Luca scoffs. “I’ll take you down in a heartbeat, sis.”
“You’re not as badass as you think you are.”
Luca straightens. “Well, someone thinks I am.” He glances over at Salvatore who seems to have a sixth sense for when people are talking about him because he looks back, his eyes narrowing slightly.
I freeze. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m in.”
“In? In what?” I know what he’s going to say, but I pray it’ll be something else, anything else.
“Uncle is finally giving me a position.”
“No! Luca. Don’t! There’s so much else you can do in life. Don’t get caught in his claws too. I’m losing everybody! I’m gonna fucking murder him!”
Matteo turns to us. “That sounds interesting. Who’re you gonna murder?”
“No one,” I mutter.
“Uncle!” says Luca, cheerily.
“Oh, well, good luck with that.” Matteo looks over at Eric Reed and Ivan Sokolov who sit close to Uncle, and well within hearing distance.
Eric looks up and meets my gaze and I blush furiously. I glance at his Anna, and then back at the devastatingly handsome enforcer. I wouldn’t have declined a night with him, had he been single, but fuck me, who chooses to live with him? She must be pretty damn spectacular.
Life can change in a flash. I take in Salvatore and this Chloe by his side. They laugh and sit with their heads together, whispering to each other. She looks content. He looks… happy.
The toastmaster, a guy named Charlie Bourne, stands.
“The mothers have spoken. The Godfathers, or whatever, from Sicily has spoken. The friends and the brothers have spoken. I give the floor to Miss Angela Russo, Christian’s sister!”
He extends a hand to me and I stand. My heart pounds, I hate that all eyes are suddenly on me. I’ve tried to fly under the radar for so many years, and here I am, in the dragon’s den despite my efforts. I wipe my sweaty palms on my skirt, smoothing out the little wrinkles.
“Christian. My brother, my idol, and my greatest supporter. I never thought I’d see the day when you settled down. When I heard you found the one, in the most impossible way imaginable, I honestly didn’t believe it at first, but you’ve always had a good heart, deep down. You didn’t see it yourself, but I knew it, and Kerry knew it. I want to thank you—” I turn to Kerry, “from the bottom of my heart, for saving my brother even though I know it’s not what you thought you did at the time.” Kerry’s smile widens and lights up the room. “You have the most beautiful daughter and—” I glance at her glass of wine that I’ve noticed comes from another bottle than the rest of us gets, “I hope to see many more little Russos, because by God, you make cute kids! I also hope to see you in New York. Lots!”
“We hope to see you in San Fran a lot more,” shouts Christian and winks.
I cut Uncle a quick glance and he looks creepily satisfied. If he has plans, I’m out of here!
“New York,” I say. “I offer up Nathan and Sydney’s place. They have plenty of space.”
“Not for long,” says Nathan and lays a hand on Sydney’s belly. She slaps it away and glances around the table, a blush spreading on her cheeks.
“Get out of here!” I squeal. “Congrats!”
“You weren’t supposed to,” she hisses, loud enough for us all to hear. “Not yet. God!”
Nathan laughs. “I got carried away by the mood.”
“I propose a toast to the happy couple,” I say and raise my glass. “I love you, Christian. I’ll be your new best friend, Kerry. You’ll see a lot of me! To love and eternal happiness!”
Nathan stands, as does Matteo, Luca, and Salvatore, then everyone follows.
“To love,” says everyone in a thunderous sound as they raise their glasses.
When the happy couple’s noses have been dipped in cream and the cake has been eaten, we all stand. I rush over and grab Luca’s arm, pulling him with me.
“You are not gonna work for Uncle!”
“Why so sour, sis? Jealous?”
“Fuck’s sake, no! He’s a murderer and a cruel beast. You’re dooming yourself. You’ll regret this!”
He gives me a quick hug. “I’ll always be your brother, Ang. This is who I am. It’s what I’ve wanted my whole life. Bianca has treated me like a kid. Luci has treated me like a kid. I’m finally being acknowledged.”
“There are other ways to get respect, bro.”
“Not for me, there isn’t. We were born for this. You were born for this.”
“I am—” A shadow towers over us and I spin around, staring at the broad chest of Uncle Salvatore. Fuck! “I’m gonna fucking murder you!” I snarl. “Don’t pull Luca into your business too. Take me instead!”
