“And you think I don’t want that for you?” she snaps, glaring at me. “You put yourself on the line for me, and then you just go with that crazy bitch? Do you know how scared I’ve been that I was never going to see you again, Aurora? Or Rayea, or whatever the fuck you want to call yourself?”
“Aurora. I’m going by Aurora O’Brien. Rayea Antonova was killed in Washington twenty-four hours ago. No one is going to look for me, and there won’t be any blowback from this.” How fucking good it feels to say that. Like, finally, a weight has been lifted. “As for her, well, she went about it all fucking wrong if you ask me, but what she did, it worked out for the best.”
“You can’t be seriously okay with all that?” Sienna sputters. “She’s a fucking assassin. She held a gun on us. She threatened to come back and kill us all if we revealed her identity.”
“And I’ll explain all of that, and yeah, it’s messed up, but you might understand when I tell you everything that happened. You don’t have to like her, Sienna.” I sweep my gaze over the others. “None of you do. And honestly, I think she knew what would happen when you found out about her, but that was her choice to make. All I can say is that I’m sorry for hurting you, for deceiving you, all of you, and that I hope in time you’ll forgive me.”
I look at all of them, one by one, lingering on Nico and Pietro for a few seconds longer. Then I look at Nico. “I get that this isn’t going to put me in your good books.” He snorts, and I fight to roll my eyes. “But just know that I never meant to bring trouble to your doorstep.”
“I knew there was something with you,” Nico grumbles. He lets out a soft grunt and glares down at Gia, who elbowed himin the gut. He mutters something but then looks back at me. “Don’t pull that shit again, because I won’t be so kind about it next time.” It’s an ominous warning, but I just nod, accepting it for what it is. I doubt Nico will ever fully trust me, but perhaps in time he might soften.
“Sienna, let your man tend to your hand,” Pietro says gently. He looks at Alonzo pointedly, and I feel Alonzo reluctantly ease back. Alessio pulls Sienna gently back into his arms, scolding her in a hushed voice. I hold Pietro’s gaze, refusing to cower. No matter who and what I might be, this man is the head of the family, and that means I need to give him the respect he deserves.
His dark eyes look into mine, seeing far more than I’m comfortable with him noticing, but I don’t look away. Let him see, let him judge. I’m done hiding.
Finally, he says, “You, Ms. O’Brien, are going to make life interesting when we get home.” He gives me a warm smile. “And I, for one, am going to enjoy watching it. I expect you to keep this one on his toes.” He nods at Alonzo, and when I glance back at him, I see him rolling his eyes, but his lips twitch. “Welcome back,cara mia.” He leans forward, kissing my cheek, and emotion thickens my throat.
How can it be that easy? I stare at him, blinking back tears, but he just smiles and winks at me. “We’ll talk later. I understand my dog trainer wants your assistance, but I have a few things that I think will be right up your alley as well.” Then he pulls away, and it’s Aurelio’s turn to step up to me.
I look up at him, and he simply leans down, lifts me in a big hug, and murmurs, “Welcome to the family,cara. And if you need help keeping him in line, you just let me know, yes?”
Damn it. I really am going to cry. When has anyone other than Sienna or Alonzo hugged me? I hug him back, unable to answer.
When he sets me back on the ground, he kisses my cheek, and steps back, grinning at his son. He says something to him in Italian that makes most of the others laugh, while Amara, Kida, and I all share a look. Yeah, we’re going to have to pick up on some Italian and quick if we don’t want to be kept out of the loop.
One by one, all of them come up to hug me, except Kida, but she gives me a cautious smile. I’ll take it.
I can’t help but laugh when Amara grabs my head and turns it every which way. “I’ll forgive you for butchering your hair, but we are fixing this before we go home,” she scolds me, even as she smiles. “And you will promise me now that you will never touch box-dye again.”
“Swear it.” She nods and hugs me again, before releasing me.
Alessio grins at me when he comes up to me. “Darling, the trouble the two of us will have to get into when we get home,” he jokes.
“Over my fucking dead body,” Alonzo growls, yanking me back into him. I laugh, winking at Alessio.
Gia steps forward and wraps her arms around me in a tight tug. “I’m so happy you’re back,” she murmurs. Then she grins and adds, “And I need you to show me a few moves. I want to keep Nico on his toes.” She laughs delightedly when Nico growls behind her, yanking her back into him carting her away, clearly done with the social pleasantry.
“If they’re not pregnant within the year with how often they go at it, I’ll be surprised,” Kida snickers. I smirk, glancing at Zeno and the intensity of his gaze on her.
I have a feeling she might be eating those words herself.
“Alright, that’s enough mushy stuff,” Sienna decrees loudly. “Gia had the chef whip up a spread, and now we want to hear all the details.” She gives me a wicked grin, before looking pointedly at Alonzo. “And that includes all the dirty, sexy details too.”
I glance up at Alonzo, who’s smirking, not the least bit ashamed or embarrassed. “Too bad Nico whisked away Gia,” I say with a wide grin. “She’d be jealous that I got to live out one of her favorite romance fantasies.”
“The one with the masked man?” Amara gasps, clapping her hands excitedly.
“Only he wasn’t the one wearing the mask.” Alonzo chuckles, and Amara and Sienna stare at me with wide eyes.
“Oh, yes, I need all the details.”
“I’m a little bit afraid to find out what you’re talking about, but don’t leave me out.”
I whip around to see Sofia standing there with Dante and two men I have to assume are his guards behind them. “Sofia!” Amara squeals excitedly.
“Hello, darling,” Sofia grins, hugging Amara when she moves in for a hug. Then her gaze moves to me, taking me in. There’s no judgment there, just curiosity. “Well, you don’t look too worse for wear. Are you back for good now?” I nod. “Good. This one needs a good kick in the ass now then.” She jerks her thumb at Alonzo who glares at her, but then turns his glare to Dante.
Dante ignores him. Seeing him as a Don fits. He carries the same power and intensity that Nico and Pietro do. “Welcome back,” he tells me simply.
