Page 194 of Lovely Venom

Cristian scoops me up from my chair and plants me on his lap, shielding my face from prying eyes. He cradles my head against his chest and rubs my back, giving me a few moments to recover.

When I can finally speak again, a hollow laugh escapes me.

“Do I even want to know how you got him to confess to that?”

“Probably not,” he muses.

“And Damian?”

“The only reparation he could make was in blood,” he answers. “But I can promise you he suffered, baby.”

I nod, content for that to be the extent of my knowledge about his final hours. I don’t have to ask for details, because I know Cristian, and he doesn’t do anything halfway.

He confirms it when he says something in Italian, and this time, he actually translates it for me.

“Whoever touches you—dies.”

I kiss him, and for a minute, the rest of the world falls away. Then, eventually, I remember we have an audience.

My gaze drifts around the table, and I find that his brothers are freshly showered too, which must mean they were all present for Cristian’s version of bloody justice.

I can see it on their faces as they each meet my eyes. Not pity, but understanding.

I wasn’t sure how Angelo would feel toward me once it was all said and done, but he offers me an olive branch in the typical brooding Vitale fashion.

“You two have done things out of order,” he grumbles. “Pick a date and plan the wedding.”

“We’re working on it.” Cristian smirks.

I smile in return, threading my hand through his. When he glances down and catches sight of his ring on my finger, something hot and possessive sparks in his gaze.

“You want to go make those plans now?” He brushes the words against my ear.

“I have a feeling those plans will get derailed the second you get me alone,” I muse. “And Nonna’s making us dinner. So you’ll have to wait until this baby is fed, because I’ll need all the strength I can get for her most robust grandson.”

His eyes rake over me in a rough caress, melting my insides. “Glad to hear I live up to the title.”

“Speaking of the wedding.” Val perks up. “When should we get started on the planning?”

My first instinct is to tell her that’s way too much to ask of her, but when I see how happy she is, I feel like I should accept.

Cristian seems to register my internal struggle, because it’s a familiar one.

“This is what family does,” he tells me. “Just say yes.”

Warmth settles over me as I take in my surroundings and realize he’s right. This is my family now, and I couldn’t ask for a better one.

“Thank you, Val.” I give her a watery smile. “I’d love that.”

40

CHANTEL

“Hi.”

Cristian glances up at me in the reflection of the mirror where he’s adjusting his tie, his hands faltering as he lets out a low growl of approval.

“What are you doing here, gattina?” He turns to face me, his eyes darkening with pleasure as they rake over me.