Author's Note: Thanks, everyone for reading. I hope that you're still enjoying this, please let me know your thoughts! Also, as I mentioned in my past update, I'm working on editing this, which means the story might divert from the original posts. Finally, forgive my spelling errors, I'm trying to do read these over in-between classes. Enjoy! Xo

APOV

"What was that all about?" I look at my uncle in shock. His usual calm demeanor is no longer visible but was replaced by a very irate man.

"I told you to stay away from him," he reprimands.

"Why?" I ask flinching from his tone.

"He's a dangerous man."

"Really? Because, I'm pretty sure he wasn't the only one who was cocking a gun in my direction."

"Don't be ridiculous, none of them were pointed at you."

"Semantics," I sigh, "are you going to tell me what's been happening here or should I go and find Christian and ask him myself?"

"Your father really didn't tell you anything did he?" he sighs.

"No," I scoff, "don't worry, I already know your big family secret, I did my own research last night."

"Let's save this conversation for home okay?" he asks, taking my hand and patted it. "James take us through the garage instead."

"Yes, sir," James replies.

Once we were safe in the confines of the penthouse, he sat me down on the couch in the great room.

"Uncle Berto?"

"Yes, bambolina?" he asks rubbing his eyes and running his fingers through his hair.

"Please, tell me the truth."

He lets out a huge sigh and looks me straight in the eyes.

"When you came here, I thought you already knew about our family, but when I spoke with your father that idiot told you nothing," he spat. "Now your ignorance…"

"Is a liability," I reply, finishing his sentence. "Does it really change anything?"

"It does, because the family needs to know that you won't be a liability," he shakes his head. "But now that will have been compromised because of those goddamn pictures. Now I can't hide it from him."

"Genovese?"

"Exactly," he sighs and takes the seat next to me, "I told him tonight that I would shield you from all of this, keep you out for as long as I could. That's completely out of the question now that that low-life Grey pursued you."

"What does he have to do with anything?"

"He's the head of his Family, the Gambino's. Grey isn't actually his last name, he only goes by that in the business world."

"Oh-"

"Our two families were once good friends and even better business partners, we respected each other, but they were the ones who aided those pigs," he spat. "He thought that he could take us out by pinching or killing us, but we're slowly re-building."

"I read about that, how are you so sure that it was them?"

"It was," he says dismissively. I knew from his tone that he didn't want any more questions regarding the Gambino's.

"So what's your role in all of this?"

"I'm the Consigliere, the advisor to Genovese who actually happens to be an uncle of yours," he answers vaguely. "The rest of the family are here to protect you."

I nod my head at him, but still a little bit uneasy about all my new "family members".

"Why are you so angry that he talked to me?" I ask.

"His breathing alone bothers me, but clearly he's only using you to get under my skin."

Okay… ouch.

"I think he was being sincere."

"Don't be naïve, Ana, when did you meet him exactly?"

"Uh, when I got to New York at the café down the street, then at your restaurant, the Zoo, and then the Plaza."

"He's been following you," he says, more as a statement rather than a question.

"More like coincidence…"

"He's a snake, you can't trust him or any other Gambino," he wraps an arm around me, "I wish it weren't the truth, but I have to be honest with you, I don't have a good feeling about him."

I really didn't have anything to say after his statement, so I remained silent. My ego took a hit and there was no smart-ass quip I could throw back at him. In all honesty, I didn't know what Christian wanted, for all I know he could be toying me around, but that idea really stung.

"What is my father's role?" I ask.

"He actually got out," he chuckles sarcastically, "your good for nothing father has been running from this his entire life."

"Oh, well it all makes sense now," I laugh.

"He's always been selfish even when we were growing up."

"I could see that."

"Things don't have to change for," he laughs, trying to lighten the mood. "Nothing has to be different, okay?"

"Okay," I say giving him a kiss on the cheek, "I'm going to bed, thank you for being honest with me."

"All you'll have to do is ask and I'll always try to be honest with you."

"Thank you," I smile back at him, and walk into my room.

xx

The next few days flew by with no interruptions from Christian, not like I was trying to run into him or anything. I am willing to follow my uncle's instructions if he doesn't have a good feeling about Christian. I've only had limited interactions with him, while I've known my uncle for much, much longer.

When I'm awake I can keep him out of my mind, but subconsciously it's been a completely different story. I won't lie and say that I haven't been dreaming about those magnetic gray eyes.

The day after the big revelation I was greeted by my uncle in the kitchen as I ate my breakfast. He informed me that I would be starting some combat fighting and when my trainer sees fit, I will be trained with various firearms. Not going to lie, I've always wanted to shoot something.

