Chapter 13
MASSIMO
Well, this is a great first impression. I bite back a snarl of annoyance myself. I glance down to see Lucy staring at the room in shock, her mouth hanging open, and both hands covering the baby now. Shock and a bit of fear fill her eyes. Shit.
“Enough!” I bellow sharply, pissed. The last thing I want is Lucy scared. The sound of my voice seems to startle Soren as well, who lets out a startled cry of his own. Lucy quickly shushes him, before glaring up at me. I give her an apologetic look before looking back at the room.
The room has gone quiet, but Hades comes rushing over.
He stops in front of Lucy, his butt wiggling with excitement, and a pleading look on his face as he gently sniffs at Soren in the sling.
I look back at the others and pin them with a warning look, and they at least have the decency to look apologetic and ashamed.
Well, other than Rori, who takes the opportunity to glare daggers at Alonzo before focusing back on Lucy.
Pretty much everyone is here, minus Nico and Gia, Papa, Aurelio, and Zeno. Though Zeno should be down any minute since I was only just ahead of him.
The only sound is Soren’s soft, angry cries, and I hear Lucy trying to soothe him.
Sofia is the first to recover and says warmly, “Good morning, darling. Come in and have a seat so you can get something to eat. You must be starving.” Then she pins the room as a whole with a hard, warning glare.
“Everyone will behave themselves, I promise.” Her eyes linger briefly on Rori and Alonzo, who both refuse to look at each other, but dip their heads in acknowledgment.
Lucy doesn’t look convinced, and instead looks down at Hades, who is gently nudging Soren with his nose as if to comfort him.
She bends down slightly to pet his head, but Hades mostly ignores her to nuzzle at the small part of Soren’s head that’s now exposed.
Soren stops crying, and his head turns slightly to look at the dog.
The two of them stare at each other, and a small smile pulls at my lips.
Clearly the two are enamored with each other.
Now to try and calm down his mother.
“Hades,” Rori says gently, making the dog look back at her with an expression I can only call annoyance. “Come on, let them in.” Hade’s chuff is loud, but he moves his big body to Lucy’s side, looking up at her with a hopeful expression.
Lucy smiles at him and gives him a quick pat. “You’re the welcome committee, huh?”
“He adores children and he’s always gentle despite his size,” Rori assures her, moving around the table toward us. “He’s probably going to sit beside or behind you to make sure Soren’s good the entire time.”
“Is that his name? Soren?” Sienna suddenly asks as she carefully moves forward, watching Lucy with a curious expression.
Lucy blinks at her. “Like looking in a mirror isn’t it?
” Sienna grins. “Don’t worry, it was a shock for me too when I met Gia.
We could be triplets. Add in Amara, who looks a little different but close enough, and people might not be able to tell us apart.
” Amara moves to stand next to Sienna, and Lucy’s eyes widen.
Amara gives her a warm smile. “Hi.”
“Gia and Nico will be down soon enough,” I tell Lucy gently. She doesn’t look at me, too enthralled with her sister and cousin.
“I say we put them in matching shirts with numbers on them so we can tell them apart,” Urso jokes. “Make sure no one messes them up.”
Some of the tension in the room eases, but Lucy looks both terrified and fascinated. “How about we all sit down to have something to eat?” I suggest, gently putting my hand on Lucy’s lower back. “And there won’t be anything else.” I pin Rori with a hard look, which she ignores. Same with Alonzo.
Lucy doesn’t argue and allows me to lead her over to the table, sitting her in the seat next to me, with Rori on her other side, and Hades sticking his head between the arm chairs, his face resting close to Soren’s in the sling.
The door opens once more and in walks Papa, Aurelio, and Zeno, all three of whom look grim and tired.
I want to ask them what’s going on, but I see the moment they clock Lucy and Soren.
All three of them give her warm smiles. “Ms. Taylor,” Papa says welcomingly, rounding the table to hold out his hand to her.
“Welcome, cara mia. I hope you’re well rested.
You and the bambino,” he adds when he looks down at Soren.
“Better, thank you,” Lucy says shyly.
“You’ll be much more rested in a few days. I am Pietro Caruso, this one’s father.” He claps me on the shoulder. “When he doesn’t annoy me. Then I only claim one of his other brothers. I like to make sure they all don’t get big heads.”
