Page 97 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

My chuckle resounds in the room as I lean against the threshold, dragging my eyes from his smug face to his chest. There’s another tattoo just beside the one of my face that he got a few months ago. It’s one of Lucia’s smiley face.

“Mama!” Lucia finally reaches my legs, wrapping her arms around my knee as I scoop her up.

“Did you have a good sleep, baby?” I coo into her soft curls, the clean scent of baby shampoo tickling my nostrils.

My smile widens as she giggles, placing both little hands on either side of my face. I melt into her touch, placing my hand over hers.

Sometimes it still feels surreal… that I get to be a mother to this beautiful bundle of joy, and a wife to Manhattan’s fast-rising mafia don. I’m no longer a prisoner in my own life… and that’s a big leap considering all the hurdles I had to jump.

“Enzo’s expecting us for lunch,” Adriano interrupts my thoughts, walking across the room to us.

Right, the lunch. I couldn’t forget that even if I tried.

“Of course. We have exactly…” I trail, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Four hours to get ready.”

Enzo has taken to being a grandpa with such intense enthusiasm that it brings a lump to my throat. He always wants Lucia around and sometimes would joke about retiring, just so he could spend more time with her. He doesn’t say it, but I can see that she heals him in places he doesn’t even know he’s wounded.

It’s evident in the way his eyes light up when he looks at Lucia. Sometimes it brings me to tears that a man like him had to go through the pain of losing his wife and daughter. But it’s also an honor to allow him the opportunity of living vicariously through me.

“We can do a lot within four hours. Don’t you think, Principessa?” My husband’s voice is something between a rasp and a growl.

I shake my head and laugh. Lucia laughs, too, as if she understands what we’re talking about.

“Definitely,” I smirk at him, balancing our daughter on my hips. “You can finalize that contract you talked about, and I can focus on launching my new line of brushes.”

He groans. “You know damn well that’s not what I’m talking about, Elena.”

Shit. The way he says my name…

“So what are you talking about then, Adriano?” My voice is a drawl as I eye him sultrily.

In a split second, he closes the distance between us, his face falling into the crook of my neck.

“Leave Lucia with Kristina and let me show you exactly what I’m talking about.”

A hand slides down to grab my ass cheeks before he runs his nose along the length of my neck. And of course, my pussy grows wet again at his touch, my throat running dry as he releases low, rough groans.

I know I should pull back—this is inappropriate, in front of Lucia, but I can’t help myself. I never can.

Suddenly, Puddles runs into the room, barking and whimpering in joy. Lucia immediately squeals, my grip almost growing slack as she struggles to yank herself free. A typical reaction to seeing Puddles.

I gently lower her to the ground and watch as she wobbles toward Puddles, who meets her halfway. With her tail wagging furiously, Puddles sniffs and then licks the side of Lucia’s face, making her dissolve into non-stop laughter.

Adriano tightens his arms around my waist as we both watch them play. I can tell they’ll be best friends.

“They’re going to be inseparable,” he murmurs into my hair.

Speaking of friends…

“How’s the deal with Enzo going?” My voice is soft as I peer at him.

They aren’t exactly friends, but are on much better terms than they were before the wedding ceremony. Safe to say they finally found a common ground for compromise—their love for me.

“Smooth,” Adriano says, a note of reluctant respect in his voice. “We’re finalizing the shipping route partnership through the renovated Rossi docks. Francesco says he foresees a 30% increase in efficiency once our logistics are fully integrated. Enzo’s men are… competent. I’ll give him that.”

I nod mindlessly. That’s as close to a compliment as he’d give Enzo. Enzo has managed to rebuild the Rossi Mafia to a commendable level in less than one and a half years. And Adriano’s mafia keeps growing with new partners, techniques, and manpower. So they’d both agreed to merge alliances once in a while, whenever necessary.

Adriano’s thumb begins to rub circles on my back just as my phone buzzes. My heart leaps when I see a message from Annora.