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“Oh, my gosh. Who?”
“Phil.”
Tears formed in her eyes while she covered her mouth. “Wh-what happened?”
I rolled over on my back. “It was a freak accident and had nothing to do with the fucking raid. Nothing. I had to be the one to tell his wife, and it about broke me.”
“Nic, I’m so sorry.”
She didn’t ask what happened, and I was thanking God. My eyes grew heavy, but I couldn’t stop my brain from working. Gabi reached over and began slowly stroking my dick and then running her hands over my balls. It was relaxing as fuck.
Pressing her lips against my chest, she whispered, “Sleep, Nic. Sleep.”
Gabi had a pep in her step as she entered the building. Liza was walking next to her and they were both going on and on about the cooking competition.
It had been almost a month since we said we loved each other and I still hadn’t said a goddamn thing about what my search on her pulled up . . . or lack thereof. I’d talked to both Cole and Oliver about it. Both told me the same thing—talk to her about it.
My hand rubbed the back of my neck as I watched her walking. How did I ask her? Oh, by the way, I looked up your name and can find no traces of a Gabriella Mandola. I sighed and pushed it out of my head. The fear of finding out something I didn’t want to find out was winning right now.
A young lady held out a sign that said welcome as she pointed to a side door. “Registration is this way please.”
Gabi glanced over her shoulder at me and gave me that big beautiful smile of hers. Damn she was gorgeous. I still hadn’t brought her home to the family yet. A part of me was scared shitless they would scare her away. I’d avoided my mother’s calls for the last three weeks. To be honest, I was stunned she hadn’t shown up at my place. I think a part of her was still pissed I’d hidden my relationship with Gabi.
We walked into a giant room that had about fifty cooking stations set up. Gabi was so excited she did a little hop. “I’ve always wanted to enter a cooking competition!”
I grinned as I leaned down and kissed her lips. “You’re gonna kick ass.”
She chewed on her lip. “I hope! It’s three courses. Appetizer, main dish, and dessert.”
Liza started pulling everything out of the cooler and placing it in the small refrigerator.
“What’s on the menu?” I asked.
Gabi had three different menus planned and wasn’t going to pick one until she got here. Before she had a chance to answer, I heard a familiar voice. All three of us froze.
“Gabriella! Nicholaus! So this is what I have to do to see you two.”
With wide eyes of terror, Gabi whispered, “Please tell me that’s not your mom.”
My eyes swung over to look at my mother standing there with my aunt Maria and Aunt Agnes.
“Shit,” I whispered.
“Oh God. This is not happening. This is it!” Gabi exclaimed as she covered her mouth.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and leaned in closer. In a whispered voice, I asked, “What is wrong?”
Her eyes met mine. “This is her challenge! I thought it was that day in the bakery. That was a merely a test! She’s here to take me down!”
I laughed. “My mother is not here to take you down.”
She slowly shook her head and asked, “How did she know?”
Then we both turned to look at Liza. She took a step away. “You didn’t.”
Liza’s eyes were everywhere. Me, my mother, back to Gabi, back to my mother. “I might have mentioned it that day in the bakery when she was there. But she saw the registration form and asked if you had entered! I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to say.”
“Nicholaus, don’t be rude. Introduce your Gabriella to your Aunt Maria and Aunt Agnes.”
Gabi took in a slow deep breath before turning and facing my mother and aunts.
With my hand on her back, we walked closer. “Mama, this is a surprise to see you here.”
She looked taken aback. “Why? I love to cook, this is a cooking competition. Why wouldn’t I be here?”
“Because you’ve never entered one before.”
The three of them laughed. “Please. Your mama has won more cooking competitions than anyone in this room.”
Gabi swayed, and I tightened my grip on her.
When my mother turned to look at Gabi, she wore a wide smile. “My Nicholaus cares for you, so that makes you a part of the family.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Drivas.”
“No! Katerina. That is what you will call me.”
With a quick nod, Gabi replied, “Yes, ma’am.”
Clapping her hands loudly, Gabi jumped. “So, with you being a part of our family, I want to make sure you come in second so I’ve brought you some help.”
