Ace felt surprised to hear Charli speaking another language as he never knew she could.But then he remembered her dad was Italian and he might have taught her the language as a small child.He just shook his head.It was intriguing really as he kept discovering there was more to Charli that he had yet to discover.He loved this fact though.Yes, he stared at her.No matter how much time went by, he couldn’t get enough of this small fiery woman.
His brothers all saw this and they smiled as they shook their heads.
Shay just smirked as he patted Ace’s arm and shook his head.
Chapter Fifteen
After supper, everyonewas sitting around the living room talking quietly.They all froze as they could hear a car turning into the driveway.
Mario rose from the chair he sat in and went to the windows at the front of the house.He stood there watching as the vehicle stopped and four men got out.With a look of worry, he swallowed hard and turned to look at Charli.“My dad and the Council are here.”
Ace and his brothers all got to their feet.
Charli stood as well.She looked at the other women in the room and asked, “Can you ladies give me a few minutes?”
Luna, Collette, Jaden, Mags and Rowen all gave her a nod and went down the hall to their rooms.
Charli took a deep breath and exhaled.Turning to her cousin, she nodded.
When Mario opened the door he saw his father Julian and three other men standing behind him.Mario stepped aside and left them an opening into the house.
Julian walked inside and paused as he saw the six men in the living room.He then looked back at Mario and spoke in Italian, “Cos'è questo?Who are these guys?And what are they doing in Charli’s house?”
Mario closed the door and turned to cross his arms over his chest.Looking his father in the eyes, he replied, “These guys are Charli’s family.Ace is her husband and the others are King, Jack, Deuce and Joker.They are Ace’s brothers.”
One of the Council men shook his head.“Charli can’t be married.Permission was never given for nuptials to someone else.”
Charli snorted.“I didn’t need anyone’s permission to marry him.I am a woman full grown and I make my own decisions.”
“But my dear,” the same Council member spoke up again.“You are Michael Benitini’s only child and you were born into the tribe.”
Charli shook her head.“And just what does that mean?To me, not a thing.Julian and his tribe left me to grow up here with my mother’s parents.My grandfather Ben Braaken raised me.After we buried my parents, he raised me right here on this land from the age of five.Julian and his tribe never even checked on me for nine years then I was allowed to visit with them for two weeks.Mario was the only one in his family that would even speak to me.He taught me some moves for the blades his family made from the steel.Other than that, the family told me nothing.When I would ask about the feud during that visit, I was told nothing.Julian’s wife told me it was forbidden to speak of that time, so I didn’t know what happened that day or why.I never knew until Mario got here two days ago.I never knew my parents were on their way to sign off on the feud.That while they were trying to get peace for the two families involved, my parents should not have died on that road.I was told nothing.”She turned to her Uncle Julian and glared at him.“And you...you piece of shit, you never told me I was supposed to marry a man I didn’t know at the upcoming festival as some ridiculous tradition, until yesterday on the phone.”
The Council men standing there all looked gob smacked at her speech.
“Well bucko, you’re about two years too late.I’m already married and I have a son with my husband.So, you’ll just have to find another woman to marry this guy.”
