While Lucia is changing out of her work clothes, I call Reno. It feels like this disastrous day is never going to end. A half brother I’ve never met has been killed, his father wants revenge against my mother by taking me out, and lastly, my mother shows up strung out, completely out of her fucking mind, and aims a gun at my wife.
Jerry Springer couldn’t make up this shit! Yet this is my life.
“I’ve sent Corrado and Ennio home. I’ve got her locked up for the night with another man on duty. She’s not going anywhere,” Reno tells me.
“Thanks, man.”
“Albeit, by morning she’s going to be looking for her next hit or be going through the beginnings of withdrawal. It’s going to hit her hard and fast, when it does,” he warns me.
“Am I supposed to feel sorry for her?” I ask snidely. A woman who sold me out for her own selfish needs?”
“Nah, brother. Just want to point out that she’s a long-time addict. Withdrawal can kill her if she doesn’t get medical attention.”
“She pointed a gun at my wife. I don’t give a fuck what happens to her.”
“Calm down. Sleep on it tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll deal with her shit,” Reno says calmly. I know he’s looking out for me and doesn’t want me to regret my decision, but I’m so fucking mad that my only concern is Lucia and what she needs.
“Yeah, fine.” I’m tired. “I’ll deal with this tomorrow. I want to go check on Lucia.”
Once I ring off, I go in search of my wife. I find her in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove. “Are you hungry?” she asks.
“What are you making?”
“Comfort food.” She turns to me and gives me a small grin.
“Comfort food?” I repeat. “What’s your secret go-to?” I walk over to stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and peering into the pot.
“Mac and cheese,” she says. “And not the homemade kind. The gooey fake cheese, really ‘bad for you’ kind.”
“Sounds decadent,” I tease, kissing her temple.
“It’s been two shitty days,” she reminds me. “One crappy day is chocolate, but two is mac and cheese.”
“I hope you made enough for me.”
“Yep. And rocky road ice cream for dessert.”
“For future reference, what’s three bad days?” I ask to lighten the mood.
“Are we trying for three?” She turns her face up to me, her brows furrowed.
I chuckle. “Nope. Just wondering if I have to put in another pantry or buy another freezer.”
“Grilled cheese with bacon. However, it’s a good idea to have bacon around always because it’s just yummy.”
In a more serious tone, I say, “I’m sorry, stellina. Never would I have thought that woman would have showed up at our house.”
Lucia lets out a breath. “I’m not angry at her. I feel sorry for her. She’s sick, my love. She needs help.” She continues to stir the goopy cheese-and-milk mixture.
My love, she calls me. Christ, that’s the most beautiful-sounding endearment. “She doesn’t deserve your pity. Martina Conte walked away from her life and from me. She doesn’t get to decide when or if she can walk back in.”
“This isn’t about what she needs. It’s about you. You’re angry and frustrated. That’s a bad combination in making good decisions. Let it go for now. We’ll have dinner in front of the television, watch a movie, and be boring people for one night.”
“Good idea, baby.” I drop a soft kiss onto her cheek. “What can I do?”
Lucia hands me a bottle of red wine. “Wine with dinner, okay?” She giggles.
A sophisticated hundred-dollar bottle of red wine with mac and cheese. I pop the cork and pour two glasses, then take them into the living room. Lucia follows with two steaming plates heaped to the brim, setting one in my lap and taking a seat next to me. I flip through the channels to find something to watch as we eat.
After ice cream and coffee, Lucia lays her head on my lap. I run my fingers through her tresses as together we watch Casablanca.
“He should never have let her go,” Lucia whispers, sadly.
“He did what he thought was best for her.”
“He should have told her he loved her. She should have stayed. He needs her.” She sighs, her voice getting softer as her eyes flutter closed. I watch her sleep, unwilling to move because having my dream in my lap is a luxury I never thought I’d have.
The house is quiet. I lift Lucia into my arms and carry her to our bedroom. She doesn’t stir, even as I remove her shoes and tuck her in under the blanket. I climb in next to her, continuing to hold her in my arms. “I love you, Lucia. Stay with me,” I whisper in her ear.
I must be dreaming. Gentle fingers trace a path over my pecs, soft kisses following those fingers. The tickle of Lucia’s hair flits across my chest, then lower.
“Baby,” I mumble in my sleepy stupor.
“It’s a new day, my love. Let’s start it off right.” Her face hovers over mine, pure, unabashed sunshine radiating from her. Resilience and strength like I’d never imagined. A new day indeed.