“You failed spectacularly with Alessio then,” Rori quips, earning laughter from Sienna and others at the table. Alessio just rolls his eyes at her.
“Nice to meet you,” Lucy murmurs.
“And I am Aurelio Cattaneo,” Aurelio says warmly, gently taking her hand in both of his to shake it.
“You have met Sofia and Alonzo, I heard. Urso and Lazaro are my other sons.” He winks at her.
“And if any of them, even the Carusos give you a problem, you just let me know and I’ll handle them.
” He smiles at the baby. “What is the bambino’s name? ”
“Soren.” She adjusts herself slightly to pull the wrap a bit further away from the baby’s face. The baby looks up at Aurelio with a serious expression, and Aurelio grins.
“A strong name and face for a strong boy,” Pietro agrees. He and Aurelio take their seats, but give all of us a quick look to let us know we have things to discuss once we’re done with our meal.
A benefit for Lucy, I imagine, considering we’ve never hidden things from the women before.
Plates are passed around as everyone talks, mostly about mundane things, but I’m careful to watch Lucy. She quietly eats, taking everything in with assessing eyes. Even Soren is quiet, maybe sensing his mother’s unease.
Finally, I lean closer to Lucy and ask, “Are you alright, dolcezza?”
She glances at me. “Just processing.”
I nod. “It’ll get easier.”
“If you say so.”
I’m not sure how to convince her otherwise, so I leave it be. It’s been less than twenty-four hours. She’ll come around.
“Lucy, what is it that you do?” Amara asks suddenly. She’s positioned almost directly across from her, with Lazaro’s hulking form beside her, arm slung over the back of her chair.
“I work at a bookstore, but I’m on maternity leave for a few more weeks.” Soren lets out a low sigh, making me grin. Perfect comedic timing. I think he and I are going to get along well. Rori grins as well.
“Oh, Gia is going to be so excited,” Sienna predicts brightly. She gives Alessio a pointed side-eyed look. “Her husband gave her two libraries full in this place.”
Alessio grins wickedly. “I can give you that as well, conigletta, but I thought you would much prefer a row of knives. We both know you love those more. I even have a few in mind we can try out.”
Sienna gives him a heated look, and I see Lucy looking at them curiously. “Don’t ask unless you want to know, dolcezza,” I murmur with a grin. “There’s a history there.”
“I’m pretty sure that has to do with the picture Rori showed us last night.”
I blink, while Rori bursts out laughing. “You would be correct,” Rori agrees. She winks at her. “Everyone’s kinky around here. Makes things interesting.”
I have half a mind to ask her about her own experiences, but the dark look from Alonzo makes me keep my mouth shut. We agreed no more shouting or throwing things.
“What do I get two of?” Amara asks Lazaro curiously, her eyes bright with laughter.
“You’re going to have to work hard to top libraries and weapons.
” Lazaro gives her a slow, devilish smile, making her flush.
He leans down to whisper something in her ear, and her eyes widen, her blush deepening.
“Oh, uh, yeah, that works,” she finally manages to get out.
“Nauseating, isn’t it?” Rori mutters to Lucy, but I give her a bland stare. She ignores me.
Lucy smiles genuinely. “It’s nice. Clearly, everyone here is comfortable with each other.” There’s a wistfulness in her voice. Is she missing her husband? I find myself wondering just what her relationship with him was. Was he good to her? Did his dying devastate her?
“Sofia, what about you and Dante?” Rori suddenly asks, a devious grin on her face. “What did your man give you?”
The room instantly goes silent as we all turn our glares on the man beside Sofia, eating quietly, and without a care in the world.
Dante Esposito isn’t good enough for our sister, and the fact that Sofia never told any of us about him is evidence enough.
Not to mention, we all know men like Dante.
He’s going to string her along until he’s married off by Nico, or falls for someone else, and I’m not going to stand by and let him hurt her.
He just holds our stares, silent. Sofia gives us all warning looks, and then her lips pull up into a sly grin. “Multiple orgasms a night,” she tells Rori smugly. “Pretty sure the staff would kiss his feet if they knew. Makes me a bit more mellow.”
Anger and disgust war. I don’t need to fucking know that. Dante’s expression remains neutral, even as we all glare at him with promises of retribution. One of these days we’re going to beat the shit out of him. Nico’s UnderBoss or not.
