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Stefano's pov

Looking down shyly, she replied, "Si, Nonno (Yes, Grandfather), Uncle EJ spanked me last night for what he called an unacceptable attitude."

"Hmmm," I patted her knee before guiding her chin to me. "Now why would that be, Tesoro (Sweetheart)?"

"Non lo so, Nonno (I don't know, Grandfather). I just said he needed to stop telling me what to do since that position was filled and we weren't accepting any other applicants," she replied so sweetly, I couldn't help but laugh, inspite of the punishment-worthy brazen cheekiness she displayed towards my son.

God, I'm going to miss this, I thought as I suppressed a grin to address my naughty granddaughter's behavior toward Elliot James.

"Nipotina (Granddaughter), is that any way to speak to your uncle?" I questioned somewhat seriously as it was difficult to hide my mirth at her sassy response to my boy.

"No, I guess not, Nonno (Grandfather), but sometimes Uncle EJ just brings it out in me."

"That is no excuse, Francesca," I said firmly, despite inwardly smirking. "You know better than to speak to your uncle that way, Bambina (Baby girl). It sounds to me that spanking you received was most certainly justified. Now wasn't it?" I patted her bottom gently and smiled so she would know I wasn't angry or upset.

"I suppose I deserved it, Nonno (Grandfather), but maybe Uncle EJ shouldn't call me a brat all the time if he doesn't want me to act like one."

I laughed heartily now as I pinched her cheek.

"Forse è vero (Perhaps that is true)," I replied, patting her bottom a little more firmly this time in warning, "but you still need to mind your uncle and be respectful when speaking to him. Sono chiaro, Signorina (Am I clear, Young lady)?"

"Si signore (Yes sir)," she replied appropriately.

She really is a good girl. Anthony, Alexandra, and Elliot James have done a wonderful job parenting her since she's come into our lives.

"Buona (Good). Now let's discuss the original reason I needed to speak to you, Nipotina (Granddaughter)."

"About you going away, Nonno (Grandfather)?"

"Si (Yes). I'm afraid I have to go away for a long while, Nipotina (Granddaughter), and I must go alone, otherwise I would surely have you join me, as I so love and cherish your company." My heart is breaking having to say goodbye to mia famiglia (my family). Everything I have ever done has been for their benefit. They are always at the forefront of my mind, with each decision I make and every breath I take. A patriarch always puts his family first.

"How come you have to go alone, Grandfather?"

"Well, Tesoro, (Sweetheart), this is something I must do by myself but I have a very important job for you to do while I'm gone. That is why I needed to speak to you privately. Va bene (Ok)?"

"Si, Nonno (Yes, Grandfather). Cosa volete che faccia (What do you want me to do)?"

Pinching her cheek and smiling, I replied, "Grazie per aver usato il tuo italiano, mia dolce ragazza (Thank you for using your Italian, my sweet girl). You have a most important mission to carry out while I am away, Francesca, but you mustn't tell anyone about it."

"Is it a secret mission, Nonno (Grandfather)?"

"Si, Nipotina, è una missione molto segreta (Yes, Granddaughter, it is a very secret mission)."

"What is it?" she asked in awe, her eyes wide as saucers.

"You, my beautiful girl, are in charge of taking care of my children while I am away. Your father, your aunt, and your uncle. Capisci (Understand)."

"But, Grandfather, I'm just a kid. How can I take care of them? They are all adults. I mean, I know Uncle EJ acts like a baby sometimes, but he is still supposedly a grown man. Right?"

Ignoring her insulting remark regarding her uncle, despite it being somewhat accurate, I sternly replied, "Francesca, I asked you if you understood me. What is the proper response to that question, Signorina (Young lady)?"

"Si signore (Yes sir)," she replied shyly. "But..."

"Ah ah ah." I put my hand up to stop her from voicing her objection. "You must trust your nonno (grandfather) knows what is best for this family. Yes?"

"Si, Nonno, hai ragione (Yes, Grandfather, you are right)."

"Your father will be in charge of ensuring everyone's safety, but I need you, Nipotina (Granddaughter), to make sure they are happy and they remain together as a family. You, my sweet child, are the tie that binds us all together."

"What do you mean, Nonno (Grandfather)?" she asked, scrunching her forehead in confusion.

"Before you came along, we were all leading separate lives, Nipotina (Granddaughter). Your father and aunt were living far apart in California, your uncle was in England and never spoke to his brother or sister, and I was here in Italy in this big old mansion, all by myself."

