CPOV

The beat of the music, reached my ears as soon as the door was opened.

"Busy" I asked Ciro, one of the doormen we had here at the club, as I stepped inside.

"Not so much now, it was earlier on though."

I nodded, walking up the stairs to the main club above.

"Boss."

I was greeted by the men in the room as I made my way over to the bar, where Theo sat.

"Watching the show" I asked, as he lifted his head up from the paper he was reading.

"No. Music is ok, although I could do without my body vibrating with it."

"What are you looking at" I asked him.

"This. Small computer company that's up for sale. What do you think?"

I read the paperwork he handed me, all looked promising. Theo was the entrepreneur of the family, buying small companies that could benefit us in the long run. Luca had set up a security company with Alex which gives us excuses to be in places, we ought not to be. Although it hasn't been running as long as the other family businesses, they are doing well, especially with the company being recommended by the Senator as the best around. We all had legit jobs, needed a front in case the cops came calling. Matteo has always had his head under a car or pulling one apart since he was a child. He could disable a car at the age of eight, hot wire one at seven so being a mechanic was a given in his case. He's your man if you had car trouble or need a new car. He is still head strong and stubborn but I wouldn't change any of my children for the world.

"Looks good, who would you bring in" I asked.

"Barney, there isn't anything he doesn't know about computers. Charlie is just as good, so him as well."

"Did I hear my name called" I heard behind me as Charlie and Gregg joined us at the bar.

They have been friends with Theo since kindergarten and thankfully their parents were in our business so like the twins, where Theo leads, they follow.

"We're your ears flapping" I asked, seeing a smirk from Charlie.

"No, just filled with stripper dust Boss. It gets everywhere" he laughed.

"I wouldn't know."

"Thank fuck for that" Theo said, looking to me before taking a look at the stage, which was now empty. "Oh, shit before I forget, Barney gave me this."

It was the background check on the little boy's family that Ana was due to see tomorrow. Yes, I'm over cautious but it's a trait in this business, especially where a Princess is concerned.

"Looks clean" I said, putting it on the bar.

"Yeah, he works at the docks and she works at a grocery store which she is on leave from at the moment to look after the son. I can understand what Mum said about their insurance."

I nodded, agreeing with him.

"Still take back up though. Just because they're clean doesn't mean that you won't draw attention to yourself when you drive into that area."

"Already planned on it."

I put the checks into my pocket before handing Theo back the paperwork that he had shown me.

"Go for it" I told him, receiving a nod.

…

"Beer" Elliot asked, joining us at the bar with Ethan.

I clinked my glass with them both before taking a long pull of my own drink.

We were joined then by Jason, John and Luke so we all made our way over to my usual table and a new round of drinks was brought around, water for me as I'm driving.

"Have you decided on a new Consigliere yet" Jason asked me.

"Yes, I have and I think you will work well together with them" I smiled.

"He is going to have the best Consigliere ever. Toughest there is and no one had better say one word against them or their appointment" Theo said. A smirk on his face, matching mine.

"You put yourself forward then" Gregg asked him.

"No. My Dad chose the brainiest person we know."

"Well that's me out then" Elliot laughed.

"Me too" Ethan joined him.

"Ok put us out of our misery then, who did you choose" John asked me.

"Ana."

"Ohh Fuck, that's brilliant" Jason laughed. "She will be perfect. Oh, wait is Ana coming into meetings."

"Yes, why did you think Theo said no one had better say anything again them."

"We better be on our best behaviour in meetings then" John smiled.

"John you have known Ana longer than I have. She knows how we all are and how we behave. Ana has an inbuilt bullshit detector and will call us out on it if we behave any different than we do now. Just have your gun loaded like me because anyone says anything out of turn and I will use it, no matter who they are or how long they have been with this family."

"Are you going to tell the men" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I want a meeting with all capo's and Made men in the next few weeks. I will let you know when. If you didn't know by now, my wife works two jobs as it is and I have just landed a third on her shoulders."

"This is Ana we're talking about Christian. She could run all the businesses together including this one and still make a batch of cannoli to perfection at the same time. I for one am glad she does have a job because without Ana, I doubt I would be about to become a grandfather" John told me.

