Chapter 42
Life of the Gallos
Rico
Ten years later …
“Why won’t any of you tell me where we’re heading?” Oni grumbles from her seat on the private jet.
Emilia is seated beside her, looking like she’s about to burst with the truth. I shake my head as Mario looks at her, ready to laugh. He knows his wife as well as I do.
Emilia would have told Oni everything if Mario hadn’t waited until this morning to tell her. I still can’t believe the two are married. So much has happened in the last ten years.
“Be patient and you will know everything soon enough,” I murmur.
Oni rolls her eyes at me, causing me to chuckle. My wife hates secrets, yet here we are because I know she’s keeping a huge one from me. Something is going on with Oni.
I keep asking her what it is, but every time I ask, she tells me it’s nothing. I know my wife. Something is off.
That’s why I thought some time away would be good for us. I planned this trip for us to relax and get back to basics. Business has been taking over our lives lately. Uncle Emilio relies on us both heavily.
For ten years, we’ve given our all to the family. At thirty-four, I want to start a family and focus more on that. It’s time we create balance.
It was Fredo’s idea for this retreat. When I told all the guys how I’m feeling about slowing down and wanting to be a father, Fredo was quick to offer up ideas.
He and Oni have become closer than ever. Oni saw him through his recovery and made sure to research all the best resources to get him as close to his old self as possible.
“Well, I’m here so you know we’re not going anywhere that involves hiking, rock climbing, or taking long walks,” Fredo says and laughs at his own joke.
Everyone groans as I chuckle, understanding my cousin and his dry humor. Fredo doesn’t always need his wheelchair. However, he gets exhausted when walking long distances and he’s not back to being able to rock climb like he used to.
“What? You guys are not allowed to be offended on my behalf. If I’m not offended by a joke I told, you all need to get over it,” Fredo scoffs.
“This guy,” Al says, and shakes his head.
Fredo winks at me. I give him a nod. His antics have officially changed the subject.
I glance at Oni. She has her head back and her eyes closed. Just like that, she’s fallen asleep.
I stand from my seat and nod for Emilia to switch with me. She gets up and I slip into the seat next to Oni. Tugging her into me, I allow her to rest against me and kiss the top of her head.
I hope this trip to the island is just what we all need, blowing off some steam and getting back to being able to trust each other with the truth. No business, no family, nothing to keep us from connecting the way we should.
Oni
“Oni, you ready?” Rico calls as I stand in the bathroom trying to calm down.
“Give me a minute.”
I sigh as I look at my reflection. I shouldn’t be this annoyed. Rico means well.
I can’t believe he planned this trip without me knowing. I mean, this place is amazing and I’m happy the gang came along, but how did I miss that he’s been planning this behind my back?
To be honest, I’m not angry. Frustrated, yes. Blindsided? Definitely, but not angry. I’m frustrated because he didn’t think to bring any of our men along.
We are never without armed men. I always have at least three of my guys with me. With the deals we’re in the middle of, I don’t think now is the time to go lax.
Then there’s the secret I’ve been keeping from him. A few weeks ago, Emory reached out to me. She may have been my best friend when I was younger, but it’s been years.
I know nothing about her. In all honesty, she and Mason were my closest friends and look where that got me. I just don’t have that same trust anymore.
I almost didn’t agree to meet her for lunch. When I did, she told me Mason and Lorcan have been pulling their old crew together. She thinks they’re going to make a move against me.
I don’t see how they plan to pull that off, but in case she is right, I prefer having our men around. I didn’t tell Rico because he has enough on his plate and I plan to handle it myself.
In fact, I would have been in motion today if my husband hadn’t whisked me away for this surprise vacation. We’re in a whole other country, so for now, I plan to brush it off until I get back.
Rico is right, we do need some time to relax. I can get back to business when we get home. The Sullivan brothers don’t have the means or the balls to come at me.
For all I know, Emory could have been their only play to get me off my game. Instead of being so frustrated, I should probably talk to Rico. However, if I say something now, he’s going to end this much-needed vacation.
