“Who?”Ace barked out.
Mario looked disgusted.“My Uncle Ray.He was supposed to keep in touch with you over the years and report back to us if there were any problems.”
Charli shook her head.“I’ve never even met the man.I don’t think Ben did either, at least he never mentioned him.What is going on here, Mario?Why would your family even care about me at this point?Ben was the only one who stuck around.It was like after you moved, that side of the family just stopped existing for me.”
Mario reached out and took her hand.His head turned quickly when he heard Ace’s growl at the contact.Mario recognized it as possession, so he very carefully let her hand go and he studied her carefully.“Who exactly are these men, bella?”he finally asked.
Charli raised an eyebrow at him.“These men are my family, Mario.Ben raised me, but these men saved me.Ace is my husband and the father of my child.When you and your family went back to Italy, you cut all ties.Ben might have been old but he and grandma finished raising me.They were there for me every day when I lost my parents in that feud that had nothing to do with us.”
“We are all Vets and we formed an MC,” Ace said.“We came here looking for our brother that had disappeared right off the face of the earth.We found him alive and well due to Charli saving his life after he’d been stabbed while protecting her.We stayed and cleaned up this damn town.Ben lost his life in a shootout due to one man losing his temper.We settled his ass down hard and his father lost his own protection when we called his bullshit.She’s under our protection now.”
Mario lowered his head and sighed.“You never should have been left alone.Ray was supposed to step up and keep us informed of any danger coming your way.He failed that duty.”
“But that doesn’t explain why you’re here and who she is.”Charli motioned toward Angela.“Unless she’s with you?”
Mario shook his head.“No Bella, she isn’t with me in that respect.I picked her up at a diner on the other side of Chicago.She came along with me when I mentioned I was going to come to Braaken Ridge to find my cousin.She told me she knew that name and she thought she used to live here once upon a time.”
Everyone turned to look at Angela.
She shook her head.“I didn’t come here to cause trouble.About four years ago, I found myself in the hospital.My belly had been sliced open and I lost a lot of blood.The doctors told me that if I hadn’t been found I might have died.It was a trauma that took my memory of who I really was or why I was even there.I mean I didn’t know anyone there and I couldn’t remember my past.I was in Billings then and after I recovered enough to move, I left.”She took a deep breath and went on, “It was like starting all over with no memory of whatever I’d left behind.I got on the first bus I could and got as far as Chicago then I found a job but was no closer to remembering anything.Then I met Mario and the name of this town meant something to me when nothing else ever has, so I tagged along.”
Jack glanced over at his brothers.Then he looked down the hall at the bedroom where his wife and daughter were sleeping and shook his head.
“So what did you come here to tell me?”Charli glared at Mario.
“I came here for two reasons.One was to find Ray and check on you after word reached the family that things were blowing up over here and that you might be in trouble.”
Charli paused and glanced at Ace.“And what does Ray have to do with anything?I haven’t heard his name in over fifteen years.”
Mario shook his head and explained, “And that little one, is the problem.Ray was supposed to keep an eye on you and let us know if you ever needed us.He didn’t and now he’s missing.”
“Missing?”Ace asked.“What do you mean he’s missing?”
Mario sighed hard.“We found out that Ray was not keeping an eye on Charli.He also took our money, then set himself up in an arms running business with several others.They were selling American guns to whoever could pay the most.He disappeared ten years ago and dug himself a hole that protected him while he built his own small army to protect himself against not only us but anyone else that would one day be looking for him.Now we can’t find him and the family is about ready to go to war again on your behalf.”
Charli looked entirely lost as she exclaimed, “On my behalf?But why?I’m not involved in any of that.”
Mario shook his head.“Bella, you are our leader’s daughter.Your father, Mike Bennett, was our leader by birthright and we took over until you grew up.Now it's your birthright to lead our family.”
Charli sat down hard in the chair across from Mario and just stared at him.“What the hell are you saying?”
“Ray was supposed to be working with you all these years, getting you ready to take your place.”
Charli shook her head.“I already told you, I never saw him and Ben never said he ever came around.I also do not intend to run any family but the one I have with Ace.”
“Did Ben ever tell you who your father was?”Mario had to ask.
Charli shook her head.“He never talked about the other side of the family.He told me you guys left me behind and went back to your real home in Italy.That the feud was over and my parents died in vain.That they were ambushed over nothing and they died over a feud that meant nothing.”
Mario shook his head.“He was wrong, bella.The feud was very real and the deaths on both sides ripped families apart for nearly a century.”He sighed then said, “But Ben was supposed to guide you and tell you about your dad’s position and someday, your own position.”
“Her position is that of my wife and the mother of my children.”Ace glared at him.“My brothers and I can protect her here and she isn’t going anywhere.”
Mario slowly turned to study him for a long moment, then he shook his head.“That will be determined by her father’s family.She has obligations to maintain here.”
Charli scoffed.“Then you get the council together and you bring them here to talk to me.I will be happy to step aside and let your father take my place.Meanwhile, they can decide what happens to Ray.If he’s broken the laws you live by, then you take care of him.You and your family left me behind, a long time ago.So now, you and your family can handle the family business.Ben raised me and I belong here.He left this farm to me and I’m happy here.”She looked around the room then turned back to Mario.“This is my family now and nothing you tell me will change that.I grew up here with people that loved me unconditionally, they were here for me every day after my parents died.You and your family never paid me any mind really.You only talked to me when it was convenient for you to do so.Then when I was fourteen, your family left me behind, yet again.You all moved to a whole other continent and I was left here with my mother’s family.When we buried my grandmother you didn’t show up, when I buried my grandfather you weren’t here either.You don’t get to decide how I live or who I love.You are my cousin and I have some fond memories of you.We were tight at one point in my life but you can’t tell me how to live anymore, you’re about fifteen years too late.”
Mario surged to his feet and his hands were clenched into fists.“You can’t denounce your heritage, bella!It is a part of who you are.You have your father’s blood in your veins and Michael would be so disappointed in you if you didn’t take your place in this family.”
