeks.

My cousin's gonna be thirty-one years old, and she's obviously not married, nor has she ever been.

No one gave a fuck, but Maisano reaching out to my father was the right thing to do . . . since it's still 1912 and all.

Uncle Carlisle is over the moon, happy about them being together. It'll be another match made in heaven—a union that would bring with it a great many things—including bringing our two families together.

Anyway, my parents' house was filled to the brim with people.

I actually couldn't wait to get out of there.

The dinner was sudden. Maggie and our kids weren't there. Dame and Jordan didn't come. Kylie and Gio came through with my nephews, but they took off early 'cause Gio's gotta work.

As far as I know, Jordan and Maggie are chillin' with the kids near my pool, and I bet Gio drops Kylie and the boys off at my place before going to Midnight Sun.

When I'd called, I didn't put too much pressure on my wife. She's nine months pregnant with our fourth baby, and I didn't expect her to get the kids washed, dressed, and presentable before Mom served dessert.

My wife had already played her part, too. Yesterday, she hosted a lunch at our crib for Maisano's wife, Gabby. My mother, Carli, Kylie, Jordan, Hanna, Alex…all the women were at my house while my father and I took my boys to the batting cages. Aro, Gio, and Little Peto came, too. An hour later, our simple outing turned into something bigger. My uncle showed up with Maisano and Nicky, and we all had a pretty good time.

I wished I could head straight home tonight, but I couldn't.

We were all heading out to Eclipse—the men, anyway—so Dad and Maisano can hammer out more details.

They spoke in hushed whispers with my uncle while we were in the limo—on our way there. I honestly didn't mind that Dad took care of business. Maisano knows me, has done business with me in the past, but he felt more comfortable handling shit with my father.

I'd brokered the whole deal with Boston, hooking Ant up with his wife. That was a mess, and a pain in the ass. Unlike our bullshit alliances with Jersey, Philly, and even Chicago—Boston…? We've never truly had beef with them before. Ironically, back in the day, when a group from Boston had come to New York, we did have a problem.

After another dude named Nicky had gotten out of line, whatever, his boss wanted no part in it.

He didn't give a flying fuck and practically served that dude to us on a platter.

They didn't want a conflict with us, but they didn't necessarily want to be our "friends" either.

Dame had handled the hit.

Shit calmed down, and we've had no problems since. We allow them to venture into New York—within reason—for business purposes, and we always get a piece. They're cool, hardcore, but they truly never had anything we'd wanted.

An alliance wasn't necessary.

We'd always been able to be amicable—dealing with this or that—until I took Ant up there with me last year.

Now, they had something my cousin wanted.

Anthony's gay, no bones about it, but he met Vincenza, and he wanted her.

I was dumbfounded at first, but Vincenza's father was all over it. So far, Boston hasn't asked for anything big…yet. It's only a matter of time. Usually, when shit like this is conducted, business deals are made—both families profit.

The reason I'd gone out there in the first place was because Giuseppe—the boss, who they call Papa Joe—reached out to me. Their numbers aren't what they used to be. Supposedly, the Irish and the Russians are moving in on them. They saw potential problems and realized they couldn't deal with both groups by themselves.

I was reluctant to go out there since I knew what was going on already.

And I didn't give a fuck.

But I had to go to Boston. I didn't have a choice. If I'd denied Giuseppe, we'd automatically have problems.

Beef with them wasn't something I worried about either.

Again, I didn't give a fuck, knowing they couldn't hurt us.

At first, my father told Papa Joe to shit in his hat—put up or shut up, what the fuck were they gonna give us for our help?

However, I try not to burn bridges.

Ant's crew would bear that burden—a few New York guys stomping around Boston. My cousin and his crew head up there at least once a month. They lend hands when they're needed.

Besides maybe the ports in Boston, they still have nothing we could profit from. I tried to no avail to figure that one out, how interstate commerce with them could benefit us.

