280 Hunter and the Russo family 1 (2/2)

”Father, I'm home.” Mia called when they entered the room, making two men turn toward them.

Fabricio Russo is an imposing man whose expression shows that he saw many ugly things in life. He looked at Mia sternly. ”You are disobedient, as usually. I don't remember telling you that you can come.”

Mia lifted her chin defiantly and narrowed her eyes at her father. ”Since when I need permission to come to my own home?”

Fabricio's icy-blue eyes warmed up and his face crinkled into a smile. At that moment, he turned from an intimidating Boss of an organization of assassins to a doting father.

”Mia… You are home…” He walked toward Mia before pulling her into a hug.

Hunter exhaled the breath he was holding. What looked like start of a fight, turned into a warm greeting.

Hunter's eyes moved to the younger man in the room. Based on the descriptions Mia gave him previously, Hunter concluded that the man glaring at him is Keith, Fabricio's right-hand man, and a man who hopes to marry Mia. Hunter smirked. Yup, that guy will stay at hoping and dreaming about Mia because there is no way that Hunter will give up on her.

Mia melted in her father's embrace and her expression softened as well.

”Daddy, this is Hunter.” She said as she inched away from her father's hug.

”Nice to meet you, Mister Russo…” Hunter said politely while shaking hands with Mia's father. ”Mia speaks about you often.”

”Really?” Fabricio was not sure if Hunter is telling the truth, but he wished it to be the truth.

Hunter nodded in confirmation and extended a rectangle-shaped box toward Fabricio. ”She told me that you are a wise man, a brilliant strategist, and a master chess player. I hope that you will accept my present.”

Fabricio took the box and gave side-glance at Mia. ”You found a sweet talker.”

”He is much more than that, daddy.” Mia said with a big smile while wrapping her hands around Hunter's arm.

Fabricio frowned slightly at the sight of Mia being clingy. He never saw Mia like that. ”I look forward to finding out what else he is.”

”You have until the end of the weekend.”

Fabricio's frown deepened. ”You are leaving on Monday?”

Mia bobbed her head. ”Sunday evening. Hunter needs to go to work on Monday. But don't worry, we will return.”

Keith watched this warm reunion and gritted his teeth. Why are they ignoring him? Every time Mia comes home, Fabricio is focused on her, but this time Keith noticed that Hunter joined in the conversation while he is left out. He can't let it be!

”Mia, did you forget your old friend?” Keith said with a charming smile.

”How can I forget?” Mia didn't try to sound pleasant. ”Keith, this is Hunter.”

Hunter and Keith shook hands and Keith applied much more force than necessary, to which Hunter was happy to respond. They gripped each other's hands with fake smiles plastered on their faces.

”That's enough.” Mia said sternly while prying Hunter's hand away from Keith's.

Keith was about to say something, but Mia was talking to her father already. ”Where is Roberto?”

”He is not home. Training.”

”Oh, I was hoping that he can meet Hunter.”

Mia wanted the three main people to know that she is with Hunter: her father, Keith, and her half-brother. All three, for a different reason. She knows that Roberto does not care about people she spends her time with, and Keith will see Hunter as an enemy. But Mia wants to make sure for those two to know that messing with Hunter is off-limits. As for her father, she would like if Hunter and Fabricio get along well, but if they don't, it does not change much for her. Mia will not give up on Hunter, no matter what her father says.

”I was also hoping that Roberto will be here when you return, Mia. That is why I didn't tell you that you can come here with your friend.”

Mia paused. She thought that her father does not want her to come home for some petty reason, but it seems that he delayed her arrival because her half-brother is not home. Well, Mia will use this to butter up her old man, and to point out that Hunter is more than a friend. ”Hunter is my boyfriend, daddy. I thought I made that clear when I called. As for Roberto not being here, it does not matter. I can always come again when Roberto returns.”

”He should be back in two weeks, and in September he will go back to school, so if you want to see him, you should come in August. Will you come again? So soon?” Fabricio asked suspiciously. He didn't like Mia pointing out that Hunter is a BOY-friend, but he was more curious about her future frequency of visits. Mia didn't come home in years, and now it seems that she will come twice during one summer?

Mia smiled. ”Of course, daddy. Now that I'm in Seattle, I can come often…”

Fabricio was surprised for a moment before he burst into a hearty laugh. He kept the present from Hunter under his armpit and ushered Mia and Hunter toward the dining room. ”Good! Let's go. The food should be ready…”

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