AllFreeNovel
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Funny thing is, I’ve lost my family, but I’ve also found a new one. Matteo and his brothers are close. Over the past few months, they’ve seemed to get even closer. They hang out at our place a lot—our old place with the giant TV and vast double volumes with windows that reflect everything. That apartment is now official Il Consiglio headquarters of sorts, so still in use, but I never need to put a foot in it again.
I’m rather in love with our new place. It’s smaller but suits us better. And Matteo’s brothers are always welcome. Over the months, I got to know them bit by bit. Dominic: always sensible. Luca: a lot of mouth that I swear he only hides behind. Benedict: quiet, observant. Stephano: a true hero in his own way. I don’t have favorites, but I know each one of them would kill for me, probably die for me.
The love that comes with that level of devotion from men who all slotted into my heart’s holes where my own family once were, is unfathomable. Mom. Kevin. Dad. He’s still around, but we haven’t spoken or seen each other since the summer. He’s sent me some emails, but I deleted them. I’m not ready and I’m not sure I ever will be. It’s hard to move on from that kind of betrayal.
We’re entering the apartment block’s underground parking, where Matteo has his own entrance. Burley is alert as always, and so is my driver. I probably adjusted much easier than expected to being a Mafia wife. And to be honest, it’s not that different from being the daughter of a politician who keeps looking over his shoulder.
We take the elevator up to our floor, and Burley sees me to our apartment. “I’ll see you and Rosalia later?”
“Sure thing, luv,” Burley says with a wink. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Something in his eyes hints at this being more than just a housewarming. Turns out Matteo is one that likes to cook up surprises. Those balloons on our wedding night: his idea. That’s what he arranged on very short notice, poor Rosalia scrambling all the way. With more time… there have been two surprise weekends away to off-grid private islands, where we’re free from the ten layers of security we have here in Boston.
I walk into the apartment and close the door behind me. For a moment, I listen. Music is playing, some chill vibes playlist. Footsteps. And then he’s there. His arms go around me, and I’m in his embrace as he kisses me.
My pulse speeds up, heat gathering in my belly. This man… he keeps on doing this to me.
“Missed you, kitten,” he whispers as he pulls away. “Good day?”
“Busy. Yours?”
“Good. Very good.” He gives me a sly smile and I quirk my head to the side. Something is definitely up. “I had big plans but I’m afraid we already have company,” Matteo says, heading straight for a segue before I can ask questions.
“Already?” I murmur, somewhat deflated. “Sorry, I ran late.” Matteo promised me all kinds of things this morning in bed, but none of that’s going to happen now.
“It’s fine. Dom and Luca came early.”
“And here I thought they knew what was good for them.”
Matteo chuckles. “Apparently not.”
I drop my backpack in the coat closet and peel off my coat. Matteo helps me and I eye my husband. He’s dressed in a black turtleneck sweater and jeans. Very informal for a man who lives in a suit. He is lickable in everything he wears… and it’s going to be a long night before I can get my mouth on him.
“Let me get you a drink.”
He takes my hand and leads me from the foyer to the open plan space that has the living, dining room and kitchen together. My breath catches. This morning when I left there was nothing. Now there’s a beautiful Christmas tree, over eight feet by the looks of it, next to the fireplace in the living room, with lights and decorations and… Oh. It’s Mom’s things. A hard pebble pushes up my throat, expanding with every second. “How?” I whisper as Matteo wraps an arm around my shoulders. “When?”
“I arranged with your dad to pick it up. All twenty-six crates of decorations.” He kisses my temple. “We didn’t do all of it. We left some for you. But Christmas is in three days?—”
“It’s perfect.” I turn into his chest, battling my emotions. “It’s just perfect… Thank you.”
He chuckles. “It was a bit of a Scalera team building session.”
“Who helped?” I choke out as he hugs me closer.
“All of them helped, kitten.”
See? This. This is what he does that makes me melt. What makes me feel so loved. When I’m more in charge of myself, I let go from where I cling to him and turn to greet my brothers-in-law.
Dominic and Luca are standing in the living room, whiskeys in hand.
“Hey,” I say as I walk over and Dominic and Luca smile as they lean in, gazes soft on me, giving me demure and quick but very Italian kisses on the cheek. This seems to be a thing in an Italian family with their women, but Matteo is right there to pull me to his side, marking his territory. “Thank you for this gorgeous surprise.”
“It was fun,” Dominic says. “We haven’t done that since… well…”
Since their mom died.
“So not our wheelhouse, but—” Luca breaks off, at a loss for words.
