Dwayne Smith.

(JARED'S POV)

At this point, my determination to learn more about the tattoo and the man tripled. I tried to connect the tattoo to the identity of the men; was it a symbol for a group or just a work of art?

But before I could pursue the thought any further, Nana Jean's voice rang out from the hallway, calling out to everyone to dinner.

I took a deep breath, forcing my thoughts about the tattoo out of my head for the moment. I'd have to figure this out later. For now, food.

I was about to head into the dining room when a thought hit me like a freight train.

Without a second thought, I walked over to Arielle, who was standing by herself. I pulled her aside, trying to keep my voice low, but I could feel the urgency in it.

"Arielle, can I ask you something?" My voice was almost a whisper.

She looked at me curiously, her eyes narrowing in wariness. "What is it?"

"It's about your bodyguard...Big Joe," I added for more emphasis. "Does he have a tattoo on his right arm?"

Her expression changed from curiosity to confusion. "A tattoo?" She repeated the word like it didn't make any sense. "I don't know... why are you asking?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much information to reveal. But before I could respond, Nana Jean's voice rang out from the dining room again.

"Dinner's ready, everyone!" she called, sounding cheerful as ever. "Come on in!"

Arielle looked at me like she wanted an answer, but I just gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "We'll talk later, okay? Let's eat."

too far. We all settled around the grand dining table. The clinking of silverware and soft chatter filled the air as I glanced

we were complete, and for a moment, I wished we could stay like this

meat, veggies, and fresh

waited for our plates to be filled, small banters were exchanged around the table. Especially

I couldn't help but smile. This was what family should be all about-laughter,

have a surprise for you all. We have a special guest for the evening -a new

asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

Jean gave us one of her cryptic smiles, the kind that always left you guessing. "I never introduced him

could this mystery family be that I had never heard

to wonder for long as the door opened, and just as my mind was still

was tall, imposing even, and the second he entered the room, it was as if the air itself

composed aura. A subtle but potent scent of expensive cologne wafted through the air as

Piercing emerald green...

(ARIELLE'S POV)

in this family, never heard of or met any

the

tilted on its

register what I was seeing before

to make sense of the impossible. I must've

tried to steady myself, to make sense of what was happening. But before I could get a grip, Maverick tugged at my shirt, whispering with wide eyes, "Isn't that Uncle Dwayne? I thought he was in Italia?" Normally, I would've been impressed by how sharply his little mind worked, and how he managed to speak in such a hushed tone. Also, it's Italy, not

It was like I was a stranger to him. But I knew him. I knew

of Nana Jean,

room seemed to hold its breath,

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