For his part, Vin keeps staring at Siena’s cousin, Sophie. Or I should say, he keeps staring at her ass. I hope Siena has warned her about him; she is literally the nicest person I have ever met.
Valentina is wasted as usual. She’s spent the last half hour grinding her into Matti’s head of security, Grit. He doesn’t seem to mind.
Sophie and Olivia are chatting with Eleanor, Matti’s CEO of Dragovari Tower, sitting in overstuffed chairs around a firepit.
Simone Ashford, my old boss, is sitting with her husband and Patrick Donovan—soon to be Senator Donovan—and his wife. Their respective spouses look bored.
There’s a group of Irish mafia guys and a few women with them, loudly drinking at another table. They’re our age, the up and coming generation who are siding with Vin in this war. I don’t know if Una’s brother is among them. I don’t want to know.
My mother is snuggled up with her date. The good news is that he’s not 30 years younger like the last guy. The annoying news is that he’s a solid 20 years younger if he’s a day—younger than I am.
Tommy takes my drink out of my hand and sets it on a table, then helps me out of my coat. He sucks in a breath, his gaze on my back. “Fuck, Giovanna, it looks amazing, baby.”
I smile at him over my shoulder as I lead him to the dance floor. “You’re an artist, Tommy.”
“I had the perfect canvas and the most beautiful muse.”
His fingertip gently traces over my scar, a massive collection of slices and cuts made by Tommy and his knife, creating a fragile tree split by three lightning bolts, revealing a strong oak. It covers my entire back and took months to create. The cuttingas well as the scarification process was cathartic, and tonight, I wore a backless dress to show it off.
I turn in Tommy’s arms and wrap my arms around his neck, as he slides his hands around me, his thumb brushing the roots of the tree.
Someone whistles, long and low. “Daaaammmmmnnnnn.” It’s Vin. “Can I touch it?” he asks.
“If you touch her, I will break your fucking fingers,” Tommy growls, his eyes locked onto mine.
I shake my head at Tommy, grinning.
“Rude,” grumbles Vin.
“Just fuck all the way off, Vin,” Siena snaps.
I try to catch her eye, but she’s glaring at Vin even as Matti tries to pull her attention back to him. Vin just glares back at her and heads back to the bar. I wonder what he did to piss her off this time.
Tommy kisses my neck softly and tugs on my earlobe with his teeth. “Come here. I have something to show you.”
Taking my hand, he guides me off the dance floor and toward the far corner of the rooftop. Privacy screens are set up, and when he maneuvers me around them, I gasp.
There are half a dozen tall tables with candles at the center, each one piled high with jewelry. Earrings, bracelets, broaches, hair pieces, necklaces.
“Oh my God,” I breathe. “What is this, Tommy?”
“I tracked down every single piece of jewelry that Una sent out to other women in my name. There’s only one woman who wears jewelry from me.” He stands back, arms crossed, as I walk around the tables, surveying the sparkly gems.
I laugh. “So let me get this straight: you took women out on dates hoping one would be interested in a fake relationship, treated them like shit, then your assistant buys them jewelry in your name and you go and take it back?” She surveys the jewelrypieces. “Looks to me like you lost yourself a lot of votes here, Mr. Would-Be-Assemblyman.”
“Worth it,” he says, taking me in his arms. “So what do you want to do with your new toys?”
I shrug. “Nothing? Put them away for the babies’ future? I don’t care. I’ve got the only one I want.” The candlelight reflects off my huge engagement ring, and he smiles as we both watch it shine.
“When are you going to let me add a second ring to that one, Mrs. Demonio?”
“As soon as I can fit into my dress,” I laugh. “Which shouldn’t take long since I’m breastfeeding Aria and Adriano.”
“Better not take long,” he says gruffly. “I’m done waiting to make you my wife.”
“I’m surprised you’ve allowed us to wait this long.”
“If you’d just let me wear my damn wedding ring, I wouldn’t give a fuck. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve been my wife since the last New Year’s Eve we were here in this corner.”
