I’m openly crying. That ugly snotty crying no one likes admitting to. But I don’t care that Alesso can see. I’m beyond that point. Alesso looks like a deer caught in the headlights. He has no clue what to do with the blubbering female in front of him. A hysterical laugh cuts between the sobs as I watch his confusion.
Tentatively, he places his hand on my shoulder. “I know you had justifiable reasons, but you should know Ben is a good man, Sierra. He’ll be a good father to Rowan.”
It is not as simple as that, but I nod, unable to explain the confusion fogging my brain. Silent tears roll down my face as I peer into Alesso’s concerned eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Leo lurking behind the wall that connects the living room to the hallway, and I wonder if he’s been listening this whole time. Right now, I’m too emotional to care. I honestly didn’t think I’d react like this, but it’s no real surprise. My head has been in a tailspin since Friday night.
“Don’t cry,” Alesso adds, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. “You have nothing to fear.”
I clutch his shoulders for support as he continues wiping the tears from under my eyes. “Iamafraid,” I whisper, staring into his warm brown eyes. I haven’t even known Alesso forty-eight hours, but there is something solid and steady about him that makes me trust and confide in him. “I’m afraid of everything changing. Afraid of Rowan hating me when he finds out I kept his father from him. Afraid of Ben taking him from me. Afraid of nameless, faceless enemies wanting their pound of Mazzone flesh and coming after me and my son. Afraid that no matter what we do, there is no way to keep Rowan out of the mafia world. He’ll be sucked in, whether we like it or not. I don’t want that life for my son!”
“Ssh. Ssh” Alesso pushes a few stray strands of hair out of my face. “It will be okay. It will all work out. I promise.”
I stare at him, wondering if he truly believes that. IfIcan believe it. His hand stalls on my cheek, and it’s only now I realize how close we are pressed together and how inappropriate it is.
“What exactly is going on here?” Ben growls, and my eyes widen in alarm as I turn my head. Unrestrained rage shoots from his eyes like laser beams as he stares at Alesso. “Get the fuck away from her right now,” he snaps, approaching like a tsunami hell-bent on destruction.
23
BEN
Ican barely see over the red rage blinding my eyes as I stalk toward Sierra and Alessandro. Wisely, he has stepped back, putting distance between them, but I saw enough. Jesus fucking Christ. Has she already cast a spell on him? I know she’s desirable and easy to fall for, but it hasn’t even been a day and a half, and she’s already ensnared my most loyal soldier?
Rowan is in the bathroom, but he won’t be long, so I make this quick. Grabbing Alessandro by the throat, I shove him up against the wall. He doesn’t protest or fight, understanding he is in the wrong. “You are lucky my son is in the house, or I’d put a bullet through your skull.”
“I’m sorry, boss. I was out of line, but it won’t happen again.”
Sierra tugs on my arm. “Let him go. It wasn’t how it seemed. Alesso was only comforting me when I got overwhelmed.”
“Alesso?” I bark, enraged she has a pet name for him already. I squeeze Alessandro’s neck more firmly, enjoying the rasping sounds slipping involuntarily from his mouth.
Leo chuckles, and I whip my head around, glaring at him. I am in no mood for humor.
Sierra tugs on my arm again, and steam is practically billowing from her ears. Her cheeks are splotchy and her eyes are red-rimmed, confirming she has been crying. I tighten my hands around Alessandro’s neck, and his eyes pop wide. “If you hurt her, I’ll—”
The clicking of a weapon cuts me off mid-sentence as a gun is pressed to the back of my head. “We have approximately thirty seconds before Rowan barges out here,” Sierra says. “Let him go or I’ll pull the trigger. Trust me, asshole. I need little incentive.”
My lips twitch as I fight a smile. She won’t pull that trigger—we all know it—but I silently applaud her bravery. My little Firefly always had giant balls, and she loves nothing better than to champion the underdog. I release Alessandro, holding my hands up. Sierra removes the gun, and I turn around in time to see her open a lockbox in a cubby at the top of her hall tree and slip the gun back inside.
She fixes me with a furious expression I’m growing accustomed to. Funny thing is, my dick loves it when she gets mad, and her added feistiness only enhances the appeal. If she were to look down, she would see the evidence of my arousal straining the crotch of my jeans. She plants her hands on her hips, glowering at me, and I’m trying hard not to smirk.
I see so much of the little girl I adored in the woman who intrigues me, and I love that she has retained the essence of who she is. That growing up hasn’t changed her too much. Yet there is an added layer to her fierceness that’s new. Her momma bear instincts are driving her to fight hard for her son, and I respect her so much for that. It helps to know my son was in such capable hands. That he has not been denied love and protection during the years I was unaware of his existence.
“I don’t understand how anyone can work for you with the way you treat people, and you really need to get your temper in check. I won’t let Rowan near you if you don’t learn to control yourself.”
“It’s cute you—”
She clamps her soft hand over my mouth, silencing me, and Leo’s jaw drops. Alessandro is showing no emotion; most likely, he’s afraid to even breathe in her direction now, which suits me just fine.
“I wasn’t finished speaking.” Her expression dares me to challenge her, and I can’t resist. I lick her palm, laughing when she yanks her hand back with a grimace. “I just can’t with you.” She shakes her head, sending waves of smooth straight golden-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders.
My eyes glue to the long silky strands, and my fingers twitch with a craving to touch her. At least she has managed to deflect my anger, but I still don’t know what the fuck was going on out here.
“As I was saying.” Her eyes pin me in place. “Nothing inappropriate happened, but even if it did, it would be none of your business.”
Placing one finger under her chin, I tilt her head back. “That’s where you’re wrong, Firefly. You are mine now, and mysoldatiknow what will happen if they even look funny at you.”
She scoffs, slapping my finger away and flapping her arms about. “I am not yours, you motherfucking—”
“Mommy!” Rowan’s cute little voice commands everyone’s attention. “You said a naughty word!”