They have the same shit we do—clubs, sports books, bookies, shylocks, money laundering, their own dealers, and so on and so on.

My cousin gained his dumbass wife from Boston.

That's it.

And now Ant has to deal with those assholes.

I won't budge an inch.

Unless one hand washes the other, and we make some money—actual money—they're not allowed to migrate south.

Now, Carli marrying Nicky Maisano…?

The possibilities were endless.

Still on our way to the club, Nicky was pretty quiet, and my little cousin Eddie, who's not little anymore, buzzed in his seat next to me. He's twenty-three and in his first year of law school. This was his first time riding with the big boys, I guess, although I know it's his first time at Eclipse.

Dame, Ant, AJ, Gio, and me…Fuck, we'd all come here for our eighteenth birthdays and again for our twenty-firsts.

As enthusiastic as he was, I was surprised he hadn't tagged along sooner or just fucking stopped by.

Again, he's twenty-three, and his money's green.

I tried to ignore him.

Because he's an immature, pussy-crazed idiot, but I digress.

Nicky's going back to Vegas with his parents tomorrow to tie up some loose ends. He'll be moving to New York in just a few weeks, and I didn't know how I felt about that yet.

That was Carlisle's only stipulation; he didn't want his daughter moving across the country.

Nicky's got his button, is a made guy, and he's a nice person. I just don't know him very well, and he's my newest capo—plans to open his own nightclub in Manhattan.

Essentially, by his joining our family, we'd be making bucket loads more money. He'll bring a new business, and that also meant we'd get our hands on more shit in Vegas.

Now that shit was exciting.

I fucking love Las Vegas.

Granted, I haven't been back since Maggie and I got married, but there are many opportunities to make money over there.

I've been in the game a long time. Sure, when I was a little shit on Aro's crew, gathering tribute and scheming for a buck was a pain. But I've come in to my own.

The past seven years have been amazing—money-wise, too—and I was tired of the petty tit garbage that's Eclipse.

Eclipse isn't even mine. I'd acquired it when my father wanted me to set up shop someplace. Initially, that was my intention when I bought the brokerage, but Eclipse is some kind of landmark for wiseguys.

Establishing some shit in Vegas might take me farther from the things I'm doing now, but…

What if I invested my money into a casino?

A hotel?

New developments pop up all the time out there.

They have land…I could build something, which would mean more of my money could be made by legal means.

"Oh, did I show you this?" Nicky smiled, leaning to show me his phone. "I took Carli to the Grand Canyon."

"Cool." I furrowed my brow.

"Look, there she is with my grandparents." Carli was standing in the desert with Nicky's grandparents.

"Nice." I smiled.

"Oh, I wanna go out to Vegas so bad," Little Ed said. "Fuckin' Sin City, the sex industry…?" He stared at Nicky. "Why do you wanna move here, bro? New York is fuckin' boring."

Before my cousin could carry on, curiosity got the best of me. I placed my hand on Nicky's forearm. "There any money in that?"

He sighed. "We got…clubs like Eclipse. We deal with some madams and pimps, which is nasty business," he whispered. "No real money in it…just nickel and dime shit, like protection money." Nicky turned to my cousin. "Strip hos don't hand out freebies…You gotta pay for that shit. You should find yourself a nice girl who's willing to give up the goods."

I snorted, looking out the window.

"Nah…'Cause then…" Little Ed seemed at a loss for words. "I don't wanna get married."

Nicky nudged my elbow. "You remember thinkin' like that? Being young and…stupid."

"A cooz-hound," I laughed, slapping my hand to his.

"Hey!" Li'l Ed got mad.

I sighed while we pulled up to the curb.

But then my cousin pushed me out of the way to run for the club.

"Yo!" Uncle Carlisle shouted out to him.

"That little motherfucker," Dad laughed. "He's just like you were."

Uncle Carlisle didn't comment.

