Chapter 25 #3
“That’s delightfully evil and so smart,” I admit.
“It’s a random idea, but damn if it doesn’t work perfectly,” Shiloh grins.
“Do you think they’ll let us see the house now?” Rosa asks cautiously. “Also, are we really planning to stay in Savannah long term? Should we buy this house?”
“One, thank you for saying ‘we’. We're planning to put your name on the deed. Second, my wife’s life is here,” Nico says, taking her hand as she moves closer to us.
“I was considering living part of the year in Michigan, and part here. I don’t know how this will all work yet, because if I’m cutting my losses in Michigan, there won’t be a reason for me to live there anymore.
Either way, we need a home in Savannah.”
Easton doesn’t give Rosa a chance to reply to that before he announces that he just finished speaking to the owners of the house, and they’re willing to let us tour it.
Silas shoos us out the door, insistent that he’ll finish cleaning up.
I swear, these men are saints. I know Pack Tremaine will undoubtedly help as well, but they have no problem hosting people at their home.
Dare I say it, I think they really enjoy it.
Walking out of the back gate, Easton walks with us down the street toward the house.
Nico’s fingers reach out for Rosa’s and she slides her hand in his without thinking.
When people are actually meant for each other, I’ve heard that the bond has a way of smoothing out their bullshit.
Ciro’s arm wraps around Pablo’s waist, and they begin to speak softly with each other as we walk.
At least we’re all dressed for the most part.
Dario’s hand on mine makes me jump, and I turn my head to find he’s falling into step beside me.
“A penny for your thoughts, micina?”
“They’re worth more than a penny,” I sniff, letting him tug me closer. “Why the sudden urge to buy property?”
“Roots,” he grunts. He speaks quietly as we lag behind the group, and his arm sits over my shoulders, a weight that doesn’t make me want to push him over.
“They’re important, and that's what we’re planting here in Savannah as we court you and Rosa.
We may as well show you we’re serious, Verona.
Nico mentioned Rosa’s name will be on the deed.
While it’ll be in a way no one can find it, it’s no less true.
Everyone in this pack will own this house, and the business Pablo sets up will be the same.
Nico’s bond sickness is a reminder that we aren’t temporary, and we’ve been going about this the wrong way.
“Instead, today we are building for our future, micina. Even if our family remains the six of us forever, that’s enough. The rental is too quiet, and I even miss Nico’s restless walking throughout the night.”
“He wasn’t sleeping at all?” I ask, finally allowing myself to lean into his body. His scent is softer since he’s a beta, but I find it calming. I don’t know him very well, but I can tell he loves his brothers.
Familial love isn’t something I know very much about, but I can recognize it in how the Domino brothers go to bat for each other.
“No. Ciro or I would sit with him until he’d manage to get to sleep.
Sometimes, that meant plying him with alcohol to do it.
Don’t tell Pablo. His birth father was a drunk.
It’s why we won’t have more than a glass around him, and we won’t do whiskey,” Dario divulges.
“Nico’s been twisted up by Rosalia since he met her.
It happened quietly, until his every nerve ending screamed for her.
That’s what last night was about. The screaming wouldn’t stop.
“So today, we build our future, and put away childish things.”
“Oh?” I ask, looking up at him through my lashes. He gazes down at me, somehow keeping us from tripping on anything.
His words feel ominous and heavy, yet a glimpse of a smile is on his lips.
“You and Rosa were always inevitable, we simply didn’t understand that. I’m changing tactics, protecting financial assets, and making them viable so we can win a war that’s ultimately about who we get to love.”
“Wow.” For someone who usually has a witty comeback for every Domino brother, I definitely don’t have any now.
“Even better, we’re going to rip all the assets the Accetta family has, leaving them to believe they have more than they have,” he growls.
“Renzo Accetta will die destitute for the sin of selling his only child for more power, and there’s nothing he can fucking do about it.
I don’t think Rosa knows about this yet.
Let’s call it a gift to our omega, shall we? ”
He gently helps me past the home’s privacy gate as the owner holds it open for us, while I sit with this new information. Dario reminds me to watch my step and to pay attention to my surroundings, and only then do I snap out of it.
Pack Domino is playing for keeps, and they just might be able to make me fall in love with them all simply by doing the best thing you could ever do for them: accepting someone for who they are.