Luigi Ever After

CHAPTER 1

"Dad, where the fuck are you? We've been waiting forever, and the sprinter is taking us out to the tarmac any second now. I can confidently speak for the rest of the family when I say we're leaving for Italy - with or without you at this point."

You ended the voicemail with an exasperated huff and shoved your phone into your back pocket just as you spotted your dad stumbling into the lounge. His bag was slung over his shoulder, half-zipped, with stray belongings teetering on the edge of spilling out.

"Marc, honey, seriously."

Your mom took a few quick steps toward him, reaching to fix the mess of his bag. He was panting, struggling to form a coherent sentence.

"You knew perfectly well what time the plane was leaving, and your assistant arranged for a car - where have you been? Please, get yourself together. We're leaving now."

Without waiting for his reply, she turned on her heel and followed the airport lounge hostess, her patience clearly spent. You sighed, rolling your eyes at your dad before grabbing your Balenciaga Rodeo tote bag from the table beside you. Then, glancing toward the far corner of the lounge, you called out:

"Luigi, are you coming? My dad has finally cared to join us."

He turned away from the window at the sound of his name, a smile spreading across his face - wide, bright, and brimming with that unmistakable spark of excitement. His deep hazel brown eyes glimmered behind his long dark lashes, with the same eager anticipation as a child about to set off for Disneyland.

"Can't wait," he grinned, beaming from ear to ear.

As you finally stepped onto the small private jet alongside your mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and Luigi, you drew in a deep breath, trying to absorb the magnitude of the moment. The past eighteen months had been nothing short of a nightmare - most of all for Luigi of course, but for your parents as well. They had fought relentlessly for a year and a half, pouring every ounce of energy into the battle that had finally, just days ago, led to the verdict you had all prayed for. The evidence had not been strong enough for a conviction.

The moment you received the news was still a blur - a whirlwind of emotions, disbelief, and a relief so profound it defied words. And now, here you were, standing at the threshold of something... new.

Because the case had been so high-profile, Luigi had been advised to lay low for the time being. While he had garnered unbelievable public support, he was still seen as a political adversary by some, making it too dangerous for him to return to his old life just yet. Your family had already planned to spend the summer at your vacation home in Italy, a much-needed escape after everything you'd endured, and inviting Luigi had felt like the most natural thing in the world.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like an unusual offer - after all, how many defense attorneys whisk their former clients away on vacation? But there was nothing ordinary about your mother's relationship with Luigi.

From the very first moment they met, an unspoken connection sparked between them - a bond rooted in mutual respect that only deepened with time. Both were sharp-minded, meticulous, and driven by an unwavering passion, understanding each other in a way that could only be described as a soul connection. Your dad, who was also involved in the case, loved him as well, but your mother had all but adopted him, treating him as if he were her fourth child.

During the trial, professionalism had obviously set necessary boundaries, but now, with that chapter behind her, she had cast all restraint aside, practically begging him to come with you to Italy.

"Just think about it! Everyone there is Italian anyway - you'll blend right in, and no one will even notice you! And Liv will need someone to keep her company too. You know Celine is bringing Ben, and those two are practically joined at the hip!"