Chapter 53 Carlo
Carlo
Ettore is supervising the doc as he stitches me up when Francesca steps into my office. "What's happened? Are you alright?"
I nod, silently dismissing both men. "Just a little minor surgery," I tell my wife once they've left.
She rushes to my side. "It's nothing to do with my wound," I promise her, showing her the small bump on my forearm.
"I asked Ettore to make another microchip tracker.
Give me your phone." She does, and I download the link he sent.
"Here I sit… and here I am," I say, pointing to her phone screen.
Her brow furrows. "A tracking device? In your arm?" She glances at her wedding band, the one she hasn't removed even after she knew.
Taking her hand, I rub my finger over the ring, the symbol that she's mine, but our bond goes deeper than that.
"I'll always know where you are so long as you honor me by wearing this ring.
" I place her finger over the fresh stitches on my arm.
"So long as I live, you'll always know where I am.
I am yours, mia moglie, and I will never give you reason to question that. "
Her astonished expression melts into a loving smile when she leans over to kiss me.
***
That night, the warehouse is filled with dozens of men as it was for my Seconda Notte not so long ago.
My father stands on my right. Luca is beside him while Renato is on my left.
It’s a show of unity meant to affirm that nothing drastic has changed within our territory, even if I plan to be a different sort of Don than my father was.
Once more, I’m not offering them cards and hookers, but we’ll have a few drinks once the talking is done.
Hopefully, we can stick to talking. I’ll make another bloody statement if I must, but it would probably mean my stitches popping open…
which would upset my wife. In her worry over my injuries, she’d probably chain me to the bed if she could.
As it was, Francesca insisted on twisting her silver hair band around the handkerchief in my pocket. "For luck," she'd said.
Faro gives me a nod once everyone has arrived.
They deserve some sort of explanation for the events that transpired here last week, and the men who died deserve to be remembered.
"Good evening,” I say to them all. “It’s not my intention to have meetings this size more often than necessary but special circumstances force my hand now… ”
A half hour later, the atmosphere is surprisingly less tense than expected.
Hopefully, they’ve accepted Donnelly’s death at face value without feeling robbed by the lack of a spectacle.
Having their hatred of the Irish rekindled, they’ll be hungry for vengeance in other ways.
For my own part, I won’t forget what Ronan did, but I don’t have any intention to go after him directly for love of his sister.
The Trio has other more immediate concerns anyway. Civil war is brewing again between Chicago and Las Vegas thanks to Alessio’s half-sister and that bodyguard. Francesca’s worried about them, but my concern lies with what’s best for our organization.
“You did well,” Father says once the four of us have a moment alone. “Our men know you and respect you. Despite some disappointment over his quick end, the rat was caught, and that’s what matters.”
I doubt he would’ve felt that way even a month ago, but the second heart attack has taken its toll. He’s ashen and sweating. He’ll need to go home soon.
“Your mother wants to host a family dinner next week.” I nod, knowing an invitation from my parents still carries an expectation that it will be accepted. “She's eager for you to make us grandparents, and you need an heir, of course. I’m sure she’ll mention it to you and Francesca at dinner.”
“Why would Mother need to mention it when you just did?” Renato smothers a snort at my reply, but I soften my next words for the sake of the old man. “I will need an heir. Someday. But my wife is young and so is my reign. I have two brothers, and we have time.”
I also want to enjoy married life without children for a while. I like the idea of fucking her at her piano, in my office or anywhere else in the penthouse it pleases us for the time being, but I don’t say that.
“We all think we have time,” Father says, tiredly. “Your wife invited your sisters over to spend the night this weekend by the way. I assume she has your permission for that?”
“My wife doesn’t need my permission to have family or friends visit us. She enjoys the girls and they enjoy her. You should try enjoying their company more, too, now that you’re retired. Maybe you could learn sign language for that matter, prove that saying about old dogs and new tricks wrong.”
Renato stares with wide eyes as Luca bites back a chuckle. Surprisingly, Father actually cracks a smile before we turn to other matters.
Russo approaches us, wanting to know which side I'll support, Alessio’s or Nico’s. “Chicago is closer, and we share some transport routes, but your wife has blood ties-”
“We are staying neutral if at all possible. Capisci?”
