APOV
"Ready to go home Princess" Christian whispered in my ear as he stood behind me, his arms holding me close.
"Yes" I sighed. "I will be happy when I see that the children are ok."
"Ana" he said, turning me to face him. "Those children are fine. As long as their mother is ok, then they are too."
"I'm ok. Happy we have two less evils out there that we have to deal with. Did Luca get anything from him."
"When he stopped sprouting shit in Mexican, we got an address in Olympia."
"The Judges" I asked.
"No, Lorenzo checked it out. It seems like a normal house on a normal street."
"In plain sight" I said, repeating what Matteo had said.
"Maybe. We have to be careful. Residential street with lots of kids, lots of eyes around."
"When did you find out this or speak to Lorenzo" I asked.
"Jason left me a message about six this morning, woke me up so I left you sleeping."
"That means you have hardly slept at all as we didn't get here until the early hours."
"Princess, I will sleep when we get home. Watching you and making sure you were ok last night, or this morning was my only priority."
"You can sleep in the car, I will drive us home."
"Ana, I will sleep later."
Knowing there was no point in arguing with him, I pulled Christian tighter to me, immersing myself in his scent.
…
"Lucy sends her love" I told Christian as I put my phone back into my purse.
He smiled, taking my hand into his before kissing my rings. We were on our way back home and speaking to our daughter, knowing that she was ok, I felt lighter in a way.
They were all at home waiting for us, my whole family there. I don't remember much of what happened after we left the warehouse, I think I zoned out a bit. Getting my head around the fact that someone had come into a place that I loved, armed, with only one intention in mind, had taken me a lot to get my head around.
"What's going to happen with my work now" I asked him what had been playing on my mind.
I had stepped back at the bakery because of the dangers to my safety that were presented there but how many people who I looked after, cared for, were in with these people too.
"That's up to you Ana. If I'm honest, I would be happy if you never left the house. Like I told you though, I won't make you a prisoner but this was too close."
"I know" I sighed. "I feel like giving up my work lets them win but could doing my job put me in danger, get me killed. Since Hain gave us that list he had, it's obvious they have been doing their homework. I feel like I have a target on my back."
I could see how angry he was, his fingers turning white on the steering wheel as he pulled over to the side of the road. We were still on the country roads, nowhere for miles around as I took his hands into mine.
"I can't even think of you not being here Ana. I can't raise those children alone" he said, looking to me, the pain in his eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere Christian. We have to be smart about this and if that means I give up being a doctor for a while then so be it. There is always enough cuts and scrapes to deal with at home."
"From the beating that Luca was giving him last night, you might be patching his hands up."
"Unless Oriella has already done it" I smiled, knowing she would've checked him over like always when he got home.
"Those two make me smile" he said as we got back onto the road again.
"They are perfect for each other. Granddad spoke to the priest in Caccamo. He can do their wedding any day apart from Christmas day."
"Do they have any preferences" he asked me.
"Our children have all been christened there on Christmas Eve so I think Luca would like it to be then."
"It will be a day they won't forget" he smiled.
"Wedding days in this family are always special."
"I agree" he smiled, kissing my rings once more.
…
Pulling up in front of the house, a smile came to my lips. I could see the dogs with their faces mashed up against the windows, their tails no doubt going crazy. A little dog was squashed up in between the boys, eager to see us too.
"Welcome home party" Christian laughed, getting out of the car.
"They might run in the opposite direction when they smell us" I laughed.
With our impromptu trip last night, neither of us had a change of clothes. I will be happy to change, burn them if I could but at the moment they were being added to with dog hair and slobber.
"I missed you too" I laughed, trying to give five dogs attention all at once.
An impossible task that was abandoned when I wrapped my arms around my little girl.
"You're ok" she asked.
"I'm fine, I'm sorry we didn't come home last night."
"It's ok, Matteo said you kicked arse and were tired" she said, laughing when I raised my eyebrow at her words. "Mum, with the words that those boys have come out with since they came home, arse is tame."
"I hope they filled the swear jar then" I laughed, pulling her into a hug once more.
"It's brimming and mum, you're humming" she smiled, holding her nose.
"I know, I stink. Your Dad smells worse" I said, laughing at Lucy's face when she was pulled in for a hug from her father and I was wrapped up in Theo's arms.
"Mum."
"I'm fine son. Smelly I'm told, but fine."
We made our way into the house, my twins waiting to hug me too. I checked Luca's hands over but I didn't need to. As we thought, Oriella had already tended to the cuts on his knuckles. Once my children were all happy that I had no lasting effects from last night, Christian and I made our way upstairs to shower and change.
