Ariana's POV:
I waited for their answers as they looked at nonno.
"No, they are here because I called them. You can say that there is a mission. Noah, Jessy, according to the reports that I have received this month of your performance since you started training, it's very clear that you both are very talented. So I have a task for both of you. Would you guys like to be the personal bodyguards for my princess? You will receive all the benefits that you would receive when you are on a mission as a spy and much more. There will be dangers as you know that she is the princess of our family and many want to harm her so you guys have to understand all of the pros and cons. You guys can take the time to consider it carefully." Nonno finished.
I was very stunned. I think all of us were. No one knew that nonno was going to choose bodyguards for me and they would turn out to be my best friends.
My friends were also stunned after nonno finished talking. They glanced at each other and came to some understanding.
"Sir, it would be our honor. Not only is she our princess but also our best friend, so we would very much like to become her guards." Noah said solemnly.
"Then we will make all of your arrangements. Your college will be settled where princess will be attending. Don't worry, we will not let any impact on your studies. Your parents will also move there to be with you so that way you will not miss and worry about them. But both of you will have to be careful when in public that you guys are only her friends like you used to be before but also secretly protect her." Nonno said.
"We know. Thank you sir for thinking so much for us." Jessy said.
"But nonno. I have a question." Twinnie spoke up at that moment.
"Yes. What is it?"
"If you knew them both then how come you didn't know about twinnie. After all, they are her best friends."
"That's because it's not my responsibility to keep an eye on every potential candidate that is getting the training of a spy. I only know about the candidates when they have finished their training and have the best potential. I only came to know about them this month as they have finished their training and are of the best potential so I decided to appoint them to your sister as bodyguards."
"Oh I see." Twinnie said.
"I also regret now that I didn't pay attention to them before. If I would have then I would have found our princess sooner." Nonno sighed.
"It's not your fault. All of this is fate. When we had to meet our princess we met. So don't blame yourself." Nonna said.
I agree with them about this. Besides, I don't have any regrets except that I didn't get to meet them sooner.
"You guys can stay here or go with your family." Nonno said to them after a few minutes.
"We would like to go with our families. Then we will come there when Ari is in New York after packing up." Jessy said.
"But can you guys stay here with me today? I have so much to talk with you guys." I said.
They both looked at each other.
"We will first talk with our dads and see what they say." Noah said.
I nodded. After all they had come here with their families so it was only right that they asked them. Noah called his father and talked with him. He agreed with his request.
"Okay then we will stay here for today. We will go back tomorrow." He said.
Jessy and I cheered immediately. We wanted to spend time with each other for so long. Now I am going to get that time with them.
"Then you guys go and spend some time together with each other." Zio said.
I was very happy today. I am going to spend all of my time with my friends in the future. We will study in the same college and will always be close to each other. I have never imagined that this day would come and we will be staying in close proximity again.
"Let's go guys to my room. I have so much to ask you now that I know that you also know about the mafia." I said and went with them to my room.
"Wow Ari. This room is so beautiful." Jessy said.
"Yes I know right. Zia decorated it for me." I said with a smile.
"You are lucky that you found your family finally. I mean I know that you were also very happy with uncle and aunty but still they are your blood relatives." Jessy said.
"I know but the love they have given me and the care that they have given me can't compare to anything in the world. As the saying goes that it is easy to give birth but it is not easy to give care and love. I am very grateful to them as are my family." I said to them seriously.
"Yes you are right Ari. I am very glad that you can find the balance between your family. It is very important in your case." Noah said.
"Yes that's right." Jessy said.
"I told them about the mafia." I said. They looked at me shocked.
"What. How did they react?" Jessy asked.
"They were of course shocked and had a hard time accepting it but they are trying to understand it. They know that they can't separate me from this life so yeah we are getting there now."
"That's a relief. Now at least you don't have to lie to them or be afraid that someone will tell them before you can." Noah said.
"That's why I told them. My family was there with me at that time from here as well so I had their support. They gave me the strength to tell them the truth." I recalled that time as I said it.
Noah and Jessy gave me a hug. I hugged them back tightly and we sat there like that for some time.
"So how did you come to know about them being mafia and when? What was your reaction?" Noah asked.
I was stunned as I forgot that they don't know anything about me being in the mafia before. I got nervous as to how they would react to it.
"Well that's an interesting story." I chuckled nervously. They narrowed their eyes and looked at me, immediately spotting my nervousness.
"What is it?" Noah asked.
