"I was asking Daddy a lot about when we were going to see you again?" Emily said to me as we entered the ice cream shop with her glued to my hip.

"Really? Did you miss me?" I chuckle playing with her cheek causing her to giggle.

"Yes, I did but Dad was always saying 'I don't know yet, I don't know yet' he was always saying that you are busy and don't have time for me at the moment" Emily replied circling her arms around my neck.

"Is that so?" I said sending a glare to Leon who gave me a sheepish smile and mouth sorry.

I just roll my eyes at him before turning back to Em with a smile. "Nonsense, your dad doesn't know what he's talking about Em. I'm never to busy for you".

"Really?" Em asked excitedly.

"Yeah really" I laughed before walking over to the counter so that she could see the different ice cream flavours in the refrigerator below. "So what flavour ice cream do you want to get?"

"I want the uhmm....that one" Emily pointed to the strawberry pineapple flavor before deciding to change her mind. "No, that one, the blue one. No the orange and yellow one".

"So many flavours, You're not so sure which one you really want do you?" I chuckle.

"No" Emily said shaking her head as she kept one index finger in her mouth as if it'll help her to concentrate on choosing the perfect ice cream flavor.

"Sweetie, how about we get a scoop of all three ice creams then?" Leon ask. "How does that sound?"

"Yeah yeah" Emily said excitedly jumping in my arms.

"Woah there" Leon chuckled as he took her from me and putting her to stand up. "You're excessive energy is gonna kill Lexi. She must be tired now".

"Its was okay" I said to him. "I could handle her"

"Em is a handful, she's extremely energetic. In addition she's getting a bit weighty you can't deny that" Leon said to me. "So what flavor ice cream can I get you?"

"Its fine I can get my own, you don't have to" I started telling him.

"No, I was the one who invited you out for ice cream. I don't think you had that plan so I should buy" Leon insisted.

"No, its okay I got it" I tried to tell him.

"Lexi, I'm not gonna back off if you don't let me pay for your ice cream" Leon said stubborn which caused me to sigh in defeat. "Now what flavor do you want?"

"I'll take a chocolate vanilla" I smiled giving in.

"Great" Leon smiled. "You and Em can go get a seat at one of the tables".

"Okay" I nodded before taking Emily's hand and leading her to an empty seat. "Come on Em, let's go get us a seat"

Emily and I sat down as we talked while waiting for Leon to order and returned with our ice creams.

~|~ Kathleen and I were planning on having a girl's night in. I had just reached in and since it was the weekend we decided to chill order pizza and watch some movies tonight, especially since it has been a while since we last did this. I was putting up some stuff that I had bought earlier when the stupid bag tore sending the rest of snacks flying to the kitchen floor.

"Ugh! Stupid bag" I groaned bending down to pick up the things.

"I hate when that happens" Kathleen replied bending down to help pick up some of the stuff that had reach over to her side. "Let me help".

"I swear the bag was rotten, it wasn't like it was heavy or anything" I replied putting the chips on the counter.

"Maybe it just had a.... rough ride" I heard Kathleen trailed off.

I look up only to see what she was holding in her hand with a look of both confused and curiosity written all over.

Oh crap.

I thought I had put that in my hand bag, when on earth did it end up in the snacks bag. Kathleen was holding a box of birth control pills that I had also picked up from the pharmacy this evening. I just thought that since Gio and I are back together and considering what happened the last time with me ended up getting pregnant and all, then I should also try to protect myself. Wasn't going to carelessly make the same mistake twice. Those pills were supposed to be my secret, not even Gio I wanted to know that I was taking them, no doubt he'd definitely want to debate and discussed about it which I wasn't up for.

In addition to that Gio and I's relationship is also another thing I'd like to keep a secret, especially from my family considering the whole rivalry and what happened with me losing the baby. They'd flip if they knew I was dating him again, especially Dad and Dominic. And even though I know Kathleen can keep a secret, she was just kinda too close to Dominic and all, secrets could accidentally slip out. Kathleen looked at the box in her hand then to me suspiciously.

Please don't ask. Don't ask, don't ask.

"Uhm...Here" Kathleen said clearing her throat slightly stretching it to me.

"Oh thanks" I said taking it from her and tucking it in my purse as I tried to act nonchalantly.

I was still waiting to hear if Kathleen was gonna ask about them but when she didn't and instead change the subject to asking me about the granola bars I'd purchased, I couldn't help but sigh happily inside.

