by Cora Reilly
I didn’t remember how I got into bed. Only that after Nino came, he wanted to return the favor but then I blacked out. A soft tongue slid along my crease and I arched up toward the familiar mouth, realizing what had woken me. I looked to find Nino, gloriously naked, sprawled out between my legs, his head buried in my lap. His tongue and lips banished the last remains of sleep, sending shockwaves of pleasure through every inch of my body.
“Nino,” I rasped, opening wider, desperate for more, but Nino didn’t comply. He loved to draw my orgasms out until I was almost shaking with the need to come.
His eyes fixed me with a dominant look, his fingers clamping down on my hips to stop me from grinding myself against him. “No. Not yet. We’ll draw this out.”
I stopped fighting it, surrendering to Nino’s gentle torture. The way he guided me toward the edge of the cliff, made me desperate for the fall, only to pull me back. I was panting, gasping, completely boneless.
“Happy birthday, Kiara,” he half growled before finally he pushed two fingers into me, hitting that sweet spot I never even dared dream about. He sucked my clit, and I exploded.
My vision sparked with stars, my muscles clenched, and I cried out, really cried out for the first time, losing control, and it was glorious.
“That’s number one,” Nino said in a low voice, kissing the inside of my thigh. “One of many.”
He stayed true to his promise. Before breakfast, Nino gave me several more orgasms with his tongue, fingers and cock, until I was completely sated and starving.
“That’s a great way to wake up,” I said with an embarrassed laugh as Nino led me into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for me. Despite his brief protest, I helped him. Because really, cooking wasn’t a chore for me.
“I have made plans for tonight. I arranged for the Chengdu to open exclusively for us so we can enjoy our food and the concert of your favorite piano player, without interruption.”
I almost dropped the whisk I’d used to beat the eggs for the French toast. “You got him to come to Vegas and play for us?”
Nino nodded as he cut mangos into accurate stripes.
I couldn’t move. Putting down the whisk, I wrapped my arms around Nino tightly then kissed his mouth. “That’s the best present I could imagine.”
“That’s what I thought,” Nino said with a knowing smile.
“You’re spoiling me.”
We’d had dinner at the Szechuan restaurant a few times since we’d been married and it had been spectacular every single time, and now that our food would be accompanied by beautiful music it could only be perfect.
Nino’s expression hardened briefly. “I give you what should have been yours all along—whatever you want.”
I shook my head, letting out a shuddering breath. With shaking hands, I returned to my task of scrambling the eggs. “You really need to stop making me so emotional.”
“No. I enjoy seeing happiness on your face. It’s as if I’m feeling it myself.”
There was really nothing I could say in return and so I only smiled.
CHAPTER 8
NINO
Remo had finally decided to send Serafina back after two months. If he’d acted according to our original plan, he’d long given her back, but with my brother plans always got ignored. Yet, this time, with Serafina, he should have listened to my advice for once. Things between them were progressing in a dangerous direction. He knew that as well as I did.
Sitting on the sofa, I took out my phone and dialed Luca’s number. Kiara was playing a new song, an erratic, moody melody. I wondered if it reflected her feelings about Remo’s decision to send Serafina back, but she should be relieved. After all, she’d been strongly averse to the kidnapping from the beginning.
“Nino, what do you want?”
Luca never bothered with pleasantries. He was lucky I’d convinced Remo that war with the Famiglia was the last thing we needed at the current time. “We have a present for you.”
Silence. “A present?” Suspicion rang in Luca’s voice.
“We’ll have Scuderi soon. Dante agreed to exchange him for his niece tomorrow.”
“Fuck. I can’t believe your insane plan actually worked. You and your brother are as cunning as you are crazy.”
My lips tightened. “I didn’t call to have my personality analyzed by you. I want to invite you and your brother, and for all I care even the Scuderi sisters, to join Fabiano in the dismemberment of Rocco Scuderi.”