"Eh…you haven't really changed, but you try," Dad teased, crooning and holding Carlisle's chin. "You fuckin' ho."

"You were like that, Baby Skip." Maisano smirked at my father. "You even remember that?" I had no idea what the fuck he was talking about. "You was just a li'l shit."

But Dad evidently knew, and he chuckled. "Yeah, I remember," he agreed and bumped fists with Maisano. "Damn…that was a long time ago."

"Oh! I remember that—when youse visited the first time." Carlisle nodded.

Maisano gave my uncle a wry grin. "But you're not fourteen, so what's your excuse?"

Dad thought that was fucking hilarious for some reason.

"Fuck you." My uncle guffawed, and they trailed into the club.

To be polite, because my father…has no manners, I waited for Nicky and Maisano before I went for the door. They're both kinda quiet and reserved. The glitz and glam of Eclipse didn't faze them, and I'd bet they had clubs twice the size and much nicer in their neck of the woods.

There were barely any people here since it was early.

Aro sat at a booth toward the back with a couple of guys, and I escorted Nicky and Maisano their way. Introductions were needed, so our friends knew they were friends of ours.

Then I excused myself to join my father, uncle, and my cousin again. They had shots lined up on the bar. After all, this was some kind of…rite of passage for Little Ed?

Carlisle tsked, tapping Li'l Ed's hand when he went for a shot glass. "Not yet." He playfully slapped his son's cheek. "There are rules."

Dad nodded, chuckling and downing a shot.

"Rules?" My cousin faced me.

I shrugged, leaning back near Dad. "What are these rules?" I asked my uncle.

Carlisle widened his arms. "What happens at Eclipse…?"

"Stays at Eclipse." I finished for him.

"Right." My cousin's eyes were bright, but that little motherfucker had no idea.

And I wondered how hard my uncle planned to party tonight with his son here.

"Yo, get him a lap dance and…" Dad trailed off, raising a brow at his brother—a silent warning that he should behave himself.

"He'll be cool." Carlisle placed his arm around his son. "You ready, kid?"

"I was born ready!" Ed was enthusiastic.

Dad and I watched them head closer to the stage. "Fifty bucks says Li'l Ed clocks that motherfucker before eight p.m."

"I dunno." I was honest.

"I'll swing the odds in my favor." Dad pointed to himself, and that sounded like a challenge. "I'll talk about Alex—his mother." My father never misses an opportunity to screw with—punk—his brother.

I rolled my eyes. "I doubt Carlisle's gonna…step outta line."

There's a certain level of understanding between Carlisle and his eldest, Anthony. I know Ant hates the shit his father does, but they have a deal.

While my uncle accepted and encouraged Anthony to come out of the closet—after he got a fucking clue—Carlisle urged his eldest son to accept the things my uncle couldn't change about himself.

Also, when Ant got his button, he had no choice but to turn the other cheek—and leave his old lifestyle behind. No one made him do that. He must have wanted his stripes more than cock. I don't know.

But Li'l Eddie is a different person. It's like he wears rose-colored glasses, and while he's a momma's boy…I just don't think he truly gives a fuck.

Dad felt along my ear. "Look, my hand's dry—you're not wet behind the ears."

"All right." I smiled. "Fifty bucks…says Ed's down with it. They party, have a good time, and…he'll probably be here tomorrow." It's not like Carlisle's gonna let some skank suck him off in front of his son. If he never did that around Anthony, I can't see him being that free around Li'l Eddie.

Then something dawned on me. "Is he here for another reason?" From what I'd heard, Carlisle had originally been trying to keep Li'l Ed away from Eclipse because he didn't want him involved—all of it or none of it, those are the rules.

"Well…" Dad gazed at his shoes. "Carlisle drops dead, that's your new legal counsel."

"Fuck that," I spat.

Dad knit his brows together. "He's always been weird. No respect, but he's smart—a nerdy little fucker just like my brother."

"Little Eddie?" I asked.

