Is this destiny?

This small chat with Angelo made Emma feel better about the current situation. Everything went smoothly so far, better than Emma expected, and she was left with only one concern. "Do you think that Sean and Ryan will dislike it?"

"Dislike what? That you are joining Nero Armi?", Angelo asked, and he continued talking without giving Emma time to respond: "I'm sure you know that the boys look up to you. They will be delighted to know that you will be spending more time with us."

Angelo straightened his back and looked at Emma seriously.

"Emma, I see you as the next Capo and so do many of my subordinates. I firmly believe that you are the most capable person to take over that spot. However, no one will force you to take it if you are not interested. I am assuming that you will aim for the top and be my heiress, however, I will still expect you to prove me right and earn your position. As for Ryan and Sean, even if they are aiming for the position of the Capo, I am confident that they will be able to see who is more capable among the three of you; if they don't, it will prove that they don't have what it takes to be the Capo. I can't tell you if we will reach that point in a week, six months, or in a year, because that will depend on many things, but I can tell you until that time comes, there is no reason for you to worry."

Emma's lips lifted into a smile. After hearing Angelo's reasoning, Emma had no idea why she worried about Sean and Ryan disliking her presence at Nero Armi. Of course, her idea was something like waltzing in and sitting on the throne, but if she goes with what Angelo suggested, it will be a seamless process where three siblings work with Angelo and she will show to her brothers and everyone else that she is the right choice, the only one, who can continue in Angelo's footsteps… whatever they are.

Emma thought how she was silly for thinking about her family falling out, considering how everything is moving in the right direction without much effort required, like it's natural.

Emma took a deep breath and steeled her resolve, knowing that the next few days she might see unpleasant things, but those will be necessary because no one fought off people with bad intentions by talking softly while the other side waved guns.

"Alright. Where do we start?"

"You already started.", Angelo smiled mysteriously. "There will be a meeting tomorrow. Come with me and… learn Italian."

Emma laughed. "I will…"

…

On the next morning, Emma attended the meeting that Angelo mentioned.

Other than Emma, Angelo, Sean, and Ryan, fourteen other people were present. Out of those fourteen, two were new faces while twelve she met on the previous evening during dinner.

Angelo started the meeting by announcing that Emma will join and work by his side, together with Sean and Ryan.

"How often can we expect Emma's presence?", Giacomo asked, obviously insinuating that Emma is very pregnant and that soon she will be busy with her baby.

"I will take a month to adapt to motherhood. After that, I will be coming here more often. I can't promise more than that…", Emma said vaguely, slightly embarrassed that she didn't think about this previously. But coming here with the baby should not be a problem.

Angelo was pleased with Emma's answer and he steered the conversation toward the regular agenda.

They spoke in Italian, and Sean and Ryan took turns translating for Emma in low voices so that she can follow what was discussed. Emma was impressed to hear her brothers speak Italian. She had no idea that they mastered it, and to her, they sounded like real Italians.

Emma was surprised that they were mostly sharing status reports about people at various bases and their needs in food and other supplies, and Angelo was delegating work to his subordinates to handle issues at hand.

She was expecting to hear about some carnage and body count, but the most violent thing discussed was how five of their members went to a bar in Cairo, and ended up in a scuffle with a local gang, earning some bruises in the process. Angelo approved extra units to be dispatched there because they can't lose face as Nero Armi, and he also said that those five troublemakers need to be punished by deducting from their salary because they caused trouble.

"Our presence there is to conduct business, and not to participate in skirmishes with locals.", Ryan explained to Emma in a low voice. 

After the meeting ended, Angelo, Sean, and Ryan stayed with Emma to answer her questions.

She understood that these meetings happen once a week on a regular basis and that once a month they review finances and discuss any major offensive and defensive strategies. Additional meetings can be scheduled if there is a need.

When she got her answers, Emma headed with Sean and Ryan to the nearby town.

…

They didn't walk much because Emma's legs were aching, so when they reached the town square, Sean stayed on the bench with Emma under the shade of a tree, while Ryan went to the nearby stall to buy gelato for the three of them.

Emma observed the square. A lot of people were walking and chatting in a good mood, and some youngsters were lingering around the fountain.

She saw that Ryan was chatting with two girls who threw amorous glances his way and they were disappointed when Ryan walked away with gelatos in his hands.

Emma was happy that Ryan returned with three gelatos, each with a different flavor, so she can taste them all.

She took pistachio, Sean got strawberry, and Ryan chocolate.

Ryan and Sean sat on the bench with Emma in the middle, and the tri siblings enjoyed the icy treat.

Emma licked the gelato and closed her eyes to enjoy the chilling pistachio flavor that spread over her tongue.

A few licks later, she glanced toward the gelato stand and saw that those two ladies were still glancing toward them. Well, probably toward Ryan.

"They seem interested in you.", Emma said teasingly.

Ryan shrugged like it's not a big deal.

"They are cute.", Emma was not willing to drop the topic because this was one of the things she wanted to investigate.

"Your point?", Ryan asked while working on his chocolate gelato.

Emma put her hand over his and pulled the gelato closer to lick it. She hummed in approval. Chocolate gelato was tasty as well. Her eyes fell on Sean's gelato and he helplessly extended his hand for Emma to taste it.

"No point.", Emma responded to Ryan's question while smacking her lips in satisfaction. Strawberry was tastier and she exchanged her gelato with Sean's who didn't protest.

"It's just that I've heard that the two of you are quite heartbreakers. No need to hold back because of me, feel free to woo them."

Ryan and Sean frowned at Emma's words.

"Who told you that we are chasing girls?", Sean asked grumpily.

Emma shook her head. "No one."

Ryan snorted. "It must be dad."

Emma didn't deny it. "Was he lying when he said that he saw you with several different ones during the winter break?"

"No, not really.", Sean admitted. "But we are not really chasing girls. They are after us."

Emma noticed that Sean made a face like he was disgusted. "What is wrong with them?"

Ryan glanced at those two young ladies and narrowed his eyes. "When we came here, at first, it was OK. People looked at us because we were new faces. This is a small town and the news spread quickly how we are De Luca boys and girls started throwing themselves at us."

Emma's mouth opened to form an 'O' shape as she started to realize some things.

"We are not proud of it.", Sean said. "We thought of taking advantage of the current popularity while we can, so we dated a few of them."

Ryan snorted. "I wouldn't call that dating."

Sean frowned at Ryan, warning him not to talk too much. He didn't want Emma to think of them like scoundrels.

Sean continued the story. "It wore off quickly. There is no point in being with girls who are after us only because they hope to get some benefits."

"And to become a member of the De Luca family.", Ryan added.

Emma nodded solemnly as she understood the current situation. Her brothers were swept in the fame that comes with being Angelo's children. After all, Angelo is a powerful man, and that is known to many, especially locals. The outsiders probably don't know the details, but they will know that Angelo lives in a big villa and has people working for him. Many would be attracted to it. As a bonus, Sean and Ryan are handsome young men, so it's normal that girls will be interested in getting entangled with them.

It's like a story from a novel where a regular girl from a small town attracts the attention of a rich handsome foreigner who falls for her and they live happily ever after. But it seemed that Sean and Ryan are not interested in being part of such a story. 

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