Chapter 65

We were still standing at the same place when Lorenzo entered the living area with two men behind. One of them I knew exactly who he is since a year ago I helped him with one of his biggest deals. The other person I was meeting for the first time.

"Oh great.....! that you are here." Dad said he walked towards both men and hugged them one by one.

"Good to see you both." Lorenzo on the other hand walked towards my new family member and started hugging them one by one as well. I silently moved towards nonno and said in hushed voice so that no one could here us.

"How does dad know Riccardo Lombardi nonno?" He looked at me with raised eyebrows to which I answered in one word.

"Fox" he knew immediately and replied

"Those two are his best childhood friend and others too."

"You mean my uncles?"

"Yes"

"Oh..... "

"Cara, come meet my best friends." Dad called me. I walked to where they were standing and looked at them with a confident face.

"This is my daughter Hazel Serahina Barone and this is Antonio Bernardi. He is the owner of the Guarda which handles the security of our families in all countries."

"Nice to meet you Mr. Antonio and thank you for protecting my family till now." He gave me a longing look and then smiled.

"Nice to meet you too Hazel." He pulled his hand forward for me to take mine in it to shake. There is something with this man I'm not able to pin point. It's nothing sort of bad vibe actually it's surprisingly good vibe.

"This is our other friend Antonio Bernardi."

I moved my gaze on the other person now I was contemplating hard that whether I should talk about his real business or not because we have some unfinished business left..........aaahhhh,.....fuck it..... lets have some fun.

"Mr. Bernardi, how are you now?" I asked innocently.

"Do you know him cara?" Dad asked with a surprised look.

"Yes, of course. Well who doesn't know him. Well, he owns half of the America and London. I read somewhere that you got shot few months ago. How's your arm now?" He didn't said anything but kept looking at me. I know he was trying to remember me but his bad luck, he won't. He shook my hand absent mindedly

"Nice to meet you dear. Glad to know she have more brains that you." He said looking at dad to which he just scoffed.

"You didn't answered my question."

"Oh... I'm perfectly fine now. Thank you for asking. Do you mind me asking, where you read about my injury."

"There was this article about American mafia head getting shot. When I read it that's when I got to know about you. And you know a strange think, it was removed within two hours of it's publishing. I wonder who would have done it!!!."

"You were injured Toni? How come I didn't knew about it?" Dad asked in a worried tone.

"No big deal Armando. It was just a small bullet. I'm fine now."

I looked to Riccardo and to my surprise he was smirking. Why?!!! I have to find about him later.

"Let's get to dining hall everyone. Lunch is ready." Nana and the other two ladies came in to inform everyone and I was glad because with all this talking I was hungry now. We walked to the hall and sat down. I was sitting between the two ladies who were taking full care of me. I mean they have filled my plate with food so much that I'm sure it's impossible for me to eat this much. I was still thinking about where to start when my second uncle gained my attention with his question.

"So Hazel, have you joined any college here for further education?" At his question my brothers, nonno and dad smirked.

"No zio."

"Why? You didn't like any college here?"

"Yeah.... I'm not in mood to study further."

"WHAT?" Both my aunts and my zio's well except zio Aurelio asked.

"Querida (darling) you have to at least get graduated." Aunt Delfina said.

"I agree with her dear. It's not good for your future." Everyone nodded even their son's and two friends as well. I was having hard time controlling my laughter and my other family members as well. And dad decided to get it over with to not give them hard time.

"She is just messing with you all. My daughter have already completed here studies with a PHD in coding and programming with some advanced studies." Everyone looked at me as if I have two heads. As always I hate this much attention.

"Mommy where are you?" A voice which was definitely was of a kid came from the living area which bought everyone back to their senses and I thanked God to send that savior this moment.

"In the dining area baby." In few seconds enter a little boy who was looking so dashing in white shirt and grey pants.

He looked around the table and when his eyes landed on me he came forward with a shy smile. He had a bouquet of white lilies in his hands. I got up from my seat as well and took two steps towards him and got down to his height by sitting on my knees.

"Hey, you must be Renato." He nodded his head.

"Are these for me?" I looked at the beautiful bouquet of white lilies which are actually my favorite flowers.

It bought me certain memory of some when I inhaled the fragrance of the lilies. I was so lost in the moment that I barely hear a click of a photo. My eyes were closed at the moment but I was trying hard to stop the tears that will flow down once I'll open them. Somehow I managed to got control of them and opened my eyes to look at the worried Renato. I know what he must be thinking so to not let him get more confused or think that I don't like them; I hugged him tight enough which will not make him uncomfortable.

"Thank you so much darling. I loved them so much." Pulling back I looked into his eyes with a big smile on my face.

"If you likes them then why are you crying?"

"Because I liked them so much. And let me tell you a secret." I said by gesturing with my hand to say come close to me. Then I whispered in his left ear.

"You are the first person who have given me these beautiful lilies in this family." He pulled back and looks at me with an excited smile on his face. Then he as well hushed in my ear.

"Really?!!!" And I replied back same

"Yes Ren. And can you promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"You will always bring me flowers whenever we meet. Promise?" I said the last word a little louder now. Then I moved my pinky in between us for him to hold with his pinky and stamped our thumbs. He then kissed his thumb.

"I promise sisy."

"And now you are my favorite and best brother in this family."

"Mommy did you hear that?!,!, I'm her favorite brother." He asked his mom shouting.

"Yes baby I did."

"Where is Berto, Renato?" His father, Stefano asked him.

"He said he got a call from his sec.... secq......"

"Secretary?"

"Yeah......." we all laughed and he hugged his mother shyly.

I decided to put the lilies in water first so I excused myself to go in the kitchen and started looking for a vase. Ren was hugging his leg. This must be his brother. I smiled and walked near to him. Dad saw me and he got up with zio Stefano.

"Ah cara, good you are back meet my son Umberto and Umberto meet your sister Hazel."

I looked at him. I kept looking at him but I couldn't pinpoint where I could have seen him. There's something very familiar about his face. I looked down to his neck and then at his arms which had his sleeves rolled up to elbow. He pulled his hand forward for me to meet mine and then I saw that mark. The mark which belonged to certain someone. My eyes were still fixed on the mark. But how is this possible. Anyone can have that same mark.

"Cara, what happened?" Dada asked me with concern and I guess this bought everyone's attention in the room. I couldn't reply him because my thoughts were messed up. Then those words came into my head ringing like bells. "He was adopted at the age of 10 or 11."

This can't be possible. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and spoke a first word that came into my mind by looking at his face. "Or..... Orlando...????????" Hearing that name his eyes widened. I knew that exact moment that this is my Orlando. It's him..... he is...... he is not....... dead? But he is here. His next words stopped my brain that is running marathon with thoughts right now.

"Squirrel........???.?." I was blank at that moment. My whole world stopped. Only one this kept ringing in my ears which is my name that he used to call me. I didn't know what to do? Then all of a sudden things starts getting in a straight line for me. He is not dead, he's alive? That means he lied, all these years, I was told a lie. He know about me, nothing happened to him. Anger started building up in my chest like a crazy tornado. I looked at him from top to bottom when my eyes fell on the beautiful and innocent face of Ren. I can't let him part of this madness. So, I got to his height and forced a smile on my face.

"Ren do you want to see my horse?" He nodded with eagerly eyes. I took my phone from my pocket and called captain Rick to come in the house fast. True to my words as I canceled my call he was here within few seconds.

"Do need something dear?"

"Can you take Ren to meet with Arion?"

"Of course." And with a smile he took Ren out and then whole hell broke out of me.