Born in Blood Collection Volume 1: Collection of books 1-4

by Cora Reilly

  “Gianna?” Aria lowered her voice. “Did Matteo do something?”

  “Matteo didn’t do anything,” Matteo said in a hard voice, making Aria and me both jump.

  “I didn’t ask you,” Aria said quietly. My eyes darted between them. I had a feeling they weren’t on good terms. Also because of me. Luca arrived beside us and clapped his brother’s shoulder. “Good to see you again.”

  I hadn’t even considered that Matteo had been gone from home for a long time because he’d been after me. Luca barely glanced my way, not that I cared.

  “I’m fine,” I told Aria who seemed reluctant to believe me.

  “The boss is waiting,” Stan barked. “Let’s go. It’s not like the whore deserves a big welcome.”

  Aria gasped. I stiffened but managed not to show my shock. I didn’t give a damn what Stan thought of me. But Matteo was the fastest to react. He pulled a knife and hurtled it at Stan who cried out when the blade nicked his ear.

  “Next time my blade will split your fucking skull if you don’t keep your mouth shut,” he said.

  Stan rested his hand on the gun in his holster but didn’t pull it. Blood was dripping from his cut ear down onto his shirt. There was murder in his eyes. Carmine stood very still, but he hadn’t pulled his gun either. When I turned to Luca, I knew why. He had both of his guns aimed at my father’s men and behind him Romero whom I hadn’t even seen before was doing the same.

  “We don’t want this to end badly, do we?” Luca asked in a very low voice. “Your boss wouldn’t appreciate it.”

  Carmine nodded and relaxed his stance but Stan looked like he didn’t care if my father punished him as long as he got to kill Matteo first. For several moments neither of us moved, then Luca put his guns back into their holsters. “Let’s go.”

  Carmine picked up the knife Matteo had thrown and handed it back to Matteo, who didn’t take his eyes off Stan.

  “She’ll drive in a car with us,” Stan said.

  Matteo’s lips pulled into a cold smile. “This is the last warning you get. Stop pissing me off or I’ll carve a smile into your throat.”

  Carmine grabbed Stan’s arm and pulled him toward a black Outfit car while the rest of us headed toward two BMWs.

  Aria moved to sit in the back with me, but Luca held her back. “No. I want Matteo to keep an eye on your sister.” Aria gave me an apologetic smile before she sat shotgun beside Luca.

  Matteo gave me a knowing look when he settled beside me on the back seat. “You’d probably jump out of the moving car if I gave you the chance.”

  I huffed. “I’m not completely crazy. Do you think I’d risk running around Chicago unprotected when my father’s men are obviously out to hurt me?”

  “So you trust me to protect you but still don’t want to marry me.”

  Surprise shot through me. “You still want to go through with the marriage?”

  “You could probably ram a knife into his back and he’d still want to go through with it,” Luca said from the front. “He’s a stubborn fucker.”

  “I didn’t hunt you for six months only to let you go.”

  I searched his face, but I couldn’t look past his arrogant mask. He wouldn’t let me. “Maybe you shouldn’t have wasted so much time hunting me.” Then I’d still be in Munich, and Sid would still be alive. But I had to admit that part of me had missed my former life. Not all of it, mind you, but definitely my siblings and maybe even some other aspects that I didn’t want to admit to myself yet.

  Matteo didn’t say anything but his lips tightened. The rest of the drive passed in tense silence.

  I tried to hide my nerves as we pulled up in front of my old home. What would Father do to me?

  CHAPTER TEN

  Matteo

  The Outfit car came to a stop in front of the Scuderi villa and Luca parked the rental BMW right behind it. Luca and Aria exited the car immediately and I pushed the door open to follow them but paused when I realized Gianna hadn’t even unbuckled her belt yet. She was staring intently down at her hands resting in her lap. Annoyance flared up in me. Couldn’t she ever go the easy route? Did she have to be so damn stubborn?

  “I’m not in the mood to argue with you, Gianna. You really shouldn’t let your father wait right now. He’s pissed as it is. Get out of the car or I’ll carry you.”

