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She laughs. “Thanks, Ace.”
“I told you you’d fucking kill it in college, kid.” Romeo pulls them both into his arms for a long embrace. When he steps back, he clears his throat. “Come on, you little monsters, let’s go make sure we have enough cake. Your cousins will be here soon.”
Ace and Romeo lead the kids into the house, and Ellie rolls her eyes at me. “The whole Moretti clan’s coming?”
I shrug. “And Father Mike. They’re all super proud of you.”
Blushing, she looks down and chews on her lip. “Not even half as proud as I am though, honey.” She falls into my open arms, and I give her the biggest hug I can muster, squeezing like I’ll never let go. I don’t know when I’ll get to do this again. She has big plans to see the world and do great things, and I want that for her more than anything. But I’m still going to miss her like crazy. College was different because she was only a few hours away.
She buries her face in my neck, and her hot tears fall on my skin. “Thank you for everything, Kee.”
“You did it all yourself, baby girl. You’re a goddamn warrior. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Ace, and Romeo. Not just because of everything you’ve done for me. College, therapy. But for giving my little brother and sisters a safe, loving family. I can never repay you for that.”
I take her face in my hands. “There’s nothing to repay, Ellie. We’re family and we always will be. I couldn’t love you any more, not even if you were my own flesh and blood. And this is what real family does for each other.”
She swats the tears from her cheeks. “I love you.”
I kiss her forehead, overwhelmed with love for this beautiful young woman and her siblings—my children. For Ace and Romeo. And for my other family, Toni, Dante and Kat, Lorenzo and Mia, Joey and Max, and my many nieces and nephews. For so many years it was just Phoenix and me. Having a family like this was an out-of-reach dream that was too painful to contemplate. A pang of guilt stabs my heart as I think about my Nix, but I close my eyes and send her my love, hoping that she found the peace in death that eluded her in life.
Ace pops his head through the back door and winks at me. “Our guests are arriving.”
I turn to Ellie. “Showtime, baby girl.”
She beams at me, her smile full of joy and confidence and just the right amount of badassery that lets everyone know she’s not to be messed with. Our girl is going to conquer the whole fucking world. Romeo walks up behind Ace and wraps an arm around his neck, flashing me a devious grin before the kids run screaming out of the house again, and I blink back tears.
This warrior already conquered the world because it’s right here with me.
