He cocked his head to the side. "Can I help?"
"Yeah, I'd like that." I liked any excuse to spend more time with my mate.
He stood up and pulled me with him. "Afterward, I guess it’s probably time to face the music and introduce me to Andro."
"Andro?" I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close. "That's Mr. Ferrini to you."
"Oh, fuck off." He pushed at my shoulder and shoved ahead of me on the way to the kitchen. “Move faster, old man. We’ve got work to do.”
An hour later, we were pulling into the drive of Andro's mansion. I scanned my card, and the gate opened for me. It was weird to bring another person here. The mansion was reserved for family, and the occasional visit from enemies or competitors when we were looking to flex or brag. Those visits were carefully constructed and prepared for. One didn’t just bring another person here without permission.
"The house is beautiful," Carmine said as we exited the car. "Prettier than the pictures in my research folder."
I smirked. "Was I in your research?"
"A mere footnote, noted assassin Dom, little slow on the job, terrible at surveillance."
The laugh that burst out of me was surprising. I almost grabbed his hand and tugged him closer so I could kiss him properly, but I refrained. "Is that so?"
The door opened before I could say more. My hand went to the gun on my hip, while Carmine went for the one on his back.
Andro stood in the open doorway, with his child Theo on his hip. He raised a brow. "You better have a good explanation for why you brought another person here, Dom."
"Andro, this is Carmine Bandino. He was actually the one who took out Webb, as I informed Cord. I wanted to provide a proper introduction since he will be in town for a few days."
Andro eyed Carmine carefully and then finally nodded.
I let out a breath, my shoulders relaxing.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Ferrini. I've heard good things about your organization. My uncle tells me that no one can cook the books quite like you all. It's a work of art."
Score one for Carmine.
Andro grinned outright. "C'mon in, you can meet Cord."
Joey, Andro's husband, managed the accounting for the family. Complimenting his work was a quick way to get on his good side.
Carmine shot me a wink.
Oh yeah. My omega knew exactly what he was doing.
10
CARMINE
Thank fuck I managed to remember most of the research I'd done on the Ferrinis over the years. Their name hadn’t come up that much since we were on different coasts, but I was generally aware of them. Any criminal worth their salt knew of the Ferrinis, even more now that they had partnered with the Menettis, making them an even bigger force to be reckoned with. We didn't need to know a lot, since we were on opposite coasts, but a little knowledge never hurt. Now it was coming back to save me.
I needed Dom's family to accept me, accept us.
I followed Dom and Andro into the house. Andro set his son on the ground, and the little guy, who looked to be about five or six, held out a hand. The man I had always heard was a cold-blooded killer with ice and venom running in his veins, slipped his hand into his son’s and let the little guy drag him down the hallway.
“Theo, are you bothering Daddy while he's working?" A man wearing a pair of navy slacks and a soft blue sweater with the sleeves pushed up his forearms stepped out of a room and intothe hall, stopping the child in his tracks. The man looked up and smiled at us. "Oh, Dom, I didn't know you were here."
"Hi, Joey, this is Carmine." Dom moved to put arm around me, then thought better of it. I could have used his quiet strength.
"Nice to meet you, Carmine. Are you staying for dinner? We can let Chef know that we'll be having extra. Of course he always makes plenty."
"Um." I swallowed thickly and snuck a glance at Dom.