"I said legal counsel. You don't gotta put him on a crew. Christ. Imagine? It'd be like…Mr. Magoo in the 'hood or something . . . Nah, fucking Forest Gump!" He cackled.

"You think your uncle was always down?" He quirked a brow. "He didn't get his button until he was like…twenty-seven. When Carlisle was younger, he was an idiot savant—more idiot than savant but still smart. He just had no common sense when it came to this thing..." Dad showed me his palms. "Pussy would always cloud his judgment, but he knew his shit, was second in his class at law school, and he had a good head for business. That Ivy League motherfucker."

I didn't say anything.

"There are some people born to do what we do." He gestured between us. "Others, they have to be groomed." He walked away from me. Then he came back toward me to grab his forgotten drink. "But that doesn't mean anything. You want the law firm? Take the fuckin' bar exam…lazy motherfucker," Dad mumbled, leaving me again.

I just waited 'cause I knew he'd be back, and I was right. He whipped around to face me once more. "I didn't mean to call you lazy."

I nodded, accepting that, but I didn't give a fuck—wasn't offended anyway.

"I thought Nicky was gay," he whispered.

Confused, I shook my head.

"Last time they came through…" Dad waved a hand. "He was chillin' with Ant."

"Like…chillin' or chillin'?" I asked.

He scrunched his nose. "I didn't see your cousin suck his dick or anything…"

I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying not to laugh. "I don't think so…I mean, even when Ant used to…you know, he'd never share his business with associates."

"Carli's old." He kept his voice hushed. "Even Ant had enough sense to grab a hot, young chick. I love my niece—don't get me wrong. She's gorgeous and all…but she's thirty-one. Maybe she's knocked up?"

"She's not old," I disagreed. "She's younger than me."

"But she's, you know, getting hitched now."

"It's not the Middle Ages anymore, where middle-aged was like…twenty-five." I patted his back. "I think they just connected, fell in love."

Dad still seemed torn. "You think it's really that cut-and-dried? Maisano…he's really not asking for much. He's more worried about how his son'll be treated here—rolling out the red carpet for me." He pointed to himself.

"Carli would know," I said. "Trust me."

"Oh, yeah…she's a pig. She'd know." He nodded. "You know what? Maybe I wasn't as good a dad as Carlisle, but my children aren't nearly as fucked-up. Youse all had your moments—"

"Who said he was better?" I asked. My uncle has always been my friend, not necessarily my uncle, and I have no idea how he'd fathered his kids. "How are they fucked-up?" My cousins—hell, everyone in this family has quirks.

"He's all sensitive and shit. I always told'youse how it was."

"You still spoil Kylie, treat her like she's twelve, and she's got two kids," I said. "And, Damion…forget about it. You were sensitive." As a parent, I could understand, too. "You were what we needed—different with all of us because we were all different."

He stared at me. "Did I hug you enough? Not them. You?"

I widened my arms. "What? Where is this coming from?"

Dad wrapped his arms around me because he's a fucking weirdo. If he wanted a hug, he could have asked, or just fucking hugged me. "All right. Good talk. Make Nicky feel welcome." He walked toward the back again.

Before I joined them, I instructed the bartender to bring a few bottles over—ice, glasses, the works.

Dad, Aro, and Maisano had no interest in socializing. They disappeared into the office, and I had a responsibility to make Nicky feel comfortable. That was my job, but the poor guy seemed stiff, like he didn't know how to act.

I found it odd since, like I thought earlier, he's familiar with this setting.

"Pick your poison," I told him. "Help yourself." I gestured to the bottles.

He grabbed the Jack Daniel's to pour some into a glass.

"JD," I commented, topping off my own. "You all right?"

Nicky nodded, eyes on his glass, and I could take a guess as to why he's uncomfortable. No doubt, his father told him not to be the slightest bit disrespectful. He's here with his own pops, my dad, and his future father-in-law.

I'd keep my eyes on my glass, too.

