“Okay,” she agrees, her voice soft and obedient.
“And always remember, your fear doesn’t make you weak.” I can see how much she needed to hear me say that and make a mental note to remind her often. “It means you love me, and that gives me the strength to get through every day.”
She shifts closer and says, “Thank you for giving me some of my sanity back.” Leaning into me, she admits, “It’s been so difficult without you.”
“I’m here now.”
Silence falls around us as we drive to the warehouse, and when Nico parks in his usual spot right in front of the entrance, I say, “Welcome to my home away from home.”
“A warehouse?” Sienna asks as we climb out of the SUV.
I gesture around the area. “We can spot trouble coming a mile away, and there are cameras set up everywhere.” I point some of them out to her before I lead her inside.
I notice some of the men are gathered on the far right side, where a gym and lunch area are set up. Two of the new recruits who joined us a few months ago are fighting in the ring.
I take Sienna to the crates, and moving the lid of the nearest one, I show her the weapons. “We have enough firepower to eliminate any kind of threat.”
Her attention is drawn to the ring where the guys cheer because Ray knocked out Emilio.
“When a position opens up, the lower ranks fight to see who gets it. Ray just got promoted to the nightshift security team at one of the hotels,” I explain to her. “It makes them respect each other.”
“They fight well,” she comments, drawing a chuckle from me.
“No, princess. They have a lot to learn. Want a demonstration of how good Nico is?”
“Sure.”
“Listen up,” I call out, instantly commanding everyone’s attention. “First person who reaches me gets a bonus of ten thousand.”
Grins spread over their face, but when I give Nico a silent look telling him to protect me, they all let out groans.
“I’ll sweeten the deal,” I add. “If any of you can get to my wife, you get an immediate promotion as one of my personal bodyguards. No weapons.”
They all disarm, including Nico. I’m the only one who keeps my gun on me.
As the sixteen men begin to advance on Nico, I place my arm in front of Sienna and move her partially behind me. “Stay where you are, princess.” Nico lunges into action, instantly knocking out two men with a single move, while I tell Sienna, “If we’re ever attacked, always stay behind me. I’ll move you if I need to, and never think that you’re in the way or distracting me.”
“Okay.”
Seven of them get past Nico, making my mouth curl into a grin, and as they come for Sienna, I move a few steps forward so I have space to move. Ray throws a punch, but I easily sidestep it. Grabbing hold of his neck, I yank him down while bringing up my knee, knocking him out before blocking the next two guys bytwisting my body into the air and delivering a kick to one while hammer punching the other.
Landing on my feet, I dart to Sienna, grabbing hold of her and yanking her out of the other four men's reach.
“Oh my God,” she half-chuckles, half-shrieks, and hearing excitement instead of panic, I continue to fight.
Nico grabs two of the men by the back of their collars and rips them off their feet, while I go for the last two.
Luke comes at me with speed and years of training, and seeing how serious he is, I focus all my attention on him. He’s been with the Cosa Nostra for six years and has proven himself an asset to the organization.
When I see that Nico is taking on Pino, I lunge at Luke. He matches my footwork step by step, and neither of us gets a successful punch in.
A smile stretches over my face when he actually makes me work up a sweat, and for the next few minutes, I test his endurance.
“Come on, my capo,” Sienna shouts as if she’s a cheerleader. “You’ve got this.”
Hearing her call me her capo, I feign a punch, and when Luke jerks to the left, I headbutt him while burying my fist in his kidney. He staggers back, and I catch him so he doesn’t fall. “Breathe through it.” I pat his cheek, giving him a proud look. “You did good. Congrats on your promotion.”
“I didn’t get to Mrs. Falco,” he wheezes.