With a nod, he turns to go, and Father murmurs in my ear, “I respect you are Don now and will do things your own way, but I advise you to keep a close eye on him.”
“Oh, I plan to.” And not simply because his daughter is promised to my brother.
***
Waking well past sunrise, my body reminds me I still have some healing left to do.
I might have overdone it last night, and my wife gave me an earful about that once I returned home.
Even if Luca is capable of handling most matters for me, I need to show face for certain things, and I won’t show them any weakness, especially not so soon after taking over.
Drowsily staring up at the ceiling, I listen to her singing in the shower and scowl at the terrible taste in my mouth. “Francesca?” I call when the water shuts off. “Where’s my phone? I’m running late.” I was expecting an update from one of our drug production labs outside Baltimore this morning.
She steps out of the bathroom, wearing a playful smirk with only a towel wrapped around her lovely body. “You needed to rest.”
“I need my phone.”
“Oh, dear. Has it gone missing?”
I slant her a look, not falling for her innocent act. But perhaps I don’t mind being delayed a bit longer. “Why don’t you come over here and help me search the bedding for it? Don’t let the towel get in our way.”
Giggling, she drops the towel and crawls up the bed toward me. Despite my lingering tiredness, my body responds at once. Inch by sultry inch, she comes closer until she’s hovering over me. She’s careful of my wound, but I don’t give a fuck about that when I only want her.
A few droplets of water still cling to her neck, shoulders and red pussy hair.
My mouth waters in anticipation of tasting her.
“I should have been up hours ago, but how did you know I wanted breakfast in bed?” Shoving her further up the bed so that her knees are resting above my shoulders, I smack her ass and tell her to grab the headboard.
“Ride my face.” Her sweet moans soon fill the bedroom as she smothers me with her pussy.
“The sweetest breakfast I can imagine,” I growl before lapping up more of her arousal.
“Don’t say that to Dinora. I love her pancakes,” she murmurs, still trembling from the aftershocks of her first orgasm of the day.
“I love this more.” I lick her from her tight ass to her needy little clit, determined she’ll come again.
Once she does, I scoot her down my body, encouraging her to ride me.
When her silky walls have taken in every inch, we both groan with pleasure.
She slowly rolls her hips, forcing me to keep my thrusts restrained.
I could almost forget all my responsibilities and stay abed with her.
“You should stay home with me. I don’t have school, and there’s no big meetings today, right?” she asks once we’re sated and panting. "You could work in your office for a bit if you really need to. If your headache will let you.”
“I… How did you know I have a headache?” It’s not bad. It didn’t keep me from doing exactly what I wanted to do with my wife, but it’s definitely there.
She flushes the prettiest shade of pink. “Carlo, I have a confession to make. You may be very angry with me once I make it.”
I interlock our fingers, studying the rings on her left hand. Smiling to myself, I doubt there’s anything she could ever do that would make me all that angry with her. “What do you have to confess, Red?”
“You looked utterly exhausted when you got home last night. I knew you had some phone call planned early today, but you haven’t been reasonable about giving yourself time to heal so… I slipped that sedative into your drink at bedtime.”
“You drugged me?!”
She gives me a sheepish nod, and I can’t help chuckling. “I asked Luca if he could handle business today after you fell asleep and then I hid your phone. Are you angry?”
I shake my head. “Considering the deal we once made and how I tricked you, I suppose I can’t really be angry.” She gives me a hesitant grin. “But I may have to punish you for it…”
Her eyes flash with renewed lust as she squirms on top of me. She knows that any punishment I dole out when it comes to her will be something she’ll thoroughly enjoy. As will I.
***
“Don Vicini, you honor us with your patronage,” the restaurant owner cries with delight as I step inside for dinner that evening. Her eyes narrow when they land on Francesca by my side. She quickly covers it, but that simply won’t do.
“Good evening, Signora Camilleri. Have you met my lovely wife yet?”
“I believe she dined here a couple of months ago, but I did not have the honor of being introduced to this beautiful lady then. You know how testy Faro can be.”