Closing the door to the den with a slam, they jumped. “Let’s get one thing clear, she might not want you to know what happened to keep your memories of your good-for-nothing father intact, but I could give two shits.” Unplugging the television, I made sure their full attention was on me. “He beat her, the black eye, his closed fist. The stab wound on her abdomen? Your grandfather’s knife, wielded by your father.The broken hand, he stomped on it. So, when my men and I breached his fortress and killed every coward around him, my gun never wavered from the place between his eyes. He’d had your sister tied to a chair, just like Marco used to do to her, and he was ready to continue torturing her. Do you know what jumper cables do?” They both shook their heads no. “You’ll have to Google it; it’ll be enlightening.”
I paced the floor in front of them, their tears once again streaming down their faces, but this time it wasn’t for their father. It was for the woman who’d kept them safe. “When I got Emilia free, she took my gun and held it to your father’s head and pulled the trigger without hesitation. The man who’d beaten her all her life, the man who traded her life for my favour, the man who was supposed to protect her like she protected both of you, crumpled to the floor in front of her. She stepped over him and never looked back. Your sister, my wife, the mother of my children, did something no person should ever have to do. Would you like to know where her head went after telling you both?” What I was about to say would have crossed the line, but they needed to know their places.
“She asked if you two would cause problems. To which I assured her you wouldn’t because if you do, do you know what will happen?” They both frantically shook their heads. “Shewill take you out too. Because at the end of the day, she’s a Venosa. Her loyalty is to me, my family name and our baby that somehow survived the nightmare she was subjected to. So, for your sakes, you’d better not forget that. And think long and hard about the sacrifices she’s made to keep you safe. You’re both leaving for Italy tomorrow, and your Uncle Edoardo is expecting you. I will not have you two upsetting my wife.” I couldn’t look at them anymore. I left the room only to find my wife leaning against the door.
“You faked going to sleep?” She nodded as a smirk lit her face up. “They needed to know,” I said as I cleared the distance between us.
“I know.” She nodded, slumped against the door. In one quick motion, I scooped her up and carried her back to bed.
“Sleep, my love, you’re working too hard.”
“I’m not doing anything, Nico.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, you’re healing and growing our child. Rest.” I kissed her gently. Her contented sigh filled my heart with joy, the same joy I’d feel when I slid my ring onto her finger, spoke vows and created a life with her. All this time I’d waited for the love my parents had, and now I knew I’d found it.
EPILOGUE
EMILIA
The house was buzzingwith activity, and white roses covered most of the surfaces on the main floor. I walked through the house, bouncing Dante, trying to get him back to sleep. “Shh, baby, you need to sleep,” I whispered to my son. “I have to get ready for Grandma and Grandpa’s wedding.” What a time for him to be going through a sleep regression. Thankfully, my hair was done and my makeup on, but I was wandering around in a robe.
“Let me take him, and you can finish getting ready.” Nico wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me back to him. Peering over my shoulder, he looked down at our wide-eyed son, grinning at his dad.
“Are you sure you want him right now?” Dante could be fussy, and I knew Nico could handle him with ease, but sometimes the only person that he wanted was me.
“Of course I do, give him to me.” He took our son out of my arms and shooed me up the stairs. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled as I watched him wander with the baby. Was there anything sexier than a man being a dad? God, I wanted him right now.
“Stop ogling my brother, and get dressed,” Trixie said as she turned me away from the railing and into the spare room where Cecilia was getting dressed.
“There you are,” Letty said as she handed me the garment bag with my dress in it. “Go get ready, and I’ll zip you up.” She pointed to the bathroom, and of course, I listened. When she was working, you didn’t question her.
Cecelia, Trixie and I stood together in the room Nico and I shared. “When I arrived here so many years ago, I stood in this room holding a gun, pointing it at my brother. A lot of things happened here over the years, but this moment with you both is a highlight.” Cecelia smiled and reached for our hands. “I couldn’t be prouder of the women in this family. My last name might be changing today, but I’ll always share it in my heart with you both.” Her eyes were soft, and I wondered what feelings she was fighting today. This house had played into who she’d become from the moment she set foot in it.
Sitting in the audience, I was thankful Nico was able to work his magic to get Dante asleep. The music changed, and I watched Trixie and Antonio walk down the aisle, arm in arm, then separate and stand on either side of the priest.
Lorenzo walked down next, and he looked so handsome in his tuxedo. He was a good-looking man, charming, and he loved my mother-in-law more than his own life.
With the wedding march playing, I turned and watched Cecilia and Nico descend the stairs and walk toward Lorenzo. She’d walked down the aisle alone for her first wedding, but now her gorgeous son was going to give her away.
Nico took his place beside me, and I put my hand on his leg. The warmth of his hand wrapped around mine made me think back to our wedding. His touch was the only thing that kept me focused that day, and he’d done it every day since.
My destiny had been changed in one instant when I thought I was hiding, but Nico saw through the facade and saw me. I’d found a family that loved me for me, and I was still able to scare a few people with my doña ways.
Nico let me be me, even if he still wasn’t overly happy about it.
Nico
Glancing up, I watched Trixie laugh and dance with Antonio. She caught my eye, and I made a motion toward the door. When the song ended, she excused herself and followed me up to my office.
“I hate to do this tonight, but I need you to do a job.” I sat behind my desk, and my sister took the chair across from me. Grabbing the folder from my desk, I slid it across to her. “I need you to find him. Ronan Doyle is the brother of the head of the Irish mafia, but he’s caused trouble for us in Italy. I need him back here so we can deal with him.”
“Who’s going with me?” She asked, flipping the pages of intel I’d found out about him.
“Nobody, you’re going to have to do this alone.” I leaned back in my chair. Trixie nodded and set the folder back on my desk.
“When do I leave?”
“A few days. I need to get the airline tickets and let the family know when you’ll be there.” A knock on the door made us both turn. Reaching for the folder, I tossed it back in my desk and closed the drawer just as the door opened.