“Sofia,” Aurelio chastizes.
Sofia shrugs. “She asked, I answered. We’re all adults here.” The word adults is enunciated.
I glance at Lucy, who looks like she’s not sure if she should be worried or laugh. “Why is everyone upset at her answer exactly?” Lucy whispers to me finally.
“Because she’s our sister and he’s not good enough for her.”
She blinks and then she rolls her eyes at me. “So, what, you want her to be unhappy the rest of her life?”
“No, but she deserves someone who will treat her like a queen and not something disposable.”
She looks at Sofia and Dante and then shakes her head.
“He’s got a hand on her back in silent support, and he’s subtly just handed her something off his plate that she wanted without her asking.
He also isn’t fighting her battles for her, he’s letting her take the lead.
You’re all blind if you can’t see that he worships her.
If I were to guess, I’d say she’s the one that’s keeping him from committing fully.
Probably with all of you here she’s torn with keeping you guys happy and him. ”
That gives me pause. I turn my head, and I barely catch the way Dante strokes her back before he drops his hand. I also just catch the way Sofia shifts slightly into him, trusting him. Unease and understanding dawn, warring together in one uncomfortable sensation.
Have we been wrong? We all just assumed that he wasn’t serious about her for more than a fling.
Sofia might not have mentioned him as a partner, but we all made it our jobs to keep tabs on her.
Alessio was the first one to figure it out, though I’m still not sure how.
Now, I’m wondering if I should be looking at this closer.
We’re not going to be here forever, and we can’t protect her if we’re across the sea.
“Yeah, see, that’s what happens when you let your testosterone overrule common sense,” Lucy lightly chides as she finishes her food. “You miss the clues that are right in front of your face. Even the ones you deliberately try to ignore.”
“Hmmm.” It’s the only concession I’m willing to give.
“Amara, could I get you to give me a quick trim today?” Urso suddenly asks, distracting everyone from the tension in the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sofia relax.
Shit. Lucy might be right. A small trickle of guilt stirs.
“Sure,” Amara replies with a smile. Lazaro shoots his brother a warning look, which Urso promptly ignores. “A few of the soldiers were wanting some trims too I think, but I’ll put you down first.”
“Like fuck,” Lazaro growls, jealousy making his eyes flash and expression darken.
Amara gives him a warning glare. “I’m not doing this again, you neanderthal.”
“Is it always like this?” Lucy asks me quietly as the two of them argue. I glance at Urso who looks pleased with himself, and Alessio grins at him knowingly. Bunch of shit disturbers.
“It’s a whole new dynamic for most of us. I imagine this will be the new normal. In case you haven’t noticed, we Italians are passionate people. Even if it’s with jealousy and anger.”
“Yeah, I’m noticing that.”
Soren lets out an angry sound, and we both look down to see him staring at us, eyes open and clear, his little hand swiping at the swaddle in his face.
I smile at him. He’s a cute child. Eyes that are already starting to lighten to his mother’s hazel, a cute button nose, and round face.
He makes another sound and Lucy scoots her chair back.
Expertly, she undoes the swaddle to pull him free and into her arms, settling him into the crook of her arm at a high enough angle that he can look around.
His little arms and legs kick with excitement and I grin.
“He’s adorable,” Rori grins, reaching out so his little hand can grip her finger tightly.
“He’s a really good baby,” Lucy says proudly. “The doctor said he’s really healthy and thriving. Other than waking me up every four hours to eat. That’s a bit of an adjustment.”
“He’s got a grip on him too,” Rori laughs. “Does he like to pull hair?”
“He’s not at that stage yet, but I imagine he will be.”
“Amara could cut your hair into one of those sexy bobs so he can’t grab it as easily,” Rori points out, which distracts Amara and Lazaro from their argument.
Before Amara can answer, the door opens and in walks Gia and Nico. Gia looks tired but a bit more alert, while Nico looks tall, dark, foreboding, and the second he sees Lucy and Soren, his eyes narrow suspiciously.
I give him a dark, warning look that he ignores. Gia also sees her and her eyes widen, before a quick sad flash, and a soft smile. Lucy looks at her sister carefully, but when her eyes move back to Nico, she tightens her grip on Soren, pulling him in closer to her protectively.
Well, this should be interesting.