United with the Family by Cherie Benjamin (most read book in the world .TXT) 📕

made sure that it was loaded. She then put it back in her purse and grabbed her keys.  Nazario had to talk her out of going to Phoenix and having a little talk with Luna. You didn’t mess with momma bear.

"Ara, I want you to know how happy we are that you have come into our son's life.  It is has always been our hope that he would find someone who would love him with all their heart."

Ara placed her hand on Kane's knee and squeezed.  "Nazario, I know it may seem quick, but I love Kane with everything that I am.  I promise that I will always love him."

"Ara, we know."

Kane placed his hand on top of hers and held it tight.  He knew that his Dad was getting ready to change her life.

"Ara, what I am about to tell you is going to be hard for you, but remember that nothing that I am about to say changes the fact that Rosa and I consider you part of this family.  You will always be a part of this family and, as such, be under my protection as Don. When Kane takes over, you will be under his protection. Do you understand?"

Ara wondered what Nazario was talking about; why would she need to be under the protection of the family?

"Ara, I love you.  Please remember that and trust that I am speaking from my heart."

"I love you, and I trust you."

Kane nodded at his father to continue.  "Remember the man from the restaurant?"

"Yes.  Zachary Morotti."

"Yes, well after running into Zachary, and the way he looked at you, I needed to ensure that there was nothing in your background that would cause him to come after you."

"But I have never done anything."

"We know, but, Ara, your mother has.  We found out that, when you were almost three, you broke your leg and needed a pint of blood. However, when your parents went to donate, neither one of them was a match."

Ara remembered from her high school biology class that children received their blood type from at least one of their parents.  But, since neither of her parents were a match, what did that mean?

"Ara, Mave White is not your father."

"WHAT?! You are wrong; he had to marry my mother because she got pregnant."

"Ara, we believe that she was already pregnant when she met Mave."

"Then who the hell is my father?"  Ara said as she felt the world fall around her.

"Sebastian Morotti, Zachary Morotti’s son."  Nazario said.

Ara thought about everything that Nazario had just told her.  Her mother had lied, not only to Mave, but to her as well. Why would she do that?  Why not tell this Sebastian guy that she was pregnant? Wait, Zachary Morotti…she knew that name.  Kane had told her that he was the boss of the rival crime family.

"Nazario, why didn't my mother tell Sebastian that she was carrying his child?

"Ara, Sebastian was married at the time."

Ara thought about her mother having an affair with a married man.  How could she? What type of man must Sebastian be to cheat on his own wife?  Then she wondered if Zachary knew about her. "Does Zachary know about me?"

"I don't know for sure, but if we got the information, I am sure he has it, too.  But that is not all; Sebastian has two sons, Kurtus and Simon."

"I have two brothers?"

"Yes, but, Ara, I am sad to say that I have only heard negative things about Kurtus. However, Simon has been quiet; I have never had any problems with him.  There’s more, though. Ara, Zachary has decided not to pass the family business over to Sebastian. Instead, he’s passing it over to the oldest grandchild. Ara...that would be you."

Ara became very scared; what was going to happen to her.  What would it mean for her and Kane’s relationship? Then, as the questions were forming, one after another, a thought hit her.  She pulled her hand from Kane's and jumped to her feet. Tears quickly formed in her eyes and began to fall down her cheeks. "Please tell me that you didn't tell me you loved me just to get control of their family."

Kane quickly jumped to his feet and stood in front of Ara.  He has sat through each revelation, waiting for the pieces to fall into place.  Once the question left Ara’s lips, he reached out, took her hand, and placed it over his heart. "This heart has, and always will, beat for you, Ara”

Ara’s hand lay over his heart; the warmth of his body seeped into her flesh.  Looking up, her eyes met his, and she instantly remembered every touch, every kiss, and every word that had been said between them. The word that screamed in her head over and over again was TRUST.  She trusted him with her heart and soul. Ara reached up, put her hand behind his head, and pulled him down into her lips.

Kane was shocked, at first, but quickly returned the kiss.

Ara pulled back from his lips and said, with a determined conviction, "I trust you."

"Fuck, baby, you had me scared there for a moment."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you have every right to be upset."

Kane kissed her once again and then they sat down.  Ara looked to each member of her new family, and asked, "What do I do now?"

"Ara, like I said earlier, I have put you under the protection of the Leone family.  By doing so, every member of this family will do everything possible to keep you safe.  Zachary may try to take you and force you take over the business, which would be difficult since you have no knowledge of the family business.  Zachary knows this, so he would probably arrange a marriage with a high ranking member of his family or a close family friend."

"But I love Kane.  No, I won't marry anyone he picks."

"But would you be willing to marry someone if it meant that it would keep you from Zachary's choices?"  Nazario asked.

"But, who?"  Ara asked.

