I stood nervously in front of Valentinas' house. Since Sebastian knows I'm alive, there's no reason to hide anymore because soon enough, the rest of the mafia world is gonna find out.

The door was thrown open and I was met with Valentinas huge smile. She wrapped her arms around me. Our first proper hug in years. After a couple of moments, she ushered me in. "Vin isn't home, is he?," I asked, on edge. She shook her head.

"Nope. He'll be gone for a couple of hours."

"I bet the twins don't remember me," I guessed since I haven't seen them since they were toddlers and now they're six about to be seven years old. She shook her head.

"I think they kind of do. I'd show them pictures of you and tell them stories before bed. The one story I haven't covered yet is the one where you return from faking your death." She laughed as I followed her to the main room, rolling my eyes behind her.

Her house was huge but it still looked homely. Even the outside looked perfect with climbing frames and swings. Obviously, she has a gate around the house. Who knows who might try to come and kill them?

"We haven't got to the end of that yet," I chuckled. We might never will.

"Babies!," she called out loudly and instantly tiny little feet stamping along the floor neared us. As soon as they saw me, they came to a halt.

Identical faces to Valentina stared back at me. To be honest, it was a little creepy. When they were younger, you couldn't really tell who they looked like. Even in pictures, it's hard to tell.

"Mommy, she looks like that girl from the picture," Dante stated with a toothless grin. I bet he's still a little troublemaker.

"Obviously," Sophia spoke. I could tell she has an attitude just like her mom. She neared me and looked up at me. "I like your hair." A small smile grew on my face. My hair isn't the same as it is in the pictures because they were from all those years ago.

"Thank you!," I said with a huge smile. "I love your dress."

"Who wouldn't!," she exclaimed.

"This is your zia (aunt) Liliana," Valentina introduced me. A frown grew on my face and Valentina noticed. "Shit, I'm sorry."

I shrugged my shoulders. I was always gonna have to go back to my old name now anyway but she just made it seem real. I should've known the name 'Elena' was temporary.

"Why are you apologising? I am Liliana."

I felt good as I finally reclaimed my name as mine and leaving 'Elena' in the past.

"But you guys can call me Lili," I said with a small smile, not wanting to be called zia because it makes me feel old. Sophia and Dante grinned up at me.

~

"Something needs to happen," I spoke in hushed whispers to Valentina as we sat in her living room.

The twins played together loudly in front of us but you have to be careful around kids, you never know when they're listening. And I've heard that they're very observant.

"Like what? The fuck are you gonna do? You can't do anything to him. I know you and you'll freeze up. You're too close. I say, tell Sebastian. He caused the problem, he should fix it."

I bit my lip as I mulled over the idea. I let out a sigh. "I can't. I doubt he's even gonna want to see me."

"Christmas is in a week. His wedding is in a week. You have a week to fix this problem with some help. After that, I can guarantee you that Sebastian won't be willing to help."

"He's not willing to help me now. Plus, Jordan deserves to spend Christmas with his family. I can't take that from him."

"You've not asked that's why he's not willing! See you've turned soft!," she exclaimed.

"Lili, if you don't ask, you don't get," Dante said, knowingly. This kid is 6 years old and he's giving out better advice than me.

See what I mean about them listening?

"I want a snack," Sophia mumbled as she dropped her toy and walked off slowly.

"I want one too!," Dante exclaimed, following behind her. Valentina watched them both walk off, knowing the cook will get them their snacks.

"Can't we just shut him up?," I asked.

"How? The only way I see that happening is with him dead."

I let out a sigh, knowing she was telling the truth. She's right.

"For all we know, he could've already gone to the FBI," she continued.

I don't know how many more times I'm gonna have to say this but we're fucked.

Vincenzo's PoV

I let out a burp as I ate all that was left on my plate. "Daddy!," Sophia, my daughter, exclaimed as she ran towards me. I faced her and outstretched my arms, wanting a hug.

Saying I have a daughter still seems surreal to me. Same goes for son. It's fucking crazy, how me and Valentina managed to make these little walking and talking people.

Every time I look at the twins, I feel guilty because I left all three of them when they all needed me the most. I was immature and stupid. I was a fucking idiot then.

I didn't realise Sophia was babbling on about something until Dante rolled his eyes at my silence.

That little shit.

"I like mommy's friend," Sophia spoke.

"She's pretty," Dante chimed in. I narrowed my eyes at him. He's acting strange. For his age, he acts a hell of a lot older so he definitely didn't get that trait from me.

"She's nice. I love her hair. It's so long," Sophia carried on, ignoring her brother.

"And soft," Dante commented. It's probably some little crush. He'll get over it.

"She gave me a lollipop," Sophia recalled with a smile.

"She's amazing," Dante described her. Yup, it's definitely a little crush. This guy does not compliment anyone, not even my amazingly soft hair which also smells good.

I'm definitely gonna have to meet this woman especially if she's got my kid handing out free compliments willingly.

"Where's mommy's friend?," I asked them both, looking between the two of them.

"I thought you weren't at home. Mommy said so," Dante stated confused, completely ignoring my question.

"I missed all of you so I came back," I said with a smile. There's a bigger reason than that.

"I didn't miss you," Dante shrugged. I rolled my eyes. He's a little bully. He constantly bullies me by insulting me all the dang time. It's safe to say that Sophia is my favourite but I'll never tell them that.

"So you don't want the candy I bought?"

His eyes perked up at that. "Candy?"

I nodded my head and pushed the bag on the counter towards him.

"I think I did miss you," he said changing his mind as he rummaged through the bag looking for his favourite piece of candy. Sophia looked at him distastefully. "I'll ask Lili if she wants to share it with me!"

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Since when does he willingly share?

"Oh yeah! Daddy, you know mommy's friend."

"Do I?"

She nodded her head eagerly. "Yeah! Come on, I'll show you!" She bounced off my lap and ran all the way down the hallway, making me let out a sigh, knowing I'll have to find her now.

Suddenly, she appeared out of nowhere like a magician. She pushed a little picture in my hand. I glanced at it. It was a picture of me, Liliana, Valentina, Sebastian and Dom at a party. We were all laughing at something. It's from all those years ago. We actually look happy and civilised, much different to now.

My heart clenched at the thought of the fact that nothing is the same as it was all those years ago. Our friendships and relationships with each other have either broken or gotten stronger. And mostly they've broken.

"That's mommy's friend! She said she's our zia!The one she always talks to us about!," she said happily as she pointed to the girl next to Valentina.

Liliana?

~

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