Ezra was the best thing that had ever happened to Hector, aside from Dahlia. When I walked into the hospital room, I found my oldest brother cradling his newborn son to his chest. Hector was a man of a few emotions: he's stoic and controlled. He allows a few emotions to be seen by his family but I've never seen his face this animated.

Pure joy and pride and love.

My oldest brother was smiling so widely that I feared his lips might rip. I didn't know that having a baby would be the answer to the most difficult question ever:

'What makes Hector smile?'

"The joker smile is offsetting," Leonardo muttered behind me.

Amelia turned around and pinched his arm with a scowl. Leonardo was three years older than us but he was an idiot. On the contrary to his twin, he was immature.

"If you insult my baby, I will rip your eyes out." Dahlia snapped.

She was laying on the bed with a tired expression on her face. She was as snarky as usual but I noticed the happiness in her eyes.

"Congratulations! You're now the sexiest momma alive!" I kissed her cheek.

"That I am." She grinned.

I chuckled and moved towards my older brother. His eyes were still on his son but he noticed me approaching. I've never seen him this proud before. The only time that came close was when I finally got an A+ for PE.

Still don't know how that happened.

"This is Ezra." He introduced me to his son.

It was still too early to tell which eye colour he had but he did have his mom's black hair. Newborns weren't cute in my opinion, they look scary. But this was my second nephew and judging by his parents' looks, he's going to be heartbreakingly beautiful.

"Hello, Ezra! My name is Elena and I'm going to be your favourite auntie." I stroked his little red cheek.

He stirred slightly but fell back asleep against Hector's chest. Amelia joined my side with a roll of her eyes.

"You can't have Ezra as well. That's not fair." She grunted.

I was Fabio's favourite auntie much to her dismay and now I'll be Ezra's fav too.

"If you want to be liked by babies so much, maybe start making your own," I commented.

Hector slipped out of his happy state to send me a glare but Amelia just giggled.

"Henry and I will have beautiful babies." She grinned.

"In the far future," Hector muttered.

By the amount of sex Amelia and Henry had, I wasn't sure.

I placed my hand on Hector's bicep and squeezed it softly.

"I'm happy for you. You deserve this." I told him truthfully.

His smile reappeared. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Thank you, little one."

A bright smile appeared on my face while Amelia scoffed.

"Why don't I get a nickname from you? You're not supposed to show your favouritism."

"Everybody already knows, so why hide it?" Hector shrugged his shoulders before walking back to Dahlia.

Amelia gave me a look as I bit down on my lip. What was he going to say when he finds out that his favourite sister was dating his Capo?

/////////////////

Alexander and I were getting more serious. For the first three months, we went on multiple dates and had worked out an efficient plan to not get caught. The more time that I spent with him, the more I wanted to be with him. Eventually, those dates weren't enough.

I needed more.

That's when he invited me over to his place and I met his babies. Will and Milo instantly liked me but bitchy Luna did not want to share Alexander with me. She'd hiss at me or try to scratch me.

It was kind of funny because she was so tiny and I was totally stealing her man.

Alexander and I worked really well. We both liked physical affection, he knew how to deal with my craziness, and he'd watch all my series with me. He was like a walking dream and I had to pinch myself multiple times to tell myself that he's real.

He's real and he's my boyfriend.

Alexander Ferrari was my boyfriend.

Fifteen-year-old me would be doing a little victory dance.

I did really seduce his sexy ass.

"Do you have an ass fetish, bellissima?" He grinned against my ear.

I was hugging him like a little monkey and my hands just had to go down to his butt. It was round and sturdy. The perfect apple butt.

"I just like yours a lot." I grinned against his chest.

He gazed down at me with an excited gleam in his eyes before slowly coming closer to my face with his.

"Can I touch yours?"

He was not pushy and respected my boundaries. I've freaked out on him a few times. We'd be making out and I got triggered somehow. I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't get myself to fully enjoy it. Alexander was all I wanted. I was ready for more but things were still holding me back.

"Yes." I pecked just lips.

His hands lowered to my butt. He didn't do anything at first, he just rested them there. Then he slowly started to massage my butt and it made me relax. I met his eyes and focused on them. I needed to be reminded that this was my Alexander and I wanted him to touch me.

"Do you like that?" He whispered.

I nodded. I like it a lot when he touches me. My body covers in goosebumps and I feel butterflies in my stomach. We've been dating for nearly five months now and it was getting clear.

I love him.

Why did I realise that while he was squeezing my butt?

I'm fucking sus.

"Will you dance with me at the Christmas Party?" He hoisted me on top of the counter.

My legs automatically wrapped themselves around his torso. I swear they had a mind of their own.

The Christmas party was coming up. This year was different. Hector had a newborn son, so he was reluctant of going. There was a big chance that he might not go and just stay home with Dahlia and Ezra.

"My brothers don't allow me to dance with anybody but them." I reminded him.

He buried his face in my neck and I giggled when he pressed kisses to that soft spot of mine. I was sensitive there and every time he kissed me there, I'd feel it in my core.

"I know." He whispered.

