Property of Lisa Manoban | JenLisa [?]

"I'm so fucking nervous," I said slowly, scratching the back of my neck.

"If you want, we can do this another time." Lisa said, reaching out over the table to hold my hand.

The soft clatter of plates in the restaurant, La Lanterne Bouillante was getting to my nerves. I wasn't even able to drink any of the wine that's in the flute beside me.

I run my sweaty palms over the deep red evening gown I was wearing, my thigh peeking through the slit at the side.

Why did I think this was a good idea?

"No, I have to do this. I have to. It only seems right," I said and looked at her, my eyes going over her dark suit with deep red undershirt that matched my dress and the necklace I'd got her hanging from her neck, front and center. I was so dragging her to the bedroom when we got home.

We'd been at it like bunnies for the last six months and a lot had changed. I had turned 20 and she was 24. We still hadn't got married yet, but the mafia had accepted me with wide arms. We'd managed without Nancy's help, that fucking hypocrite and her girlfriend were pulling their gang higher in the criminal world. I didn't like that. I still wanted to punch her.

But there was still so much I had to do, like talking to my siblings again.

I'd been thinking about it a lot these past few weeks and when I told Lisa, she was on board with it all. We'd tracked them down, they always had breakfast at this restaurant on Sunday mornings.

I could see them now. My sister was dressed in a deep blue off-shoulder evening gown and my brother was in a maroon suit that looked dashing against his white skin.

They both looked so different now. My sister was much taller and so beautiful, my brother still large and broad shouldered but there was a delicate manner in how he talked and held things.

They both smiled at each other and I felt bad, like maybe I was going to ruin that happiness for them.

"Don't fucking do that."

"Do what?" I asked Lisa, not turning to her.

"Think you don't deserve to talk to them. They are your siblings, tesoro."

"I know that, but... what if they don't want to... see me or it's better for them to think I'm still dead."

"Do you really want to do that to them?" Lisa asked. "Don't you want them to attend your wedding? I know you haven't said anything about it but it's why you're holding back, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I breathed. "I'm just so nervous."

"I get that, tesoro but go on up there. I believe in you, amore." Lisa said and she lifted my hand, kissing my palm. Her tattooed hand was a stark difference against mine and another unwanted thought popped in my mind.

Oh, fuck. What would they think of her?

"Go," Lisa urged and I let out a breath, standing up. I can do this.

I walked past Lisa and she lightly tapped my ass. That was weird thinking back to how hard she usually hit. My Italian was a little kinky and had a bondage kink. I was fine with it. It worked out a lot. I liked pain, a little degradation and she delivered it. A lot.

The closer I went to my siblings, the more my legs seemed to want to give out just so I could turn back.

No.

Go to them.

My brother's eyes rose to meet mine over my sister's shoulders.

Fuck, I can't turn back now.