…
"Tea Sweetheart" Grandma asked me.
"Please Grandma, how have they been" I asked, nodding to where my children were out in the garden with the dogs.
"Lucy was worried when your Dad arrived back but she soon understood that Christian had taken you away for the night to relax."
Taking the hot tea from her, we made our way into the living room.
"Tell me what is going on in that mind of yours" she asked me as we took a seat on the couches.
"I don't know" I sighed. "Everything. My job, both of them are going to have to be put on hold until these people are found. Neither are safe now. If I did a job in an office like Oriella, I could continue with the security put in place but both my jobs deal with the public and I don't know who to trust any more. I'm supposed to be seeing little Toby this week but I don't think doing home visits is viable any more."
"How much can you do from here."
"I can continue the plan I have in place for him but I can't get out there to implement what needs to be done. I'm going to speak to Kelly, let her know what is going on. Pass his information back to her and let her take over until this is all done. I'm frustrated, more than anything I think."
"With them not finding these people quick enough."
"No Grandma, we're looking for a needle in a haystack. Christian told me this morning that a team was in place all night where that woman lived. If Maria does live there, she hasn't been back."
"Maybe she has another place nearby."
"Maybe, but where. They will slip up at some point, they did sending that woman into my work. With that act alone, we got two of them out of the way, now we just need her and Ricardo, his wife too and then I can rest easy."
"It will happen Ana" Christian said coming into the living room to join me on the couch. "There is activity at the house in Olympia. Seems whoever is there, likes to make enemies with the neighbours around them. They're definitely not living the quiet life that's for sure."
"Have they identified anyone we know."
"No. A man came out, started arguing with the neighbour before going back inside and loud music started. Lorenzo has a photo and is running it through the system, hopefully that will reveal something. I have also spoken to Dante, let him know what is happening."
"Are we going to be bringing trouble to Valentina's wedding."
"They have enough of their own at the moment so a bit more will not make much difference. Dante has a house, on the same street that he lives. It has enough room for us all so we will be staying there. I heard what you were saying about the little boy in Sea-Tac Ana. Princess, I don't want you going over there."
"I won't be Christian, I will speak to Kelly. My work at the surgery, I will need to get someone there more permanent to cover my shifts though. What about my sisters, are they safe there or will they need to give up work as well. They haven't been targeted so far but how long until they are."
"I don't know Ana" he said, as frustrated as I was.
"I'm sorry, I'm complaining because everything has to change. You're the one who has to deal with it Christian."
"Don't apologise Ana, you have had to deal with more than your fair share. I just want this to be over and then we can deal with the next problem."
"You know, you don't have to look for trouble, we can have a week without someone gunning for us" I smiled.
"With the amount of drugs that we have just had hit the streets and the little operations that we have just put out of business, we attract trouble."
"I will start ducking then" I said, hearing a groan from my husband.
"Ana, please don't say that."
"What, quack quack" I teased, laughing when his fingers tickled my side.
After the past twenty-four hours, it was good to laugh.
"Dad, Lorenzo just called" Theo said, rushing into the living room.
"What's he found out."
"The house in Olympia is owned by the brother of Sebastian Ortez. He has lived there about a year and by the police records, they're a regular visitor to the house. Arguments with the neighbours, even threats. Sounds like he would fit in very well with the Garcia and Ramirez families. Lorenzo asked me how you wanted to proceed."
"Has he had any visitors" Christian asked.
"Not up to this morning. They can't keep a permanent presence outside the house because they will either be seen by the people inside or the other residents around."
"Tell him to keep up the surveillance from a distance until this evening. If the brother doesn't leave, we will go in after dark. We need to find out if he lives alone, I don't want to burst in the door, if he has kids in the house. If he leaves, I want him followed because if he's in this the same as the brother then hopefully he will either lead us to Garcia or Ramirez."
"Ok, I'm going out soon. I want to check that Ava is alright."
"Has she had any problems" I asked him.
"No Mum. With what happened yesterday I wanted her to stay at home until we knew what was going on."
"She will need security son" I said, knowing that being with my son, once it gets out, Ava will need protection.
"She already has Mum. Ava has had a guard since she was born."
"Is she a Princess."
"Not in the sense that we class, but she is to me" he smiled. "Her Dads side are in the business, her mum worked in a bar which her Dad went to often. He chased her."
"Sounds familiar" I smiled, looking up to my husband.