  I waited for a clever comeback. Instead she reached to unbuckle herself. Her hands were shaking and suddenly I realized what was going on. Gianna wasn’t stalling to annoy me. She was nervous about being back here. Her fingers struggled with the seat belt. I pushed them away and did it for her. Her eyes shot up, brows drawn together as she searched my face. She looked fucking anxious. She didn’t even push my hands away, which were still resting on her thigh.

  “We need to get out,” I said again, this time without the previous annoyance.

  She nodded slowly, her eyes darting toward the window. I could see Luca and Aria watching us, and behind them Stan and Carmine were waiting. Romero lingered next to our second car, scanning the surroundings. I didn’t think this was a trap, but you could never know with the fucking Outfit. Things hadn’t exactly been peachy between us in the last few months.

  “I’m scared,” she said quietly, then laughed harshly. “Isn’t it messed up that I’m scared of my own father?”

  “Your father is Consigliere and a huge asshole. There are plenty of reasons to be scared of him.”

  She was still staring at her lap. “He hates me. He wouldn’t even hesitate to put a bullet through my head after what I did.”

  He’d have to go through me, and I had no doubt that I could take him down with one arm tied to my back. I hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face around to me until her blue eyes met mine. “I won’t allow it.”

  For a moment she softened and her eyes darted to my lips but then Gianna became her usual self and pulled back. I almost groaned. She opened the door and slid out. When I caught up with her, there was no sign of fear on her face. She held her head high and sent Scuderi’s men the most scathing look I’d ever seen from her. That was the Gianna I knew. The only indication that she wasn’t as relaxed as she pretended was that she didn’t argue when I rested my hand on the small of her back as I led her toward the front door. I couldn’t wait to run my hands over every inch of her body, to finally claim her. Images of Sid with his paws on her slipped into my mind again and I had to resist the urge to hit something.

  Luca raised his eyebrows, impatience written all over his face. “What took you so long for fuck’s sake?”

  I ignored him because the door opened in that moment and Scuderi appeared in the doorframe, a scowl on his face. Gianna shrank against me. I didn’t think she even noticed because her face remained perfectly unimpressed.

  Scuderi talked to his men briefly before sending them away and turning to Luca. They shook hands and then he hugged Aria. He hadn’t spared Gianna a single look so far. It annoyed the hell out of me. His cold eyes zoomed in on me and I sneered at him. I hated everything about that man, even his stupid face and slicked-back hair. He looked like the worst cliché of a mobster.

  “I see you found her,” he said.

  “I always get what I want.”

  He still didn’t even glance Gianna’s way but his expression turned cruel. “What you wanted was a reputable Italian girl. What you get are the ruins of God knows how many men.”

  Gianna stiffened under my hand, her eyes widening a fraction before she regained control over her face, but her father wasn’t done yet. No wonder he and my father had gotten along so well.

  “I can’t see why you even bothered wasting your time on her. My men could have caught her without you.”

  His men would have done a lot of things with Gianna. Luca narrowed his eyes at me in warning. Could he tell how much I wanted to bury my knife in Scuderi’s ugly mug? I glared back at Scuderi, wanting to wipe that superior grin off his face.

  “I think we should go inside to discuss matters,” Luca sai
d, using his Capo voice. It usually grated on my nerves when he did that, but this time it was probably for the best. I had a feeling that my knife would accidentally find its way into Scuderi’s eyeball if I had to bear his stupid expression another second.

  Scuderi nodded and opened the door further. Gianna was practically pressed up against my side as we walked past him. Protectiveness burned through my veins. Maybe she didn’t realize it but that she sought my closeness when she was scared was all the confirmation I needed for her feelings for me, even if she wasn’t aware of them yet.

  “How can you even touch her after what she’s done? After what you saw her doing. I’d be disgusted,” Scuderi said as he closed the door. He obviously didn’t expect a reply because he turned to Luca. “If my wife had done something like that, I would have killed her, and I have a feeling you would have done the same, Luca.”

