Chapter 16
AJ Pov~
"Who is Kale Giordano?" I asked my father and Uncle Matteo.
They were filling me in on the group that had been following us yesterday.
"Luca found out he lives about an hour away.
He has no ties to the Italian Mafia. I would've remembered if there was a Giordano family.
" Matteo unbuttoned his suit jacket before taking a seat beside me in my father's office.
"I sent Giovanni to scope out his house—to see if he lives with anyone or if he's isolated. "
"While Gio handles Kale, we need to shift our focus to the Council. So far they've remained quiet, and that usually means they're brewing something... dangerous." My father's tone was all business now.
The one that meant he wasn't fucking around anymore.
"I thought Kale and the Council were connected, but after going through the files and everything we've gathered, there doesn't seem to be any connection."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I snapped, balling my fists against my thighs. "Now we have two threats against us?"
My anger flared. These fuckers had to be mentally insane if they thought they could come after us and actually walk away victorious.
"We're dealing with it," Matteo said, rolling his eyes. "Right now, let's just be fucking grateful no one has found our house."
Pops' eyes darkened as his mind seemed to race a million miles a minute. He was analyzing every angle. Every possibility. Everything that could threaten his family.
"All we know is that neither side has made a move yet," he said. "If we're going to play this game with the Council, we need to stay three steps ahead. I want to know their next three moves before they even make them."
His gaze landed on me. "AJ, I need you and Marcio to dig up anything you can on the Council. I've already gone through all the files. I want you to hit the streets and talk to some of the men you've seen around."
I frowned. "What? You want us talking to the Italian Mafia out in the open?"
He nodded. "They need to know you aren't afraid of them. Show no fear. Show no mercy. They probably won't know much, but squeeze every piece of information you can out of them."
I leaned back, thinking it over. Drawing them out wouldn't be difficult. Those idiots were terrible at blending in, so spotting them wasn't the problem. The hard part would be getting their attention without causing a public scene. We weren't trying to expose ourselves.
But Pops wanted them to understand that if making a scene became necessary...ee wouldn't hesitate. "Dean and Michel need new clothes," Unc said, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Take them shopping," Pops replied. "If you spot one of their men, leave the boys if you have to. Dean and Michel can handle themselves."
My eyebrows shot up. "Michel's ten, and Dean's thirteen. You're sure they can take care of themselves?"
A barely noticeable smirk tugged at my dad's lips. "I trained those boys myself. They're more than ready." His confidence never wavered. "They don't need weapons. They've been trained to take down men five times their size."
Then his expression hardened again. "You need to focus on the job I'm giving you."
I huffed but nodded. "I got it." A moment of silence passed before I looked between them. "So, what are you guys doing today?" Unc smirked. My dad simply stared back at me. I raised an eyebrow.
That wasn't suspicious at all.
"We have some Council business to take care of," Pops finally said as he stood, buttoning his suit jacket.
Power move.
"We probably won't see you boys until late tonight. Be careful, and call if you need backup." Unc stood as well. I nodded to both of them before heading for the door. The second I stepped into the hallway, I shook my head.
The fact that they wouldn't tell me exactly where they were going only meant one thing. Whoever they were meeting was about to have a very, very bad day. Those two were fucking maniacs.
As I headed toward the kitchen, my stomach growled loudly. Ano V stood at the counter while Damien and Kalani sat on the island stools, shamelessly stealing biscuits the second they thought no one was looking.
"Good morning, figlio," Ano V greeted with a warm smile. (Son.)
"Morning, Ano V." I walked over and kissed her on the cheek before reaching past her and stealing the biscuit right out of Kalani's hand.
"Hey!" she protested, smacking my arm.
I only smirked. "If Mom saw you stealing biscuits, she'd be upset. It's almost breakfast anyway."
Kalani rolled her eyes before hopping off the stool. As she walked past me, she drove her elbow straight into my stomach. "Oof." I doubled over slightly, completely caught off guard.
That actually hurt. I never understood how my dad and Uncle Matteo handled pain so well. Then again...they're fucking beasts. They've been shot, stabbed, cut—hell, probably every injury imaginable. After a while, I guess your body just gets used to it.
Damien stood from his seat as we headed toward the dining room. "That's your crazy-ass sister," he muttered, raising an eyebrow.
"She's your sister too, idiot," I shot back. By the time we sat down, everyone else was already eating. Aunt Yana sat beside me while Antonio took the seat on my other side.
"Stop glaring at Lia and Callie. They need to eat. You're scaring them," my mom scolded Dean and Michel. The boys reluctantly looked back down at their plates, though they still looked irritated.
Antonio leaned toward me. "What'd they do this time?" he whispered.
"Long story short?" I whispered back. "The girls destroyed most of their clothes." Antonio's eyes nearly popped out of his head before he quietly turned back to his breakfast.
"Actually," I said, looking at Dean and Michel, "Marcio and I are taking you shopping today so you can replace everything."
"Why didn't anyone tell me this?" Marcio complained, dropping his fork onto his plate with a loud clink.
The sudden noise made Caterina, sitting beside him, jump. "I just did," I replied flatly.
"What if I had other plans?" he shot back. I snorted. "Calm the fuck down, idiot. Dad and Uncle Matteo gave us a job. Besides, we both know damn well you don't have plans."
"Adriano Niccoli Basilio!"
My mother's voice echoed across the dining room. Yep. I was dead.
"Wait, I got this, sis," Aunt Yana said.