"Look…you can get a dance, sit back, relax," I explained. "My uncle…he's not gonna give a fuck."

Nicky chuckled, staring out to the floor. "This is a nice setup…really nice broads." He tilted his head, watching Paula swing on the pole by her legs.

"Did'ju see that shit?" Li'l Ed shouted, and I heard him over the music. "Yo!"

Paula paid him no attention, continuing her routine. She's not stupid, and she's the hottest dancer we have, and Ed's young ass had no money in his hands. He stood by the stage with his father.

"You like that?" I asked Nicky.

He smiled, taking a sip of his drink. "I'm good."

I didn't believe him, nor did I think he was gay. He wasn't foaming at the mouth like my idiot cousin, but…

When Nicky looked to his cell phone again, I leaned back, placing my arm over the booth while I stared at Paula. She knows, like they all do, to keep an eye on my guests. She met my gaze a second later, and I pointed down to Nicky.

"Oh…where you goin'?" Ed hassled her as she left the stage. He kept his hands to himself, honoring the other rule we have here at Eclipse. Well, actually, you're just not allowed to touch the dancers unless you have their permission. Otherwise, it's looking not touching.

I stared at my uncle, who was getting a kick out of it.

He, too, quickly met my stare. Carlisle nodded at me, ushering his son to the other end of the stage.

Paula came over to offer Nicky a dance, and he offered her a drink.

Whatever floats his boat, I thought, although Paula's not the best conversationalist.

Bored, I sat back with my drink, wondering what Maggie and the kids were doing at home.

I think she'd said she'd order pizza tonight, but we have all those leftovers from yesterday…

The sausage and peppers she made were bangin'.

"Hey." Ed joined us again, grabbing a glass to mix and match the booze. "Whatta you doin'?" He stared at me. "This is…the fuckin' den of iniquity, and you're sitting with this one?" He pointed to Nicky. "Oh…she gonna dance?" He slid into the booth. "Hi…I'm Edward Cullen."

"No, you're not." Paula snorted, nestling into Nicky's side. "Who is this kid?"

Ed placed his hand on his chest, nodding. "I'm Little Ed."

Paula pouted. "Are you really…? Little Ed?" She wiggled her pinky.

"Oh, no…th-that's not what I meant." He guzzled his drink before slamming it back down. "You're beautiful." His face was flushed.

I chuckled, watching Nicky whisper something in her ear, and a second later she was crawling over to Little Ed.

"Holy shit…" Ed exclaimed when she'd straddled him.

"Oh!" Carlisle shouted, a girl under each arm. "What's this?"

His son ignored him, and Little Ed had no idea what to do with his hands, as Paula started to grind into him.

"Are you joining us?" I asked Carlisle.

He looked down to Christy and Starla. "In a bit." Carlisle escorted them away.

"What is this? They never seen tits before?" Nicky asked.

"You wouldn't think so," I sighed. "Seriously. Everyone's chill…do what you want, like I said."

He pursed his lips, shaking his head. "I'm just waitin' on my pops. We leave early tomorrow, and Carli's waitin' on me."

I nodded. "You'll be back soon."

Nicky began to ask me questions, regarding how he'd go about getting a liquor license, if we had connections with construction companies. I dug that, getting down to business, and I became totally engrossed while I rattled off certain details. It kept me busy, washing the boredom away for a while.

"I figured it'd be…sorta the same out here. We get cheap labor from across the border," he explained.

"Depending on what zone you set up shop in, they'll be bids—within the union," I said. "Winning bid, best deal gets the job, and they'll start construction right away. You'll also…have a few on your payroll, who will be no-shows."

He chuckled. "Right…I know how that works."

Knowing my uncle was going to hook him up with a legal gig for the time being, I didn't say any more.

"I got Carli looking for a house. I dig Brooklyn, but she likes Staten Island." He frowned.