Her hand finds my rigid cock stirring to life and ready to have more of her. My hands roam her body to find her naked, and my fingers find her taut nipples, plucking and gently twisting until her breath hitches. God, how I love that sound. I pull her higher to wrap my mouth around a pebbled nub and suck, lap, and nip at it, then do the same with the other. My other hand finds her core, feeling her wet center, sliding my fingers between her pussy lips, my thumb rotating circles on her clit.
“Oh, Leo,” she moans. “Yes, more.” Her pussy rides my fingers. When I pull them out, she groans in frustration, giving me a look of despair.
“Stellina, I’ll always look after you,” I tell her. Guiding her face to mine, I kiss her, letting our tongues duel, breathing in her essence. “Fuck, baby, I could spend my days kissing you. Your mouth is heaven.”
I pull off my boxers and position her over me, facing my cock. With her glistening pussy in my face, I push her legs even farther apart. “Suck my cock, baby. Take it, it’s yours.”
Her hot mouth comes around my cock and she bobs her head, then swirls her tongue around my thickness. I grab her ass cheeks and spread them wide, looking at her puckered hole and knowing that one day soon, I’m taking that ride. But for now, I pull her pussy down onto my face and ravage her, lapping and sucking her until she releases my cock to let out a cry of need. I slap her ass cheek.
“Back on my cock or I won’t let you come,” I warn her. Lucia takes me in her mouth, and the minx makes it her mission to suck me dry. Fuck, her mouth is incredible. I take her clit between my lips. Oh yeah, she’s so close. I push two fingers inside her cunt and feel her clench around them. She hums her desire over my cock, and her legs grow tense.
As she reaches her first orgasm, she keeps the tip of my cock in her mouth but moans her release, and I lap up her pussy juices. But I’m not done. I stick my tongue inside her and begin tongue fucking her, while my thumb rubs against her clit, again and again.
Lucia’s soft hands massage my balls, and she engulfs my cock in her warm heat. I need her to come again. I pin her down, her lower half unable to move, and I wreak havoc on her pussy, slapping her ass cheek, enough for her to feel it but not enough to hurt her.
“Come again, baby. I want more of that pussy juice,” I murmur against her skin. My wife sucks me deep into her mouth when she comes. She groans her climax over my cock, which sets off my own release, which Lucia drinks down, lapping up my cum until I’m clean.
She lies exhausted, with her head still down by my crotch, until I pull her back up to me. Enveloping her in my arms, I roll us so that she’s under me and kiss her breathless.
“You’re incredible, Lucia,” I tell her, moving her damp hair from her face.
“We’re incredible together,” she replies.
We laze about for another hour, but unfortunately, Reno will be here soon, and I need to be ready.
Lucia
I’m moving a hell of a lot slower this morning, but it was worth it. I could have stayed in bed. Leo said I should, but I don’t like to be apart from him when we’re both home. One of the greatest lessons I learned from my mother’s death is that time is fleeting. In the end, it’s the memories we’re left with. I want to make them with Leo and definitely have more of the early morning lovemaking sessions like we had today.
Leo’s in too much of a hurry to have a full breakfast, but I make him toast and coffee, taking it into his study as well as a full carafe for Reno and whoever else accompanies him today.
“Eat your toast. It’s not much, but it’ll keep you going for a while.” I bend to kiss Leo’s cheek, but he quickly turns his head and I end up kissing him on the mouth.
“Thank you, stellina,” he says, then takes a big bite of his toast and jam. I could get lost in his eyes. They’re such a unique shade of gray that I hope when we have a baby, he’ll have Leo’s eyes. “What are you thinking so hard about?” he asks.
“I’m thinking I want our baby to look just like you. Your strength, your strong jaw”—I let my fingers trace a path to his jaw—“and your incredibly sexy bedroom eyes.”
Leo puts down the toast and pulls me onto his lap. “I’m thinking an enchantress with her mother’s silky brown hair”—he touches the ends of my hair—“her brilliant mind, her ability to love. And especially eyes that turn an infuriated green when pissed, or a sweet hazel when she’s purring like a kitten in my arms.” I rest my forehead against his, and he continues. “Although, if we have a daughter, I’m going to have to buy more guns and induct more men to protect her beauty.”
“Leo,” is all I manage to say, my throat clogged with emotion.
A hard knock at the door brings us both back to our senses. I scurry off Leo’s lap to let Reno in. It seems like the whole gang is here today. Sebastian is the first to note the tinge of pink in my cheeks.
“Want us to come back in ten?” he teases, eyeing Leo and wiggling his eyebrows.
“I can still beat you,” Leo responds, standing behind his desk, his hands on his hips.
“You cannot,” Sebastian says, “You taught me everything you know, remember?”