Nope, I’m going to enjoy my husband. We can go off when we get home. Whatever the Sullivan brothers think they’re up to, we’ll shut that shit right down.
“Oni, baby, come on,” Rico groans with impatience.
Mind made up, I give myself a nod in the mirror. It’s been so long since Rico and I have kicked back and pretended to be ordinary people.
I turn and head out of the bathroom, ready to enjoy this thoughtful surprise. Rico is standing by the sliding glass doors of the bedroom, shirtless and in a pair of board shorts.
I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around him then kiss his back. He turns to face me and cups my face. Searching my gaze, he sighs in relief when he sees I’m no longer annoyed.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you. This was a great surprise.”
“You’re right. You do have responsibilities I should have thought about. Next time, I will ask what’s on your plate and if you have the time to take a break.”
“Next time?” I tease.
“Baby, we’ve been consumed with business. When was the last time we took a real vacation?”
“Last … oh wait, we had to cancel that. Okay, I see your point.”
He pecks my forehead, then the tip of my nose. I can tell this has been on his mind a lot. I can’t help but wonder why now.
“From now on, spending time with you comes first. I want to start taking trips at least once a month for pleasure, not business.”
“Really? Your promotion is coming soon—when we finish what Emilio has asked of us.
“You’re done. You will be Don. Can you really promise me this?”
He rolls his eyes. “Okay, every other month at least.”
“That sounds fair. Can I ask what brought this on?”
“I want a baby. In the beginning, we said we would wait to let our connection grow. We are stronger than ever. I think it’s time,” he says as he rubs my back.
“You want a baby?” I say with a goofy smile on my face.
“Do you?”
I reach to palm him over his shorts. “You know you didn’t have to bring me all the way here for that. If a baby is what you want, you know how to get one.”
He takes my lips in a heated kiss before I can finish purring the words. I lift on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck. He bends his knees and lifts me into his arms.
I wrap my legs around his waist and hold on tight. Rico slips his hands into my bikini bottoms and palms my ass. We were supposed to be meeting the others at the pool, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
When Rico climbs onto the bed and places me down in the center of it, I know it’s not. He kisses his way down my body, taking his time as he sucks and licks at my skin.
“Rico,” I moan.
“I will never get tired of hearing you call my name,” he groans.
I squirm when he pauses over the tat on my hip and just breathes against it, causing goose bumps to rise across my skin. It’s the gold-and-black crew tat. It took months for me to find an artist who could get the coloring right on my dark skin. I wanted mine to be as vibrant as everyone else’s.
Rico traces the tat with his tongue as he peels off my bikini bottoms and tosses them over his shoulder. He licks his way from my belly button up to the center of my breasts.
He then moves to my lips and kisses me passionately. I grasp his shoulders and kiss him back with just as much passion. Gasping, I buck up from the bed as he sinks into me.
Wrapping my legs around the back of his, I can feel he hasn’t even taken his shorts all the way off. I try to push them down with my feet, but he reaches for my legs and pins them to my chest.
“Oh,” I breathe.
“We’re making a baby before we go back home. I’m going to come so deep inside you, there won’t be any doubt that you’re carrying my baby.”
“Yes, Rico, yes.”
He’s fucking me so hard my scalp is tingling. I can feel him growing harder and harder as he thrusts in and out of me. I can only grab the sheets and cling to them when he sits back on his heels and grabs my waist as he continues to rock into me.
My eyes roll back and my toes curl. I can feel my juices flooding my core. When he reaches for my nub and starts to rub it, my body begins to convulse. I scream so loud, I know everyone in the villa can hear me.
“Fuck, I love it when you come like that. You’re so fucking beautiful. Come on, Oni. Give me one more, baby.”
I want to tell him I don’t think I have it in me as my lids grow heavy and I feel like I’m going to pass out, but he traps my nipple between his lips and keeps pumping into me. Soon, he gets exactly what he’s asking for.
“Rico,” I cry out as I come again.
His hot seed fills me seconds later. Rico pulls out and drags my body on top of his. This time I do fall out.
He wants a baby. I think I’m ready too. I might need to see a doctor for some vitamins. I’ve been tired a lot lately.