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  The following afternoon, the group gathered in the garden. The smell of grilli and the sound of ughter filled the air. Diego mahe barbecue with a skillful hand, flipping steaks and burgers with ease.

  Anthony, sitting nearby with a beer in hand, watched with a tent smile. "Diego, you might just have missed your true calling as a chef."

  Diego ughed. "Well, I do like to cook. But I think I’ll stiy day job, or is it a night job?"

  Sofia, holding a pte ready to catch the batch of food, chimed in, "We all have our talents. Diego's just happens to include charming people and making amazing food."

  Maria carried aray of meat to Diego and smiled, "Don't praise him any more than that, Sofia. Remember the st time he got a big head? We couldn't fit him through the door!"

  Diego chuckled, flipping a burger with a flourish. "Hey, I 't help it if I'm good at what I do."

  Anthony took a swig of his beer. "Yeah, yeah, just don’t burn anything. We all know how you like to experiment."

  Sofia ughed, "Remember wheried to make that 'gourmet' pizza? We ended up takeout."

  Diego feigned hurt, "That pizza was a masterpiece! You just weren't ready for its brilliance."

  Nero smirked. "It’s a wonder you’re not running a restaurant by now, Diego. You’ve got the charm and the skills."

  Diego wi Nero, "Thanks, boss. But I think I prefer our little family gatherings. Less pressure, more fun."

  Maria, setting dowray, nudged Diego. "Just keep it simple, maestro. I’m starving and I don't want to wait for your ary experiment."

  Donald joihem, carrying a bowl of sad. "Well, sidering Diego's track record, maybe we should have a backup pn. How about some sandwiches just in case?"

  Sofia raised her hand. "I sed that. No offense, Diego, but I’d rather not gamble on my dionight."

  Diego ughed heartily. "Fine, fine. Simple and delicious it is. But you all are missing out oure of cuisine."

  Anthony leaned over to Sofia, whispering spiratorially. "You know, I’ve been thinking. We should anize a cook-off. Let Diego go wild and then we all judge his creations."

  Sofia’s eyes lit up. "Oh, that sounds like fun! Maybe we could eve o cook something. What do you think, Nero?"

  Nero raised an eyebroyful glint in his golden eyes. "You wao pete? Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. My cooking might just blow your minds."

  Maria twisted Nero's waist, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey, that's cheating."

  Nero let out a mock cry of pain, "Ow, ow, fine, fine." He straightened up and looked at the curious and amused group. "I ied a cooking rat from a movie, and now my cooking isn't half bad. Okay?"

  Anthony chuckled, "So, we expect you to cook in turbo mode now?"

  Nero smirked, "Maybe. Just don't expect me to be as fast as Nyx on the grill."

  Sofia giggled, "Imagine a cooking race between you and Nyx. Your Aston Martin flipping burgers!"

  Diego flipped a steak with a flourish, "I'd pay to see that. But I bet I'd still win. Sorry, boss."

  Nero raised an eyebroyful challenge in his eyes. "We'll see about that, Diego. But until thehose steaks ing."

  Maria, ughing, added, "Just remember, simple and delicious, maestro. We're all starving."

  Donald joined in, "Are we skipping the gourmet disasters tonight? I've got sandwiches on standby."

  Sofia raised her gss, "To Diego’s ary prowess and Nero's newfound cooking skills. May our stomachs be ever full and our takeout bills ever low!"

  Nero ughed, raising his own gss. "To family, friends, and food. And to Diego, the ary maestro of the night."

  Anthony leaned back, sav the moment. "You know, we really should do this more often. It's o just rex and enjoy each other’s pany."

  Diego nodded, "Agreed. It's not every day we get to see ry something new."

  Nero chuckled, "Well, I aim to surprise. And speaking of surprises, who’s up for dessert? I might have a trick or two left."

  Maria cpped her hands, "Oh, do tell! What have you got pnned?"

  Nero winked, "You'll have to wait and see. Just keep your forks ready."

  Sofia whispered to Anthony, "Think it'll be anourmet experiment?"

  Anthony grinned, "Probably. But hey, at least we have sandwiches, right?"

  Nigel watched from the side, enjoying the group dynamics. After the operation, Nero had asked him to stay around for a little longer.

  "So, what do you think, Nigel?" Anthony called out, waving a beer. "Our resident doctor here has a ne pn—sandwiches!"

