by Reilly, Cora
His eyes met mine as I supported his weight as well as I could. “Just drop me on the bed. I’ll piss my pants,” he muttered with a twisted grin.
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous, Matteo. I will help you into the bathroom.”
He didn’t protest, and together we managed to reach the bathroom. He was heavy and tall, and I realized with Luca this would have never worked.
We stopped right beside the toilet. “Are you able to do this?”
Matteo chuckled. “What would you do if I told you no? You can hardly hold my cock.”
I blushed and released him carefully. “Well, you could sit down for once, or will that bruise your ego?” I raised my eyebrows at him.
He smirked. With his swollen eyes, bruised body and face, and matted hair, it didn’t have the desired effect. “Nothing can bruise my ego like Gianna’s hatred.” It was meant as a joke, but I caught the hint of bitterness in his voice.
I took a step back. “I’ll give you some privacy. Call if you need my help, okay?”
Matteo didn’t say anything, but he reached for his sweatpants and I took that as my cue to leave. I closed the door and hesitated a moment before I busied myself setting Matteo’s clothes out in the wardrobe. I gripped a shirt and a fresh pair of sweatpants, then put them down on the bed.
Deciding to find some food for Matteo, I went into the kitchen, picked up a ready-made pasta salad and prepared a strong black tea with lots of sugar before I returned to the guest room.
Matteo was still in the bathroom. Worry flooded me as I set down the tray and moved toward the bathroom door. The sound of the running shower made my eyes widen. In the state Matteo had been in, taking a shower seemed like a particularly bad idea.
“Matteo?” I called. Nothing. I reached for the handle then hesitated. Matteo was probably naked, and not only did that make me nervous, but I knew how ridiculously possessive Luca was. I knocked hard. “Matteo?”
Deciding this couldn’t wait, I pushed open the door and stepped in. Matteo was kneeling in the shower, his back curved, palms braced against the floor. I saw his profile. Thankfully from my vantage point his privates were hidden from my view. He was covered in scars and fresh bruises and cuts and blood was streaming down his back, probably from his head wound.
I took a hesitant step forward. “Matteo?”
His shoulder blades and arms tensed. “Leave,” he growled.
“Can you stand?” He didn’t look like he could.
Matteo slanted me a look, brown eyes hard. “You shouldn’t be here. Luca won’t like it if you see me naked.”
I huffed. “He will like it even less if you kill yourself by accident.”
“I’ve survived worse.”
Ignoring his glare, I grabbed a towel and approached him, my eyes set on his face.
I had to lean over him to reach into the shower and close off the water. My breath caught in my throat at the icy temperature. Was he trying to give himself a heart attack? By the time I’d managed to shut off the water from my awkward position, the front of my clothes were drenched and I was shivering.
Matteo watched me intently from his crouch on the ground, and there was the hint of wariness in his expression. I paused. Like Luca, he hated showing weakness, and I wasn’t someone he trusted like Luca trusted me.
I grabbed the towel from where I’d dropped it on the ground and held it out to Matteo. “Can you cover yourself?”
He surprised me by not making a funny comment as he accepted the towel and wrapped it awkwardly around his waist.
“Can you get up?”
He let out a low sound in his throat, a mix of groan and laugh, and raised an eyebrow.
“That’s a no, I suppose,” I said.
“I’m too heavy for you, trust me. Give me a moment.”
I waited and watched as his back heaved with every breath. He braced his arm against the glass of the stall, muscles flexing, and managed to get one knee up. I reached for him but he shook his head. “No,” he said harshly, then softer, “No.”
I took a step back. His body shook as he propped his arm up on his knee and braced the other against the shower stall. With a low groan, he pushed to his feet, then staggered and fell against the shower stall. The thing vibrated as if it was going to burst. I jumped forward and wedged my shoulder against Matteo’s ribs while I gripped him around the middle.
He let out a quiet sigh. “You don’t have to help me. You owe me nothing.”
“I want to, and I owe you common decency,” I muttered, glaring up at him.
“I suppose it’s my special talent to make you Scuderi women hate me.”
“I don’t hate you, Matteo,” I said firmly. “And neither does Gianna.”
He raised his head so I could see his expression and nodded toward the door. “If we go slow, I should be able to support most of my weight.”
It took us several minutes to reach the bedroom when Matteo tensed suddenly.
“Someone entered the penthouse,” he murmured, every muscle in his body taut. I hadn’t heard a thing.
“Luca said Romero would come over.”
“I assume that means nobody’s on guard at the moment.”
I blinked up at him, suddenly worried. The Russians had managed to get into the mansion, so who said they couldn’t get into our penthouse? His hand slid down my back and after a moment of shock, I realized what he was doing. He pulled the gun out of the waistband of my pants and aimed it toward the door, straightening from my shoulder.
“Get behind me.”
“You can’t stand on your own.”
“Get the fuck behind me, Aria,” Matteo snarled, and I recoiled but then narrowed my eyes.
“No.”
Maybe he would have shoved me behind him, but in that moment Romero called out. “Aria? Where are you?”
His voice rang with concern.