"Can't deny that" Christian said.
"I'm glad. I will call Lorenzo, let him know what you said. Are you going to the club later" he asked his Dad.
"No, I'm staying around here today. I need to meet with Jason, John and Hain who will be here soon, go over everything that's going on and also discuss the weapons we have due in to the docks next month."
"Do you want me to stay here then."
"No son, go and check on Ava. If you feel more comfortable while this is going on, bring her here."
"She's actually back home with her parents at the moment."
"Ok. I haven't spoken to Blaine for a while but I will give him a call later."
"Alright" Theo said before leaving us.
"Who's Blaine" Grandma asked.
"He's Ava's Dad. We don't have a lot to do with their family, both deal in different businesses but her grandfather was friends with mine so we keep in touch when it's needed."
"We have been married 21 years and I still don't know half of the people that our family associates with across the country, or the world."
"I can tell you if you want, bore you silly in fact. You asked for need to know when we first got married and I have kept it at that. If you want to know more."
"No, it's fine. If we ever travel to a new city though, it would be nice to know beforehand if I'm going to meet friend or foe."
"I won't leave you in the dark Ana, you know that…. Chicago."
"What about it."
"With regards to their business, I wanted to prepare you. They deal with much more than we do. They deal with girls."
"Not slavery" I asked, shocked.
"No, every girl who works in their clubs is there because they want to be. Unlike my club where it is just for my guys and nobody is allowed to touch, theirs are different."
"A strip club with extras" I asked.
"Strip club yes, lap dance yes. They also have private rooms."
"Have you been" I asked him.
"Once, years before we met. Aldo thought it was a great place for a business meeting" he said, rolling his eyes.
"I take it, no business got done."
"No, we ended up all crowded round a table and got pissed. Few watched the show if I remember correctly. I don't think the girls were too impressed at being ignored by all the rich men in the room."
"Is that where Garret is having his bachelor party" I asked.
"No, he's going to the casino that Dante owns, then onto the club attached."
"Do you know, I have never been to a casino before. Maybe Grandma and I can gate crash" I laughed when my Grandmother nodded.
"I will take you, maybe we can make a night of it."
"I'd like that. I can't remember the last time we went out on a date" I told him.
"I know Princess. Everything is so crazy at the moment. When this is over, I will take you out every night."
"I will hold you to that, although I might be a bit too old for going out every night."
"You're only as old as you feel" Grandma said.
"About 90 then."
"OK, let me rephrase that. You're only as old as the man that you feel."
"Grandma I'm shocked" I laughed as Christian joined me.
"I shouldn't say that, I have put a few years on you."
"I don't mind" I said before Christian kissed my lips.
…
I spent some time looking on the internet with Lucy while Christian went to meet Jason and John. We were looking at dresses for her sweet sixteen, to see what styles she liked.
"Not a chance will Dad let you out in that" Matteo said, looking over our shoulder.
"You do know it's rude to read over someone's shoulder. No one will know what my dress is like apart from mum until we get there, too late to complain then" she said, sticking her tongue out to her brother.
"Ok, focus madam. What do you like."
"Something long and when I twirl, it flairs out. I want to be a Princess" she giggled.
"You already are Lucy" my Dad told her.
"I know but I can't exactly tell people, I'm a Mafia Princess. I would be locked up and interrogated before dinner."
"And then they would be dealing with me" I said. No one touches my children, especially the police.
"I'd never tell anyone anyway. If anyone says anything at school, I ignore them."
We continued looking through the dresses, hoping we would find something she liked. Hitting the mall at the moment was out of the question, so we were limited on resources.
"I like that" Lucy said, looking at a grey chiffon dress. It would come above her knees, nothing like what I thought she would pick but if she likes it then that's half the job done.
"I don't want it for my party" she said. Maybe job not done.
"What other party do you have planned sis" Matteo asked her.
"We're going to a wedding and I have nothing to wear. I like that and even Dad wouldn't complain about that one."
"Ok fine, back to square one on your dress for your party. Have you seen anything else you like."
She shooed her brother away, showing me a dress on her iPad. It really was beautiful, a pale pink ball gown. She will definitely be a Princess in that.
…
"Mum how long is Dad going to be" Lucy asked me as I was setting dinner on the table.
"I don't know sweetheart. I hope not long as this will go to waste. He knows dinner is ready."
"He was listening into Hain's call when I was in there" Luca told me.
"What do you mean."
"That bitch called him…. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I have called her worse. What was she calling him for."