“Not everything,” Leo says with a sneaky smile.
Dante just shakes his head at the two of them bantering back and forth. “You two go at it like you’re fraternal twins.”
“God save me,” Leo kids, looking to the heavens.
“Whatever, you love me,” Sebastian continues to needle.
Reno moves to the fireplace, bracing against it and crossing his ankles. “Let me know when you children are done with the insults, and we can move on to more important discussions.”
I pour coffee for each of them as they settle into their seats. I see Dante looking at Leo’s half-eaten toast. It’s clear he hasn’t eaten yet. Things must be very different for Dante now that his brothers are married. He went from having them around day and night to walking into his home alone. I excuse myself for a moment and return with a tray of warmed bagels with cream cheese and jam. Dante is the first to grab one.
“I thought it would be prudent to get Igor out into the open sooner rather than later. With yesterday’s event with Martina, we know things are heating up fast. She’s obviously on the run from Igor, or she never would have attempted to come here.” Reno states the facts, leaning back in his chair.
“His place is a small fortress. He either knows we’re onto him or he‘s a very cautious guy,” Dante says. “The best way in is to be invited. In order for his gates to open, the guard shuts off the switch for five seconds, I can hack in and temporarily disarm the other security systems. That gives us time to move men onto his property. A short window, but doable.”
“Or we have him leave his fortress for a very important reason,” Reno says. Reno nods to Leo.
“I’m his reason for leaving,” he states.
“No way!” I jump out of my chair. “Not happening,” I exclaim. “I did not wait my entire life for the love of my life to have you rip him away from me.” Tears well in my eyes, fury rising in my heart. How dare they think they can do that to Leo?
“Baby, calm down.” Leo reaches out and leads me back to sit beside him, tucking me into his side, an arm around my shoulders. “That’s not how they mean it,” he says quietly, kissing my hair. “Calm down, my little tigress We have a plan and I’m going to need your help.”
I jerk my head up, meeting his eyes. “I’m not losing you,” I state with conviction.
“None of us is going to lose Leo,” Reno says calmly. “The intention is to lure Igor into the open and then take him out.”
“We can’t just say, ‘Hey, come and get him,’” Sebastian mocks.
“That’s where Alessio Cassini comes into play, right?” Dante asks.
Reno nods. “Exactly.”
“Cassini isn’t known for his alliances. For the most part, he keeps those under wraps. Even during our last mission together, it was understood as being a hit from Nostra Casa. It was about taking our man Orlando back. Cassini wanted his part in the affair kept private, and personally, I didn’t care so long as we got what we wanted out of the deal,” Reno explains.
“Can we not use La Famiglia instead?” Dante asks. “It would be safer, seeing as we’ve built that trust over the course of the last couple of years.”
Reno says, “Both Sebastian and I are married to women from La Famiglia. Igor would never buy it. He knows we’ve made great compromises to make this truce work between our families. It’ll never fly.”
“Cassini could double-cross us. Then what? I’m not losing my brother,” Sebastian says. He’s probably bitter from the attempt on his and Olivia’s lives.
“Alessio’s trying to make amends, Sebastian. You know as well as I that irrational acts do occur, even though they shouldn’t. He’s apologized and has assisted us under the radar ever since. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but you got to let this go.” Reno gives him an understanding look that it seems only these four men would understand.
“How would this even work?” Dante asks. “Cassini rarely leaves Las Vegas. I’m shocked to shit he even showed up to Leo’s wedding.”
“The plan is to get Igor to go to Vegas. And he will if it’s worth his time. We’re going to use the fact that Cassini won’t deliver outside his territory. The only way to get what he wants is to travel beyond his well-guarded homestead. When he makes the meeting, we’ll not only take out Kril, but the men with him. We get Kril off our back, and Cassini defends his territory without further retaliation from the Bratva, seeing that they invaded without permission from Maxim.” Reno talks like this is a cakewalk, but honestly, I’m numb at the thought of this elaborate plan and how many things could go wrong.
“Why would Leo be in Vegas?” Sebastian asks.
“He’s on a mission to ally with Il Destino on behalf of his don,” Reno replies. “And as an act of good faith, he’s bringing his wife along to meet with him to ensure total trust.” So this is what Leo meant when he told me earlier that I would be part of the plan.
“Lucia doesn’t go anywhere near the drop-off spot,” Leo insists.
“No, she’s safe in Alessio’s fortress,” Reno confirms. “Igor Kril is out to destroy the Conte bloodline. That’s not going to happen. Nostra Casa needs more men like you. Blood or not, you’re our brother.” He slaps a hand on Leo’s back. All four men are quiet, but their expressions speak volumes.