I tightened my grip on him and hugged him tightly. Even though I love spending time with him in his house, I wanted to go on public dates as well. I wanted to walk down the street with him while holding hands. I wanted to be a normal couple. All these wants and feelings were futile when I reminded myself of the danger I would put him through if we did that.

"I can talk to Hector," Alexander told me.

His intense green eyes were searching my face. He always reads my emotions so easily. I don't know whether that was because of his job or because I felt very comfortable around him to let my guard down. Probably both.

"No, you'll get hurt." I pushed his hair out of his face.

His hair was getting a bit longer and I was able to put mini braids into it. They were really cute on him!

Our relationship became a lot more serious when I started to spend the night with him. We'd talk for hours and I started to imagine what the rest of my life would look like with him next to me. I don't think that I'll ever be able to give him up and I knew he felt the same.

"Let me talk to my mom. She's the reason why Henry was allowed to propose to Amelia."

She's helped me before. I could always go to my mom whenever I was in trouble. At least, that's what I thought.

////////////////

Mom looked at me in a way that she's never looked at me before. I could always tell that she felt a lot of guilt. What had happened wasn't her fault but she didn't want to listen to me whenever I tried to assure her.

She's always been so sweet and kind to me that it shocked me to my core when she got angry with me.

"You will break up with him right now!" She hissed.

The situation escalated and I hadn't expected it. I thought that I could come up to her to discuss anything but this went too far apparently.

"I don't understand." I frowned.

She was in my apartment. We've spend the day with Amelia shopping and getting our nails done for the Christmas Party tomorrow. It had been such a nice day and I felt comfortable to confide in her.

"Break up with him or I'll tell Hector."

Why was she doing this? I gaped at her in shock and Amelia intervened.

"Mama, you don't have to worry about Alexander. He loves Elena and he's good to her. They're happy together." She tried to tell mom.

Mom got up from her seat on the couch and shook her head. She grabbed her purse as I sat frozen in my seat. I thought that I knew her, that I understood her character but apparently I didn't.

"You will never be happy with a man like that." Mom snapped.

"What do you mean by that?" I demanded.

I've never had to be the victim of her furious glare but now I was. Hector might've gotten his from her.

"I don't want you dating a Made Man."

Made Men were men who are part of the mafia, they were initiated and sworn in by an oath they must always uphold. All of my brothers were Made Men and so was my dad.

"You're married to a Made Man!" I pointed out.

She hugged her purse close to her chest and harshly shook her head.

"I'm giving you advice. I won't let you go through that."

I got up from my seat on the couch and crossed my arms over my chest.

"You're being unreasonable. I love Alexander and I want to be with him. I don't care that he's a Made Man. Our family literally owns the mafia. So why does it matter if my boyfriend is part of it?"

I hated to say it but she was being a hypocrite. Her son is the Don and her husband was the Don before him.

"Not every Made Man is like your brothers or papa. Most of them take the violence home and put all their anger out on their women. How do you know Alexander won't hit you?" She demanded.

I respect mom with my entire heart and I love her so much but she was taking this too far.

"He's never hit me before and he never will. He fucking freaks out when I burn myself while cooking. You don't know him but I do. I know that he would never lay his hands on me! You're accusing of something based on nonsense. He's never gave you any indication that he'd be violent with me." I snapped at her.

We were almost six months dating but I know him. Mom doesn't know him. The last time I got hurt, he didn't leave me out of his sight until I felt better. He helps me through my attacks when something triggers me. He watches Kdramas with me and bakes me pancakes when I'm having a bad day.

Alexander is everything that I ever wanted and the fact that no one in my family would accept that, broke my heart.

"Do you think that I would allow Elena to date him if I thought that he'd hit her? Mama, he's so in love with her. You don't have to worry." Amelia insisted.

At least I had her. Tears filled my eyes and I stubbornly wiped them away. Crying wouldn't help me now.

"Capo's are all the same! They're power hungry bastards that will only use you for their own benefit." Mom spat out.

I flinched at her tone and looked away from her. She wasn't going to change her mind.

"Okay, fine I get it." I muttered.

"Mama, you can't tell Hector." Amelia told her carefully.

My body tensed up. If she told Hector then Alexander would be in danger. My brothers would get mad at me but they wouldn't kill me, they would kill Alexander.

"I'll break up with him." I jumped up.

They turned to me with frowns but I stared at my mom. I don't want to lie to her but she leaves me no other choice. I'm not giving up Alexander and I will not let her tell Hector about our relationship.

"If that's what you want, I'll do it." I added more quietly.

Amelia wanted to speak up but I shook my head. She knew how much I love Alexander, so she was confused why I'd agree with mom.

"It's for the better." Mom muttered and then left our apartment.

I fell back down in the couch and closed my eyes.

"I don't know what was up with her." Amelia muttered.

She grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

"You love him so much, how will you be able to break up with him?"

"I won't."

I opened my eyes to see her frowning at me.

"But you just said-"

"I lied to her."

Amelia stayed silent for a while. I felt horrible for lying to mom but I felt like I had no other choice but to do so.

"I hope your sex will be spectacular because you're risking a lot." She grinned.

I shook my head and sighed deeply.

"Everything with him is already spectacular. How will I handle more?"