Before I could react-Smack. Her hand connected with the back of my head.
"Ow!" I rubbed the spot more out of instinct than pain.
"Sorry, Ma." I shot Marcio a glare. The asshole only grinned, clearly enjoying every second of me getting chewed out.
"I swear I have to say this every single day," my mom said through gritted teeth. "No cursing in front of the kids."
Her eyes were practically on fire. She was pissed. I swallowed. For as terrifying as my father was...mom somehow managed to scare me more. "Sorry," I mumbled quietly. Kaia burst into laughter at the expression on my face.
Right then, my father and Uncle Matteo walked into the dining room. Perfect timing, maybe Pops could calm her the-
Actually...
No.
The moment Pops sat beside Mom, his eyes immediately studied her expression. Then they followed her glare...straight to me.
Shit.
Adriano Pov~
My amore was giving AJ the look of death.
I had no idea what my son had done this time, but the slight fear in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He deliberately avoided meeting his mother's fiery gaze.
It was reassuring to know that, despite being twice her size, he still feared her. I rested my hand on Gianna's thigh, drawing her attention away from AJ. Her eyes met mine. The fire in them softened, though it hadn't completely disappeared.
I smirked and gave her a wink. She ducked her head, trying to hide the blush creeping across her cheeks. Even after all these years...I could still make my wife blush.
That thought alone was enough to bring a small smile to my face. My attention drifted to the breakfast in front of me. I had no appetite. The sooner today was over, the better. I was meeting someone who might finally confirm what I'd suspected about the Council.
For over fifty years, they'd hidden something. A secret. If my source was right... It would be enough to bring the entire Council crashing down.
And when that happened...my family would finally be free. No more living three steps ahead. No more unnecessary precautions. No more looking over our shoulders.
Winning this game was never my goal. Ending it was. People always assumed war was about defeating your enemy.
It wasn't. It was about making sure they never had the chance to rise again. We still hadn't uncovered the identity of Alessandra's stalker. Whether it was Kale, the Council, or someone else entirely...
We didn't know.
Until we did...my daughter would never be left unprotected. I let out a quiet breath before forcing myself to pick up my fork. If I skipped breakfast, my amore would undoubtedly have something to say about it.
My gaze shifted to Gianna.
She was patiently trying to convince Callie to eat, never once losing that gentle determination that made her who she was.
I smiled to myself. Gianna had changed so much over the years. The shy young woman I'd first met had become a confident, compassionate, and fiercely protective wife and mother.
She was my foundation. The one person who steadied me when everything else threatened to fall apart. She made me stronger. Sharper. Better.
Around her...I wasn't the monster the rest of the world believed me to be. I was simply her husband.
Her amore.
"Callie," I said, fixing my daughter with a firm look. "Eat your breakfast." She sighed dramatically before picking up the muffin from her plate.
My amore leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. "Thank you," she whispered.
As she pulled away, our eyes met. Her warm chocolate-brown eyes locked onto mine for only a moment, yet it was enough to stir the familiar ache of wanting her closer.
I reluctantly looked away. There would be another time.
Right now... The Council came first.
Gianna Pov~
"Mommy, can I go play now?" Callie whispers to me, as she secretly takes glances to her father who was engrossed in conversation with Matteo and Leo across the table.
I nod my head and kiss her forehead. "Remember your punishment. No playing with Lia." I remind her in a soft voice. She nods and hops off the chair and walks out the room, Kaia and Kalani following after her.
I turned back to my own food and smiled a little finally able to eat. I felt Adriano warm rough hands on my thigh, as he rubbed small circles.
I was trying to listen to Mili talk about a story when she was little but my focus diminished quickly when I felt Adriano hands move up my thigh and under my dress.
I looked up at him but he was still talking to the guys as if he wasn't doing anything. I stuffed a grape in my mouth and tried to ignore his hands.
His hands found my lace underwear. His fingers traced my already wet pussy over the underwear, I was already tuned on and he hadn't done anything yet.
I glanced up at him as he listened to the guys talk but there was a smirk on his face now.
I tried to mask my feelings, as I picked up my glass and drank the water.
I looked up at him and his face was stoic, as he was still in deep conversation. My hands gripped firmly around my fork as his long finger slipped underneath my underwear and met my bud. I tried to steady my breathing. It's a good thing I was sitting or else my knees would have collapsed already.
"Gianna?" Yana called out, my eyes shot out to hers with questioning eyes. "Hmm?" She looked at me confusingly. "I said, what do you think of Mili hiding her secret from us." Yana said giving mili a look.
I was confused for a second and couldn't form words as I felt be the pleasure building up inside of me. "Oh that secret." I managed to spit out really trying to hide my emotions that were about to explode.
I gripped my dress, but at the very last second Adriano pulled his hand away. I huffed out and the tension still remained in my stomach.
I looked at Adriano who's eyes were on me. His eyes held amusement. He smiled down at me and put his magic fingers in his mouth sucking the juices right off of them.
"Ready to go Matteo?" He said while still looking at me. "Yea let's head out." I heard Matteo call out.
My mouth opened and closed trying to form words but nothing came out. I hate when he does this to me.
Adriano lips found mine giving me a bruising kiss. He pulled away and whispered in my ear " I will see you later amore. I love you."
Giving me another quick kiss he said goodbye to the kids as Matteo Kissed Yana goodbye. Yana face was pink as the guys walked out the room. Those two are going to kill us one day.