"You have to announce your decision tonight. Are you ready?" Pez asked as he sat on the floor in Grace's room, staring at his laptop as she lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

  "I've come to terms with my decision, but announcing that in front of a crowd of people... that's a different story." Grace sighed and rested her forearm over her eyes.

  "You know, I never thought you got all that nervous. You've led teams at work, and you've been in charge of debriefings and whatnot."

  "I know, but this is different. At work... it's work! I don't know how else to put it. Now it's personal. It's my future, and the future of the Bertolottis family. This is a lot to have on my shoulders at one time."

  "Agreed, which is why I kept an option for us to run away if need be."

  "Wait, what?" Grace sat up. "What are you talking about? I already told you my plan."

  "But... What if you change your mind? What if he refuses your decision?"

  "I've grown to know my grandpa, and I don't think he'd go against what I want to do." Or at least, I hope he'll accept it. "This is all an issue of saying it in front of a crowd. I don't like personal business being passed around like that, and all the stares, and expectations..." Grace waved herself, overheating.

  "Admit it; you're worried your grandpa will disagree with you."

  Grace glared at him.

  "I know that look; I know I'm right."

  "When are you not right?" Grace threw a pillow at him.

  "Ah! Hey, watch it! My laptop might get hurt." Pez petted his laptop. "Don't worry; I'll protect you," he whispered to it.

  "I'm not going to run away from this, from my family—"

  "But a backup plan is always good to have. Even if you ran, it's not like it has to be forever; just long enough to make another plan or to find a way to sway him to your side."

  "Pretty sure it would look bad on him if I did that."

  "You've grown close to this family already?"

  "Yes... He really is my grandpa, Pez; he knows more about my parents than I do. I barely remember them. I've missed them so much... my parents and grandparents... It's been nice to have someone like that again."

  Pez closed his laptop and sat beside her on her bed. He rested his hand on hers on the bed. "You're making me miss my family. You and Roger are the only ones I have here—"

  "Are you sure? You seem to be getting closer to Zain." Grace snickered.

  "He's a bully! Okay, most of the time he isn't, but when it comes to something about you, he is. Like geez... He's terrifying when he wants something from you! And then he'll turn around and be buddy-buddy. I don't know what to think of him."

  "He's a mix of a teddy bear, and a grizzly bear." Grace couldn't help but smile. "Both sweet, and rough'n tough. He's saved me more than once since I got here—"

  "And Vincent? I haven't had a chance to get to know him. What's he like?"

  "Mature—"

  "Unlike Zain."

  Grace laughed. "He has his moments. Vincent is... I don't know how to describe him. He's unlike anyone else. And when I say he's mature, I mean well beyond his years. He somehow seems to know how to balance what he wants, and what others want. And somehow, he sees things that others don't."

  "Sounds wise and mysterious."

  "Yeah, those are probably the best words to describe him. He also has this slight tinge of loneliness to him, but it feels like he keeps it that way on purpose."

  "Sounds kinda like you there."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "At work, you were determined and optimistic, but when I saw you on your own, when no one else was looking, you always had this sad, forlorn look in your eyes. I think it probably feels like that same sadness you exude."

  "Ha... Never thought anyone saw any of my 'pensive' moments." Grace sighed. "He's lost a lot of people, too, and he's had such a big burden on his shoulders for so long, so I don't think my life can even compare."

  "I think you'd make a good leader if you tried. You've done it enough times at work. You know how to rally people together and take control. I think you two have more in common than even I thought. You and Vincent are two peas in a pod, if you ask me."

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  "I'm not cool enough for that." Grace bumped him with her shoulder.

  "What are you talking about? You're the coolest girl I know." He bumped her back.

  Knock, knock. "Grace, it's time to get ready," Mary called to her from the other side of the door.

  "Ugh..." Grace groaned, thinking about the last time she was railroaded into being dressed up for one of the family parties.

  "I heard that." Mary opened the door. "But you know we're not letting you go to the party dressed in athletic wear." Mary stepped in with a couple of other maids. "Pez." Mary held a lollipop up to him. "It's time to go."

  "She's already got you pegged?" Grace's jaw dropped.

  "Yes; Mary's found my weakness." Pez gave her a quick hug and rushed for his lollipop.

  Mary held it away when he reached for it. "You have to get ready for the party, too."

  "Wait, what?" Pez froze. "You're forcing me to go?"

  One of the butlers appeared in the doorway. "Please come with me."

  Pez swallowed hard and inched away from the butler, leering down at him. "Ah!" he yelped as the butler grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.

  "Now, let's get to work," Mary commanded the other maids.

  Grace stared at herself dolled up in the mirror in a stunning red dress she'd normally only wear while undercover. Her stomach did flips, and she had to fight the urge to vomit at just the thought of announcing her decision in front of everyone.