"Staten Island's a dump. No lie. Your backyard'll smell like garbage, and then you got that Jersey trash miles away," I sighed.

"New Jersey," he mused. "Now those motherfuckers know how to step on toes."

"Eh…they get uppity, we stomp 'em to the ground. They've been quiet the past few years."

"Oh my God!" Little Ed mouthed, staring over Paula's shoulder at me, and then he dove for her tits.

"You're adorable," Paula laughed, weaving her fingers into his hair. "Lemme show you somethin'." She left his lap to take his hand.

"Wh-what?" he stammered.

"Just go!" I shouted, about to push him outta the booth.

Little Ed didn't have to be told twice and trailed after Paula.

"I'm impressed," I admitted after they'd disappeared.

"I slipped her a C-note," Nicky said. "He's…gonna be my brother-in-law."

I snorted, patting his shoulder. "Yeah…and you know Ant already. Everything'll work out." I was trying to be really nice, but I had no idea what to say.

Nicky leaned back, staring at the stage. "What's a Benjamin buy you here? I'm curious."

"No idea," I said. "I've never had to pay…for anything here. Even when I was single," I explained.

"You're on number four already…kid number four." His eyes widened. "I put off getting married for a long time. I wanted to be settled in other things…" He smiled. "Meeting Carli…I'd met her before, years ago. But I was two years older, and it wouldn't have looked right." Nicky shrugged.

"You guys hooked up before?" I asked.

"No." He scoffed. "She was like…sixteen back then, but she had my attention. I didn't see her the last time we visited. It was your grandfather's party or something . . ." He sipped his drink. "He still alive?"

"Yeah." I nodded. "I got married at twenty-seven." I didn't know how long he'd been working for his father, but I'd been around the girls, the bullshit, and everything else since I was seventeen. After meeting Maggie, and after ten years of partying pretty fucking hard, settling down wasn't a hardship at all. "I wasn't young, either."

"But you're not old now," he laughed.

"Well…" I felt I'd aged more than a decade the past few years.

"I'm supposed to meet up with a Gio when I come back?" he asked. "Who's that?"

"Oh, Peto…Aro's son." I'd seen them talking earlier, so I assumed he knew who Gio was.

"Your sister's husband?" he asked.

I nodded.

Nicky grimaced. "But who is he?"

"Unfortunately…no one," I said. "He manages Midnight Sun, and he'll probably go over the shit we'd just been talking about. Getting you hooked up with the right people."

"He's not a friend of ours?" he asked.

"Aro will be with you." I placed my glass down and looked to my watch. It was only going on seven-thirty p.m. "You'll be respected as a capo…They know who you are." I wondered if he worried about that. "Look, you're not out on a limb here. You're gonna be family, which means we'll all look out for you." I could understand his being wary, Maisano worrying about him. He's not coming out here with his crew. It's just him, and he'll more than likely acquire a few free agents. "Aro'll get you accustomed to certain things. You need papers, legal documents, you talk to your future father-in-law. Otherwise…you have any problems, you can call me." That was the biggest welcoming gesture he'd get from me—my number, my help.

These days, I broker most sit-downs. I oversee and associate with our captains, but Aro's old ass is still out there, taking care of business.

Nicky grinned. "It's cool…Your father and your uncle are real nice. I think I'll like it out here."

I raised a brow. "Right…you do the right thing, you won't have any problems." Being an actual member of this family only takes you so far. I'm who I am now, but I worked my ass off for it, for the respect, the money, and the title. Most would think it was easy because of my father, but it was actually harder trying to prove myself because of that fact. I honestly had no idea how hard he's worked out in Vegas, the inner workings of Maisano's organization. I know Nicky's no pussy, but that's all I really knew—heard he was more brawn than brain, muscle, while his brother was the businessman, TJ.

Plus, he's seeing everyone carefree, partying and shit.

It might be a different story a few months down the line.

Us nice guys could be seen as pricks, although I hoped for the best.

Thank you for reading.

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