Salvatore laughs and grabs my arm while he looks at Luca. “I’ve been meaning to have a word with your little spitfire of a sister, may I borrow her for a while?”
Luca throws out his arms and turns to the young Italian girl next to him. “I don’t think we have met. I’m Luca. I’m one of Salvatore’s closest men.”
I groan and then I’m pulled to the side by my uncle, one of the most feared men in the US. To me the most feared man in the universe.
“Please, don’t take Luca,” I say as he leads me through the house, into an empty room.
Letting me go, he leans against the wall and crosses his arms over his chest, giving me a once-over. “I’m not ‘taking’ Luca. He’s been a pain in the ass for years, begging me to take him in. I finally got in the mood and granted him his wish.”
“You’ll have him killed.”
He leans closer. Too close for comfort. “Between you and me, Angela, he’ll never be a killer, and I have no use for his whimsy ass on the field. He doesn’t know the back from the front of a fucking gun. I’ll have him manage something he can handle. Don’t worry so much. I’ll see if Matteo can teach him some tech, intel. It’ll make him happy and make him feel important.”
I gape. “Since when do you care about making people happy?”
“Such bitterness from someone so young. How’s the photography business?”
“Good,” I say, a bit apprehensive, waiting for the blow, praying someone will come and take me away from here.
“Good, good. You doing good? Are you happy?”
I frown. This isn’t anything like what I assumed would happen. “I am. I’m selling. I’ve got an exhibition coming up. I’m living my dream.”
“I’m glad to hear it Angela. I hope you’ll visit again.”
I hesitate, then I say it. “Do you want to come to the exhibition? Maybe…” I lick my lips, “bring someone.”
He looks me over, doesn’t answer, then he smiles. “That sounds like a good idea. I’d like that. Have a nice rest of the evening. I’d love to talk more but the house is full of guests, and I am the host.” He pulls me into a hug, patting me on my back. “Don’t be so afraid of me, Angela. You’re my flesh and blood. I’d never hurt you. I’ll never force you into something.”
I inhale shakily as he pulls away and holds me at arm’s length. “You’ve changed.”
He tilts his head in a slight acknowledgement.
“Is it Chloe?”
“You’re observant.”
“It isn’t hard to see, the way the two of you look at each other.”
“She’s one of a kind.”
“I bet.”
“Take care of her,” I say.
Salvatore pinches my cheek and then cups it.
“Always.”
He smiles. He does look happy. Content. Winds of change are sweeping through this clan. Christian has his Kerry. Nathan has Sydney. Eric found Anna. Uncle has Chloe. Me, I’m suddenly one of the family and can let my fears go. There are children, and a lot more on the way.
I don’t know what this will mean for us all, but I do know an era has come to an end, that darkness is being replaced with light and life. I sense a new beginning, and it’s good. It’s really good.
The End
Acknowledgments
Thank you, team Blushing Books, especially my ever-supportive editor Sandra Havro, and Eris Adderly for your edible covers!
This book concludes the Russo Saga. Bad men, women who refuse to bend, rough sex, angst, violence, kidnappings, but also babies, marriages, hope, love, and happily ever afters.
I feel such affection for all my heroes and heroines:
Nathan and Sydney, Eric and Anna, Carmen and Lucas, Christian and Kerry, and Luciano and Chloe. What a ride it has been! You took me by the hand and pulled me through your whirlwind of a life. I have loved every minute.
Nicolina Martin
Nicolina Martin is a Swedish born author who escapes the long, dark winter nights by writing hot contemporary romance/suspense. She’s a mother of three teenage girls, a medical doctor, a quirky loner, and a social human being. She has traveled the globe, has loved and hated, succeeded and failed, has gone through marriage and divorce. She has seen darkness and despair, as well as light and happiness. All these experiences, she pours into her stories, taking her readers for a wild ride, while twisting their minds. She loves showing that stories can be different even if the trope is the same.
Nicolina believes that life is too short for regrets and in looking forward, no matter what. She wants to enjoy every moment, and cherish life.
To find out more about her, visit her official website at: https://www.nicolinamartin.com/ or follow her on social media:
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Don’t miss these exciting titles by Nicolina Martin and Blushing Books!
Individual Titles
Break My Chains
The Russo Saga
Heat - Book One
Ruin - Book Two
Shame - Book Three
Redemption - Book Four
Absolution - Book Five
Capo - Book Six
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Russo Saga Collection Page 142