"You weren't by yourself, Grandfather. You had Alfr... servants. Didn't you?"

"Yes, I had servants but I was very much alone, mia dolce ragazza (my sweet girl)."

"Non capisco, Nonno (I don't understand, Grandfather). How could you be alone if other people were here?"

"I wasn't by myself, Nipotina (Granddaughter), but I was very lonely. I missed my family terribly. I was extremely busy running the family business, but I felt very empty inside. Something was missing and that something was you."

"But you didn't even know me, Grandfather. We'd never even met. How could you know I was what you were missing?" my sweet little granddaughter asked, looking at me inquisitively.

"Non lo sapevo, Nipotina, ma Dio lo sapeva (I did not know, Granddaughter, but God knew). He knew how much we all desperately needed you in our lives, before we even knew you were a Dimerra. I am so sorry your mother had to die in order for us to find you but credo che tutte le cose accadano per una ragione, Nipotina (I believe all things happen for a reason, Granddaughter), and sometimes bad things happening is a part of God's plan. Does that make sense, Francesca? Can you understand what I mean now?"

"Maybe, Nonno (Grandfather)," she said, sighing sadly. "Maybe God thought you, and my dad, and Aunt Lexie, and Uncle EJ needed me more than my mom did."

My heart broke as I watched the tears slip from her eyes. I don't regret what happened to her mother for one second. She was a horrible woman who didn't deserve this precious, beautiful gift God bestowed upon her. She had no right to hide her from my son, from any of us. Honestly, she got what she had coming to her. I'm sorry Francesca had to be hurt in the process but it was for the greater good. It was what was best for mia famiglia (my family) and that whore Anna was never a part of this family, despite being married to my son and birthing my beautiful granddaughter.

Hugging her tightly, I said, "Non piangere, Tesoro (Don't cry, Sweetheart). Please don't cry." Swaying her softly in my arms as she clung to me, I tried to comfort her as I explained, "You make us whole, Francesca, and you give purpose and meaning to our lives. Non dimenticare mai, mia bella principessa, che svolgi questo lavoro importantissimo nella nostra azienda di famiglia (Do not ever forget, my beautiful princess, that you hold this most important job in our family business)."

Five months later

Tony's pov

It's been a little over four months since we lowered Father's casket into the ground. Alexandra moved into the mansion with us shortly before the funeral. Claire's adjusted well to her new life here in Italy, now that her aunt and I are with her, along with her uncle. EJ's honestly maintained the bulk of the responsibility for raising her as I've been a bit overwhelmed since assuming the role of patriarch of this family. Lexi provides a nice balance to our stern methods of discipline regarding my daughter's disobedient behavior. Claire is much happier now that she has a feminine nurturing presence in her life again full time.

Since the funeral, I've had my baby brother negate the deal our father made with Vincenzo Nardello, by systematically eliminating every member of their family, one by one. They can never exact revenge if they cease to exist, afterall. Now can they? There remains only one living Nardello to date. One member of their family we have yet to assassinate. Herein lies the problem though, as he's engaged to our half-sister Alexandra. Elliot James and I have decided to off him to ensure the safety of our family and our future generations, but Alexandra obviously feels quite differently. Tonight's the night we tell her she's out-voted and her fiance will be killed.

Lexie's pov

I know my idiot half-brothers are up to something. I have a sinking feeling they're going to announce tonight that my wedding is off. Luciano Nardello and I began seeing each other in secret after meeting at my father's funeral. One month later, we were madly in love and one month after that, we snuck off to Paris and got engaged. Needless to say, Tony and EJ were furious when they found out. They hate Luciano with fervor and he feels the same way about them, but where there is hate, there is passion. We all know the opposite of love is indifference and as long as my brothers have such strong feelings regarding my fiance, I have a chance of swaying them. I have to keep them from killing each other on a daily basis until that happens, however.

Tonight, I plan on putting an end to their feud, once and for all, or so I hope. Tonight's the night I inform them I'm pregnant. I'm carrying the second living Nardello family member in my uterus, a child who will be born in approximately six months. This child will unite us and if it's a boy, he will one day become the patriarch of the most powerful family this country has ever seen.

What Lexie didn't know was she was actually carrying the third living Nardello family member. Luciano has a thirteen-year-old half-brother named Dante, who's had a crush on Lexie's niece Claire for over a year now. Jimmy Nardello always had his suspicions that he was Dante's father but he never voiced them aloud before his death. Now Dante's mother is the only one privy to the knowledge of their secret affair, or so she thinks. 


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