Ariana's POV:
We arrived at the ball and I was amazed by everything that I saw here. It was amazing and completely out of the world. The place was huge and decorated lavishly. I saw that it was packed. All of the people here were looking sophisticated but had a dangerous glint hidden in them that I knew if needed they would unleash hell on their enemies. Just then I heard Nonno's voice pull me out of my trance.
"Princess, are you ready to go in?"
I took a deep breath in and nodded my head. I can do this. My family is with me with every step and they will take care of me and I know that.
"Let's go Nonno." I laced my hand around his and went in with me. On the other side of me was nonna and zio, zia and all of my brothers were behind me. Papa, Tony fratello and Leo fratello were ahead of us leading our way in as the current and future leaders.
All of the people inside halted mid in their chatting and shifted their focus to us. Silence spread across and I saw everyone there checking us and seizing us out. All of the ladies were looking at my brothers like a hungry wolf and men were looking at them with jealousy. Some were also there who were looking at us with respect. While some were also hostile but concealed it the next moment. I took all of this in and knew that it was going to be hell of a night.
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Third Person's POV:
As the Romano family entered into the ballroom all of the people inside froze. They couldn't ignore the aura that demanded the attention from the Romano family. They were a full powerhouse of a family. They couldn't be ignored. They went in with a powerful stride and everyone then came forward in a group of two or three and stopped near them and started to chat with them. They chatted with them for some time and Ariana with Matteo and Benjamin went and sat at the table nearby.
"Ana, do you want to eat something?" Benjamin asked as he felt a little hungry and felt that she might be as well.
"Yes please, Ben fratello. I am so hungry. I didn't get to eat much as I had to get ready. But would it be okay to eat something?"
"Of course. You can do anything you like." Matteo said.
"Ok then." Ariana said and Benjamin went to get some food for the three of them while Matteo sat with her. He then saw that almost all of the people there were glancing at Ariana and whispering among them. He guessed they were talking about them as it was obvious. They all were wondering what kind of a girl she is and others also were talking about how beautiful she was.
"They are all staring at us." Ariana said hiding her discomfort as she knew it was important not to show any obvious weakness in a setting like this.
"Ignore them, Twinnie. Just focus on me." Just then all of the Romano family members came and sat with her. Luka and Luna also came with their partners.
"How are you feeling princess?" Nonno asked.
"Fine nonno." He nodded.
"When did you guys come?" Ariana asked Luka and Luna.
"I just arrived and got to meet this sweetie." Luna said and gave a smile to Luka. Luka also smiled at her.
"Looks like you guys get along quite well." Ariana commented.
"Yes baby, just don't get too close, otherwise I will get jealous." Rafael said to Luka.
"Don't be jealous. She doesn't have what I like anyway." Luka said with a smirk and gave him a wink. Rafael blushed a little and cleared his throat.
"Gross. Don't talk about him like that, Luka." Alessio said, grimacing a little. Rafael blushed a little deep.
"Anyways Luna, why don't you come and sit with me." Ariana said and Luna nodded. She went to sit with her.
"Luna, did you meet my cousins?" Ariana asked.
"Yes I did and you guys are some big family huh?" She said with a smile.
"Yes we are." Emilio said with a smile. They chatted for some time and Benjamin came with the food and Ariana and Luna together with Matteo ate some. Others didn't want to eat as they already had something to eat.
Just then Levi and Ezra also came and stood in front of them.
"You guys, where were you till now?" Ariana asked.
"We have been chatting with some of the business partners as they are also here." Ezra said.
"Ok. I hope you already know everyone right?" Antonio said.
"No, who are these?" Levi said, gesturing towards the cousins of Ariana.
"Oh yes they met the others but not them. Levi, Ezra, these are my other cousins. They are the brothers of Orlando that you met yesterday. This is Elio, Emilio. They are twins and eldest. Then there is Alessio, Aurelio and Aldo. They are triplets. Alessio is the third eldest, Aurelio is fourth one and Aldo is fifth one. Luciano is the second youngest and Orlando is the youngest." Ariana introduced them.
"Nice to meet you all. You guys sure have a big family." Levi said.
"Yup that is what we have been hearing today." Aurelio said.
"Come on and sit with us." Aldo said. They went and sat with them. They talked for some time about their mafia business and exchanged some training techniques.
"Nonno, I think it's time that we make it official." Elio said to Leonard after some time. He nodded and went up after kissing Ariana lightly on her forehead. He went to the stage and took the microphone. All of the people talking there stopped what they were doing and focused on him.
