Page 74 of The Arianna Arrangement

Potter and Carlisle joined us first, jumping in the pool right as the sky started turning orange before the sun set. They both had that freshly fucked smile that had Ari hugging me and biting onto my shoulder to hold in her giggle.

Leyla and Jack emerged a few minutes later, and though I’d just decided to give Jack a chance, I couldn’t look at him for a bit because I wouldn’t be able to handle seeing that same smirk on his face.

“Aww. Pott. Turned into a two pump chump already?” Leyla couldn’t help but rile Potter up. I firmly believed it was her favorite pass time.

Though, Potter was also a shit stirrer, so he wasn’t really bothered by her and usually upped the ante. Throwing an arm around Carlisle’s shoulder, he smirked at me, then looked at my sister. “I can’t help it that Carlisle can suck my soul through my dick in a couple minutes flat.” Pott pressed a quick kiss to the guy's lips, then returned his attention to my sister. “But don’t worry, he wasn’t complaining when I did the same. Maybe we can give you some pointers later.”

“Potter.” The last thing I wanted to think about was my sister's mouth on a guy's dick. Just because it probably happened, didn’t mean I needed to hear or think about it.

Of course, Leyla didn’t heed my warning. “Maybe later we can have a contest and see who can suck off their partner faster.”

Jack’s arm landed around my sister's shoulder, pulling her to him, but much to my surprise, he didn’t agree with her. While his words were soft, I could still hear them. “I really don’t want your brother to hate me and I didn’t make a great impression by following you upstairs so fast when I got here, so can we please drop this topic?”

Leyla’s eyes caught mine as I smiled, and she stuck her tongue out at me. “Fine. Though you should know, if he likes you, I probably won’t be interested for too long. Gotta keep him on his toes.” When she followed it with a wink to me, Ari burst out laughing.

Her hand landed on my chest as she decided to console me. “Don’t worry, Amore. We can join the contest too. I feel pretty confident I’d win.”

Leyla’s gag had me chuckling. I loved how much my wife fit in with my family, and the fact that she could cause chaos with the best of them, getting my sister to fall in line when I couldn’t, was just the icing on the cake.

Chapter 36

Arianna

It had been two weeks since the story about the scandal in the Bronx hit. Two weeks of news reports about Carbone lieutenants being found and arrested. Two weeks of reports about the progress in the case of Carter Pinkston and the Bronx’s corrupt cops.

Two weeks of no news on Bradley or his father.

I wasn’t sure if I should be impressed… or worried. If the Carbone family couldn’t even hide their lieutenants as well as the Blackwoods could hide themselves, had we completely underestimated them?

“Breathe, Vita Mia. It’s all going to be fine.”

I took my husband’s advice, letting out a deep breath as we pulled into the drive of my childhood home. My brother would be getting married in two days time, so we were back in New York to celebrate.

Sean hopped out and opened the door for Tucker, who stepped out of the armored SUV and put a hand out for me.

I shivered when I stepped out, the fall chill in the air more noticeable in New York than it had been in Crestwood. Good thing I’d packed warm clothes.

Stepping into the foyer, the relief brought on by the heat only lasted for a moment before my peace was shattered. “Arianna. Dolcezza.” My mother walked to me with a big, fake smile plastered on her face. “I’m so glad to have you home, even if only for a couple of days.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Mom.” I accepted her hug, not willing to make waves. People were watching, so I needed to be the obedient daughter I’d been raised to be.

Sandro had too much on his plate between the wedding and the unrest among the families for me to start more fires he’d have to put out.

Her eyes fluttered to my stomach, then back to my face, disappointment showing through her pinched lips. “Not pregnant yet, I see.”

It had only been two months since my wedding. Even if I’d gotten pregnant on my wedding night, it was unlikely I’d be showing.

Before I could snap at her, Tucker’s arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me to him, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Alessandro asked us to hold off on making an heir so he could get his line of succession in order first. We agreed to hold off for a bit.”

My mother looked less than pleased by that. “What a shame. Your father had been so excited about you two having a baby.”

“Mother.” Sandro stepped in the room, the word said as a warning. He was still keeping things from me, and that pissed me off.

“Why was that, exactly?” She raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. “Why was father so adamant on us having a baby so quickly? Even before Sandro?”

Sandro’s arm went around our mother’s shoulder, and I didn’t miss the warning squeeze he gave her. She just smiled, like nothing was amiss. “He just loved you kids so much that he couldn’t wait to be a grandpa and have little ones around again.”

“Hmmm. Well, if only he’d stuck around a little longer. I’m sure Sandro will start popping them out soon.”