"To check on his progress. He gave her a load of crap on the surveillance he had done. He was trying to get her to reveal her location but she was not giving it out. She did sound unnerved though as if she was waiting for the others to check in."
"Couldn't Barney trace the call" I asked.
"Maybe if he was here. She called him while Dad was in the middle of his meeting."
We heard the front door open and then a happy yap. Rosie was happy with who had entered and so was I when my husband came into the room.
"How is it going" I asked him, being silenced by a kiss. "What is it?"
"Just listening to that woman speak about you, she's deranged. I wanted to shout back at her so badly but it would've blown Hain's cover and ruined everything."
"Is there any sign of Ricardo in all this. For someone whose business we ruined, he seems to have gone very quiet."
"I know. I wonder if it was his idea in the first place to restart the business again or she took it as her birthright and started it without him. Someone sent Gia and she said it was Ricardo. Was it really, It could've been Maria playing with her head too. We will never know. It doesn't matter though, whether he's with her or not, he's still a threat to this family."
"Come and eat dinner, I don't know where Matteo is or if Theo will be back tonight but you can relax for a little bit and enjoy dinner."
He took my hand as I led him to the table, laying a plate of Spaghetti Alle Vongole in front of him.
"Clams" he asked, smiling before he started to eat his meal.
"I have a bit of extra time on my hands at the moment and I know you love them so I sent David out to pick some up."
"I hope the boys don't hurry home because I think I will eat theirs as well."
"Thank god I got mine then" Luca said, clearing his plate and taking his grandmother's empty one into the kitchen.
Christian cleared his plate, eating seconds also. Matteo wouldn't mind as he has other favourite meals. Theo would not be happy at missing out but a message from him saying he was staying with Ava had all the boys finishing off the rest.
"Are you full now" I asked them.
"No, what's for dessert" Christian asked, rubbing his stomach. It was nice to see my husband smiling and relaxed.
"Cannoli" I said bringing out the tray that I had hidden from hungry hands.
Before I placed them down on the table, I took one for myself knowing what they're like.
"Hey boys, me first" Grandma said stopping them all from reaching in as she took one for her and Isabella. Lucy took two also before the boys fought over the rest.
"It's like feeding time at the zoo" Isabella laughed.
"It will be world war three if they find out one has more than the other."
"Dad what do you think of my dress for the wedding" Lucy asked, showing him the image on her iPad while he had a mouth full of food.
"It's beautiful Lucy" he replied when he had swallowed his cannoli before taking another.
"Lucy you're not going to get much intelligent conversation when they're eating, you know that" Grandma told her.
"I know. I thought I would show him while he was eating so he couldn't protest."
Christian's shocked face made me laugh as he looked to his daughter.
"You madam are cheeky" he mumbled around his treat.
"Dad, say it, don't spray it" she said, disgusted, brushing Cannoli crumbs off her jeans.
The two of them bantered back and forth, trying to get the upper hand. Lucy won of course when she listed off all the boys she had put on the list for her birthday party.
Meal times in this house are not only lively but also a lot of fun.
….
I made my way through to Christian's office, placing his coffee onto his desk. He was on the phone at the moment, to who I didn't know but I would before long.
He pulled me down onto his lap as his conversation continued, kissing my forehead. I didn't know how long he had been up, his side of the bed was cold and empty when I awoke.
"Rip the house apart if you have to. The neighbours think it has been raided so raid it…. Ok call me later" he said before hanging up.
"What's going on" I asked him, as he pulled me closer.
"Lorenzo had a team go in, in the early hours of this morning, Sam has backed it so if anyone looks into it, it will be classed as a drugs raid. Due to the nature of the area, the building, it had to look official."
"What have they found" I asked.
"Plans, blueprints."
"For what" I asked, making him focus on me.
"Your old apartment, and your sisters. There were plans to go in and set them on fire."
"Why would they do that. I haven't owned that place for a long time."
"Get your attention, another game. There were also plans for the club, crudely drawn which I think by Maio describing the back areas, bathrooms. The storage closet where we transcend between both floors has just been described as a closet so she didn't know about above."
"If Gia has been to this house" I spat saying that woman's name. "If Maria was living with her, then she would know the place also."
"I agree.…. They had more photos of you and Lucy Ana. Lorenzo sent me a photo of a couple" he said quietly. "Shit Princess, they must have followed you at a distance. That long lens camera could've easily been a long-range rifle."
"Why wasn't it then" I asked, feeling his grip tighten. "I'm here, I'm ok Christian. I'm just saying if they had done their homework, took these photos, why not then do it. Why hire Hain."