"Grandfather. Where the hell has the time gone" Jason laughed.

"Too quick" I told him, "Do you ever regret not having kids."

"No. I would rather have Gail alive than we risk it and I lose them both. We have a great life and if we want to be surrounded by kids, we just spend the day at your house. You and Ana had our share."

"Hey Dad, speaking about spending the day at home. Why don't you keep Wednesday free for Mum" Theo asked me, putting his phone into his pocket.

"What do you mean, your mother works on a Wednesday."

"Mum's at the bakery yes, but is usually doing the paperwork on a Wednesday. That's why she's always home early. She picks Lucy up and then goes straight home. I'm sure Hannah, Megan or Lyndon can do it for her. If they don't know it by now, they never will. It will mean you have Mum on your own for a day."

I can think of better things to do with Ana for a day than talk, but if it will keep our evenings more freer, that's fine by me. I will have to speak to her later when I get home.

"I don't want to know why you have a smile on your face Dad, just remember that is my mother you're thinking about."

"A day with your mother every week with no children to disturb us, sounds perfect. Besides son, she was my wife long before she was your mother."

"Gross" he cringed, making us all laugh.

"Christian, I have one reservation. Not with Ana being your new Consigliere as I don't think there could be anyone better for that job with you. My reservation is with the reaction to the new appointment by our men. We have young blood. How they take to Ana, especially with the way they drool at the women out here, I don't know. Ana may have given birth to a Princess and three frogs but she's an incredibly beautiful woman" Ethan said.

"If they can't respect my wife the same way they do me, they will be out. I'm not going to announce it until the meeting when Ana gets there. Being part of this family, they should expect changes and if they cannot accept them, they will be dealt with. I don't care who it is."

"I just realised what you said" Theo said, hitting his uncle in the arm.

"Mamma Grey is going to kick-ass. She won't take any prisoners" Gregg laughed.

"Remember that when she calls you out on your bullshit. Don't forget she has known you since you were in short pants."

A group of our younger men came in, meeting with Tommy who was their capo so we took our meeting of sorts to my office.

"Do we have any more info on Garcia's movements."

"We went to Salem while you were away, spoke to a few of his old associates as well as some of the locals. They said they had not seen Ricardo since they left. One though was very cagey when we spoke to him, like he was too scared to answer" Elliot told me.

"Do you know who he is."

"Yeah, he owns a hardware store out in one of the quieter parts of town. Seems the Garcia's liked to throw their weight around and demand protection money from the store owners. I think he was terrified that they will return."

"I think we need to go back to their old location, see who's hanging around there" I said.

"We went to the house Christian, they haven't lived there for years" Ethan said.

"I wasn't talking about there. I was talking about finding out where they lived out of state. See who they associated with, who could back up a return to Oregon. Ricardo knows it will be suicide for him to just come back and start again on his own now, especially as we just shut down one operation. Is he waiting to restart the rest of the business he had before, either here or where ever the hell they lived in Idaho? We need a location and I think once we have that, other things will fall into place."

"I will speak to Lorenzo, see if he can use his police connections, see if the name Ricardo or Javier Garcia comes up" Jason tells me.

"Theo, speak to Barney. Get him to look into the family history, see if there is any property still registered in their names or any family members around Salem or anywhere in Oregon, Washington even. They may have had connections in Idaho and that is why they chose there. It wouldn't be the first time we have had to look for old family locations, we do it ourselves."

"Right Dad" he was on his phone before our meeting was even finished. Giving Barney a list of instructions no doubt and I have a feeling he will have Charlie looking too.

Having property in old family names is a trait in our family too. Our warehouse in my Grandmother's maiden name is testament to that.

When I left them all at the club, everyone had their jobs. It didn't take me long before I was pulling up to the gates, waiting for them to open as the guard came across.

"Any problems" I asked him.

"No sir. Miss Grey has friends over."

"Male friends."

"No sir" he smiled. "I like to keep my job and my life" I nodding, smiling as the gates opened before me.

Driving up the winding driveway, I could see my men about. All making sure my family inside were safe. I pulled up to the front door, not knowing if my car would be needed later and headed towards the door.