“That’s a generous offer,” Luca said carefully. “What do you expect in return?”
I smiled, leaning back. “Nothing. At least, not at this point. But if we ever approach you and ask for a favor, we’d appreciate it if you remembered that we did this.”
“Right. I bet your kind of favors won’t be for the faint-hearted.”
“You aren’t faint-hearted.”
Luca huffed out a deep laugh. “I’ll have to talk to my brother. I’ll call you back in a couple of minutes.”
“Don’t take too long. You’ll need to fly over.”
“Don’t worry.” Luca hung up.
I put my phone down on my lap and watched Kiara as she played the same sequence for the third time, unhappy with her creation. The low haunted hums of the piano reverberated in my chest and when her fingers moved faster and the notes rang higher, sounding almost angry, my pulse spiked.
Every song Kiara created overflowed with emotions. Her eyes were closed, those dark lashes fluttering against her smooth skin. Like her music, Kiara was a piece of art, and always tore emotions from the darkest recesses of my soul.
Less than five minutes later, Luca called again, but I waited for the last note of Kiara’s song to fade before I bothered picking up. “Matteo and Romero are preparing everything for their flight. They’ll take part in Scuderi’s last hurrah.”
Surprise washed over me. “You won’t?”
“I hate the man and would certainly enjoy cutting off a few pieces of him, but my brother and Romero have a stronger incentive.”
“What about the Scuderi sisters?”
“Aria and Lily are too kind-hearted for that kind of thing, and Gianna can’t stand the sight of blood.”
“Tell Matteo and Romero to meet us in the Sugar Trap, and they better hurry. Fabiano is eager to deal with his father.”
Luca laughed darkly. “I bet he is. I can only imagine how pissed you and Remo are that you never got the chance to rip your own goddamn father to shreds.”
My hold on the phone tightened. “Rumor has it your father didn’t get the end he deserved either. I’m sure if it had been up to you and Matteo, his demise would have been less abrupt and more creative.”
“That’s the past,” Luca said in a clipped voice.
“True and now you have a beautiful wife and children to take care of, which makes our cooperation even more important.”
“My family stays out of this. And if that was a veiled threat, Falcone, you better choose your words more wisely next time. I’m not the only one with people to protect.”
“It wasn’t a threat, just a reminder, Luca. We have no intention of attacking your family, and I’m sure you won’t attack our family either. After all, my wife is your cousin and Fabiano is your brother-in-law.”
“That might be true, but I’d gladly wade through their blood and that of every fucker in Vegas to protect my family, and you’d better remember it.”
“Duly noted,” I said. “But the same can be said for Remo and me. We protect our family. Now enough of the unnecessary threats. Today is a day of celebration.”
I ended the call then and kept listening to Kiara’s playing. When she was done, she twisted around to face me. “You’re going to torture Fabiano’s father to death?”
Her voice was carefully controlled, devoid of emotion, which was unusual for Kiara and showed me how difficult a topic it was for her. “Not me, no. Fabiano will, and Matteo and Romero will join him.”
Kiara kneaded her hands in her lap.
“But you’ll be present?”
I stood from the sofa and headed over to her. “Get up.”
Kiara did so without hesitation, looking at me curiously. I sank down on the bench and pulled her down on my lap, pressing a kiss to the nape of her neck before I touched my fingers to the piano keys. “I need to make sure Scuderi doesn’t die too quickly. My expertise is required.”
Kiara shuddered and I scanned her beautiful face, those expressive dark eyes, always so kind and gentle. I buried my nose in her soft curls. “I’m a monster, Kiara. Emotions or not, I’ll always be that way. I like hurting. I like breaking others, slow or fast. If you hope for that to change, it’ll only hurt you.”
Kiara rested her fingers on the piano keys next to mine and began to play the song she’d written for me. After a moment, I joined in.