Kane knew that it was his turn.  Getting down on one knee, he gently caressed her hand.  "Ara, I love you. I have told you I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.  I will keep you safe. I will always be there for you; I will love you until my last breath, please marry me."

Ara was in shock.  Kneeling in front of her was the only person who ever loved her and here he was asking her to marry him.  Could she?

Kane continued to caress her hand, praying that she would say yes.  His hands began to shake, something that never happened to him. Fuck, he could be looking down the barrel of a gun and not be scared or nervous, but this beautiful creature before him had that power with her silence.

Hot salty tears began to fall from Ara’s big brown eyes. Her heart began beating with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings, her mouth suddenly became dry, and her lungs were crying for air, but, somewhere deep inside her, she gathered her strength. In a voice stronger than she could ever imagine, she spoke the two words that would change her life forever.  “I will.”

For the first time in Kane’s adult life, tears formed in his eyes.  He would remember this moment for the rest of his life: the moment when Ara had agreed to be his wife.  Fuck, he was getting married. Bringing her hand up to his lips, he kissed each finger. “Fuck, baby, I am so happy.”

Ara had to laugh at her foul mouthed fiancée.  Then, it hit her. “Shit, I’m getting married.”

Kane leaned back on his heels and let out a loud belly laugh.

Both Nazario and Rosa had tears in their eyes, because their son, their precious baby boy, was getting married to the woman that he loved.  Rosa reached over and grabbed Ara’s hand. “Ara, welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.”

“Nazario, we have a daughter.”  Rosa cried.

Hearing Rosa call her ‘daughter’ caused Ara to cry, because, for the first time in her life, she had a father and mother who cared about her.  Nazario got up from his seat and kneeled beside Kane in front of Ara. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out a cuff bracelet. It was platinum. In the middle was a black cameo, but, instead of a woman's face, it had a lion with a hand on the top and three trefoils at the bottom.  “Ara, each member of the Leone family has a piece of jewelry with our family crest on it. This one, my dear, is yours.”

Ara pulled her hand from Rosa and extended her arm to Nazario, who placed the bracelet around her wrist.  “It’s so pretty. What does the symbol mean?”

“The strength of the family is only as strong as the trust we have for one another.”

“I will wear it with pride and joy.”

“Rosa has a ring she wears on her right hand and Kane has a leather cuff he wears.  I have this pinky ring, which will be passed down to Kane when he takes over the family.  I also have a leather cuff, which I will begin to wear after he takes over.”

“Ara, I want to take you to pick out your ring.”  Kane said.

“No, Kane, whatever you get will be fine.”  Ara said, hoping he wouldn’t go overboard on it.

“No, I want your opinion, because it will be on that lovely finger for all of eternity.”

Ara couldn’t help but wonder who the hell would say no to that.  “Okay, but please don’t buy me the Hope Diamond.”

“No fucking promises, every motherfucking asshole is going to know you are off the fucking market.”

“Now, before you rush off to the jewelers, I want to let you know that, as of this very moment, you will have a member of the family with you at all times.”  Nazario said.

“Who?”  Kane asked.

“Erik.”

Kane smiled; he knew that Erik would be the perfect choice for Ara.  “So he’s earned all his bones?”

“Yes, I thought that, before you two leave, I would have him come over and start.  Then, on Monday night, we’d have the ceremony.”

“That sounds good; I would like to get home early today, because Ara and I have plans tonight.”  Kane said with a smirk.

Nazario looked at his son’s face.  Once he saw the smirk on his face, he knew those plans included his playroom.  “Rosa and I have plans also, so I will go call him now.”

Kane got off his knees and sat down beside Ara, holding her hand and enjoying the moment.  Damn, he thought, this was going get ugly with Zachary, but fuck him, he can’t have her.

Nazario walked back into the room and had a seat.  “Erik will be here in about an hour. Now, we need to discuss the wedding.  Ara, dear, I know it would be wonderful to spend months planning, but I think the sooner, the better.  Zachary is going to be mad, and I am afraid he would try something.”

“Dad, what about Sebastian or, hell, Kurtus?  They are not going to be happy to find out that Ara exists and that she is the oldest grandchild.”

“What do you think we should do?”  Nazario asked.

“Nazario, you said that Zachary and you had an understanding. What if you invited him to a meeting and let him know that Kane and I have decided to wed?  This way he is informed before he hears it from someone else or reads about it. I am his granddaughter, but he needs to hear that I am not being forced into this wedding.”

Nazario looked at Kane; Ara made a good point.  Maybe Zachary would take the news better if it came from him.  Shit, she is smart and he knew that, with the right training, she could make a good Donna.  Fuck, she and Kane will make one hell of a team.

"Ara, would you like to meet Zachary, if he requests it?"  Nazario asked.

Ara thought about it.