  Aria shot Luca a shocked look but he was busy staring Scuderi down. “I’m not here to discuss what-ifs with you. I want to have this settled once and for all. You promised us something and I expect you to deliver.”

  “What I promised isn’t available anymore.” Scuderi nodded toward Gianna. “But if you want damaged goods, I’m sure we can come to an agreement. Dante is waiting in the living room for us. This is foremost Outfit business, and Dante will have the last word on the matter.”

  Luca met my gaze, warning clear in his eyes. “Then let’s go. I have better things to do than chitchat with you. And I’m sure we can come to an understanding that will benefit all of us.”

  I didn’t give a damn about Dante or Scuderi. I was taking Gianna back to New York with me, even if I had to gut every single Outfit asshole in the process.

  Gianna

  I was trying very hard to keep a neutral expression but it was incredibly hard. To my embarrassment, Matteo’s hand on my back really helped me focus. His expression on the other hand only fueled my own anxiety. He looked like a man out for blood. I chanced a look at Luca and my father, who weren’t bothering to dish out pleasantries either.

  Things had taken a definite turn for the worse since I’d left. If Luca was acting barely civil toward my father, relations between the Outfit and New York couldn’t be good right now.

  Aria gently touched my arm, eyes full of worry. I forced a smile, but it must have been off because she only frowned in return. Damn it. Matteo nudged me forward. Father and Luca were already heading toward the living room, but at the sound of hurried footsteps I froze, my eyes darting to the staircase. Lily and Fabi were storming toward me, their faces alight with happiness. Tears sprang into my eyes as my little brother tackled me, burying his head against my sternum. God, he’d grown since I’d last seen him. How was that even possible? I’d been gone for only six months. And then Lily threw her arms around me as well. “We missed you so much,” she whispered tearfully. Fabi’s hold on me was making breathing difficult but I didn’t care.

  I hugged them back just as tightly. While I’d been on the run, I’d barely dared thinking about my family because it had felt like a chasm was ripped into my chest every time I did.

  “Didn’t I tell you to keep them upstairs?” Father hissed, causing me to look up and find Mother coming down the staircase hastily.

  “I’m sorry. They were too quick,” she said in a meek voice. Her eyes flitted over to me briefly before she returned her gaze to Father without a word to me.

  I swallowed. So this was it? Because I hadn’t done what they wanted I was dead to them? I’d known Father would condemn me but I’d hoped at least Mother would be happy to have me back.

  “Lily, Fabi, back to your rooms.”

  “But, Father, we haven’t seen Gianna in forever,” Fabi grumbled. Father crossed the distance between us in two quick strides and wrenched my brother and sister away before shoving them toward Mother. “Upstairs now.”

  Fabi jutted his chin out, and even Lily didn’t move. Father’s face was turning red in anger. “It’s okay,” I told them. “We can talk later.”

  “No, you can’t. I won’t have you around them. You are no longer my daughter, and I don’t want your rottenness to rub off on Liliana,” Father said, eyes hard.

  I wasn’t even sure what to say to that. He didn’t want me to see my own sister and brother anymore.

  “That’s bullshit,” Matteo said.

  “Matteo,” Luca warned. He was already gripping Aria’s wrist to keep her from interfering. “This isn’t our business.”

  Father glared. “That’s right. This is my family, and Gianna is still subject to my rule, don’t you ever forget that.”

  “I thought I wasn’t your daughter anymore, so why do I have to listen to a word you say?”

  Matteo gripped my waist tightly. What? He could provoke my father but I wasn’t allowed to?

  “Careful,” Father said. “You are still part of the Outfit.”

  “We shouldn’t let Dante wait any longer,” Luca said.

  This time we actually moved into the living room without incident. Dante Cavallaro was waiting in front of the window, talking on the phone. He hung up and turned to us. I had to suppress a shiver when his cold eyes settled on me. The iceman indeed. Suddenly I was really scared. This was serious.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so horribly helpless.

  “Luca, Matteo, Aria,” Dante Cavallaro said in his emotionless voice. “Gianna.”