As soon as I opened the front door, I heard the patter of paws approach. I made a fuss of each of the dogs, knowing I wouldn't get any further until I did. Milo was missing from the group but he is usually with Ana.

I placed my keys on the hall table, catching my reflection in the mirror as I pass. My face had grown older over the years, my hair greying in parts, laughter lines no longer fading away. I can still make my wife smile when I walk in the room though, still spend all night worshipping her body. Her opinion of me is the only one that matters. Besides being in my line of work, it doesn't really matter how I look.

As I approached the kitchen with dogs in tow, I could smell something cooking, smell it but nothing was on the cooker. Ana must have made something and hid it so it's not gone before dinner.

Lucy was sat at the table with her best friends, Gabriella and Nicole. They all looked up smiling at me from their work as I acknowledged them but my focus was on my daughter.

"Dad" Lucy greeted me, placing her pencil down.

"Hi sweetheart" I kissed her upturned forehead before I looked to the picture before me.

It was a drawing of the vase of flowers, that sat on the table in front of the girls.

"That's beautiful Lucy, another one for my office."

"When it's been marked, although you will have to fight Mum for it as she said she wanted it" I groaned knowing I would never win.

Lucy was playing with her bangle which she never takes off. She has had her special bangles since she was a baby and although she's bigger now, they have grown with her and are just as special as always. She knows why it's there, telling everyone who asks about it, that it was a gift from her Dad.

"Speaking of your mother, where is she."

"Outside with Milo."

I looked through the glass doors to where Ana was sat on the bench, half under the shade of the tree.

Getting ready to open the door, Lucy stopped me.

"Dad. Can I have a dog."

I laughed, looking down to the floor where all the dogs had now lay down.

"How many do we need."

"I wanted my own dog but not a Neo."

"Why."

"I miss Betsy. I just feel like I'm replacing her if I get another Neo."

"Lucy" I said walking back over to my daughter, pulling her into a hug.

"None of them have ever been replaced, our family just gets bigger as we welcome in more."

"You sound like Mum" she smiled.

"Well, she is the voice of reason around here. What type of dog did you want."

"A chihuahua."

"A Chihuahua, Lucy wants to bring you a snack boys" I laughed, looking down to the dogs.

I quickly moved out of the way to avoid her hand, as she laughed too.

"Ok maybe something a bit bigger."

"I will speak to your mother."

"Thanks Dad, love you."

"You too."

I left Lucy, slipping out of the back door and made my way down the garden path. I could see Milo lift his head up but he didn't leave my wife's side.

"I could hear you laughing from here" Ana said, looking up from her book with a beautiful smile on her face. She had been rubbing her finger over her locket, something she does when she thinks of her mother.

"Our daughter is very funny."

"I know."

Ana scooted forward on the bench she was sat so I could sat behind her, my arms around her waist.

"Sorry, I didn't get home sooner Princess, we've been trying to sort a few things out."

"It's ok, I was just enjoying a bit of the evening sun."

I felt a cold nose on my hand then, before Milo pushed his head under it, wanting his ear scratched.

"They're all the same" I smiled, knowing all of our dogs would do anything for a scratch.

"SPROUT OUT" Lucy shouted, through the now open door.

Seconds later, the rest of the dogs emerged with Sprout taking up the rear. He was the runt of the litter but boy could he clear a room.

"Lucy wants a dog" I told Ana.

"Finally."

"Yes, but she doesn't want a Neapolitan mastiff."

"I suspected as much. She plays with the dogs but doesn't get as close to them as she was with Betsy."

"Sounds like someone else I know."

"I know, they have a habit of stealing your heart though" she smiled as Gizmo was lay on his back, rubbing up against the grass.

"Theo gave me an idea today that I wanted to run past you."

"I'm all ears" she smiled up to me as I kissed her nose.

"Wednesday, how busy are you at the bakery."

"It's probably my slowest and most boring day of the week. Paperwork day, Why?"

"Could someone else do the paperwork for you."

"Christian, what's wrong" she said, turning in my arms.

