Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 625 -

*Elio*

I couldn't get last night out of my mind. Things had been incredible between me and Cat. I'd been thankful that her mom wasn't an early riser because I managed to make my way out to the couch before she woke up.

Spending the night with Cat had been heaven.

Now, we were standing at the front door of my parents' house with Matilde still rummaging through the car getting the last of the gifts for the party.

"You'll be fine," I said reassuringly to the woman at my side. "You've been here a hundred times before."

Cat glared at me as we stood in front of the front door of my parents' house. She crossed her arms, turning with a huff. "That was before, Elio. Your parents are "

"Incredibly loving people," I suggested with a grin.

She side-eyed me. "They're smart, especially your dad. What if they figure out that we're... you know... together?"

"It'll be fine." I rolled my eyes. "Just enjoy the holiday and don't worry about it."

And before she could protest further, I gripped the doorknob and pulled.

The scent of wood burning, the fresh pine of the tree, and cinnamon and gingerbread baking throughout the house was nostalgic. I couldn't help the little smile that pulled at the corner of my mouth.

It was like walking into a memory from when I was a kid. It was my mother's favorite holiday, and she always went overboard. The house was lit up with decorations.

Garlands hung upon the walls. The classic red Christmas flowers decorated every shelf. Snowflakes on strings hung in the windows, with white lights in the corners between the wall and the ceiling that created a path to the living room.

I gestured for Cat to go first. She huffed, reluctantly entering. I followed her happily, a content feeling that I couldn't explain overtaking me.

From the open kitchen, I could see my mother busying herself, humming to the Christmas songs playing on the Bluetooth, just loud enough to be heard but not enough to drown out the voices of the dozen or so guests.

There was the distinct scent of fresh gingerbread and my favorite apple cider mulled wine cooking on the stove, along with what I'm sure was a delicious feast of food being piled in the dining room.

The fireplace burned to life, crackling like a campfire and bringing warmth to the hearth that was just perfect for the guests gathered around it. Above the mantle was Mom's collection of snow globes we had gotten a new one every family vacation.

The tree was over the top as usual-a forty-foot monstrosity that stretched two floors in the open-ceiling room. The twinkling colorful lights on the tree flashed and blinked in time with whatever Christmas song was playing, and I was glad to see the mixture of new and old ornaments on the tree.

There was one from our trip to Paris and another from when I was nine and I made a glittery paper dinosaur in arts and crafts.

"Hey, Mom," I greeted her, heading into the kitchen with a smile.

Cat followed me hesitantly, holding a plate of sugar cookies. My mother turned to face me, a casserole of some kind in her hands just fresh from the oven.

Despite having a few cooks nearby who were paid to do this, my mother had always insisted on making dishes herself.

"My baby boy!" She brightened up and I flushed a bit as she hurried to set the casserole down, throwing off her oven mittens, which were caught from heading onto the floor by one of the other cooks, and rushed over to pull me into a hug. I leaned down automatically, ignoring Cat's teasing smirk as my mother embraced me.

"You do know I'm not a baby anymore, right?" I said, despite knowing how futile it was, and sure enough, she simply beamed.

"You'll always be my baby," she said sweetly. "I missed you so much. How are you doing? Oh-" She finally caught sight of Cat, her expression melting into a kind warmth only she was capable of. "Is this little Caterina? You're so big now!" Cat blushed, awkwardly letting my mother fold her into a hug as well. I had to grab the container of cookies from her before she dropped them, and I slipped them onto the counter with the rest of the desserts. "Nice to see you again, Miss Valentino," Cat said politely.

"Oh, none of that. You call me Olivia, like you used to, okay?" Mom smiled brightly. "I'm so happy you were able to come. Matilde, how are you?"

While she greeted Cat's mom, Mia spoke up, nursing a glass of mulled wine that I suspected wasn't her first. She sat at the counter, a slice of half-eaten pie in front of her. "Nice to see you two kiddos."

"I thought you were in Italy, Aunt Mia." I raised an eyebrow. "Did my uncle skip out on work again?"

Cat showed a clueless look, being the only one who didn't know the true family business.

"Nah, we got Tallon to fill in for him," Mia smirked. "Nat and his kid are sick this year, so he volunteered to give us the day off. My husband's many things, but a slacker, he is not. I had to pry him away from that damn desk." "Sounds like him," I snorted just as my mom rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of " Mom gave me a certain look. "Go say hi to your father. He and Alessandro are supervising the kids."

"You put them in charge of the kids?" I gave her an incredulous look.

"Just go," Mom waved me off and then eyed Cat's jeans. "And Caterina, Matilde, you can stay here with us. Cat, I actually have something I've been meaning to give you."

Cat sent me a panicked look, but I just shrugged helplessly as she was dragged off by my mother and aunt. I made my way to what used to be my playroom, which had since been converted.

Sure enough, I spotted a table full of gingerbread, tubes of icing, and various piles of candies. A small group of kids, many with the same dark brown curly hair as me, were making their own houses, though somewhat poorly. Many looked like they had been hit by a hurricane instead of a winter wonderland.

I chuckled to myself, spotting my dad in the chaos, patiently letting the kids climb all over him. One of the little girls was clutched firmly in his lap, sucking on her thumb as she curiously played with the icing, not even trying to make a house but just using it to dip her thumb in for eating.

Another kid, a boy about eight, was hanging off the sides of his chair, sticking colorful gumdrops into his hair with a huge grin.