Soon after that my uncle tells me that I would be meeting the "Family" this weekend at a little get together in the Hamptons. Therefore, I am to go shopping for new clothes with Katherine for this very important meet and greet.

Ugh I hate shopping. I especially find no enjoyment shopping with other people. I like to be in and out, I don't feel the need to go into to every store and see if I will find something I'd like. No, I know what want and what I look good in; there is no need to waste any more time.

What I thought would be a very quick trip was definitely not. Katherine keeps trying to pressure me into trying on every piece of clothing she could grab in her vicinity. I felt like I was her own person paper doll.

After the tortuous afternoon I was dropped off at my uncle's office in Midtown. Since finding out his lucrative legitimate business was really just a front, I wasn't really curious what he did during the day when he wasn't running off and capping anyone's knees. I joke… well… not really.

My phone started ringing from inside my pocket, I usually keep it on vibrate, so I was startled by the sound, "Hello?" I asked, but no one answers.

"Hello?" I repeat. Still nothing, I look at the number it was blocked. So instead of playing along I hung up, but almost immediately it rings again. I decide to turn my phone on mute and ignore the rest of the messages.

Weirdos.

Once we arrived at my uncle's we were quickly escorted to the top floor of the twenty-five-story building.

"Hello, bambolina," my uncle greets me.

"Hey, uncle Berto, pretty fancy digs," I tease.

"I have to keep appearances," he winks at me and leads me to the leather couches on the east side of the expansive office. "How are you?"

"I'm great," I smile.

"Good," he seemed appeased, "are you excited to meet the family?"

"Not really," I confessed, "it's different with you, I'm not scared, but thinking of being in a confined space with all of them…"

"Completely understandable, but you have nothing to worry about. No harm will ever come to you while in our company, they're your family too, they will lay down their lives for you."

I quirk my eyebrow at him, unconvinced by his melodramatic statement, "Right, they don't know me."

"That's where you are mistaken, they know all about you, but due to your father's wishes the family was ordered to stay away."

"What about you?"

"I'm your father's brother, he couldn't have done much to stop me from getting to know you. You know that I've always considered you as a daughter," he said with a smile that reached his eyes.

"I've always thought of you as a father too, I mean you were definitely better than that other guy," I laugh.

"He does love you," he said as his tone turned a bit sour, "he just has a poor way of showing it."

"I know he loves me, I just don't see how he can stay away for so long, you know? I would understand if he didn't want me at all and didn't bother showing up, but he continually raised my hopes just to disappoint me."

"I know," he kisses my forehead, "let's keep things light and go to dinner?"

"Okay," I say my mood brightening.

xx

The week passed by quickly and by Friday afternoon I was in a helicopter on our way to the Hamptons. I continued to get more calls and even texts from the blocked number, but still they said nothing in return when I would reply. It was getting really annoying.

"We're here," said my uncle as we land.

"Great," I gave him a forced smile.

"Don't be nervous, bambolina," he assures me as he unstrapped and helped me out.

"I'll try, but no promises."

We were the last two to arrive, the house was already packed with people; the Boss, the Underboss, and the Capos with some of their crew members. I was definitely nervous when we walked in.

My uncle informed me that the underboss is the second-in-command to the Don, the Capos a.k.a. the Caporegimes are like the commanders of the different crews and the different parts of the business. For instance one family would be in charge of narcotics, gambling, or human trafficking… Ugh I wish I didn't know that.

Once our coats were taken care of, my uncle introduced me to the wives and their children. They all pretty much put on a fake smile and shook my hand, but I noticed some were whispering as I walked past. What, are we in high school again?

"Why do they all look like they want to gouge my eyes out?" I whisper to my uncle.

He laughs loudly and explains, "You're the first woman born into the family, and most of the men were only lucky enough to have born males."

"So?"

He continues to explain, "You're like new-found royalty, your father if he hadn't left the family would have been the new Don."

"What about you?"

"He was first born," he says pointedly, like that would explain everything.

"You're like a monarchy?"

"Sort of."

"Well that still doesn't explain everything-"

"You're the last true Luciano."

"What about you?"

"I won't be having children," he says nonchalantly.

"Why-?"

"Ahh my dear Anastasia," a tall man in his late forties came up to us.

"This is Genovese," my uncle quickly whispers to me.

"Danny," my uncle turns on the charms.

"Roberto, this must be the beautiful Ana!" he exclaims and gives me a large hug.

"Hello-" I began.

"Call me Uncle Danny," he holds me out at arm's length to get a good look at me. "You weren't kidding, Roberto, she's definitely a looker."

