Page 24 of A Vendetta That Ruins

“I waited until the elders got things straightened out with our allies, but I waited too long. Something spooked him and sent him underground. I’ve been on his tail for almost a year, but it’s like a ghost chasing a ghost. We both have many loyals all willing to give us what we need to stay in hiding.”

As soon as I know your mom is out of the woods and I’ve had a chance to let her know I’m alive, I’m going to need to head out. I hate like hell not being able to spend more time with any of you, but if I get caught before I catch that bastard it’s not going to be good for the family. I’m going to slip out the first chance I get, but once I tie up loose ends and know that fucker is not a threat to my family, I’ll be home for good. If I don’t end him and he finds out I’m alive, all hell breaks loose when he demands to come stateside.”

Saint opens the waiting room door to allow the surgeon entry. “Sir, your mother, she’s awake and asking for her family.”

22

Vincenzo

I walk with my hand on Anna’s lower back, following the surgeon. He passes the glass door that we went in before and the sink station. I scowl behind him, and the good surgeon must have a sense of self preservation. He turns mid step, and I almost plow into him. “We’ve moved your mother from recovery to a private space.”

“Good.”

Anna’s soft hand entwines with mine, calming my anxiety about Mom’s reaction to my father walking back into her life from the dead. My father intentionally lets all of his children walk into the room first. Lanah sidles up to the bed and kisses Ma on the forehead. “We’re all so glad you’re okay. We love you.”

Ma smiles gently at her family but shock washes over her entire face as my father steps into view. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner, Tesoro.”

She closes her eyes and breathes deep. I watch her carefully hoping we didn’t just cause my mother to have another incident because that’s all the fuck she needs, but when she opens her eyes again and locks onto him, all the love I’ve seen for my entire life shines through for everyone to see. Her voice cracks. “Vincent, my love. I knew it, in my heart I knew it.”

I give Ma a kiss on her cheek. “We’re going to leave you two to catch up. Don’t overdo things. You need rest.”

I clap my father on the back, holding him close for a moment. “When you need a ride, you let him know,” I say gesturing to the door. “I’ll get you a safe ride out of here.”

He gives me a nod. I know it won’t be long before I get that message from a burner.

Gianni, Agosto and Nicolo all fall in line to see our mom before I gesture to the door. “Let’s leave them.”

We’re barely in the hall when Agosto starts. “No matter what, you should have told us, Vincenzo. We all had a right to know.”

Nicolo grabs him by the shirt and pushes him against the hospital wall. “You listen to me. He has a job to do, protecting all of us, no matter what we want. You need to stop worrying about yourself and grow the fuck up and have some respect for his position or I’m gonna beat it into you. Got me?”

Agosto glares at his brother. “Get away from me.”

“You just remember what I said. Next time you pop off like that I’m going to teach you a lesson we should have taught you a long time ago.”

“Enough. I made the promise knowing Pa asked it to keep everyone safe, and I’m not going to hear another word about it. Finito!”

23

Anna

Vincenzo guides me away from them but Saint’s quick to step up the pace and get in front of us before we get to the exit.

The brothers file out behind us and soldiers surround all of us as we make it to our respective vehicles. Saint opens the back door for Vincenzo and I and gets into the front seat by Terry. I snuggle into Vincenzo’s warmth. His arm wraps around me but he’s a million miles away, deep in thought. I slide a finger over the arm of the door, looking for that little lever that will make the blackout window between us and the men up front go up. I find it and its movement draws his eyes to me. I wait for it to get completely in place and then crawl into Vincenzo’s lap. I wrap my hands around either side of his neck and caress the side of his ear with my tongue. “I think something to relax you is in order.”

His hand snakes around me as his mouth captures mine, kissing me like every woman in the world’s dirty little fantasy. I stroke his neck and whisper in his ear as I lean up and unbuckle his belt while sucking on his neck. Vincenzo groans, his hands cradling my waist while working my pants down and over my hips. He strokes my pussy with his finger. “So wet for me, princessa.”

My fingers fumble with his zipper and he helps me with the chore but the minute I have his velvety hardness in my hand I stroke him just the way he likes. “Princessa, I need to be in you right this minute.”

His hands grasp my hips and place me right where he wants me as I sink onto his length and then rise, watching in hazy fascination as my husband’s desire grows. One hand tangles in my hair, drawing me to his mouth, kissing me as his other hand drives me lower each time I rise. “So fucking wet, princessa.”

I sink deep, my back curving as I rise, letting both of us feel the length of his cock rubbing against the walls that squeeze him like a vice. We are only going to last so long like this, and we both know it, the waves are coming far too fast. My rhythm picks up and so does the guidance of his hands, now both firmly on my hips, driving me up and down on his rigid cock until the dam explodes and we hold each other through the waves of our desire.

He nips at my earlobe as our bodies pulse. “The night is just beginning, princessa.” I reluctantly slide from his lap and adjust my clothes as he tucks himself back into his pants. The heat of his gaze makes my head tilt. “What?”

“You make everything better, princessa. The throbbing in my head, it’s already gone.” I stroke him through his pants, but his hand covers mine. “No, my headache, all the pressures of the day, gone with one little ride. I think I’ve found a new cure.”

I grin as I snuggle in next to him. “Glad to be of service.”