When the last chord floated away, she turned her head to me and kissed my cheek then the corner of my mouth. “I love you exactly as you are. And maybe you are a monster, but you are my monster.”
I wrapped my arms around her.
“I still can’t believe he’s sending her back. I didn’t think he’d go through with it,” Kiara said the next morning as we were getting ready in our bathroom. She brushed her hair and regarded me in the mirror as I trimmed my beard.
“It was bound to happen. We have Dante where we wanted him. We get Scuderi and he gets Serafina.”
“Nino, you can’t really believe it’ll be as easy as that.”
Remo’s connection to Serafina was definitely unsettling and intense. “Remo’s determined to set her free.”
Kiara set the brush down, turned around and leaned against the marble counter. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shook my head. Remo’s mind worked very differently from mine.
Kiara sighed, looking concerned. “Promise to be careful. Don’t get hurt. I don’t like the idea of you meeting with the Outfit, especially not when Remo isn’t himself, and Fabiano will be unfocused because he gets to see his father.”
Setting down my electric razor, I touched Kiara’s face. “We’ve got it under control, trust me. We’ll be back soon and then things will return to how they were before the kidnapping.”
Kiara smiled strangely and kissed me. “Okay.”
“Savio and Adamo will make sure you are safe.”
I kissed her again then we headed downstairs to where Remo, Fabiano and Serafina were getting into the car. Kiara stiffened upon seeing them all. I wasn’t sure what had her react that way. Serafina was dressed in her torn wedding dress and looked pale, maybe it was that. I squeezed Kiara’s hand but she didn’t react, only watched as Serafina got into the back of our SUV. Serafina gave Kiara a small smile, who lifted her hand in farewell. I didn’t understand what went on between them. They didn’t know each other well enough to be sad about parting ways.
Remo scowled and closed the door. “Nino, will you take the seat beside Serafina?”
I nodded.
Kiara wrapped her arms around her chest. I touched her arm. “Everything will be fine. Soon this will be over.”
Kiara looked behind me at Remo before she met my gaze. “I really hope you’re right.”
I pressed another kiss to her mouth as Savio and Adamo walked out into the driveway.
“How come I’m always left out of the fun?” Savio asked. “I’d have loved to kick some Outfit ass.”
“We’re not kicking Outfit ass. We’re exchanging Serafina for Scuderi that’s all,” I said.
Adamo and Savio exchanged a look I couldn’t read, then Savio said, “Still more fun than being stuck playing babysitter.”
“I don’t need babysitting,” Kiara said softly.
“You’re guarding our mansion in case Cavallaro has anything planned.”
“How about you stop the gossiping and get in the car?” Remo called from the driver’s seat.
“Come home safe,” Kiara whispered, standing on her tiptoes and kissing my mouth.
We were all supposed to meet at the Sugar Trap after the exchange. I was the first to arrive and nodded at Jerry who was cleaning the bar. “Hey Nino.”
I moved to our private rooms in the back where I left my rifle, then called Matteo. “Hey Falcone, do you have the bastard?” Matteo said as a sort of greeting.
“We do. How long until you’ll be here?”
“Not long. We landed thirty minutes ago. Maybe fifteen minutes. We can’t wait. After the masterwork that you and Remo created with that fucker Durant, I’m eager to show you fuckers, how we do it in New York.”
“Maybe I’ll learn something new.”
“I doubt it, knowing you twisted Falcone fuckers.”
I doubted it as well. “See you later.” I hung up and walked out of the back room then continued toward the front but Fabiano crossed my path. “Remo’s at the bar and in a fucking bad mood.” He was dragging his father by the handcuffs and gave me a terse nod as he took the man down into our sound proof basement.
Since my emotions had started returning, I’d been torn between appreciation and frustration. Emotions cost a lot of energy—understanding them, dealing with them, not only just bearing them.
Knowing how much more emotional Remo was, I reckoned we’d have a difficult time ahead of us as he dealt with Serafina’s leave.