Dad didn't seem to mind though. He just smiled contentedly as the kids took advantage of him. I know he and Mom had always wished they could've given me more siblings, but it had never happened.

I knew what a challenge it had been having me, including the chaos my surrogate mother had caused. Despite remaining an honorary aunt, Elena had her own family now, a husband and kids loved to death, but she always sent me festive cards for holidays and my birthday. Even though she had been the one to give birth to me, I had never been super attached to her.

Even though they had remained on good terms with Elena, Mom and Dad had never tried surrogacy again, focusing instead on caring for me and loving each other.

Alessandro was a sharp contrast to Dad's patience. Sitting in one of the plastic kids' chairs, his legs awkwardly brought to his chest, he was firmly instructing two boys how to build the perfect gingerbread house, perhaps taking it a bit too seriously as he used tweezers to gently place each piece of candy.

Only one little girl stared at him with owlish eyes, watching without blinking as he made the finest gingerbread house I'd ever seen.

"Dad," I called out to my old man, who glanced up at me. "How's it going?"

"I'm doing alright," Dad chuckled, plucking the little girl from his lap effortlessly.

I walked up and gave him a brief hug.

Alessandro noticed us and peeled himself from the finished gingerbread house, which honestly looked like a masterpiece. He clapped a hand on my shoulder in greeting, while Dad smiled amicably. "How's Italy?" I asked immediately, looking to Alessandro for answers. I'd been curious since I rarely got information about what was going on over there.

"Doing good. We've had a few bad supply runs and there've been a few targets on the family, but it's nothing we can't handle. We have started a new training program for the younger recruits-" "Stop," Dad cut in sharply. "Elio doesn't want to know about all that."

"Yes, I do," I said, irritated and crossing my arms.

"No, you don't." Dad eyed me with a sharp look. "We don't talk about that side of the family, especially not here."

He glanced at the group of kids who were watching us with wide eyes, and I grumbled to myself, knowing he was right.

"Whatever," I said, walking out.

"Elio," Dad called after me.

But I was too frustrated to turn back. I needed to cool down before I said something I regretted.

I had only made it to the hallway when a hand on my elbow pulled me back.

"Hey," Alessandro said awkwardly.

I raised an eyebrow at him, unsure of what he wanted. "Look, I know how frustrating it is, but your parents worked hard to get you and themselves out of that life. They're a bit touchy on that subject." "Their decisions shouldn't impact me, especially since I'm a grown-ass adult," I bit back.

"I know. Sometimes it just gets into you." He chuckled, and I could feel somehow that he really understood where I was coming from. "Look, if you ever want, there's a place for you in Italy, in our family. I could always use an extra hand." Surprised, I thanked him, and he headed back to the room with the kids, leaving me in the hallway to think. Was that really something I wanted... to officially join the mafia?

But that wasn't the only surprise of the night.

As soon as I entered the living room, I spotted a flash of bright red, and I looked up instinctively. There was Cat, but she wasn't dressed in the jeans and T-shirt I had last seen her in. Instead, she wore a bright long-sleeved red dress that came to mid-thigh with a detailed white lace over the bare shoulders and white stripes along the bottom. It was simple but gorgeous on her body.

Surrounded by a group of relatives, her cheeks were a bright pink as they showered praises upon her.

With her hair braided into a long plait over her shoulder, she was nothing short of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. My fingers brushed against the small box in my pocket.

Cat spotted me then and gazed at me, her green eyes shining with the lights from the Christmas tree.

"Doesn't she look lovely?" my mom asked. "I saw that in the store and thought of Cat."

"She looks beautiful," I said honestly.

I smiled and brushed by her, whispering, "Meet me in the hallway."

I saw the slightest hint of a nod, and when everyone's attention had turned away, I stepped over to the hallway to wait for her. Moments later she appeared, and I led her down the hallway, ducking into the office quickly. "I don't know if it'll match your new outfit, but here you go." I handed her the simple black box.

The moment she lifted the lid, her breath hitched.

Inside was a silver necklace, a locket decorated with diamonds, and at the center, a bright green gemstone. I bit my bottom lip, unsure of how this was going to go as she opened it. I knew what it said on the inscription. "Happy birthday, Kitty-Cat."

Her voice choked as she recited the words engraved inside. "I love you always... Daddy."

She looked at me, confused.

"Tallon and I, we managed to track it down. It was the last present Vinny, your dad, bought. He wanted to give it to you for Christmas, but he didn't... get the chance. It wasn't easy to get it back. He hid it pretty well. But I thought you should have it."

"Elio," she murmured.

I watched in a full moment of panic as her eyes flooded with tears.

"I'm so sorry! This was stupid. I shouldn't have "

But she surprised me yet again by jumping into my arms.

She didn't say a single word, but I could feel her body trembling and I wrapped her in my arms, holding her together during this painful and bittersweet moment.

"I didn't get you a gift," she murmured in my shirt.

"That's okay." I chuckled, gently lifting her head so I could see her pretty face. "You can always make it up to me."

She blushed, but without any hesitation, she leaned up and pulled me into a passionate kiss. I lost myself for a moment, so focused on her that neither of us heard the door opening and we didn't have time to pull away. "I thought so." A loud voice cut through our moment.

Shocked, we jumped apart, glancing at the intruder with wide eyes.

"Mom?" I asked wide-eyed.

And there stood my mother with crossed arms and raised eyebrows, clearly expecting an explanation.