Is this destiny?

A smile appeared on Emma's face. She was glad that Sean and Ryan realized on their own how girls are after them only because Angelo is their father, and the impressive part was that the twins managed to resist the temptation of flesh on their own. They are two young men and being able to say 'no' to girls who came onto them and not take advantage of the situation was admirable. It seems that her twin brothers are looking for a deeper connection. Emma was proud.

"It was hard on you…", Emma said in a soft voice.

"It's hard on you as well.", Ryan said. When he saw Emma look at him questionably, he clarified: "Being in the Smith family. It can't be easy. We are aware that Charlie is doing his best to protect you, but there are many things that you need to do on your own."

"Which brings us to the point…", Sean's voice trailed away. He took a deep breath and looked at Emma seriously. "Why are you here? Don't you have enough things on your plate as-is? Considering your pregnancy, marriage, work, and fuss with Smiths, how can you have free time for Nero Armi? And this is not a good time for a vacation that involves long-distance trips.", he ended by gesturing toward Emma's protruding belly.

Emma's eyes moved from Sean to Ryan and she decided to start with the almost-truth. "You are my baby brothers. I admit that for the last three years I was consumed in my things, but I had to come and check on you. I have a lot of things going on, and my biggest stress is that I don't know how you are doing."

"You are here because of us?", Ryan asked suspiciously.

"I came to check on dad as well and to see what is this Nero Armi people are talking about. This organization is the reason why Angelo was not with us for two decades, and the reason why I barely see you since you started entangling yourself with dad's business. Isn't it normal that I am curious? Don't worry, I can handle it."

"This is not a place you can come in and out as you see fit, Emma.", Sean warned her. "The more secrets you find out, the more difficult it will be to leave."

"I am Angelo's daughter, and the two of you are my brothers. No matter what darkness lays under the name Nero Armi, I will not leave."

"You came here because of us.", Ryan said. He noticed that Emma lowered her gaze and he put his arm around her shoulders. "No need to deny it, sis… You were always the one watching over us."

Sean hugged Emma from her other side and spoke to Ryan. "It seems that we failed. We wanted to get stronger so that we don't need protection, and maybe event to take care of our family, and here is Emma coming to the rescue again."

Emma felt guilt eat her from the inside. She thought that Sean and Ryan indulged in selfish frolicking and that they were lost in power that came with Nero Armi, yet they were doing all that so that they can protect her. She thought about how she will need to fight them for power to save them, and they wanted to save her.

Other than Sean and Ryan, Emma loves Mike as well, but she was not concerned about him. Mike is working as Charlie's assistant and Emma gets to see him frequently and she knows that Mike is happy with Tiffany.

In comparison with Mike, Ryan and Sean are split between the United States and Italy and even when they are in the Los Angeles area they are mostly busy with their schoolwork or hanging out with the kids from the Cliffside Villa, so she does not see them often. In the last three years, to find out what is going on with Sean and Ryan, Emma mostly relied on news from others and she assumed the worst, yet her two brothers were doing their best to come on top, for themselves and for her.

"Why are you crying?", Ryan asked Emma with panic in his voice.

"Is something hurting?" Sean was even more panicky, assuming that something is wrong with the baby. Or is Emma going to have a baby right now? He has no clue about delivering babies! Why did they tell others from Nero Armi to stay behind and give them space? They could really-really use some help now!

Sean threw the remainder of the gelato in the trash can and started waving his arms wildly. "Ambulance… Ryan, call an ambulance…"

"I'm fine…", Emma responded in a shaky voice. "It's nothing."

She was not sure if she was shaking from crying or because she was stifling laughter; her brothers were comical. Ryan was frozen and he stared at her with eyes open wide, and Sean was hyperactive, jumping in place and waving as if trying to wave down a plane.

Several passersby gave them strange looks, and a few stopped to see what is going on.

Emma grabbed Sean's hand to stop him from attracting attention. "I'm OK. Can you sit down? It's nothing…"

"How can it be nothing?", Ryan asked. He never saw Emma cry before, so the scene was shocking.

Emma sniffled. "It's hormones. I am pregnant, remember? Anything can make me cry."

Sean exhaled in relief and plopped on the bench next to Emma.

"What made you cry now?", Sean asked. He wanted to know the reason why he threw his gelato in the trash can.

"The two of you.", Emma responded. "You grew up and… it moved me."

Ryan and Sean exchanged confused glances, unsure if they should believe her or not. They will be twenty-two years old this year, and it's not like they grew up within minutes.

Emma smiled at their obvious disbelief, but she didn't know how to explain. Actually, if she discloses her initial suspicion, she might offend them, so Emma decided on a different strategy. "Do you remember how three years ago you came to Los Angeles for college and ended up talking about being my bodyguards?"

Sean and Ryan nodded right away.

"We still want to.", Sean said.

"Why do you think we are training like crazy?", Ryan asked.

"Did you improve your skills?"

"Several folds.", Ryan responded confidently.

"Alright. Let's stick together and protect each other.", Emma said and laughed when she saw that Sean and Ryan both had their eyes open wide, and their smiles told her that they approve. She had to dampen their mood. "When I recuperate after the delivery, I will test your skills. You have about six weeks to train hard in order to reach your peak. After that, I don't want to hear excuses. If you lose, you will need to serve this queen."

Sean snorted. "Queen? It seems that the time at the Smith family got into your head."

Emma looked at Sean smugly. "If you want to dethrone me, do it in the fighting ring."

Sean shuddered. He remembered that Emma is not relying only on punches and dodging, and the feeling of his arms going numb for no apparent reason was still vivid in his mind. It was three years ago, during Sarah's birthday celebration at the Cliffside Villa when they declared that they can be Emma's bodyguards, and Emma proved them wrong within minutes. It was embarrassing, but it showed them how they have a long way ahead.

However, Emma now said that they will stick together and take care of each other.

Sean and Ryan felt their confidence swelling with the knowledge that Emma will be around. And they knew that they need to stay vigilant because Emma is facing many enemies due to her position. For two decades Emma was taking care of them, and now they finally reached the point where they can return the favor.

...

The next two days were busy for Emma, but she loved every minute of it.

Several times a day people from Nero Armi would come to Angelo's villa, and Emma spoke with each of them and started understanding Nero Armi and forming her own opinions.

She enjoyed the most that she got to spend time with Ryan and Sean who actively share information with her and translated when needed.

Angelo would mostly watch his children from the side with a small smile lingering on his face. He wished that Mike was there as well, and he hoped that he will join soon.

"I will be back in a few weeks.", Emma told Angelo while Sean and Ryan waited for her to get into the car so that they can head to the airport and to their weekend at the White Rock Lake in Dallas.

Angelo nodded in acknowledgment. He wanted to know the exact date, but he knew that it will depend on the delivery and recuperation, and probably how needy the baby will be.

"You did amazing. Everyone was impressed."

"Thanks, dad."

"No, Emma. Thank you.", Angelo said and gave Emma a quick hug. "Go. Boys are waiting for you."

Emma stepped away and paused. "Are you sure you don't want to join us?"

Angelo confirmed. "I have a few days of work here, and then I will fly to Chicago to meet with Lisa. I will be waiting to hear that the baby is coming. I hope to come to the hospital and hold my granddaughter soon."

Emma didn't want to insist. "If the baby is on time, it will be in two weeks. My doctor says that the first baby usually comes after the due date..."

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