I called Kiara while Remo went ahead into the basement to help Fabiano with his father. I’d only sent her a short text so she’d know everything had gone to plan.
“Nino? Are you all right?”
“Of course. I’m in the Sugar Trap with Remo and Fabiano. We’re waiting for Matteo and Romero so we can begin.”
“How’s Remo?” Kiara asked hesitantly.
I considered how much to tell her. Kiara worried easily and I didn’t want her to be unsettled by Remo’s outburst. “He’s tense.”
“When will you be home?”
“Not before midnight. This will take time.” Even if the police in Vegas and pretty much all of Nevada was on our payroll, we didn’t talk details of our business on the phone. There was always the possibility that the FBI got involved.
“Okay,” Kiara said. “I’ll try to wait up for you.”
“You don’t have to.”
“But I want to.”
The familiar warmth only Kiara could summon spread in my chest. “All right,” I said quietly. “Ask Savio and Adamo to take you out, if you want.”
I hung up. Talking on the phone always unnerved me because I had trouble gauging another person’s mood just hearing their voice, and with Kiara I needed to know her emotions more than anyone else. It would be too easy hurting her by accident.
With other people my emotions were still safely bottled up. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to change. Coming to terms with my emotions when dealing with Kiara and my brothers was challenging enough.
CHAPTER 9
KIARA
I must have slept through the night, because Nino was in bed with me when I woke and the sun was already rising. Blinking back sleep, I turned around in Nino’s arm. Slowly his eyelids peeled open and as always the gray of his eyes sent a wave of calm through me.
I raked my fingers through his longer hair at the top of his head, loving the silky feel of it. Nino released a small breath then rolled onto his back, and I put my head down on his chest. “Did everything go well?”
It was strange asking this, considering we were talking about the painful end of a man.
“Scuderi is dead. Remo and Fabiano killed him together.”
“Fabiano really considers you his brothers.”
“He does, but so do we.”
“So, you’ve forgiven him for everything that happened with Leona?” It seemed impossible that Remo and Fabiano had really faced each other in a death match. I was glad I didn’t have to watch it.
“Remo considered it betrayal and so did I, but my view on things changed,” Nino said slowly. “We gave Fabiano an impossible choice, one we shouldn’t have given him, I realize that now, and m
aybe Remo does too.”
“To choose between loved ones is cruel.”
Nino tilted his head with a small frown. “I can’t imagine being given that choice...”
Goose bumps rose on my skin. “It won’t ever come to that.”
“I know.”
The look in Nino’s eyes sent a small shiver down my back. He kissed my forehead then sat up. “I need to set up a death fight for Remo.”
“What?” I blurted, stumbling out of bed after him. “Why?”
Then it dawned on me. Remo couldn’t deal with his emotional turmoil. The only way he knew how to handle it was by causing and receiving pain, by spilling blood and killing. “You can’t allow that.”
Nino pulled a shirt over his head and combed his hair back with his fingers. “He won’t let me talk him out of it. I tried.”
I got dressed in a hurry and followed Nino downstairs and into the kitchen. He talked to Roger on the phone, the man who owned the fight arena, while I prepared breakfast. My stomach was in knots as I listened to Nino discuss the details of the upcoming fight. Remo was going to fight two opponents at once, which was pure insanity even by his standards. “This is madness,” I said, when Nino ended the call.
Nino sighed. “This is Remo.”
In the days that followed Remo’s brutal fight, he acted almost like his old self, but sometimes there was look of longing in his eyes that hadn’t been there before. I couldn’t help but wonder how Serafina was faring back with her family.
I was playing the piano when someone knocked against the French windows. Looking up, I saw Adamo with the hood of his sweater pulled over his head and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. I waved him in. He never took the direct route through the adjoining corridor, always through the garden to get a smoke in. He came inside after having disposed of his cigarette, then shoved down his hood. His hair half covered his eyes but I saw they were red.