“Here!” I shouted, and it took only a few seconds for Romero to burst into the room, gun in hand. When his eyes settled on Matteo and me, surprise crossed his face, and he put his gun back in his holster.
“Matteo thought it was a good idea to pass out in the shower,” I said.
“I didn’t pass out. I stumbled and fell,” he muttered.
Romero came toward us and slid his arm under Matteo’s armpit. I released a small breath when the heavy weight lifted off my shoulder and stepped back.
“I’m taking it from here. Why don’t you go change?” Romero said.
I glanced down. My shirt was see-through from water and giving a view of my white lace bra, but there was also blood on the fabric.
Before I left the room, Matteo’s voice rang out. “Aria?” I turned to him. Romero had hoisted him down on the bed. “Thank you.”
I smiled. “You are welcome.”
Feeling drained, I made my way upstairs into the master bedroom. I took a long hot shower before I slipped into my softest wool nightgown, and lay down in bed.
I was woken by a warm hand on my cheek. Luca’s face hovered over me as his thumb stroked my skin. I blinked. “What time is it?”
“Late,” he murmured.
“Oh,” I said. “I must have fallen asleep. How’s Matteo?”
“Better,” Luca said in a strange voice. I searched his eyes. He was watching me with a look that filled my belly with butterflies. “He told me what happened.”
“I had to help him,” I said indignantly. “I don’t care if you’re mad that I almost saw all of him.”
Luca let out the softest laugh and I frowned, confused by his mood. His hand slid down my side and he bunched up my nightgown and settled between my legs, his warm body covering mine. When his tip brushed my center, I released a surprised breath. He didn’t enter me, only kissed me.
I kissed him back, softening under his heat and strength. Soon Luca’s tongue in my mouth and his body on top of me had me slick with arousal, and he finally eased his tip into me. His eyes held mine as he slid the rest of the way in, and I moaned at the u
tter fullness.
“I don’t deserve you, Aria.”
He claimed my mouth again before I could protest and soon his expert movements had me writhing and panting, forgetting any word of objection.
LUCA
Four months later
Matteo was chasing Gianna toward the ocean, her high-pitched screaming ringing out. Aria wrapped her arms around my waist, giving me her “I-told-you-so” look. I didn’t think Gianna would return to my brother, but she had. They seemed happy enough. I still didn’t trust the redhead, not one bit, but I was glad for Matteo’s good mood.
“Let’s just hope she doesn’t change her mind.”
Aria shook her head. “You see, once you Vitiello men have wormed your way into our hearts, there’s no escaping.”
Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
“I never had the intention of worming my way into your heart,” I admitted because love had never been part of the bargain.
“I know,” she said with a shrug, then her smile turned playful, and my cock tightened. “You only wanted me for my mad sexual skills.”
I choked on a laugh. Aria gripped my hand and pulled me into the mansion.
Later that day, Matteo and I set up a barbecue on the patio. I turned the lamb chops while Matteo picked up a bottle from our wine cellar and Aria prepared a hopefully edible salad.
Gianna stepped up to the barbecue, and I raised my eyebrows. She looked like she had something to say, and usually that wasn’t something good.
“I know you don’t like me,” she said, actually looking nervous. Gianna, nervous? “But I think we should try to get along better, for Aria and Matteo.”
She met my gaze and held it. I still wasn’t a Gianna fan, would probably never be, but she had a point. Aria and Matteo wanted us to get along. “I didn’t like you because I hated how you treated Matteo.”
She frowned as if this was a fucking surprise. “Okay.”
“But I’m starting to change my mind,” I said. It wasn’t quite the truth, but not a lie either.
“You are?”
I turned a lamb chop, and shrugged. “I’m starting to think that maybe Matteo was right and you two aren’t the worst match.” They were both hotheaded and conflict-loving. They deserved each other.
“Thanks? You are really bad with compliments.”
“I’m not in the habit of handing them out. And don’t tell my brother I said he was right. He’s cocky enough.”
Matteo came our way, arms loaded with wine bottles. For an instant his expression tightened when he spotted Gianna beside me. He knew me well enough to figure I couldn’t stand her most of the time, but he needn’t have worried. That woman was safe because she was his no matter how infuriating she was.
“He is,” Gianna said with affection. I forced my expression into something less cold, and Gianna gave me a grateful smile.
Matteo set the wine bottles down on the table before joining us and wrapping his arm around Gianna’s waist. “What are you two gossiping about?”
“You.”
“Is that so?” Matteo lifted one eyebrow.
Aria came back from the kitchen, carrying a bowl. She sent me a questioning look as she snuggled up to me. “What’s going on?”
“Your husband and my wife are discussing my many wonderful traits,” Matteo said.
Gianna eye-fucked Matteo. “You are way too cocky.”
“Admit it, you love my cockiness.”
“Done.”
“Your declarations of love still make my knees go weak,” he joked.
“Your cockiness isn’t the only thing I love about you.”
It was only a matter of time before those two would disappear for another fucking session.
“I need some bloody lamb to cancel out this disgusting display of sweetness,” I muttered. Aria smiled up at me, and I squeezed her hip.
Matteo lifted Gianna up and did some fucking twirl.
“I’m not sure I can stand them together,” I said, rolling my eyes.