  Nigel chuckled. "A wise precaution, Donald. Though I'm sure Diego's ary skills will keep us well-fed tonight."

  Diego grinned, flipping another burger. "Thank you, Nigel. o know someone has faith in me."

  Maria leaned in, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Alright, alright. Enough with praises. He won’t see the grill if his nose grows any bigger. I believe that was the reason for the st food catastrophe as well."

  "Hey, that was experimental cuisine!" Diego protested. "Visionary stuff."

  Anthony snorted. "Visionary? More like visionary roadkill."

  Nero stepped forward with a smile. "Don't be too harsh on him, Anthony. Creativity needs room to flourish. Besides, it wasn't all bad."

  Sofia perked up, waving a spatu. "Oh, here we go, the great Nero defending the indefensible. What's ? You going to tell us you actually liked it?"

  Nered, his eyes sparkling with humor. "Maybe I did. Maybe I just have a more refined pate than the rest of you."

  Maria giggled, nudging Nero. "Refined pate, huh? you will say, you like pineapple on a pizza."

  The rest of the group gasped, turning to see Nero and Nigel's reas. Nigel's expression showed a slight twitch of irritation, but Nero’s face broke into a broad smile.

  "I do. I love pineapple on pizza. And while I’m at it, I hate the i mafia who judge others for the food they love. Just because pizza is from Italy doesn't mean we're its police. And besides, we're criminals, so even if Italiahe pizza police, I'd say, fight the power!" Nero said, grinning mischievously.

  Anthony snorted with ughter, nearly spilling his beer. "Nero, you're a rebel even with your food choices."

  Maria giggled, giving Nero a pyful shove. "Great, now we’ll be pineapple pizzas just to annoy Nigel."

  Nigel sighed, shaking his head with a relut smile. "As much as it pains me, I suppose variety is the spice of life."

  Diego, still manning the grill, chuckled. "Alright, alright. Pineapple pizzas for Nero, ing right up ime we have a pizza night."

  Sofia leaned closer to Anthony, "I bet he does it just to see Nigel's rea."

  Anthony shook his head, "Nah, I’ve seen him break spaghetti a few times." Anasp came from the group, while Nigel choked on his drink, looking at Nero as if betrayed. Nered, "Makes it easier to eat and doesn't ge the taste. When I cook for myself, I don't care about aesthetics."

  Nigel got up, his hands instinctively f a bag-like shape, "Capo, it's not about aesthetics. The length of the pasta pys a critical role in how it is with the sauce; lorands better pick up and hold onto the sauce, delivering a more fvorful and cohesive bite."

  Nero raised an eyebrow, "Then why do shorter varieties of pasta exist?"

  Nigel sighed dramatically. "Each shape and size has its own unique purpose, Capo. They’re like different tools in a chef's arsenal."

  Nero cpped Nigel on the shoulder. "I agree, Nigel."

  Nigel's eyes sparkled with hope. "You do?"

  "Absolutely. Broken spaghetti is just aool in the arsenal," Nero said with a mischievous grin.

  The group burst into ughter, while Nigel's hopeful expressioed. "You had me there, Capo."

  Sofia couldn't tain her giggles. "Nero, you're terrible."

  Nero wi her. "Fight the power!"

  Anthony leaned back, chug. "You know, with all this talk of food, I think we should have a cooking test for real. Let's see who out-cook who."

  Diego chimed in, "Bring it on. I’m ready to show you all what real cooking is."

  Nigel, finally rec, gave Nero a pyful gre. "You knoo, some traditions are worth preserving."

  Nero chuckled, "Of course, Nonno, but I hate when our people force our traditions onto others." He leaned against the garden wall, his golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "Besides, breaking the spaghetti makes it fit better i."

  Nigel shook his head, a dramatic sigh esg his lips. "Some traditions are sacrosanct, Capo. A good pasta should never be tampered with."

  Diego ughed, flipping aeak. "Careful, Nero. You'll have Nigel challenging you to a pasta duel ."

  Anthony grinned, raising his beer. "I’d pay to see that. Our own kit gdiator match."

  Sofia joined in, "Only if I get to be the judge. And I promise to be fair, unlike some people," she said, giving Diego a pointed look.

  Diego held up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I’m fair! I just have refiastes."

  Maria said pyfully. "Refiastes? You o hot sau ice cream."

  Dieged. "It was an experiment."