"I know how much you work and putting this other roll on your shoulders as well. I thought it might be better if we could have one day to hash out what I need, instead of doing it every evening when you're supposed to be at home relaxing."

"I agreed to do this Christian, if you want me to let someone else do the paperwork, that's fine. It's probably the only part of my job that I dislike. A day off just for ourselves will be perfect but I enjoyed our meeting last night."

"Me too Ana" I smiled, thinking of washing my wife's body in the bath while we discussed what was going on with work. If every meeting between my wife and I had us both naked then that is perfectly fine with me.

"We will work out what is best for us Christian, best for our family. Everything else works around that."

"Agreed Princess."

"Is everyone having a meeting out here" Matteo asked, stepping through the door with Max, rolling his eyes when Gabriella was making eyes at him. The girls had moved out towards the pool, dipping their feet in as they took a break from their project.

"We're enjoying a bit of sun for a change" Ana told him as Matteo came over and kissed his mother's cheeks.

"Cool" he shouted Rocco over, who immediately came to his owner.

"Can I get you all anything" Dulce our housekeeper called.

"I would love a tea please" Ana told her.

"Mr Grey."

"Just water for me please, Dulce."

She disappeared into the house after Matteo and Max said they just wanted water before coming out five minutes later with juice for the girls and our drinks.

"So, what have you boys been up too" Ana asked, hearing the girls laughing from the pool.

Gabriella was Charlie's little sister so she knew what went on around here. Nicole was a friend from school though, so all business talk was kept to a minimum around her. Even though she doesn't know it, she is automatically scanned for bugs when she enters the house although none have ever been found. I wouldn't put anything past the cops and even though Sam is the Commissioner and shuts most everything down when it comes to us. It would be the sort of thing they would do to use an innocent girl to gain access to the family.

"We just sent the last of the cars on their merry way. Dante said thank you for his daughter's birthday gift" Matteo told us.

"He's very welcome, we have the next shipment coming in from Europe next month so I know that at least two others will be on their way to Chicago."

"I could do with a new car" Ana said, looking up to me.

"And what car would you like" I asked, not knowing if she was teasing or not with the smirk on her face.

"An Audi R8 Spyder. I can do a grocery shop in that."

Max and Matteo were laughing which made my wife giggle too.

"You know I will give you anything Princess, you just have to ask."

"Which she never does" Matteo said, knowing his mother very well.

"I was kidding. I still need to get your birthday present though, What can I get for my old man."

"Less of the old man" I said, tickling her side.

"Yes, old man, do you have a bald spot going on" Lucy laughed which made Ana laugh more, especially with my tickles.

"Aren't parents gross when they're like that" Gabriella said from across the garden as I kissed my wife.

"No, they wouldn't be my parents if they weren't either joined at the hip or in sync with each other" Lucy smiled to us both.

"Are you boys staying for dinner or are you off out again" Ana asked, Matteo and Max.

"I need to get home, aunt Ana. Need to stop Gemma from climbing any more ladders in this nesting phase as Mum calls it."

"Ah little max, is about to become a Daddy" I teased.

"Little max is shitting himself and hopes he doesn't screw up."

"We all feel like that, it's natural."

"Give Gemma a hug from me and tell her to call me if she needs anything" Ana told him.

"I will."

Max said goodbye as we continued our drinks. I had one of my men take the girls home before we all made our way into the house for dinner.

"What are we eating" I asked, trying to see where she hid it.

Ana took my hand and led me to the pantry, unlocking the door.

"Princess I will have you anywhere, but the children will hear in here."

She turned me around so I could see that on the counter were two slow cookers, both brimming with Italian stew.

"I thought I could smell something delicious when I arrived home."

"If I would've left them on the side, the girls would've eaten it and we would be eating take out for dinner."

Taking the stew back into the kitchen, we were just in time for Luca and Theo, who came in through the door together.

"Our noses led the way" Luca laughed, helping to set the table before we were all sat down and enjoying our dinner.

"Nicole was asking why I have a new guard as well as Tyler" Lucy said.

Ana looked to me, raising her eyebrow. I hadn't had a chance to speak to her about Eric yet.

"What did you tell her Lucy" Theo asked.

