I wave at them as I head to my locker and get ready. Before I had Giancarlo, my pre-game rituals were simple. I’d stick my earbuds in from the moment we did warms ups until it was time to hit the field. But now? I listen to my music right before the game to relax and zone out.
The first thing I do when I get onto the field is look for Giancarlo and my family. It’s hard to miss the group of huge men. I chuckle as I wave at him and I can see him clapping as my papà holds him. I want them to be at every game. I’m a switch hitter, which means I can bat left handed or right handed. I’m also fourth in the line up for batting. It’s where I’ve been since my first year with the Panthers. I’ve had a few grand slams because of where I am in the line up. Hearing my bat hit that ball is always the best sound to hear.
It’s the bottom of the ninth and we’re trailing my one run. I grab my bat and watch Harrison hit a grounder to left field as he gets to first base. I make my way to home plate, before I get settled, I make sure to look up at Giancarlo. He’s my world and this ones for him. I get ready and let the first pitch go, the umpire calls ball one. Second pitch is a strike. I grip my bat. Fuck this, next pitch is mine. I track the ball and swing. Home run, grand fucking slam. I run around the bases and before I step onto home plate, I wave at my family. As I step on the plate, my teammates are surrounding me. I fucking love baseball.
Gabriela
The pilot lets me know that the flight will take us about nine and a half hours. At the last minute, my papá sent one of his men with me. Diego García is one of my papá’s personal bodyguards for as long as I can remember. I don’t like that he’s with me, he should be with my family. Helping to protect them. My papá said that the Mancini’s have bodyguards too. And while I’m there, Diego will be mine. I do feel safer with him around and at least he’s someone I know. When we were little, we called him Tío. Uncle. A lot of our personal bodyguards are more like family for us. And from what my papá has said, that’s not normally how it works. But it’s how our family works.
“I’m sorry you have to come with me. I know you’d rather be back home helping them fight.”
“There’s no need to be sorry. I’m where I need to be. Your papá didn’t want to send you to the Mancini’s. But this is the best way he knows to protect you.”
“But why only me? What about my mamá? Doesn’t she need protection too?”
“She has protection and they need to show a solid front together. That’s why your abuelo and abuela are there now too.”
I frown. “That means I should be there too. I’m family.”
“You are. But again, both your parents want you to be safe.”
“You keep saying that. But who’s to say the Russians won’t come after me in Lake Renegade?”
‘They might come after you. But being around the Mancini’s, you’ll be safer than you would back home. They have a big family and those families protect each other. Please trust that we’re all doing what’s best for you.”
I continue to frown at him. I don’t understand why it’s just me that’s being sent away. It’s like they think I’m a helpless little girl. But I’m not and I don’t like that I’ve been sent away.
“What if something happens to one of them? How will we know?”
“You know that I’ll be talking to them daily. And I promise I won’t keep that from you.”
“Well I still don’t like it.”
Diego laughs as I glare at him.
“Why are you laughing? There’s nothing funny about any of this.”
“Your papá told me that you’d be like this. I know you’re worried, but remember that you need to take care of you right now. Your familia knows what they’re doing. Everything’s going to turn out okay.”
I don’t know how Diego can be so calm right now. I’m not and I won’t be until I’m back with my family. I don’t even know this Mancini family. All I know about them is what my mamà’s told me about them. She’s friends with Rosaura. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be safe with them.
I do my best to ignore Diego for the rest of the flight. Which is hard because he takes up a lot of room on the plane. I look at my watch, somehow only two hours have passed. We still have seven hours on the plane. Maybe if I sleep it’ll go by faster.
CHAPTER FOUR
Gabriela
When we got in last night, Rosaura and her husband, Leonardo were waiting for me. I thought Diego was a big guy. But holy shit, Leonardo is bigger. Rosaura hugged me, she reminds me of my mamà. She has a bodyguard, his name is Seamus. On the way to Lake Renegade, Rosaura and Leonardo tell me about the town and the families. The things that they tell me make me excited to see the town and get to know everyone. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I originally thought. They took a drive through the town and I love it already. There’s a hotel and some cute little stores. A cafe and restaurant and the bakery that Rosaura and her friends own.
I told them how I’ve always wanted to learn to bake as we drove past Precious Risings Bakery. Rosaura told me that they leave the property at 2:45am every morning to get the baking done and then open the bakery. She runs it with the other two matriarchs of the families. Graínne Mancini and Caitríona Bastianini. Some of the other women in the family work theretoo. I wanted to go with them to the bakery today. But there was no way I’d be able to get up in time. Rosaura told me that someone will bring me to the bakery when I get up. I’m so excited to learn to bake.
After I wash up, I head downstairs and I hear a little voice giggling.
“Good morning! You must be Gabriela, I’m Fiorella, favorite daughter of Rosaura and Leonardo.”
The guy with her snorts.
“I’m Salvatore, oldest son and Sheriff of Lake Renegade.”
