Angel planted the knife in Carlo’s shoulder. “You think you did this shit for the family?” Angel asked. “You don’t even know what family means, asshole.” He pointed at me. “That’s family, and you would have thrown him away to save your own skin. You killed his father to cover your ass. You can tell yourself whatever you want, but your motives were always selfish. Go to hell, Carlo. You’re not part of this family any longer.”
“Renzo,” Dominico said.
We went around the room until everyone had taken their turn. Then Dominico slit Carlo’s throat, putting an end to both his life and his pain. As the last spark of life fled from Carlo’s eyes, Dominico muttered, “Quando finisce la partita il re ed il pedone finiscono nella stessa scatola.”
When you finish the game, the king and pawn end up in the same box.
They sure as fuck did. As I stared down at Carlo’s corpse, I couldn’t help but wonder if he thought of himself as a king or a pawn.
But then again, it didn’t matter. We buried his ass in the dessert like he was nobody.
EPILOGUE
Bones
Two years later
ARIANA STOOD ON the stage, mic in her hand, her belly round with our son, fucking glowing as she belted out notes that made me so goddamn proud I could barely stand it. My woman had so much talent that she held the attention of the sold-out room. Nobody talked, nobody ate, everyone gave her their full attention.
She was no longer the Tuesday night singer.
No, the Acropolis had taken one look at the crowds Ariana started drawing and had moved her show to cover weekends. They’d increased her salary, and between wages and tips, she was making more in two days than she made in forty hours of waiting tables. Needless to say, she quit her damn waitressing job.
Ariana could quit this job, too, as far as I was concerned, but she loved it. And she was fucking good at it. Even eight months pregnant and referring to herself as an island, all of her shows kept right on selling out. Her voice had a way of drawing people in and holding them captive. People came to Vegas for an escape, and Ariana provided them with one. Listening to her was like taking a vacation in a sea of emotions.
Hell, she even choked me up sometimes.
And, she was a fucking knockout. She was the most beautiful sight this stage had ever seen, and every eye in the room was fixated on her. I tried not to worry too much about that, but goddammit, I sure did. Despite the big-ass diamond I’d slid on her finger when she took my last name and her pregnant belly, some assholes still tried to make a play for her. She should have a bodyguard twenty-four seven to protect her, but I knew I couldn’t let anyone that close to her.
I’d protect her. It was my duty. My honor.
Angel and Markie sat beside me, watching Ariana perform. Angel had his arm draped over the back of Markie’s chair, his attention split between Ariana’s performance and the newborn baby sleeping in Markie’s arms. Luca, born only weeks ago, was the next Mariani family heir. He had his father’s dark hair and features, but his mother’s blue eyes. And Dominico’s lungs, because that kid could fucking yell.
Soon Ariana and I would have our own little curtain climber, probably yelling at Luca through the wall that separated our condo from Angel and Markie’s.
The lovebirds had their own space now. I’d moved in with Ariana shortly after all the shit with Carlo went down. Having a family underboss trying to kill me had opened my eyes about how short life really is. I loved Ariana and wanted to spend all the time I could with her, so moving into her place seemed like the logical thing to do.
Besides, Markie was on the mend, and I was getting sick of hearing her and Angel fuck like rabbits.
Angel and Markie were married a few months later, and Ariana and I got hitched shortly after that. Now Angel and I were just a couple of family men, protecting our families and our Borgata.
“Her voice is amazing, Bones,” Natalia said, leaning toward me as she watched Ariana.
“I know,” I replied, smiling proudly.
Joey and Noah sat on the other side of Natalia. Noah had fully recovered from his bullet wound, and all three of them were now working for the family. Never thought I’d see the day when the Durantes and Marianis teamed up, but so far shit was going well. And judging by the guilty looks Natalia kept flashing Angel’s younger brother, Dante, a family alliance might even be in the works.
Dante sat with Nonna, Dominico, Annetta, and his four younger siblings at the next table. The seven-year-old twins, Georgio and Luicana, had been acting up and were separated by their teenage sisters, Sonia and Sofia, who didn’t look happy about being sandwiched between the littles. Annetta kept glancing at Markie, and I knew she was seconds away from waltzing over to snatch Luca from his mom. Actually, I was surprised Markie still had possession of the baby with all the family surrounding her.
Nothing made family closer than the birth of a child.
I’d seen this firsthand with the way Ma and Natalia kept stopping by to check on Ariana and bring her food. Surprisingly enough, Ma had taken to Natalia, inviting her over for holidays and family dinners, insisting that it wasn’t my sister’s fault that Pops was a cheating bastard.
Our family was growing and strengthening.
Ariana’s last song ended, and she was escorted offstage. Hurrying to join her, I took her back to her personal dressing room, locking the door behind us. Seeing Ariana in her element always got me worked up, and I’d made a habit of fucking her in her dressing room after each and every performance.
A habit she very much enjoyed.