"To blame someone else, take the focus off them or they're just not that good enough. I don't know Ana, I don't want to think of that."
"I know. Did the team find anything when they went to Mexico."
"Yes, trouble. It ended up in a firefight."
"What, is everyone ok" I asked, shocked.
"It was pretty much a waste of time in regards to getting information. Dwayne who was leading the team told me as soon as they turned up there, these guys were shooting. One of our guys has a flesh wound, but he's ok."
"What happened to the other guys… don't answer that" I said, knowing the look on Christian's face. They left no one behind alive.
"No survivors, well unless you class our side. Everyone is accounted for and on their way home."
"Do I need to patch someone up when they arrive."
"No, Jake sorted him out."
"He's a doctor" I asked, hoping to have back up when it came to this family.
"No Ana, he did six months in medical school before dropping out. His parents wanted him to follow in his Dads footsteps, even though he had no desire to be a doctor. He eventually told them to fuck it and left. Joined our family not long after."
"Shame, I could've done with back up dealing with you lot. My sisters and Eamon can't always be here."
"You know you're the only doctor who I will let look after me. I love your special bedside manner that only I get to see" he whispered, sucking on my neck.
"Christian we have a houseful who are all going to be wanting to be fed soon."
"Let them fend for themselves for a bit" he said before bringing his lips down to mine.
Our kiss was heated as we both pulled each other as close as we could get.
"I love you Princess" Christian said, breaking away from my lips to kiss my neck and to suck on my earlobe.
I could hear his groan in my ear, feel his cock grow more underneath me when I ground down on him.
"Lock the door" he said.
I stood, making my way to the door. Once it was locked, I shimmied out of my panties, throwing them to him, to which he put to his nose.
"You smell divine Ana" he groaned, slipping my panties into his pocket before pulling me back onto his lap.
While I had been removing my panties, he had opened his trousers, releasing his cock so he was ready for me when I sunk down on him.
"Christian" I moaned, sucking on his neck this time, knowing I had left a mark. I couldn't help it, always losing control when I surrounded this man. As I bounced on his cock, his hands held my arse, squeezing me tight.
When he started to thrust up inside me, I knew that he was close. Christian would never fall before me, no matter how many times I told him to let go. As his movements picked up, he brought me closer to my goal.
Rubbing my clit was what did it as my loud moan echoed throughout the room. As he followed me shortly after, his face buried into my neck, it was my name he called.
"Love you, love you, love you" I said, kissing his face as he laughed.
"I love you Ana" he said, his hand stroking my cheek. "You're my one and only, forever."
People may come and tell lies, try to break us apart but no one ever would. Our relationship is built on trust and respect but more than that, on love.
…
I laughed, watching the dogs jump in the water, chasing the stone I had just thrown. Daft is the only word that I could choose for these dogs at the moment, daft and funny.
It had been a week since Lorenzo has raided the house and even though my husband had disposed of Sebastian's brother, Maria Ramirez had still to materialize. Where she was hiding out, we didn't know but Christian had everyone looking for her.
I had been skimming stones on the water, my crazy dogs deciding I was playing fetch with them and all jumped in.
Milo came up first with a stone in his mouth as he happily swam to me. He came out, dropping it at my feet, his tail fast enough to take off.
"You're such a good boy" I laughed, scratching his ear as his leg started to shake.
The other dogs came out of the water with no stones. They didn't care though as all they wanted was a stroke.
"Rosie are you going in" I asked, seeing one eye open from where she had been sunbathing on the jetty. "I guess not" I laughed as she closed her eye again.
I don't know how long I had been out here but it was quiet, peaceful, just what I wanted at the moment.
There were boats going up and down the stretch of water between Grace and Carrick's and here. They would look like they were out for a cruise when in fact they were on guard so no one came at us from the water. The only side of our property that didn't have a wall around it.
I felt him before I saw him, turning to face Christian. There was something in his expression that put me on alert.
"The boys" I asked, wanting to know they were ok as they were all out at the moment.
"They're fine Ana."
"What is it then" I asked as he joined me on the beach, his arms wrapping around me.
"We've got her."
Thank you for reading.
I was asked a few chapters ago who were Valentina and Garret. I forgot to reply last chapter as there was so much going on in it.
In Within his Arms we met Aldo and Pippa Romano from Chicago. Valentina is their granddaughter, Dante being her father. We will meet them again in upcoming chapters.
Until next time.
Take care
Caroline.