"Actually I didn't tell you something. I didn't want you guys to be in danger so I hid this fact. Actually I was in the mafia before in Texas, in the Garcia mafia. You may have heard of it." I said it slowly.
Their jaws dropped in shock and their eyes widened. They looked at me like that for a few minutes like that.
"So you were already in the mafia and we didn't know anything about it." Jessy said.
"But how did you get into the mafia and why?" Noah asked.
Then I told them the whole story. How I came across Levi and how I became a mafia member and everything.
"So that's how it is. Then I am sure that the Romanos would have been very shocked to learn that right?" Jessy asked.
"Yes, as was I. I was thinking how to tell them about my mafia life when they dropped this bomb on me. So I also came clean and told them everything." I said.
"That's good then. So tell me about what you learned there? Were you good in hand to hand combat or were you good in shooting?" Jessy asked.
"Both." I smirked.
"Really then we would have to see that." Noah also smirked.
"Yup." Jessy also nodded.
"Ok then tell me about your life in training." I asked them curiously.
"Well we were trained in all kinds of combat so that if we need it we can use them to save our lives. We have been getting our training since we were kids. First we thought that our families are training us so that we can protect ourselves but slowly we realised that it was all for this." Jessy said.
We talked like that and time passed by. Suddenly there was a knock on my door and we paused.
"Come in." I said.
Zia came in and smiled at us.
"When are you guys thinking of coming out of this room? Aren't you guys hungry? It's already past noon." She said.
We were shocked that so much time had passed by and we didn't even realise it.
"You didn't realise the time?" Zia said with a smile.
I smiled sheepishly.
"Zia, we lost track of time. We were so lost catching up that we didn't even feel hungry. Now that you are here I realised that I am really hungry. Guys let's go and have our lunch."
"Ok." Then we went downstairs with zia and had our lunch. Just like that our whole day passed by catching up and talking about everything.
"I am so happy guys that we will be together again. I didn't imagine when I left Texas that we would be together again and even study at the same place." I said.
"Yes I know right. I am also very happy." Jessy said.
"You both are leaving your lives and moving there. Are you alright with that? If not, we will understand it. After all you guys have a life in Texas and because of me you will leave everything behind and live in New York from now. You will also change your college and your life will change from now on. So you guys can tell me if you don't want to." I said to them seriously.
"Ari, we have always been prepared that we will have to go on missions and leave our families behind. Our families are also ready for that day since we started training but you know what, I am very happy that the mission we have is to protect you. You, you are our best friend. We will get to spend time with you. We will now no longer have to hide from you about who we really are. We will also get to live with our families there while we do our mission. So for me this mission is the best mission that can be given to me. So that's why when Senior Romano gave us that mission we agreed immediately. This is the opportunity that I think no one will get so easily. After all, we are going to protect our best friend." Noah said.
"Yes Ari. Noah is right. We know that this mission also has dangers and we will do our best to keep you safe. But we will also get to spend our time with our best friend. If we didn't go on this mission then we would have been assigned on some mission where we would have to hide our identity and be in the enemy's base. That would be more dangerous and besides we would not have been assigned together. Here we are together. We will face our future together." Jessy said.
I was very touched by them. They are right, we will face everything together in the future. I hugged them tightly.
"You guys are the best." I said.
"Ok ok. Now we should get going. We have to go back to Texas and we will meet you in New York when you go there. Alright?" Noah said.
"Alright. Take your time if you guys need more days." I said.
"Ok then take care Ari." They said.
I nodded and led them to the main door where the car was already waiting for them. They got in the car and waved me bye. Then they left. I was a little reluctant to let them go but I also knew that we will meet soon and then we will not have to live far away again.
"Come on, twinnie. Let's go in." Twinnie said.
"When did you come here?" I asked.
"Just now. Come on."
I went in with him. It was already evening by the time they went to their families.
"Come here princess. Sit with us." Nonna said. I smiled and happily went to sit with them.
"Are you happy that your best friends will be with you again?" She asked.
"Yes I am very happy nonna. Nonno, thank you so much."
"Princess." He glared at me.
"Okay okay. I won't say thank you. I was just telling you I am very happy that you thought so much about me but nonno you know that I can fight and shoot. I can also hack as you know, then why the bodyguards."
"You can never be too careful, princess. I know that you're capable but we should never take our enemies lightly. In our family everyone has personal bodyguards whether it be me or you papa." He said.
"Ok nonno. I understand." I nodded.
After all, they are doing all of this for our safety. I have already seen the bodyguards with everyone so it was fair that I also have.
****
Hello everyone. Here's another chapter.
Happy reading.
Love, Stella.