Chapter 16
Gio
“Family meeting in five.”
Rory set her book down beside her on the mattress where she was propped up on a mountain of pillows. “I just got out of the hospital this morning. I’m supposed to be resting.”
“And you can rest, feet up and all, in the living room while we have this meeting.”
Annoyance flared in the depths of her sapphire eyes, and she folded both arms over her chest. “I’m more interested in a nap, but you boys have fun plotting how to take over the universe.”
Without another word, I stepped forward until I reached where she lay, and I scooped my wife into my arms.
She batted at my chest, screeching, “Put me down!”
Ignoring her demand, I strode from the room, grunting with the force required not to drop her as she struggled in my hold. Through gritted teeth as we descended the stairs, I bit out, “Stop fighting me. We both know you won’t win.”
The minute the words left my mouth, I silently cursed myself. Because my wife was defiant to a fault.
True to her nickname, my little tigress began clawing at me, and I hissed at the sharp sting as my flesh was torn open, a warm trickle of blood rolling down my neck until it soaked into the collar of my shirt.
Thankfully, we reached the living room before she could cause too much damage, and I dropped her—gently; she was pregnant, after all—onto a chaise lounge.
Arranging her body into a more comfortable position on the piece of furniture, my wife huffed, “This is your family, not mine.”
“The baby in your belly with Bellini DNA would suggest otherwise,” I shot back.
Rory’s eyes narrowed, filled with murderous intent, as she stared up at me. “Right. Can’t forget that I’m practically your surrogate. An unwilling one, at that.”
I bent at the waist, leaning in to cage her in against the cushions. “That’s not how I remember it. In fact, if memory serves, you begged for my pierced cock, moaning like the dirty little slut you are every time I filled you up.”
“I thought you were somebody else!” she screamed in my face.
Straightening, I assessed her agitated appearance. Face flushed and chest heaving with each ragged inhale, she looked sexy as hell, and I couldn’t help the biological response of all my blood rushing south.
Despite clearing my throat, my voice still came out husky. “You might not have consented to the pregnancy, Rory, but don’t try to act as if I forced myself upon you. We both know you were a more than eager participant in our sexual relationship.”
She clapped her hands slowly, spitting out sarcastically, “Wow, congrats. You have a big dick and know how to use it.”
We could go back and forth all day, so I decided to be the bigger person and end it, steering us back on track. “This meeting is mandatory for every adult with the last name Bellini. That includes you, whether you like it or not.”
“Great,” Rory mumbled. “Can’t wait to see what this is all about.”
Thankfully, that was the moment our guests arrived, effectively ending our argument. Matteo entered the room with Summer by his side and Enzo trailing behind them. Rory was quick to notice my cousin hadn’t brought his wife, and mouthed, Mandatory my ass.
Yeah, she was pissed, and I could already see the gears turning behind her eyes, conjuring up all the ways she planned to make me pay.
The next time I went into the bathroom, I’d make sure to throw away my toothbrush because, if I knew Rory, that would be the first thing she went for, using it to clean the toilet.
Summer took a seat beside Rory on the chaise, checking on her after her discharge. Enzo went straight for the wet bar, pouring a few glasses of scotch for the men, and Matteo sidled up to me.
My brother hummed. “I see you decided to double down.”
“Don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” I grumbled.
“Even if we didn’t overhear the two of you going at it before we walked in, she’s too busy shooting daggers at you to even look at Summer.”
I accepted the offer of hard liquor from Enzo. “Didn’t we establish yesterday that I’m not interested in your marriage advice?”
“Oh, goodie, I got here right in time.” My cousin’s glee couldn’t be contained as he nudged my shoulder. “Matteo thinks he’s a marriage guru because he’s tied the knot twice.”
Grunting, I gave my brother a side-eye before sipping my drink. “I’ve noticed.”
“Laugh all you want,” Matteo remarked. “But neither of you can say you’re married to a woman you chose.”
“Which is why you have zero business telling me how to handle my wife. Our marriages are nothing alike. They never will be.”
From my opposite side, Enzo spoke, a wistful lilt to his words.
“Ah, I remember those days. When you’re both spitting mad to the point where you can barely see past the haze of red clouding your vision, nothing more than a couple of bulls with their horns locked in a stubborn stalemate.
