Romeo had called a meeting for all of his father’s men to inform them of the change in leadership. He was taking over since his father’s mental and physical health were declining. He also let them in on the sins his father had committed against his own people. Killing his own capos was bad enough, but taking advantage of a young girl who was in his house and under his protection, knocking her up, and then getting her hooked on drugs... The loyalty of most of the men shifted to the son who was ready to right the wrongs of his father, but the few who didn’t pledge loyalty to Rome were taken care of.
The only ones still alive who were not supportive of the change in leadership were Luca Morelli himself and Gino Cavallo. They were both locked up downstairs in the basement. The two men were being held for information since Luca sold his daughter to the damn cartel, and we had no idea what other surprises were in store for us.
“The girls aren’t to see them or know they are still alive,” Romeo ordered gruffly. “They’ve been through too much as it is.”
“When the time comes, I want Gino.” I requested of my brother, my boss.
“Did she tell you why she hates him so much?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink.
I shook my head. “No, but knowing what Luca did and was capable of–” I cut myself off from even thinking about what could have made not only Bianca, but her sisters worried about Gino. “I want him.”
“They are my sisters,” Rome said sharply. “I deserve to gut the bastard.”
“She’s my wife, and Gia and Nic are my sisters as well. Morelli blood doesn’t flow in my veins, Brother, but I was raised watching out for them, same as you. I fell in love with and married Bianca, not because she was in danger, but because I have wanted her for fucking years.” I stood up and started pacing the room. The only way I was getting to take Gino’s life was with Rome’s blessing. He’d killed Massimo, and I accepted that as his right. He was his half-brother, and Massimo had made Rome look weak in his eyes. I couldn’t take that away from him even if I wanted to, but I wanted Gino.
“Get what you can out of him first. I don’t care what the fuck you have to do, Lorenzo. I don’t care if it goes against the fucking Geneva Convention. You get what you can out of him first, then he’s yours.”
I nodded. “I’m going to make it slow and painful. He will beg for death before I’m done with him.”
Rome nodded. “Good. I expect nothing less.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do with your father?” I asked him, broaching the subject that I knew would be hardest for my friend. Luca Morelli was an asshole to everyone, but he was still Rome’s father, his blood. That was not something Rome took lightly. Killing Massimo was sure to have an effect on him, even if he didn’t show it.
“I have an idea, but I’m going to let him stew on it.” He smirked, his eyes cold and flat as he talked about his father’s demise.
“Don’t wait too long. He’s already a dead man walking because of his cancer. His days are numbered.”
Rome notched his chin. “He won’t go out from his disease. That’s too dignified and humane for him. I promise, that’s not the way he will meet the Devil.”
We talked for a while more about what was happening next. Bianca, Nic, and Gia had retired a few hours after the event. They didn’t come back downstairs after Rome had taken out Costa. Instead, we’d ordered them takeout and taken it up to them along with a bottle of wine. We wanted them to relax and get some rest after what they had been through. Gia and Nic took the sleeping pills we had offered, but Bianca didn’t.
I wasn’t surprised to find her still up and reading in bed as if it were a normal day. “You’re still up?” I questioned, opening the door to her childhood bedroom quietly and seeing her sitting there in her pajamas with her dark hair pulled up into a messy knot on the top of her head.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she whispered, setting the book aside on the nightstand next to her bed.
“I could get you one of those sleeping pills?” I offered, not moving away from the door. I wanted to look at her, drink in the sight of her, breathe in the smell of her. So much could have gone differently. She could have been killed before I got there. Massimo could have taken her and her sisters out. I could have walked into that living room and seen her with a bullet in her head instead of Leoni. It was bad enough seeing him that way but seeing Bianca laying on that floor in a puddle of her own blood would have killed me.
“I don’t want one,” she said, her eyes searching my face as she spoke. “What’s going through your head, Lorenzo?”
I swallowed hard and closed my eyes before leaning back against the heavy oak door. “A lot could have gone wrong today. I could have lost you.” My voice was thick with emotion. “God, Bianca, I could have lost you when I finally just got you.” I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d walked in and found you lying there instead of Carmine.” I shook my head. “When I heard you talking to him from the kitchen–” I cut off my words, not reallywanting to relive the worst experience of my life again. I would take a thousand beatings from Luca Morelli to not experience that again.
Her scent wafted up to me as she pressed herself against me and slid her arms around me. We fit perfectly together, our bodies complementary, hard and soft. Bianca lay her head on my chest and clung to me. The weight of the day settled on us both, and I wrapped my arms around her and buried my nose in her hair, breathing her in. The familiar scent eased the tension in my soul. She was there. She was safe. He wasn’t able to hurt her. Arias wasn’t able to get to her. She was free from it all, including me, if she wanted.
It was a harsh reminder that this started not because of our
feelings for each other, but because her father promised her to a monster. I had to see her safe from it all, and she was now. She was safe from him, but that didn’t mean she would stay.
Bianca had been working for too long to get into a dance company. I didn’t want her to give that part of herself up, but I also didn’t want to give her up. She was finally mine. She had my name. I took her virginity, but she took my soul.
It was a choice she was going to have to make when the time came, and I wouldn’t force her to choose me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t make it impossible to make any other choice.
I threaded my fingers through her hair and pulled her head back before slamming my lips onto hers. She met my kiss with equal passion, her tongue thrusting into my mouth to mate with mine as her fingers curled into my shirt, her nails biting into the skin on my chest.
It was a hunger, a need, that had us pulling each other's clothes off. Desperation fueled us, the need to feel each other skin to skin, to reassure each other that we were still here.
I lifted her up and carried her to the bed. I’d been in her room several times over the years. Several times, I stood outside the door wanting to come inside, but I never crossed the threshold for what I really wanted. Her.
“I’ve dreamed about coming into this room and having you so many times, Bianca,” I groaned out as I settled my body onto hers.