  I jumped in surprise. I’d figured he’d pretend I was beneath a greeting like my father had done. “Sir,” I said, bowing my head slightly. I hated doing it but I knew what was good for me.

  “You realize that what you did was betrayal?” Dante asked.

  I wasn’t sure what to say. If I agreed I’d be screwed, and if I didn’t I’d infuriate the man who could decide to have me killed.

  “Gianna is my fiancée, and if she hadn’t run she’d be my wife by now. I think it should fall upon my brother as Capo of New York to determine if she deserves punishment.”

  My eyes flew from Matteo to Luca whose hard eyes sent another shiver down my back.

  “That’s ridiculous,” Father muttered.

  Dante didn’t look offended though. “I take it you still want to go through with the wedding?”

  “Yes,” Matteo said without hesitation.

  Nobody bothered to ask what I wanted of course, but I knew better than to open my mouth. Not when things could end really badly for me.

  Dante gestured Father closer and they talked quietly for a moment. Father didn’t look pleased in the least.

  “I won’t make this an official Outfit matter. I won’t stop you from going through with the wedding. If you don’t, however, I won’t have a choice but to punish you,” Dante said to me. He nodded toward Matteo before turning to my father once again. “I’ll hand this over to you since Gianna is your family, and I hope at the end of this day there’ll be an agreement that allows us to work together peacefully.” With that he stepped back and motioned for Father to take over.

  “Can you really afford to welcome someone like Gianna to New York? As a new Capo your people expect you to protect traditions and treat traitors without mercy,” Father said to Luca.

  “My men accept my decisions,” Luca said, but there was a hint of warning in his voice. “Whatever that decision will be.”

  Suddenly I wondered if Luca would really burden himself with me. It wasn’t like I wanted to become part of the Famiglia, but if the choice was between staying in my father’s territory and living in New York with Aria, then I knew what I’d choose.

  Looking like he was on the verge of pulling his knives, Matteo walked over to Luca to discuss something quietly and Aria used the moment to join me. I gave her a grateful smile.

  “My brother will take your daughter off your hands, despite her transgressions. I think that’s a very generous offer on our part. You should be glad that you don’t have to look for a new husband for her.”

  Father scoffed. “As if I’d find someone. I wouldn’t waste m
y precious time like that.”

  My blood was boiling, not only because of Father’s words, but Luca’s offer didn’t sit well with me either. They acted like I was a piece of scum. Listening to them made me realize I had been right to run. This world was majorly messed up.

  “So what do you say?” Luca asked, lips tight.

  Father glanced at his boss but Dante seemed intent to stay out of it. He looked like he couldn’t care less about the result.

  “I hope you don’t intend to have a wedding celebration. I want this matter to be dealt with as quietly as possible. She has caused me and the Outfit enough embarrassment already. I won’t give her a chance to shame us further,” Father said eventually.

  I gritted my teeth so hard I was surprised my jaw didn’t snap.

  Matteo shook his head. “I don’t need a wedding party. I prefer getting drunk without the old spinsters of the family around anyway.”

  A laugh tickled the back of my throat but I swallowed it. Matteo shot me a look as if he wanted to see if I found him as funny as he obviously found himself. Everything he did was calculated. That was something I could never forget. Matteo masked his deadliness with humor and smiles, but I wouldn’t let that fool me. Not now, not ever, especially not when it was obvious he thought he was being generous by taking me back.

  “The old spinsters wouldn’t have come anyway. Nobody wants to be associated with someone like her,” Father said with a glare in my general direction.

  Aria’s grip on my wrist was steely as if she still didn’t trust me not to viciously attack our father.

  “There will be a church service as is tradition,” Luca said. “There’s no need for guests beyond the closest family.”

  “Tradition,” Father huffed. “Gianna spat on our traditions. The presentation of the sheets your Famiglia is so adamant about will have to be cancelled. And a white dress is out of the question too. I won’t have her make a mockery out of our values.”

  Luca nodded. “That’s reasonable.”