Though I’ve gotta say, once you get over the hump, tear each other’s clothes off, and open up your heart, it gets waaaaaaay better. ”
I hitched a thumb over my shoulder, addressing Matteo. “Do I even want to know?”
My brother shrugged. “Might make you look like less of an asshole for abandoning your pregnant wife in the hospital overnight if she hears about how Enzo took a dig at Allie’s weight at their wedding.”
Choking on my sip of scotch, I coughed violently as I swung my wide-eyed gaze to Enzo. “Fuck, did you have a death wish or something?”
He pursed his lips together, nodding. “Actually, yeah. Death would have been preferable to marriage back then.”
I looked between the two men. “Am I missing something?” Because from what I could tell, Enzo was head over heels for his wife. So much so that he decided to excuse her from our family meeting because yesterday’s situation with Rory had been so triggering.
“Uh.” Matteo gripped the back of his neck. “So, you know how Logan is Allie’s father, right?”
“Hard to forget,” I muttered, cutting a glare in Enzo’s direction. I still couldn’t believe that fucker thought it was a good idea to bring the Commissioner’s daughter into our inner circle.
My brother cringed. “When I found out he was to blame for Allegra’s death, I may have—in a moment of weakness—offered him a choice.”
I reared back. “I sure fucking hope it was whether you killed him with a bullet to the head or with a knife slashed across his throat.” Even then, it was far more generous than I would have been with a man who owed our family a life.
“Nope.” Enzo popped the p with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Dumbass over there gave him a chance to live, but only if he agreed to hand over his only daughter in marriage to me.”
“You did what?!” I roared, my outburst causing both women’s heads to turn in our direction.
Since my focus and anger were fully fixed on my brother, Enzo leaned over to add, “Oh, and he did all this without asking me first. I walked in expecting a murder and walked out betrothed to the enemy’s daughter. Fun stuff.”
“Jesus,” I hissed at Matteo. “I told you love is a weakness.”
“Was the purpose of this meeting to bicker with each other while insulting the people who actually like their spouses?” Rory’s voice called over from the opposite side of the room. “Because if so, I’d like to go back upstairs.”
Enzo snickered. “She’s so spicy. What’s not to love?”
“Shut your mouth before I cut out your tongue,” I growled.
Matteo lifted a challenging eyebrow. “Are you done yet, or shall I escort the lovely Rory to her bedroom?”
Draining my scotch, relishing the burn as it scorched a path down my throat, I stepped to the center of the room, commanding the attention of my family.
“As you’re all aware, we are under attack.
Dario Bellini, my father’s own fucking brother, is attempting to claim the mantle of Don for himself.
For years, he’s been working behind the scenes, brokering partnerships with our enemies to undermine my authority.
His blatant disregard for the code that protects the women and children of made men makes him an extremely dangerous threat.
Though his numerous efforts to eliminate us have been unsuccessful, he shows no signs of backing down, yet the coward refuses to show his face. ”
“Because he knows the minute he does, he’s a dead man,” Enzo muttered.
“Exactly,” I agreed. “So it falls to us to find a way to draw him into the light so we can take him out, once and for all.”
“How do you propose we do that?” Matteo asked.
My lips curved into a devious grin. “Simple. In the past, he’s tried picking us off, one by one, but it’s been about as effective as throwing darts blindfolded.
He keeps missing. What if we provide him with a golden opportunity, one that’s too good to pass up?
A chance to take out the opposing bloodline in one fell swoop?
” I paused, making sure all eyes were on me before continuing.
“So what I’m proposing is that we make a giant spectacle of inviting the entire organization to celebrate the holiday season and the upcoming arrival of my heir.
Put ourselves on display, which will hopefully entice Dario to make a move. ”
Rory was the first to speak. “You want to set a trap.”
“Yes. I’ve racked my brain, and it’s the only thing I can think of that will guarantee he comes out of hiding. But I need all of you on board. This doesn’t work if even one of us is missing. He won’t show if there’s the possibility of leaving loose ends.”
Summer gnawed on her lower lip. “What about our girls?”
“Your children won’t be put in harm’s way,” I reassured her.
“Just ours.” Rory scoffed, palming her rounded stomach. “Loving this plan.”
Enzo covered his mouth, hiding his smile at my wife’s sarcasm.
Matteo focused on the logistics. “While homefield advantage is attractive, we can’t host the event here. If we do, Dario will see right through our plan.”