"Aaron has something to tell about a young and beautiful girl involved with Rafael," this was all Riley had to hear before she jumped off the bed. Her husband, Michael groaned on the bed, "What happened?" he asked her without opening his eyes.
"Wake up soon. We have to begin the day. Do all the emergency work before lunch. We are going to J's house for lunch. Aaro has something to tell about Rafael and a girl." Riley spilled out everything in one go.
Michael sighed and responded, "Fine."
Jordan and Michael have been best friends since childhood and Riley had joined their little gang in high school. They studied together and Adrian Marcel was their teacher. As much as it was weird, Michael did not mind his best friend marrying their teacher. He and Riley fully supported the relationship once they were sure that Adrian Marcel was a gentleman. And Michael unofficially became Aaron and Amity's uncle.
He got off the bed and began his day as he was ordered by his wife. He would not dare to go against her. And all hell will break loose if he even thinks about doing things against his wife's words.
Downstairs, in the living room attached to the kitchen, Sarah, Michael's mother and Jonathan, Michael's father were busy with their grandkids. Riley and Michael have two kids, fraternal twins. Luca and Lucia were just a year younger than Amity. And they go to the same school, Harrison, as their parents did. The twins were a handful despite being old enough as 9. They were the apple of their grandparents' eyes on both sides of the families.
"So, we are going to Jordan's place for lunch," Michael informed his parents at the dining table. He was now showered and fully ready to leave for work.
Before his parents could reply anything, Lucia asked excitedly, "Really papa?"
"Yes, sweetie. Aaron has come back home and-" he turned to his parents and continued, "And apparently he has something to tell about Rafael."
Sarah chuckled at her son's words, "Really? Does this have something to do with any woman?"
"How did you guess mom?" Riley asked curiously. The mother in law and daughter in law shared a wonderful rapport. And Sarah spoiled her daughter in law, Riley to no end. She simply loved the fact that Riley was the daughter that she did not have. They both loved spending time together and did very well in maintaining the household as well. The men of the house, Jonathan and Michael could not be anymore happier to have such lovely ladies in their lives.
"It is obvious. And also I hope he finds someone and settles down soon. Your parents are worried about him," Sarah said as she helped her grandson, Luca with sandwiches.
Riley sighed heavily, "I know. I too hope he settles down but we can't force him into anything." she always felt bad for her brother because he has made so many compromises in life and now he has decided to stay unmarried for the rest of his life as he does not want to ruin a girl's life because he is a mafia gang leader.
"Let's see what Aaron has to say. Then maybe we can play a little role and make him settle," said Jonathan, trying to cheer up his daughter in law. Riley smiled at her father in law's conniving idea and the grin plastered on his face.
"Okay then, we'll be back in the evening I guess," Michael said. He had to begin his day already. He was a busy man and had a big construction company to run which he inherited from his father years ago.
Jonathan replied, "Fine, go ahead. Maybe me and your mom could also go out." He winked at his wife making his son and daughter in law chuckle and grandkids go ewwwww. They concluded the breakfast and got on the way of their respective plans for the day.
"So, there's this girl named Aria," Aaron said standing in front of the audience which was his mom, his aunt Riley, his father, and uncle Mike.
"Okay and then?" asked Michael, munching the cookies which Jordan had arranged.
"And that girl is going crazy for uncle Rafael," Aaron said the story in bits.
"And what about Rafael?" Riley asked curiously to which Aaron just shook his head as no.
"Sometimes I wonder if your brother is gay," Adrian said nonchalantly and Michael raised his hand in support. They simply could not rule out the possibility as neither of them had seen Rafael with a girl before.
"I am sure he's not," Riley countered their accusation.
"How?" This time it was Jordan. By now, Aaron had taken a seat next to his mom, Jordan.
"Because I have literally seen him sneaking girls out of our house when we were teenagers, before I moved here," Riley gave the much needed explanation that everyone needed.
"Maybe he changed his preference now?" Aaron suggested, sceptically.
"It is not an electronic gadget to switch preferences," Michael said, making everyone laugh.
"But, honestly, I don't think he is gay. He did have a girlfriend before but he cut ties even before it could get anything serious that girl freaked out knowing about our father," Riley said and grabbed some cookies.
Everyone went silent for some time. And Aaron broke it after a few moments of thinking in his mind, "I don't think that could be the reason this time too." Now everyone's attention was definitely on him.
"What do you mean?" asked Jordan.
"Aunt Rey, you may have heard this last name. That girl's name is Aria Rossi," Aaron said very carefully.
Riley continued to munch her cookie and then sighed, closing her eyes. She swallowed the cookies, "She is related to Alberto Rossi?" She asked and Aaron nodded his head in return.
"Who is Alberto Rossi now?" Michael questioned. He still tried to decipher his wife's Italian connections.
"Alberto Rossi is one of the Italian mafia bosses and he did work under our father in the beginning when he got involved into the mafia." Riley said. Everyone sighed heavily and leaned back. This girl would be a big no. Especially for Rafael. Because unlike his father, Rafael was never involved in his father's mafia business before. He used to work at a private company and earned decently and rightfully. And had made a vow to himself that he would never marry someone that has anything to do with the mafia or someone who can't handle his secret of being the son of the most wanted mafia bosses in Italy. But now he had become the mafia leader after a sudden twist and turns in life.
Michael noticed that Riley became dull after hearing the name Rossi. "Rey, why do you look so dull suddenly?" he asked her. Instantly everyone's attention fell on Riley.
Riley left out a heavy breath and answered, "Alberto Rossi is the one who killed Vincenzo."
Now, everyone could easily guess the answer as to why Rafael rejected the girl Aria Rossi. Vincenzo used to be the capo of the mafia gang that was run by Riley's father, Alessandro Bianchi. Vincenzo and Rafael were best friends since childhood and Riley and Vincenzo were in love. WIth elders' blessings, they were ready to get married and settle down. But on their wedding day, Alberto Rossi's gang attacked the wedding venue and in that fight, Alberto killed Vincenzo.
Michael immediately got up from his seat and hugged Riley, in an attempt to calm her down. Eventually Jordan and Adrian too hugged her and so did Aaron and it became a group hug which did help in calming down Riley.
The talks come to an end and everyone has lunch and talks about Aaron's preparation to go to college far away from home. He had chosen to stay in the dorms despite staying in the same city as his paternal grandparents. His grandmother was still upset about the matter and Aaron knew that he had a lot of making up to do for it.