"So should I just order the pizza now while you go freshen up?" Kathleen asked picking up the phone.

"Yeah, you do that" I nodded picking up my purse. "I'll be back in a couple minutes".

"Okay" Kathleen Said as she started dialling the number.

I left her there as I headed upstairs to my room. I was really hoping that Kathleen could just forget about what she saw tonight or better yet don't try to put meaning to it. After I went to the bathroom and shower, I came out and got dress intended on going back downstairs when my phone started ringing.

"Hey" I answered sitting on the edge of my bed. "Non può ottenere abbastanza di me?"

(Can't get enough of me?)

I couldn't help but laugh when I remembered him using those exact words to me sometime ago during the period that we had freshly met.

"I see you've been practicing your Italian" Gio chuckled. "It and your accent still needs some work though".

"Oh shut up. You know I can speak it even better than you" I replied.

"Yeah sure" Gio laugh. "Keep telling yourself that, maybe you'll actually start believing that".

"Shut up" I snort.

"Alright I'll quit teasing" Gio chuckled. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I'll be hanging out at the shooting range tomorrow?" I replied running my hand through my damp hair.

"Which?" Gio asked.

"My family's" I replied. "Why?"

"Well I was hoping we could hang out tomorrow and I could take you out later. But since you wanna go shooting, why don't you let me take you to mine?" Gio asked.

"I'd actually love all those things but I'm sorry I can't not tomorrow at least. I've promised Leon I'd teach him how to shoot and Kathleen..." I started before Gio cut me off.

"Leon? Is that the name of the asswipe you've been hanging out with so often" Gio scoffed. "Who the hell is he anyway? One of Luciano's pets? Wait no scratch that... You said you were gonna teach him how to shoot? What kinda man with balls doesn't know how to shoot? Is he..."

"Gio stop it, will you?" I said annoyed. "You're acting like a jealous teen in high school".

"Well if you weren't constantly hanging out with the sorry excuse of a man who doesn't I wouldn't have to be..".

"Leon's my friend so get over it. And not everyone is a criminal like you and I so he isn't compelled to know how to shoot" I shut him down before deciding to rile him up some more by teasing. "Besides, Leon happen to be pretty good company unlike some people"

"I wouldn't push it sweetheart, I could make your precious friend disappear by the snap of my finger" Gio chuckled mischievously.

"And I'm gonna ignore the fact that you just said that because I know you're not that stupid" I replied. "And I also know you won't go anywhere near Leon, you nor your goons so call off who ever you have digging on Leon right now"

"How did you know about that?" Gio asked.

"You just told me... Oh God Gio" I said in disbelief. "You need to stop abusing power because that's exactly what you're doing. You gotta start behaving like a normal person".

"I am behaving like any normal person would. Being protective and possessive over what is mine. And that's you. That is why I have to know who is who and who you hang out with" Gio responded.

"I'm not some possession Gio, and I'm serious you need to stop it. Or else you won't be seeing me tomorrow, the day after or the day following" I said to him.

"Alright fine I get the idea" Gio replied. "Was just hoping we could spend sometime together tomorrow".

"I know, so tell you what. How about I come over in the morning for a couple of ours, you can cook me one of those fancy Italian dishes you do so well and we could stay in together up until about 12, where I'm suppose to go meet the others?" I suggested.

"I'd personally like to have you to myself for the entire day but I'll take what I can get" Gio replied.

"Great" I smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow then okay? I'm having movie night with Kathleen so I gotta go get back to her. Have a good night okay"

"Yeah, you too amore" Gio replied before we ended the call.

When I went back downstairs the pizzas were already here and Kathleen looked as if she's been waiting for me for ages now.

"Finally" Kathleen sighed in relief.

"Have I been upstairs that long till the pizzas already arrived?" I asked taking a seat on the couch.

"You've been gone nearly an hour now" Kathleen replied. "I was starting to wonder if you died up there".

"Sorry, guess me freshening up took a while longer than planned" I said to her. "So what are we watching?".

Here goes yet another update, it may have been somewhat shortish but don't worry guys I'm giving a double update today. 😊 Its part of my way to say thank you to all of my dear readers and followers who have commented on my previous chapter and encouraging me to continue writing. I was really inspired to do so, seeing your comments. Sorry about any errors. Please continue to motivate me by dropping little comments with your thoughts as well as voting. Thank you all so much😘 Stay tuned... Chapter 62 follows along with a new character 😱😁