“Gracias. I really appreciate that.”
I take Gabriela’s hand and kiss it. I’m going to do whatever I have to to show her parents that I love her and I can take care of her. My family uses this time to get to know Gabriela more. The more she talks about her home, the more I realize how much she’ll miss it and her family if she’s forced to choose. Me or them. I really hope it doesn’t come down to that. It would be like me having to choose between her and baseball.
Gabriela
The more I get to know the families of Lake Renegade, the more I love all of them. They show how much every one means to each other. It’s not something I’ve grown up with. My family is very affectionate. We hug a lot and always say I love you. But outside our family? That’s not what we do. But here? They’re not all blood family, but if you were to watch them? You wouldn’t know that. They’re all family and they all show their love. It’s how I want to live.
As I look around at the parents, I love how each of the men show their wives how much them mean to them. All the time. Not just sometimes. Gianluca looks at me that way. And I’ve been thinking about what Antonio said. Am I willing to lose my family for Gianluca and Giancarlo? Yes. I would shout that from the highest mountains. Fuck. Yes. They are my family now and I won’t leave them.
“We’re doing a video conference call at three pm our time. I don’t know who will be with him on his end. I’m thinking yourmamà and your brothers. But I’m not sure if he’s going to have his council there. But we will have Lake Renegade’s council with us. Just in case he wants to show his power, we will show ours too.” Enea says to me.
“I’ve been thinking about what Antonio said. How I could lose my family over this. If my family decides to give me an ultimatum? I choose Gianluca.”
“Are you sure? Sometimes things like this can’t be taken back. These decisions you make could be permanent.” Leonardo says as he looks at me. It feels like he’s staring into my soul to make sure I’m not going to hurt his son.
I sit up straighter. “I’m sure. I love Luca and I love Giancarlo. They’re the ones I want to be with. Even if that means losing my family.”
Gianluca pulls me closer to him. as I turn to look at him, he kisses me.
“I love you.” He says softly.
“I love you, too. You’re my future, no matter what happens tonight.”
“And you’re mine.”
We finish having lunch and head back to Lake Renegade. Being back in our town always feels like nothing can touch us here. Like we live in our own Lake Renegade bubble. I’m sad that I might have to make the decision to not see my family again. I never thought I’d be in that kind of position. I’m hoping my parents will understand that I love Gianluca. And I choose him.
My parents had an arranged marriage. And from what my mamá’s told me, she hated him for a while. She was in love with another man when her papá told her she would be marrying my papá and she said she was so angry. But she grew to love my papá and now she can’t imagine her life without him. I also remember her telling me that she hoped that I would find my person one day. The one man that would make me feel like I wasthe only woman for him. And I have found him. I just need my parents to listen and understand.
We all gather in the Cimaruta MC’s clubhouse. They have a big room with a TV that’s hooked up to the program that Sebastiano created for video chatting. I’m nervous to see my parents and brothers. But I’m also excited for them to meet my Luca.
“Are you okay with everyone being here with you?” Enea asks me.
“I am. I feel better having the support from everyone. I really hope my parents understand what I want. And are okay with it.”
“I am too. I think part of it is that they need to see you when you talk to them. It’s easier to understand when they can see you and Luca.”
I nod. “I really hope so.”
Gianluca holds my hand as we wait for my parents to pick up on their end.
“It’s going to be okay.” He whispers to me.
I take a deep breath as we see my parents appear on the TV.
“Ramón, I’m Enea Mancini.”
“Enea, it’s nice to meet you. This is my wife, Lourdes.”
Enea introduces everyone in the room. He saves Gianluca for last.
“And this is my nephew, Gianluca.”
My papá nods at us. There’s something odd about the way my papá’s acting. And the look on my mama’s face is making me wonder if there’s something else going on.
“Gabriela needs to come home. Things here are fine and we’d feel better having her home.”
“Ramón, I mean no disrespect, but how did you resolve things so fast?” Antonio asks.
