Abigail ”Abby” Mastroddi - Valentino ❥❥ ||Parody||

Solo Italian Commission and Aurora Mastroddi I was alone in the office, sorting through the papers spread across my desk while Theo handled the family business. He’d gone with Lorenzo to catch a few hockey games, leaving the house unusually quiet. I squared the documents into neat stacks, tapping each pile against the desk to align the edges. A knock broke the silence. “Come in,” I called, trying to sound firm, though I had no idea who was waiting outside. Aunt Rose Mary entered carrying a tea service. “I need to ask you something,” she said. “But I don't want anyone else to know.” I stood to help her set down the Lenox Butterfly Meadow three-tier server. I hadn't even known we owned one. As she carried it to the table, the delicate floral pattern and graceful tiers caught my eye. “When did we get this?” Aunt Rose Mary smiled. “It was a wedding gift from Theo’s side of the family.” I placed the server on the table in front of Nonno’s chair, then sat down. “All right, Aunt Rose Mary. What’s going on?” She took a deep breath and held my gaze. “I’m worried about my daughter, Aurora. The Italian Commission has its claws in her, just as it did in your Uncle Rocco.” I couldn’t get involved with the Italian Commission. Still, I knew who sat on it, and since becoming Capo Dei Capi, I’d had no trouble with any of its members. “Aunt Rose Mary, I think you may be worrying too much. They’re not the same people who were there when you and Mama were children. They see things differently now.” A knock sounded at the door. We fell silent. I recognized the knock at once. “Come in, Jack.” Jack stepped inside with my cousin Aurora. “Can we talk in private? It’s about the Commission.” I nodded. Jack escorted Aunt Rose Mary out of the office and closed the door behind them. Then I pulled Aurora into a tight hug and tucked her hair behind her ear. I wasn’t used to seeing it so straight. “Let’s talk.” Aurora took the seat beside me and met my eyes. “You know we’ll have to be very careful about who’s hanging around us?” I needed to understand what was happening with Aurora—and why she was home. “Tell me the truth. What’s going on?” She laid her hand over mine, and we held each other’s gaze. “The Italian Commission wants you to get rid of any problems so you can keep everyone in line and protect our family. They think there’s a mole in the family. I think there’s one in the Italian Commission, too.” She had always hated speaking English, though she sometimes did. A knock sounded at the door. “Come,” Aunt Rose Mary called as she came in. “Hai un posto dove stare, Aurora? Ai tuoi cugini piacerebbe che tu rimanessi qui.” Of course, Aunt Rose Mary asked before I could. I looked at Aurora and smiled. She knew she was more than welcome to stay at the family house. #TBC