Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
With Daniella’s hand in mine, we go downstairs and follow the noise of people.
She wasn’t wrong. Her family is fucking loud.
I’ve never met her extended family. I’ve never spent much time in this country.
I met Daniella when her father came to Vegas years ago to do some business with my father. We were both still in high school.
Ever since then, every time her father or brother would visit the States, she would tag along and we’d fool around. It was never anything serious, until the last time. I decided to tell her I wanted more. She didn’t, or she didn’t think she could have more.
My hand tightens around hers when the memory of her walking away from me, from us, flickers through my mind. I’m not letting her go again. I don’t care what I have to do to keep her. I’m going to do it.
When we enter the dining room, the table is covered in food and just about every seat has a body in it. The room that was loud-as-fuck goes deadly silent.
“What?” Daniella asks.
One by one, all four of her uncles stand up. And then they’re approaching us with very unreadable expressions. Daniella goes to step in front of me. Is she serious right now? I do not and will not ever need to cower behind my fucking wife.
Letting go of her hand, I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her against my side. “Do not ever put yourself between me and a bunch of pissed off men,” I tell her.
“They’re not pissed at me,” she shoots back. “And they’re not going to do anything to me.” Then she turns to her uncles. “Before any of you say anything, Dad gave his blessing and, well, he’s the boss so you all just have to deal with this new development of me being grown and all.”
One of her uncles holds out a hand in my direction. “Santo. Thank you,” he says.
I blink but return the gesture. “CJ,” I say. “Not sure what you’re thanking me for, though.”
“For stepping between my niece and a bullet. Not too many people would do that,” the guy says.
Then another uncle steps up. “I’m Vin, the cool uncle, also the one she likes the most. If you break her heart, I’ll cut yours out of your chest and send it to your father,” he says.
I smile at the threat. “I’m not going to break her heart,” I tell him. “It’s nice to meet you, but Daniella did tell me that her favorite uncle was… Shit, who was it, babe? Uncle Gabe?”
Daniella smiles and goes along with my lie. “That was supposed to stay between us.”
“Shit, sorry. Guess the cat is out of the bag now, huh?” I add.
“Well, what can I say? My niece has impeccable taste. I’m Gabe.” A third man extends a hand towards me.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Okay, this is bullshit. Daniella, clearly, you were not in your right mind when you said that. There is no way Gabe is cooler than me,” her Uncle Vin says.
“Not cooler, no. But just… less grouchy.” This comes from Rosie.
“Fine. Willow, I’m still your number one, right?” Vin turns to a younger De Bellis sitting at the table.
“Always, Uncle Vin,” the girl replies with a big smile.
“I’m Marcel. Welcome to the family,” the last of her uncles introduces himself.
“Thank you.”
“Okay, let me introduce you to the rest.” Daniella takes me closer to the table.
“Aunt Daisy, Aunt Zoe, Aunt Aria. Then that’s Ares—you met him—and his sister Cara.
” She points to a girl sitting next to Ares.
“Then there is Luciano, Christian, and Willow. They belong to uncle Gabe and Aunt Daisy.” Moving along the table, Daniella keeps pointing.
“Roman and Kirra, those two belong to Uncle Santo and Aunt Aria.”
There is a lot of fucking family here. I don’t tell her I already knew the faces and names of every single one of them. Instead, I nod politely.
“Okay, sit down and tell us all about this impromptu wedding of yours,” Daisy says.
“There’s not much to tell. We decided we wanted to be married so we made it happen,” Daniella explains.
“Just like that.”
“Wait… What was that story, Daniella? The one Mum tells us about how Uncle Gabe and Aunt Daisy were married an entire year before anyone knew?” Aurelio asks.
“Oh, yeah, I remember that. Mum was pissed about not knowing her best friend was married to her brother-in-law,” Daniella says.
“I knew,” Vin chimes in. “Cool uncle and all.”
“That was different,” Daisy insists. “He was… away.”
Away being jail. Daniella’s Uncle Gabe did a year in prison back in the day. His hands are pretty clean now. He handles the family’s more legitimate businesses. But I’m sure it wasn’t an easy time, being locked up and not being able to see your wife.
The thought of being kept away from Daniella now has me holding her hand under the table tighter. She turns to look at me. She leans over until her mouth is next to my ear. “You okay?”