"Just that my Granddad is a Senator and we need extra security now he is back in Seattle. She asked me in the car when Tyler and Eric I think his name is, brought us here. I think she has a crush" she giggled.

I quickly changed the subject, not wanting to speak to my teenage daughter about boys or crushes. When dinner was over, I sent Ana up for a bath, telling her I would be there shortly to wash her back once the kitchen was clean. It didn't take long with us all working together and I was soon on my way upstairs.

"You look mesmerised husband" Ana said with a smirk on her face as I stood at the door and watched her breast bob on water.

"Sorry what did you say" I smiled, making Ana laugh.

"Come and join me" she asked, holding her hand out.

I got rid of my clothes and quickly moved in behind her, taking the sponge from Ana's hand and dripped water over her breast which had been taunting me.

"You ok" she asked.

"Yes, this is my favourite part of the day. Just the two of us, if only for a little while."

"I know what you mean" she smiled, turning her head to kiss my cheek. "I have been thinking about what you said about Wednesdays and I think it will be perfect. We can get one of the boys to take Lucy to school and then have a lie in before we get down to business."

"How long do we class as a lie in" I asked.

"Umm, at least until lunch."

Laughing, I love the way my wife thinks.

"Sounds perfect Ana, although a morning in bed might make us too tired to do anything else."

"We'll find time Christian, we always do. So, tell me about this Eric who's now our daughters second shadow."

"You know how it is Ana, we have trouble. Security is doubled up."

"Christian if you double my security, you will have no one left to work for you."

"Ana, you know how I am with your protection."

"I know Christian, so Eric where has he come from. Is he new."

"No, he's been with us for years. I wouldn't trust someone who was new with either of my Princesses security, you know that. Eric is the one who helped you when you had the flat tyre outside the club."

"Ah, I know who he is now. I know the faces but it's rare that I know the names."

"That's the way it needs to be Ana. Unless they're brought into the inner circle like Eric has now, they don't need to know your name other than Mrs Grey or anything about you or our children. Yes, everyone knows the boys as they're in the businesses but when you come in, you're my adviser, they answer to you but you don't have to speak to any of them unless you choose too."

"What about the ones I know, like Luke, Jason, John even Elliot and Ethan. They're family, am I to ignore them."

"No Princess. There are a few in this family who I class as friends too, all those you mentioned and a couple more. Men I can have a drink with at the end of the day but when shit goes down, I know I can depend on them, they're professional and will have my back. I prefer to keep most at arms length until I can prove beyond reasonable doubt that I can trust them. Technically Mrs Grey with this role, you have the same rank as Jason but I will make it clear to everyone, that you are treated as if you were me."

"Does that mean I can boss Elliot around when he annoys me."

"Knock yourself out Ana" I laughed.

I moved Ana's hair from her shoulder, kissing up to her ear before sucking on her neck. Her hand came up to the back of my neck, guiding my lips to hers. Our kisses were slow, expressing our love for each other before we broke away to take a breath. I pulled Ana back against my chest again as her head rested on my shoulder

"How was work" Ana asked me. I was ready to be inside her but getting everything off my chest is what we're here for.

"We're trying to find out where Garcia lived out of state, see who he associated with there."

"See if he has already started his business again" Ana said.

"Yes, there is that. Elliot and Ethan took a team to Salem when we were away but those who did talk, have not seen him since they left."

"Are they telling the truth."

"Princess I don't believe anyone until I can prove their innocence. Their old house has had another owner for a long time but that doesn't mean that there is nothing there."

"What are you going to do, rip someone's house apart" Ana asked, shocked.

"No. We will still keep an eye out for it though. If he is coming back then he must have already planned where he is going to stay, we have Barney on that."

I bathed Ana, forgetting about work for a while as I ran my fingers through her long hair, making sure it was clean. Her fingers massaging my scalp, had me groaning when it was her turn to bathe me too. I loved family time but having my wife to myself like this and in our bed, shortly after was my favourite time of the day

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

I know some didn't get the email notification for chapter 4 so I can only hope that they go out for this one. I have no idea what this site is doing at the moment but I wish they would hurry up and sort it out.

Until next time, take care

Caroline