"Thank you?" I reply nervously.

"No thank you necessary, no wonder you wanted to hide her from this," he laughs like that wasn't creepy as fuck, "come meet the family."

"Okay," I try to smile up at him as he holds his arm out. I let go of my uncle a bit apprehensively and grab Danny's. I look back at my uncle suddenly nervous, he gives me a reassuring smile as we walk into another room where the men have all seemed to gather.

"Boys, this is my niece Ana," Danny announces to the room.

"Hello," I said in a small voice, these men are all criminals and they're all standing there like they've just had tea and crumpets.

"Let me introduce you to them individually," he says to me, I'm not sure how to take his laid back approach. Instead of being anxious I decide to grab the bull by the horns and walk right into the lion's den. I kept telling myself that they're family, nothing will happen to me… I mean I've seen the Godfather, family's everything. Right? Right.

"This is our Streetboss, Mario Gigante," he says to me as I shake the man's pudgy hand.

"Pleased to meet you," I reply, "what's a street boss?" I asked Danny once we were out of earshot.

"Decades ago, a man who was the head of our family Philip Lombardo, had come up with this position. It was to divert law enforcement away from the Don, the Godfather."

"Do you really call yourself the Godfather?"

He laughs, "No, not since the 70s."

"Oh good to know, wasn't sure if I was to refer to you as that."

He smiles almost lasciviously, which made my skin crawl, "That said, I must stress that everything you learn in this room must remain between us"

"I understand fully."

"Good, you seem to be a bright young woman."

"I try to be," I smile, this makes him laugh… quite loudly actually. The night goes on, at this point I've now met the Underboss John Barbato and the Messaggero Andrew Gigante who looked like was undressing me. Then the few capos from the other boroughs Ernie from the Bronx, Rosario from Manhattan, Punchy from Brooklyn, and Rom from Queens. Apparently, the capos that were in attendance tonight aren't the only ones; they've also divided the boroughs down so there were smaller sections.

Not only were they largely based in New York, but they were also in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington. There was also the different Family Crews that ran NYC, which were apart from the capos that were already stationed.

This was too much information all at once, I could barely remember any other names.

Danny brought me to another room, alone. "Overwhelmed?" he asks.

"Yeah, you could say that," I confess. Noticing that we were completely alone.

"You have nothing to be worried about, you're Mafia royalty," Danny chuckles. Despite his current calm and jovial mood, he was a very unsettling. Thankfully, my uncle finally joins us and a wave of relief washes over me.

"Why again am I royalty?" I ask.

"Well," Danny deliberates silently, "you are the last Luciano and as you may already know, Lucky Luciano, your great-great grandfather, was one of the five families that came from Sicily. Since you are the last true Luciano, that makes you pretty special."

"Because I'll be able to make more Luciano babies?" I deadpan.

"Precisely!"

"So I'm a baby-maker?"

"No," he laughs, "okay, maybe a little. Just think if you have no children your family line ends with you."

"I don't know if I even want to have children," I answer, "also, they wouldn't carry my last name."

"Don't talk back to me. You will do as you are told," he growls. I instantly become irate but before I could reply my uncle Berto shakes his head, warning me. "Now, on to this Grey problem."

I bite my tongue, "Problem?"

"Yes, there have been talks about you."

I furrow my eyebrows, "Why?"

"Forbidden fruit perhaps, maybe it's because he's like any other man, he wants what he can't have."

"You understand that I'm not a pawn in this game, right?"

"Of course, Ana, but you must understand that you will be expected to stand with your family," he replies.

"My family?" I say rolling my eyes..

"Yes us," Danny quips, "and when it is time we will find you a husband."

"What!? ABSOLUTELY NOT!" I yell.

"It is your duty to your family!" Danny barks.

"My family? Well isn't that convenient? Where were you when I was growing up?" I give Danny a pointed look. "Just a week ago, I didn't even know the significance of being a Luciano. Now you're asking me to stand by my "family"? I'm sorry but the only sort of family I do have is my Uncle Berto. I never saw you during Christmas, shit I didn't even know you existed!" I seethe. Completely forgetting the fact that the man across me is armed and quite dangerous.

"I don't know who you think you're speaking to, but you will respect your elders," Danny stomps towards me. I flinch and try to physically put as much space between him and I.

"Calm down!" my uncle warns him. "You're scaring her."

Danny takes a moment to gather his thoughts and smooths his face like a robot, "I apologize, I'm sorry for frightening you." There was something deathly sinister in his eyes, despite his words saying otherwise. I couldn't quite place what kind of diabolical plan he had in store for me, but I know everything has completely changed.