  The versation flowed easily as the group finally settled at the table. Diego didn't burn anything, and Donald's sandwiches were set aside for now. They all looked at Nero sitting at the head of the table, who smiled and said, "We achieved something prideworthy and moal. We not only brought down a child traffig ring but also killed their leader. It is not much, but we sleep tonight knowing the world is a better pce. I know it is hypocritical ing from an aspiring Mafia boss, but even at our peak, Principe had always held onto honors, proteg the i. Anyway, let me cut to the chase. I couldn't have do without any of you, and I thank you for being there! Salute."

  Sofia raised her gss with a pyful grin, "To Nero, our hypocritical hero!"

  Anthony chuckled, "Yeah, boss. Just don't expect us to start calling you a saint."

  Diego, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, added, "Though you did look pretty angeli that suit today."

  Maria looked at Diego, shielding Nero. "Stay away from my man, bitch."

  Diego faked a saddened look, "Aww man, you got the best guy around. What will poor me do?" The group burst into ughter, easing into the warmth of the evening.

  Donald took a bite of the steak and whispered, "Delicious." Nero, notig his enjoyment, handed him another beer. "Eat more, Donald. You o bulk up a bit."

  Donald raised an eyebrow, curious. "Is this about the identity thing again, Nero?"

  Nero chuckled, "Maybe. Just making sure you're ready for anything."

  Anthony leaned back, grinning. "Better take his advice, Donald. Nero’s got pns for all of us, whether we like it or not."

  Sofia, bang a pte on her p, joined in. "True, he's always got some scheme up his sleeve. But at least we get to enjoy these awesome barbecues."

  Nero’s eyes sparkled with amusement. "Good. Let’s keep it that way. We’re here to rex and enjoy these nice dishes."

  Donald, chewing thoughtfully, nodded. "I appreciate that. I’ve had enough surprises for one lifetime."

  Sofia grinned, leaning into Anthony. "We should still have that cook-off, though. Just to see who really has the best skills i."

  Anthony ughed, "I’m in. But I’m betting on Diego. He’s got the fir, if nothing else."

  Nero raised his gss, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, to Diego’s fir, our victories, and many more nights like this."

  The group ked their gsses, sav the camaraderie. Nero, taking a moment, looked around at his friends. "You know, it’s moments like these that remind me why we do what we do. It’s not just about power or reve’s about proteg what we have, the people we care about."

  Maria smiled, her haing on Nero’s arm. "And we’re all here for you, Nero. Through thid thin."

  Anthony leaned into Sofia, whispering spiratorially, "They're at it again."

  Sofia, chewieak, rolled her eyes. "Yup. They've started talking in ge. someoranste what they’re saying?"

  Diego chuckled, gng at Nigel. "You should uand them, right, Nigel?"

  The old butler grinned. "No idea. In my time, I was cool and dashing. This nguage? Totally fn."

  Maria rolled her eyes pyfully. "Oh, e on, Nigel. Don't act like you weren't a hopeless romanti your youth."

  Nigel pced a hand over his heart, feigning offense. "I'll have you know, Maria, my wooing teiques were legendary and well-received."

  Anthony smirked, "Yeah, right. What was it back then? Poetry uhe moonlight?"

  Nigel winked. "Precisely. And it worked every time."

  Nero shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "You guys are the worst. If I 't even inspire my own crew, where does my pride as a Mafia Boss go?" He mimicked Eric Cartman’s voice perfectly. "Screw you guys, I’m going home."

  The group erupted in ughter. As Nero headed toward the kit, Anthony called after him, "Don't fet the dessert, boss!"

  Nero waved him off, "Yeah, yeah, you'll get your dessert. Just wait."

  Diego turo the group, shaking his head with a smile. "He's really got a knack for that Cartman impression."

  I, Nero was already hard at work, his movements precise and fluid as he prepared the ingredients for a Ratatouille apple rose tart.

  As the group chatted and ughed, the smell of the grilli mixed with the fragrant aroma of Nero’s dessert. Finally, Nero emerged from the kit, carrying the beautifully arraart. The intricate apple roses gleamed under a light gze, the golden crust perfectly baked.

  "Alright, everyone, dessert is served," Nero announced, setting the tart down with a flourish.

  Sofia’s eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, that looks incredible, Nero."

  Diego whistled. "You've outdone yourself this time, boss."

  Nered modestly. "Just wao make sure you all enjoy the night. Now, dig in."

  --

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