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“But he’s unbreakable, just like his old man.” Adriano, winks at me, nodding for me to join him down on the next level of the terrace.

Kissing my wife on the cheek, I pinch her just hard enough to let her know what to expect later, eliciting a sharp little yelp. Hm. She must still be sore from last night’s escapades.

Isabella

I set Gi-co down, sending him to chase after his older brother in the playroom. My face cools slowly, unlike the blushing glow of my tender ass.

“Hm…I noticed you haven’t sat down a single time today…” Gloria mutters slyly, miming like she’s going to spank me.

I flinch.

Dammit.

Her honey sweet laugh is contagious. It’s one of my favorite things about her, this woman who has become like a real sister to me.

“I could go grab you an icepack?—”

“And shove it up your?—”

“Isabella! And you get on us for cussing in front of the kids? If they wind up with sailor mouths, it’s going to be your fault.”

“Please, it’s only when I get angry.”

“Or irritated, or sassy, or?—”

“Or teased by my cunt best friend!”

“Gotta be tough to keep up with our boys.”

“Speaking of the boys, and I mean the little ones, are you…?”

“We…” Gloria looks put out, then sighs. “Are trying.”

“Oh myDio! Finally!” I shout, earning a real slap on the behind from the amber-haired witch. Tears spring to my eyes, warded off by a little dance and wringing hands. “You bitch.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” she lowers her voice snidely, “Adriano’s swimmers might be slowing down.”

“Quit talking about my sper—” Adriano starts, cutting himself off with wide eyes and clamping his mouth shut. He immediately goes back to chatting with Aless.

I grin, bumping against Gloria’s shoulder as she hands me a glass of wine. How does she always know?

Could be that she is always drinking wine.

“What are you grinning about?”

“I just love him for you. He’s so much different than the introverted, brooding observer I met at the lodge all those years ago. Who knew that a bumbling nerd was hiding in there all along?”

“That’s the man I met on a train headed to Paris way before I walked into my father’s office and learned I’d be marrying him.” Her expression could sour milk.

“Well, you blew it. Did exactly what your papa wanted you to do.”

“The only good thing he ever did,” she sighs.

“He made you. And speaking of Dom, we haven’t had a chance to go over the prospects we discussed?”

“Oh yeah. Your news ‘leaks’ were spectacularly timed and received. Pretty much blew up the remaining factions affiliated with Pantheon. Set the US and European government agencies scrambling to explain their alleged involvement in international espionage, theft, murder, etc. From what Vanya’s said, the big players still in the game want to play nice too. They’re worried that a certain family is back on the board.”

“Not sure about that, honestly. I mean, regaining access to Dom’s hidden accounts was a godsend, financially speaking. But Aless is losing sleep over what to do.”