Warmth explodes through my whole body like a tidal wave. With that declaration, Torino has made it very clear to everyone that I come first to him. I squeeze his hand tighter.
“Well then,” Mom says. “Then I suppose we should figure out how we’re going to deal with this.” I was not expecting her to be so receptive to the idea of Torino and me. But I swear I see approval in her eyes toward Torino.
“No.” Carlito shakes his head. “You hid this from me.” He cocks his head toward my mom. “All of you.” Mom pushes back from the chair to stand, planting her hands on top of the desk. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look so angry as she does at this moment.
“I told you from day one Carlito that my daughter will always come first. You may call me not telling you that I was on to the two of them and me not clueing you in a ‘lie,’ but you knew what you were getting when you asked me to marry you. I warned you.” Her voice is strong and steady. Tears prick my eyes at her words. My mom is the true definition of ride or die. To see her stand up to Carlito, knowing the power he yields, fills me with so much emotion.
Carlito drops his head but is still shaking it no. “That’s the problem, dear wife of mine.” Carlito's tone is filled with possessiveness. I now know where Torino gets it from. “There should be no secrets between the four of us. We’re stronger together. We’re about to have the biggest fight of our lives on our hands, and we’re divided.”
“You’re right,” I agree. “I should have told you. That was my fault. I was scared and unsure. It’s hard to go against what you think is best for the family. It will never happen again.”
“This is forever. Our family. Alessa will be my bride, no one else’s. And if any of the families take issue with her being my stepsister, they can feel free to bring it up to me personally.” Torino pulls me into his side, wrapping his arm around me before kissing the top of my head. “I’ll deal with them. Decisively.”
I shiver at the way he says it, and I have no doubt in my mind what he means by those words. It’s wrong how his aggression turns me on, but I know he’d never hurt me or the people I love. He’d die to defend us.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I should’ve told you.” I hold her gaze.
Carlito puts his hand on her shoulder, and she places her palm on top of it. “What’s best for this family is us being together, Alessa. The four of us would be unstoppable. We’d never betray each other. No matter what.”
“That is never going to change. Especially now, when Alessa is staying a Rossi.” Torino squeezes me tighter.
“It’s going to take me a minute to wrap my head around this.” Carlito waves a hand at us. “But perhaps I should’ve seen it coming. With the way you’ve always been so protective of her, so interested.”
“I saw it coming, and I welcomed it.” Mom shrugs. “But I needed Torino to show me he was worthy. To fight for you. And he did.”
My jaw drops. “This was all a setup?”
Mom wrinkles her nose a little. “Not a setup. More like a test. The best man would win your heart. It just so happens I already knew Torino would be the best man for you.”
I can’t even begin to understand her reasoning, but I have to let it go. Just like she has to let go of me not telling her. Together. That’s what we have to be.
Carlito sighs. “This is going to cause trouble, a lot of it, with the Perths. I take it you have some sort of plan?” he asks Torino.
“Always.” A wicked smile pulls at Torino’s lips. “I think it’s time for a shift in power. For the Perths to be taught a lesson about how to treat a Rossi woman. I won’t let this go. We’re going to remind everyone who the Rossis are.”
17
Torino
“I hope Carlito doesn’t blow a gasket.” Alessa nibbles her bottom lip as she watches me strap my blades to my ankles.
“He’ll get used to it.” I pull another Glock from my weapons cabinet. The first part of the plan is steeped in danger. But this is the way it has to be. The Perths are sitting back now, waiting for us to make a move. My father’s meeting with them ended in a stalemate and accusations on both sides of breaking their word on this marriage. Now, they’re looking for a reason to blame us, to tarnish our name. I won’t let it happen. I’ll do to them what I do to all my enemies. Strike first, draw blood, and take no prisoners.
“When he saw us, his face turned so red, and I thought his eyes were just going to pop out of his skull. I’ve never seen him like that. I didn’t know he could get so … I don’t know. Scandalized, I guess?”
I pull her to me and kiss her hard. “I think you like being scandalous, piccolina mia.”
She smiles and kisses me again. “With you? Definitely.”
I press her against the wall of my bedroom, taking more and more until I have my thigh pressed against her pussy. “You need to get off again?” I kiss her throat, sucking her skin between my teeth.
“I—” She moans as I cup one of her tits and squeeze.
I can feel the tension in her, the fear. I want to release it all, even if only for a moment. It’s worth it.
“All I know is that I need you, Torino.” She clutches my shoulders as I move my thigh against her. I can’t get enough of her. I’ve opened the flood gates, and there is no stopping me now.
I suck the spot below her ear, the one that makes her purr for me. She does, her body heating as she works herself against my thigh.
“Get off on me, sweet angel. I want you to come.” I press harder against her, giving her the friction she needs.
She rides me, her hips grinding as she strokes her clit in a frantic rhythm.
“Come for me, Alessa. I want it. Give it to me, piccolina mia.” I lean down and bite one of her nipples through her shirt.
With a shudder, she comes, her body tensing and releasing in waves as I suck her nipple into my mouth. It rolls on for a few moments, my name gracing her lips as she gives herself over to pleasure. I want it again and again. Fuck, I love it when she shatters.
“Torino,” she sighs. “How do you do it so easily?”
“Do what?” I return to her mouth.
“Give me exactly what I need.” She smiles as I take her lips one more time.
“I’ll always give you what you need. You never have to ask.” I gently lower her to the floor.
She doesn’t let go. “Do you really think this plan is a good idea?” Fear creeps into her voice now that the pleasure has stopped hazing her mind.
“I think it’s the only plan. If we don’t come out swinging, the Perths might be able to turn the other families against us.”
“Because of me.” She lowers her gaze. “Because I’ve broken the agreement to marry Finnegan.”
“No.” I tilt her chin up until she meets my gaze again. “Because you were never his. And you were never going to be his. None of that matters. The Perths have already started stirring the pot after what happened last night. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if all along, they thought you’d break the engagement. Maybe Finnegan’s bullshit last night was part of their plan.”