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“You’re right. Out of the women I have been involved with, it has never been close to serious or lasting.

There’s a reason for it. They weren’t the woman I knew would be my soulmate.

I know you hate that word, Rocco, but they’re real.

We believe in them in my family. We don’t offer something permanent unless we know the person is the one. Divorce isn’t part of our family.

“My lifestyle is very different in some ways than yours. We have endless money, every luxury we can want, and more. It entitles us to certain things and connections. However, it isn’t what defines us.

As I told Gianna, it provides us with tools to do things like the Hounds and to help charities.

While many see that as a social level that we should remain within, I don’t, and neither does my family.

We look at a person’s personality and more to determine whether we associate with them more personally, not how much money they have or don’t have.

There are some individuals who, due to work or other things, require us to be seen with them regardless of whether we like them.

But those individuals aren’t part of our inner circle of friends.

“Your assertion that your sister is a mere playmate for me is totally off the mark. Alphonso, Gianna is smart, funny, tough, and much more. That doesn’t make her unsophisticated.

She may be unfamiliar with some parts of our lifestyle, but that can be learned, and my entire family and I will teach her how to deal with it.

“Rocco, you’re right. She was with me last night, in my bed.

But we weren’t there to just have sex. We’re building our life together.

One that I fully intend will lead to marriage and children.

You’d better get used to it because I plan to have her living with me as soon as possible.

The question you need to consider is whether you want to be a part of our lives and that of our future children.

I’m willing to give some time to see the results, but I won’t allow you to degrade what we have, badger her, or do anything else along those lines.

We’re adults and don’t need your permission to be together. ” I stopped and stared around at them.

“Was your family really that excited the other night, or was it an act, and they talked to you later about how they truly felt?” Luciano asked.

“It was all honest excitement. Yesterday, my family met with me and asked how they could help Gianna and me get you to accept it. Darragh was clear that whether we have the partnership or not doesn’t hinge upon us being a couple.”

When I finished, the room was eerily quiet. It lasted a good minute or more before Gianna broke it.

“I promised Rian I’d let him speak and get everything he had to say out before I added my thoughts.

Here goes. I feel the same way he does and agree with all his points.

Is it scary to think someone like him, with the life he lives, is interested in me?

Hell, yeah, it is. But it being frightening isn’t enough to make me give him up.

I can figure out how to navigate anything new.

We both know what we want, and we’ve talked about it.

You might be shocked to know that we’re more similar than different overall.

“I didn’t rush into this, and neither did he.

We’ve had four months to decide whether we had something more than transient lust. We do.

We worked during those months to determine what we wanted.

It’s each other. I’m not stupid enough to think it’ll be a walk in the park, but we’re both willing to work to make it happen.

As for not believing in soulmates, it makes me sad if you don’t.

You remember Mamma better than I do. You told me how much she and Papà loved each other.

If true, how can you doubt the existence of soulmates and not want that for yourselves?

“Lastly, I insist you respect me and Rian enough to allow us to direct our lives. If you have a valid concern, please bring it up, but do it respectfully. If we say it’s not something we want to discuss with you, honor our decision.

We’re adults. We should be able to choose our relationships.

As much as I love you all and our lives, I’ve always wanted to be a wife and mother someday.

I was destined to have another family you’d have to accept. ”

When she finished, not a single one of her brothers uttered a word.

Alphonso had tears in his eyes. The next thing I knew, he stood and came to us.

He hauled her to her feet and into his arms. He held her, rocking from side to side and murmuring in her ear.

She nodded and whispered back. I sat and waited for them to finish.

When he let go, he eased her into her chair and moved to me. I stood.

Alphonso said, “This is your official welcome to the family. May you always love and cherish my Gianna. As long as you do, we’ll never have a problem. If you hurt her, then all promises are null and void. God help you.”

“ Papà, ” she exclaimed.

I grinned. I understood him. “We won’t have a problem.”

At my assurance, he pulled me to him and wrapped me in a bear hug.

He kissed both cheeks, patted my back, and grinned.

I patted his back, kissed his cheeks, then let go.

Gianna’s brothers were slower to rise to their feet, but as Alphonso held her and approached me, they made their way around the table to us.

When their father was done, they held out their hands to me.

Luciano went first. I shook it, and then we gave each other a hard backslapping hug.

When he let go, Gerardo replaced him while Luciano went to his sister.

Finally, it was down to Rocco. He still didn’t look thrilled, but he shook my hand and hugged me, so I returned them.

We’d see if they kept this up or would revert to old behavior.

If they reverted, they wouldn’t like me.

I’d get to a point where I’d no longer tolerate it.

For Gianna’s sake, I hoped it never occurred.

We exchanged pleasantries for about five minutes, and then I told them I had to get to work.

They had an additional meeting to hold. Gianna walked me into the hallway, where I made sure to get one last kiss to hold me over.

We promised to meet at my house tonight after work.

Since she had to stop at her apartment, it would be closer to seven o’clock before I’d see her.

She promised to let me know when she was on her way.

I waved and said goodbye to the others as I left the building.

It was off to see what was happening at headquarters.