Aria grinned. “Admit it, you are happy.”
I hesitated. I was happy, happier than I had been all my life. I nodded toward the bowl Aria was still holding, trying to change the topic. “How did the salad turn out? Is there a chance of food poisoning?”
Aria gave me a knowing look.
chapter 10
ARIA
I grabbed the wig and positioned it on my head. It took me a couple of minutes to make it look natural.
I had chosen a hairdo I’d never be allowed to have because Luca would never agree for me to cut or dye my hair. The wig was a dark brown bob that was longer in the front than in the back. After spending our second anniversary on our yacht in the Mediterranean, my skin was tanned enough that the dark hair color didn’t look unnatural despite my blue eyes.
The wig changed my face completely, made me look more edgy, less sweet. I had chosen tight black jeans with a tight black-and-white striped shirt and white sneakers. I didn’t look anything like myself. This was the look of a college student and not a mafia princess. I grinned, ridiculously happy.
I stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where Luca was pulling a black dress shirt over his chest.
Luca halted when he spotted me, his eyes wandering the length of me.
I twirled around. “And? What do you think?”
“That’s not you,” he said.
“I know.” I grinned. “Nobody will recognize me like this.”
“You look happy,” Luca said quietly as he fastened his gun holster on his chest.
“I am,” I admitted. I’d finally go to college. I’d pretend I was a normal woman, not the wife of the Capo. It was strange that I was on my way to attend college while Luca would be heading out to deal with whatever problems the Famiglia was facing.
He was still tense, so I moved toward him and touched his chest. “Everything will be okay. Romero will be at my side.”
Luca nodded. “He will have to keep his distance now and then so he doesn’t attract attention. You are supposed to blend in.”
“I will,” I said.
Luca touched my wig, his lips twisting. “I miss your hair.”
“It’s only for college,” I assured him. “I’ve been thinking about how to make sure guys keep the distance you want them to.”
Luca’s eyes became attentive.
“Romero could pretend to be my boyfriend. He’s only two years older than me.”
Luca didn’t look convinced. “How would you pull that off?” Jealousy rang in his voice.
“We could hold hands. That would be enough because people will always see us together anyway.”
Luca nodded. “That could work. And I trust Romero with you. He will be respectful.”
I laughed. “He will refuse to hold hands, trust me.” I paused. “Don’t talk to him. I want to take him by surprise later.”
Luca smirked. “You are devious. Romero is loyal. He will lose his shit if you make a move on him.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ll ask him to pretend, that’s all.” I tilted my head. “So it’s okay if I hold Romero’s hand, or if he wraps his arm around my shoulder?” I wanted to make sure Luca could deal with it and wouldn’t make Romero’s life hell for it.
Luca kissed me possessively. “With anyone else, no, but Romero, yes. He knows you are mine.”
Everyone in our world knew I was Luca’s.
I couldn’t stop staring at Romero. He looked like a college student in his dark jeans and checkered shirt. The girls would be throwing themselves at him. He drove us in his own car, a dark gray Dodge Charger.
Romero glanced my way. “I will attend as many courses with you as I can. We will have lunch together, and you won’t walk anywhere without me.”
I sighed. “Yes, I know. We’re practically attached at the hips.”
He parked the car, then got out, but was too late to open my door for me. “Stop it,” I muttered. “Pretend you are my boyfriend and not my bodygu
ard.”
Romero’s eyes widened, and he gave a shake of his head and took a respectful step back.
I held out my hand. “I think it’s the best way to get men to back off, Romero. You are intimidating. Don’t be a coward,” I said teasingly, wiggling my fingers at him.
He eyed them as if they were poisonous snakes about to attack.
Deciding to cut this short, I moved toward him before he had a chance to back away, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward me. Caught by surprise, he rocked forward and steadied himself with a hand on my hip.
My God. The look on his face would bring me through many dark hours in the future. I laughed and he withdrew his hand as if he’d been burnt. “Aria,” he murmured imploringly, tugging at my hand, but I didn’t let go.
“Calm down, Romero. People will get suspicious if you refuse to hold your girlfriend’s hand.”
Anger filled his eyes, and I felt guilty for making him think he was doing something Luca wouldn’t approve of. I released his hand.
I sighed. “I talked to Luca about this. He thinks it’s a good idea if you pretend to be my boyfriend so other men back off.”
Surprise banished the anger. “He said that?”
“Call him,” I urged him, and of course he did. After getting Luca’s okay, he relaxed visibly.
“I told you so,” I muttered.
“Luca is my Capo,” Romero said firmly. “I can’t go against him, especially not when you are involved.”
“I know,” I said, growing frustrated. “I’m well aware that I am your Capo’s possession.”
“You aren’t Luca’s possession. You are his.”
I wasn’t quite sure if there was a difference, and it wasn’t like it still bothered me much. After two years of marriage, I’d come to terms with Luca’s possessiveness. Romero held out his hand with a small smile. “Come on, Aria.”
I flashed him a grin, deciding not to let anything ruin this day for me, and slipped my hand in his, then we walked toward classes. Even without my blonde hair, several guys stared at me. I hadn’t expected it.