"Hello everyone. Thank you for coming here and attending the ball. As you know, my eldest son Gabriel had a daughter and she went missing when she was just a half a month old. We have been trying to find her since then. Many of you also helped us in helping her and we are all grateful for you. Now after so many years we have finally found her and brought her home. I held this ball to let all of you know that we have finally found our mafia princess and she is here with us. So please welcome Ariana Parker Romano the mafia princess of our Romano mafia. Princess, come on stage." He said and all of the people started clapping.
Ariana said to them that they introduce her using her former surname as her middle name as that way she can honor both of her life and not forget anything. They also agreed with her as they all honored her wishes and were proud of her to not forget where she comes from.
Ariana stood up and went to the stage with confidence and elegance. No one can find any flaw in her at the moment. She was the perfect mafia princess that any family can want.
"Thank you nonno. Thank you everyone for welcoming me. I am very happy and proud to be a part of the family and I swear Nonno I will make you all proud." She said and gave a hug to Leonard. All of them clapped and their mafia members all cheered 'mafia princess'. It was like thunder was passing by as their cheers were very loud and excited. They have been waiting for their princess and finally she got her right place today.
After the introduction the music started and a few couples moved to the centre of the ballroom for a slow dance. Some people also came to the Romano family and congratulated them for finally finding their princess.
"Princess, may I have a dance with you?" Antonio asked with a little bow. All of the people there gasped as how the feared and revered mafia prince was bowing in front of her and asking so politely but that is how they are. They will do anything for the people they love. It was their honor that they could finally dance with her to their heart's content.
"Yes Tony fratello. I would love to." Then they went to the dance floor and music changed again and they began their dance. They danced to their heart's content. They both were very happy that they got to enjoy this moment. Ariana danced with all of her brothers, her papa, zio and nonno also. They all danced with her and they all felt very happy.
After she came back from the dance floor she was a little exhausted and sat at her table and drank some juice. Just then Leonard came with some people and introduced her to them.
"Princess this is our business partner both in the mafia and legal world and my old friend, Riccardo Vintelli. They had helped our family in finding you as best as they could. They are our closest ally and our family has had a friendship with them since we formed our mafia." Leonard said, introducing them.
"Hello Mr. Vintelli." Ariana said with a smile.
There were three more people with Riccardo, his son and daughter-in-law and their son.
"Hello Ariana. Please call me nonno as you do Leonard. We are very close friends and practically a family." Riccardo said to her kindly.
"Ok Nonno." Ariana said with a smile.
"Let me introduce you to everyone. Ariana, this is my son Lorenzo and his wife Aurora and this is my grandson Valente." Riccardo said.
"Nice to meet you Ariana. I am so happy that you are finally back to where you belong. Romanos have suffered enough. Now it's time that they finally have happiness." Aurora Vintelli said with a cheerful smile. She was really an outgoing person.
"Nice to meet you too Mrs. Vintelli." Ariana said.
"Now now. No formalities please. Just call me Aurora." Ariana nodded.
"Nice to meet you Ariana. Please call me Lorenzo as all your brothers do." Ariana nodded and smiled. She then turned to look at Valente. He was a typical mafia man. He had no expression on his face and he just nodded slightly at Ariana. Ariana also politely nodded and smiled at him.
"Boy why don't you say anything to her?" Riccardo asked with an unpleasant expression.
"I remember when Ariana was born and you were only three years old, you were so happy to see her and always insisted that we take you to meet her. One time he also insisted that we take you home and when we said that we can't take you home he said that he will marry you when he gets old so that he can always keep you by his side. Now look at you, you won't even say a word to her." Aurora said and Valente got a little flushed that his mom would say something like this in front of so many people.
"Mom just as you said I was only three." Valente said, a little irritated and embarrassed.
"So what? We even decided that we will marry you when you get old but then Ariana went missing and I didn't bring up the topic." Aurora said.
By now Ariana was also a little embarrassed and a little blush coated her cheeks. Romano brothers weren't pleased with that at all. So Antonio cleared his throat and said, "Aurora, why don't we go and sit over there."
"Oh no dear. We can't. We have some urgent matters to attend to. We just came to congratulate you." She said.
"Why don't you all come to our home tomorrow for dinner. That way we can all spend time together and Ariana will also get to know more about you all." Leonard said.
"That would be a wonderful idea." Lorenzo said. Then after agreeing with the plan they bid them goodbye.
******
Happy reading.
Love, Stella.♥️