“Mhmm,” I mutter.
“So, Uncle G is really okay with this? How’d you get that to happen?” Luciano asks.
“He likes CJ.” Daniella shrugs.
“He tolerates me,” I correct her. “He just knows I will do anything to protect her.”
“How long are we on lockdown for?” The question comes from Cara.
“No idea, but none of you are to leave this house.” Santo points at the younger generation of De Bellises.
Ares snorts. “Yeah, okay.”
“I’m serious. Vin, get your heathens under control. They can’t leave.”
Suddenly a knife is being thrown across the table, flinging right past Santo’s head and hitting the wall behind him.
“Call my kids heathens again and the next one will hit an eye,” Vin says in an eerily calm voice. Daniella’s Aunt Cammi says something to her husband and his whole demeanor shifts, turning from serial-killer creepy to happy and easygoing. “Sorry, Santo.”
“Thank you, Cammi,” Santo says.
“Okay, well, this heathen is going to go score the best guestroom.” Cara stands up.
“I’m coming! Us heathens need to stick together after all,” Ares says, directing his words to Santo. “Also, Zara is going to be here any minute now.”
“Zara’s coming over?” Daniella asks.
“Well, if I can’t leave, she has to,” Ares explains.
“Right, obviously.” Daniella shakes her head. “Okay, well, this has been fun. You all know where the bedrooms are. I’m going to bed.” Daniella pushes up from her seat. “You coming with me?”
“Is that an actual question?” I ask, standing beside her.
“Actually, I need a word with your husband,” Santo says, then shakes his head. “Fuck, that’s weird as shit.”
“Fine, but don’t keep him long,” Daniella tells him before leaving the room. Rosie jumps up and trails behind her sister.
“Come with me.” Santo stands and walks out into the hallway, followed by Marcel.
I’m not far behind them. We all end up in an office.
“Is it just me or does it feel like he’s watching?” Marcel asks, looking around the room.
“He?” Santo questions.
“Gio.”
“Oh, he’s watching.” I chuckle.
“How do you know?”
“He called me a little bit ago. Told me to get out of his daughter’s room. He’s watching.” I shrug.
“Well, if he’s watching, he can watch me drink his whiskey.” Marcel strolls over to the wet bar and picks up a bottle of Cinque.
“Don’t you all own that label?” I ask him.
“Yep, but this particular blend is Gio’s favorite, and we’re down to about ten bottles,” Marcel replies while holding the glass in the air.
The door opens and Ares walks in. Santo looks over at him. “Find anything?”
“I might be a heathen, but I’m no amateur,” Ares retorts. “I got him on street cams in the city. Checked into the Plaza about six hours ago.”
“The fucking asshole after Daniella?” I question.
“Yep.”
“Okay.” I turn and make my way to the door. I have a hotel to get to.
“Whoa, hold up!” Santo calls out.
“What?”
“You can’t go out on your own. And you’re not going in blind without a plan,” he tells me.
“One: You’re my wife’s uncle, and for that reason, I will give you the respect that title deserves.
Two: You’re not my boss. You don’t get to tell me what to do.
That asshole has made numerous attempts on my wife’s life.
I am not sitting back and doing nothing while he plots a third attempt,” I tell him.
“Shit, kids got balls.” Marcel laughs.
“If you’re going, I’m coming,” Santo says.
“Fine.” I shrug. Pulling out my phone, I create a group message with Aiden, Elias, and Aunt Lailani.
Me:
He’s checked into the Plaza. Heading there now.
Elias:
Meet you there.
Aiden:
I’m with him.
Aunt Lailani:
Don’t any of you go in before I get there.
Putting my phone away, I step out of the office at the same time a piercing scream fills the entire house. My blood goes cold and I run towards the sound.
“Aurelio!” Rosie. Shit, what the fuck?
I find her in the kitchen, her hands covered in blood.
“Aurelio!” she screams again.
“Rosie? What happened? Where’s Daniella?” I grab her arms and run my eyes over her body but don’t see any wounds. “He… he took her,” she says, and the world spins under my feet.
“What?” I look behind her.
There’s a door that’s been left open, blood around the handle. Stepping past Rosie, I run towards the door and down the stairs to the basement.
“Daniella!” My voice echoes into the darkness And that’s the only thing I hear.