“But you don’t fuck like one, do you?” I winked. An easy laughed spilled from his pink lips and I might’ve wanted to restrain him taking my cock in his mouth before, not anymore.
Twenty minutes later, we drove through the black gates of my family estate. “Fuck, this is your home.” Rayden was looking through the window, admiring the rolling hills that made up the estate and overlooked the Amalfi coastline with its blue-green waters and orange roof tiled houses. “Wow. I’d like to wake up to that view every morning.” He chuckled.
Grinning, I watched excitement color his face a shade I hadn’t seen before. While bringing him with me was a good decision and he wouldn’t admit it, I’d noticed how he clung to me. I’d seen it in the way he’d look at me when I had to travel or, when I’d drop him off at his home to spend time with his family. Rayden Princeton might be in love with me but I knew deep down and because he’d been hurt so many times, he was scared I’d break his heart and leave him. And I had every intention of making him grow to trust me because leaving him wasn’t an option and it would never be a choice either.
“We can stay longer than a day but you’ll miss Christmas with your family.”
He glanced at me. “I’d like to spend Christmas with you and my family, if you’re okay with that.”
“Yes. After today, we’ll come back often.”
“Why, what’s happening today?”
Looking out the window, I pulled in a deep breath then shifted my gaze back to him. “I become the Boss. The Don.” His eyes grew wide with a mixture of excitement and surprise. The car drawing to a stop, killed his reply.
“Lorenzo!” Evelina, my sister and the youngest sibling, came charging down the hallway as soon as we entered the house and jumped into my arms, curling her legs around my waist. “È passato così tanto tempo,” she whispered against my neck, hugging me tight.
“Yes, baby, it has been long,” I replied, looking at Rayden. Even though he tried to look away, I didn’t miss the jealous flush to his cheeks. I smiled. When I set my sister down, I turned. “This is Rayden, Evelina.”
He stepped forward and accepted her outstretched hand. “È proprio un bel giovanotto.” Blushing, she hid her laugh behind a hand.
“She says you’re handsome,” I answered Rayden’s unasked question.
“Thank you,” he responded, his smile light. I looked at him, letting him read my expression but he avoided my gaze.
“Your friend, yes.” Evelina attempted her English words. Unlike Arabella, who I’d taken to New York with me, my mother kept Evelina locked up, home-schooled with hardly any visitors.
“Boyfriend,” I said. She gasped at the same time Rayden’s eyes jerked back to me. “My baby sister.” I winked. He gawked, embarrassment making his handsome face even more adorable.
My sister’s rush of Italian drowned the moment. Her face displaying everything from shock to laughter and back to surprise again as she rattled on, finally ending on, “Non vedo l'ora di vedere la faccia di mia madre.” She giggled hysterically.
“Yes,mia caro, that makes two of us.”
“I’m assuming she’s not happy,” Rayden asked watching my sister run off after telling me Mother was in a meeting.
“On the contrary, my sister is very happy for me and can’t wait to see my mother’s face.”
He followed me down the hallway toward the meeting room I knew she loved because she got to sit on a pedestal made for a queen and just perfect for what I intended to do. Dethrone the queen. “Is your mother going to be angry?”
“That’s an understatement,” I replied, pushing opening the double doors without knocking.
“Good. I didn’t miss it yet.”
I glanced over my shoulder to catch Remo’s evil grin, followed closely by Dario who nodded a greeting.
“What’s up, fuckface.” Remo nudged an immediately annoyed Rayden.
“Fuck off,” he replied, making me smile because the two of them got on so well.
“What is the meaning of—” Mother broke off, her eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at her two sons.
“Hello, Mother,” my greeting lacked the warmth I’d come to love with the Princeton’s. Their family affection was unparalleled, andwewere supposed to be Italian where family was important. I glanced around the room, taking in all the staid men from different mafia families, Mother’s soldiers and a few uncles who were probably there to beg her for some leniency or the other. I ignored all of them and greeted Frank, “Ciao zio.”
“Ciao, Renz. Good to see you here.” He gave me a knowing smile.
When I stood in front of my mother, I gave her the same stiff appraisal she gave me. She leaned forward expecting me to kiss her cheeks, I didn’t. Sassy son of a bitch that he was, Remo, sidestepped me and gave her the requisite kisses to both her cheeks.
Realizing, she wouldn’t get me to bend to her will, she huffed. “What are you doing here, Lorenzo. You never come to Italy unless...” She trailed off, her gaze searching behind me before coming back to my face. “Unless Alessia is pregnant and you are ready to sit at D’Angelo’s side?”
