“We’ve only just begun, Aria, but I must go.” He kisses me once more before he rushes from the room. As soon as the door shuts, I hop off the bed. I have to pee and shower, so I scurry into his impressive bathroom. I scope out his double sink and see he has my favorite soaps already stocked. He hasn’t left anything out. I dig through the cabinets and see female products for me. My mother must have given him a list or maybe she sent out one of her people to run around and get everything. Damn, I wonder why I bothered to pack in the first place.
Turning on the shower, I strip and test the water. It’s perfectly warm. The spray is so refreshing after all that’s happened today. As I’m washing my hair, I remember that the door’s not locked. I don’t feel comfortable with it unlocked, so I hurry up and rinse off. Stealing a large fluffy towel off the shelf, I wrap my body up and pull out another for my hair.
We have the same luxury as this at home, but it’s different because this will be mine soon, and it’s incredible. This home is where I’m supposed to raise a family. It’s surreal. That’s the word that I’ve been looking for since Domani stepped through my bedroom door, growling and demanding. Two years of peering through my imagination for that one moment in time when our eyes met through a doorway. It was a moment so long ago that I wonder if I’d just made it all up. I remember hearing my father say that he wasn’t even supposed to be there.
I slip into the closet, looking for the clothes, and everything I need is inside. My mother wasted no time filling it up with all my favorite things. I see other things that I wouldn’t have considered, but since I’m going to be a married woman, these pretty nighties are something I could get used to, especially with a husband who wants to devour me.
I grab one off the hanger and slide it over my head, and then pull a pair of panties out. Although I’m not sure what the point is, since they’ll be ruined the second I start thinking about him and his muscular body, passionate lips, and talented mouth.
As much as I’d prefer to go without undies, I’m afraid someone will come in. Shimmying them up my legs, I see my reflection in his floor-length mirror, and I look fucking sexy. Maybe I should change.
“Nah.” I climb back into bed and snuggle under the covers.
Chapter Six
Domani
Leaving the bedroom and, more importantly, Aria was a test of wills. If I didn’t have an empire to get under control, I would have stayed with my woman. I meet my men on the stairs. “Stay outside the door. Don’t go in there for any reason.”
“Yes, boss.” The door locks on its own, but that doesn’t mean she can’t open it from the inside and they could come in that way. My men don’t enter my bedroom for any reason, but when it comes to Aria, I don’t trust many. She’s beautiful, enchanting, and my only weak spot. If anyone wants to get at me, she’d be the target. It kills me to even consider something fucked up like that, but it’s the life we’re living.
Nero meets me at the bottom of the stairs. “How is she?”
“Good, but we have a lot to deal with right now so I can’t focus on my queen.”
“Very well. Our men have been taken to the funeral home. The company for the gate has been contacted, and I’m sure we can get them out tomorrow.” We walk to my office, closing the door behind us.
Walking over to my liquor cabinet, I pull out a bottle of bourbon. Waving it at him, he nods. I pour us a glass and then take a seat behind my desk. “I want it completely reinforced. What about the fires?”
“The fire department got it under control, but the damage was significant.”
“Have a crew come to level it out. We’ll add a helipad there instead. I thought it protected us, but it backfired.”
“Yes. We’re relocating any animals found alive?”
“Yes, of course. Either to the local zoos or to another forest preserve. I’m ruthless, but ecosystems matter.”
“Good. I’m going to see if we have room for any in the garden. My mother and Aria like animals.”
“You have your own Snow White.” He nudges me with his elbow.
“That I do. Have the families been contacted?” I question, returning to business. I want to get back to Aria as soon as humanly possible.
“We were waiting on you before we made the calls.”
Nodding, I add, “That’s good. It’s best that it comes from me.”
“That’s what we figured.”
“Give me all the numbers and contacts for each man.” He pulls out a piece of paper from his suit jacket.
“Niccolò sent it over about ten minutes ago. He wants you to call him when you get a chance. He’s pissed he wasn’t here to fight.”
“He’s always itching to prove himself more than just my accountant. He’s even working out now more and more.” I shake my head and down my glass. Nero stands and brings the bottle over to my desk. “Grazie.”
I pour myself another glass, drinking about half and topping it off again. “Take it easy. You’ve got a lot of calls to make.”
“That’s what I’m gonna need this for. Crying mothers I’m not prepared for.”
“I bet. You know…maybe Niccolò’s found a girl.”
“I wonder. I should ask him if there’s someone he’s interested in.”
“It would be nice. Then he might not be so damned uptight.” That’s my little brother for sure. Great at numbers, terrible with people. We love him, and he’s a tough bastard, but heaven help him if he has to speak to anyone. The man just hates talking at all costs.
“Well, I’m going to steal a piece of apple pie. It’s fresh out of the oven. Do you want one?” Nero has a huge sweet tooth, especially when it comes to baked goods.
“Sure, but be careful Giuseppe doesn’t see you, or you’ll lose a finger.”
“I’ll tell him it’s for you.” We both chuckle as he walks out.
Then I go about making the calls. After I finish the first one, Nero comes in, letting me know the police are outside and want to speak with me. I nod and have them come into my living room. “Yes, Detective Sims, to what do I owe this extremely late visit?”
“I’m stopping by to inform you that my team has already ruled that you acted in self-defense. And that Tortelli was a fucking nut.”
“That’s for sure. Thank you for that. It’s been a long night, so if that’s all you have, I have to make some important calls to my guards’ families in Italy.”
“Oh. Yes. Good luck with that.” He stands, and Nero escorts him out. From the footage I gave them, they were able to see that those who died had been attacked by a mad man. The explosion to his body had been so intense that only fragments could be gathered. Thankfully, the bullet to the heart had been untraceable because his heart couldn’t be found.
Two attacks on two reputed crime families were shocking and people would believe it was a hit from one of the other families, which will keep them off our tails. It’s not as if they want to get entangled in all of this mess. Besides, we have the right people in our pockets to look the other way.
Most of the people killed didn’t have family in the States, so I had to make calls to Italy. Not pleasant, but there isn’t much I can do. Their people will be compensated as best we can. I’ll leave that to my accountant Niccolò to handle.