The Mafia's Babies by Kaycee Romano (little readers TXT) 📕

"Nonna is not the loving grandmother than all others have." Alessia lowered her voice as she spoke. "She sees everyone as some kind of commodity she can make profit out of."

"Why does she want to see me then?" River took a forkful of the delicious food.

"River, pass me the pepper!" She turned to where Sebastian was and got off the stool, taking the pepper container with her as she walked over to him.

"Thanks munchkin." He pulled at her cheek as she handed it over to him.

"Die." River hissed, pushing his hand away as he guffawed like the chimp he is. No offense chimps.

River got back to the seat and turned to Alessia.

She bit her lips. "Probably to test you."

"Great..." River groaned and turned to her food. Suddenly, she wasn't hungry anymore.

"Don't worry about it." She laughed, nudging her. "They accepted my mother who was not the least cut out for the Mafia life. At least you can shoot." She consoled.

River nodded and gave her a smile which she returned, both of them cracking up at how ridiculous they looked smiling when they didn't even want to.

"Ooooh food!" The occupants of the kitchen turned to the door to see Adam and Mateo coming in. Adam looked his happy self while Mateo looked his.. well.. stick up his ass self.

"Grab your plates, boys." Lilith pointed at their plates of food which she had kept covered for them.

"Thanks Mrs. Johnson." Mateo murmured as he took his.

Alessia got up from her seat and took her plate, moving to sit next to Adam while Mateo took her previous spot. The two gave each other awkward smiles and turned to their food.

Lucas tapped his mother's arm. She turned to see both their children's eyes on her. She looked over at Mateo for a second before turning to them, leaning in so that they could whisper.

"Is Papa mad at us?" Kiara whispered.

"He does look mad, but I don't think he is mad at his darlings." River whispered back, mirroring their sad pouts.

"Mommy, fix him." Lucas whispered.

She raised her brows. "Me?"

"Yeah, you are supermom." Kiara said.

River gave it a thought. "You know maybe what your Papa need is a hug from each of you."

They gave her their cute confused looks.

"But aren't big people problems hard to solve?"

"Yeah, but your hugs help us think clearly." She pointed out. "Mommy always need your hugs when she is stressed right?" The twins nodded. "Just like that, Papa might feel better too if you guys hugged him."

They thought for a few moments, doing their twin telepathy and then turned back to face her, nodding, their sweet innocent smiles gracing their faces.

"Now finish your lunch." River ordered and turned back in her seat. She turned to look at Mateo to see him staring back at her, his food untouched. He quirked a brow and cocked his head in the twin's direction.

"Mommy-babies talk. Papa got no business in there." She shrugged and picked up her fork before gesturing to his plate. "Nanna makes some sick salads. Eat it."

Mateo gave her an irritated look but then nodded and turned to his food.

"So what happened with that dude?" River asked as she dug into her lunch.

"Antonio de Pedis." He stated. "And he left soon after you guys came inside."

"Uh huh." River rolled her eyes. "That must be why you took about an hour to come in."

"I was on the phone." He said. He looked like he was controlling his temper. He really wanted to lash out at River and ask her to shut up but he was trying to keep his cool for the children's sake. But River wasn't backing down either, though she knew the dude was at his wit's end. She just enjoyed testing people's limits.

Especially your own.

'Fuck it, I thought you left.'

In your dreams.

"Your bruised knuckles say otherwise." She pointed her fork at his bloody knuckles. He quickly dropped the fork and put his hand in his pants-pocket. "Unless you were punching a wall while making that call."

"Shut up River." He said in a dangerously low and emotionless voice. That was her cue.

"Just shake off all the negativity and try to sort shit out before the kids start pestering you to take them to the beach." River lowered her voice as well. He let out a long-frustrated breath.

"I will." He said finally. River nodded, staring at her plate.

"You not done yet?" Jacqueline grabbed her best friend by the arm, making her turn in her seat, her knees bumping with Mateo. He looked up and glared at her.

Jacqueline gave him a confused look while River said, "Don't go anywhere near my- our kids with that face."

"Gimme a sec." River told her best friend and started to shovel the greens into her mouth.

"Don't forget to breathe and chew." Jacqueline chuckled, nudging her on her shoulder.

"Mmmm.." River hummed in reply chewing on the heavenly meal she really wanted to enjoy. But it is some people's fate to not be able to enjoy good food properly.

"Let's go!" River exclaimed as she picked up the plate and got off the stool, going over to the dishwasher to put away the plate and fork before taking her hand.

"Wait, where are you going?" Sebastian asked, rocking a sleepy Mia in his arms.

"Girl things Shane, nothing that concerns you." River rolled her eyes.

"But I was supposed to talk to you first." He whined, stamping on the floor like a spoilt little brat.

"Uncle Sebby, stop whining." Lucas gave him a look for disapproval that had the room laughing out loud.

"Yeah, take Aunt Ally on a date while we kids nap." Kiara said.

River raised a brow, a grin forming on her face. Her kids were so awesome. Though she wondered where they got that from.

"Why don't you say that to your parents?" Alessia asked, giving River a stupid look which made her drop her grin. What the hell woman?