Your Favourite Crime

15

Damien

"Prince Mateo!"

"Princess Flavia! My favourite!" I watch my daughter launch herself into my little cousin's arms.

Flavia's always been fond of Mateo. When we'd spend the summer in Italy she'd cling to him.

"Happy 18th Birthday, cugino," I give Mateo a side hug

"Thank you. Thank you for coming. Ethan, what's up?" Mateo nudges Ethan

"The sky," Ethan responds

"You're not funny. Malik's over there," Mateo points by the pool and Ethan runs off.

"Nyla, this is my cousin Damien. Damien this is my girlfriend Nyla," Mateo introduces

"girlfriend! You replaced me!" Flavia exclaims from Mateo's arms

"Uh oh. You're in trouble," I mumble

"No, princess. Never. But Nyla loves Princesses," Mateo says

"You do?!" Flavia beams

"Yep. Princess Tiana is my favourite," Nyla whispers to my daughter.

"Holy shit!" Flavia beams

"Flavia Carvelli! That's $5 out of the swear jar," I look at my daughter unimpressed.

"No. King Daddy. I'm sorry," She pouts

Mateo whispers something in Flavia's ears before setting her down. She runs off towards Mat and immediately I know she's about to become $500 richer.

"Anyways... It's nice to meet you Nyla. This is my girlfriend, Adriana. Adriana, Mateo," I introduce.

"Nice to meet you," Adriana smiles

"Nice to meet you too... Now is he paying you? Because he's grumpy as shit and so bossy," Mateo asks in pretend whisper

I smack his head and he winces. "I should ask your girlfriend that. He doesn't shows emotions,  he's heartless," I say to Nyla and she chuckles

"That's what I thought. Until we got partnered for a school project," Nyla says as Mateo hugs her, rubbing his head

"Aww, wait. That's cute. A school project brought a couple together," Adriana gushes

"She's a sucker for romance," I say

"So am I. I read and watch and everything," Nyla says

"Same!" The two walk away talking about god knows what.

"Baby!" Mateo pouts when he's left to hold no one. "Your girlfriend just stole mine."

"Look at us... the two men of the family who don't date. Have girlfriends," I mumble with shock

"Right. I thought you'd die before you'd get married, old man," Mateo chuckles

"I liked you better when you didn't speak. Go somewhere before I drown you in the pool on your birthday."

_____________

"So what's going on with this lady now?

"She broke into my girlfriend's house. Is following my son and I'm pretty sure she has people out here," I tell Mar

"So why didn't you tell me? I could help," Mat says, lighting his cigar.

"Because... Adriana doesn't know yet," I tell him, looking across the yard at Adriana who's in the pool with Flavia, Nyla and Nyla's little brother.

Adriana looks so beautiful in her bikini.

"So tell her," Mat demands

"She's not like Elena or Nyla. She wasn't born into this life. She's born into military," I tell him