  "Ugh." Grace shook her hands out and took a few deep breaths. I have to go through with this. No turning back now. I've made my decision!

  Knock, knock.

  "It's open," Grace called out.

  "You look beautiful," Ray said as he approached her.

  "Thanks."

  "So much like your mother."

  "So, what are you doing here?" Grace turned to face him.

  "I'm here to escort you to the party."

  "Afraid I'll try to run or something?"

  "No, I just wanted the honour of escorting you to the party."

  Grace smiled. "If I end up getting married, you'll walk me down the aisle then, right?"

  "If? I know this is more of an engagement, and announcing the next leader, but you think it will work out with one of the boys, right? I wasn't going to wait long before planning the wedding."

  She raised an eyebrow. "You're going to plan it?"

  "With help, yes. I want to make sure everything is perfect for you. There won't be a detail I haven't watched over."

  "Thanks for that, grandpa, but how about you give me time to date my choice first?"

  "But..." He held his hand over his heart. "What if I don't live long enough?"

  "You're the healthiest old man I've ever met."

  He fought back a smile and failed. "But what if I fall ill soon? Health can change fast."

  "Grandpa, you're not allowed to leave me soon. You need to live a long, long life for me, okay?"

  He got misty eyed. "Gracey... Of course. How can I say no to that? I'll stick around as long as possible, but please don't make me wait to walk you down the aisle."

  "You sound like you're itching to give me away."

  "You're keeping the Bertolottis name either way, aren't you? And you're going to live here, right?"

  Grace raised an eyebrow. "If I marry Vincent, do you think I'd end up staying here? He has his own family – which you want to connect to – and even if he leads both, don't you think he'd rather stay in his own home?"

  "No, no, no." Ray shook his head. "I talked to him before even making him an official candidate: The families would combine, and this will be your residence. You two can have hyphenated names if you want, but you are a Bertolottis."

  "You made sure you'd get to keep me around?"

  "Of course; I had to after I foolishly kept my distance from you for so many years." He suddenly had a distant look in his eyes. "We could've mourned your parents together. And no matter how much I thought I was protecting you back then, I think my lack of presence in your life led to you being lonely."

  "I was okay while I was with my other grandparents, but they both left me, too."

  "I suppose I should've shown up then, but you were an adult, and I was stubborn. I didn't know what to do."

  "Their deaths didn't bring you to me, but you wanting a successor did? Grandpa, did you really have to kidnap me and bring me here in such a brutal way?"

  Ray cringed. "The people I had around you found someone stalking you with links to another family; I didn't have time to wait until everything was ready like I wanted."

  "And pushing for a marriage..."

  "I don't want you to be alone."

  "But if I have the people here, doesn't that mean I'm not alone?"

  "Gracey." He petted her head. "I made my decision, and I'm not going back on it. I will give you time to wait and make sure, but I will see you married to the next leader."

  She looked straight into his eyes. "If things work out, then sure, but I won't marry someone if I can't see myself in the future with them... in love."

  "Aren't you already, though?"

  Knock, knock, knock, knock.

  "It's open!" Grace growled.

  "Sorry!" Pez opened the door. "But I was sent to tell you the party started already, and they want you on stage."

  "Why'd they send you?"

  "Because everyone else is busy."

  "Oh..." Grace took a deep breath.

  "Don't worry so much, Gracey; I'll be right there on stage with you, holding your hand." Ray took her hand.

  "You will?"

  "How can I not when you seem so nervous? I've seen you go through so much while here and out in the world, but I've never seen you quite like this."

  "Ha..." And here I thought I was holding it together pretty well.

  "Come on, you two." Pez pointed at the door.

  "Don't rush the boss," Ray warned him, and he flinched back.

  "Sorry..."

  "Grandpa," Grace called to him in a warning tone. "You don't need to scare him."

  "Sorry, Gracey; I can't help it. I've been a mafia leader for decades; being intimidating comes with the territory."

  "It's okay. I know I need to toughen up." Pez turned his back to them. "I'll take a while, but eventually I'll learn to— Ah!" Pez yelped as Grace hugged him from behind.

  "You don't have to force yourself to change, Pez; you're great as you are. You can always learn self-defence if you want to – from me, of course – but if you don't want to, call me, and I'll run to save you. Always."

  "Thanks, Grace. I probably should learn some self-defence, since you won't always be able to save me."

  "Pez, while in this house, you are safe," Ray assured him. "I know there are a lot of scary people here, but most of them are good people, and they won't go against my word. You're one of us, which means we'll protect you, not hurt you."

  "Thank you, Boss." Pez bowed to him. "Also, Mary said don't make her have to come back here."

  Ray exchanged a look with Grace and held his arm out to her. "Enough gasbagging for now."

  "Yeah, we wouldn't want Mary to get mad or this house will fall apart."