Page 9 of Bellini Bound

Igroanedwhenafamiliar brunette made a beeline toward where I stood at the front of the church.

“You really didn’t need to come.”

Hazel eyes that matched mine narrowed, and my sister placed both hands on her wide hips. “That’s debatable. Especially when you were being all kinds of cagey when you called to share the news.”

A scoff fell from my lips. “I wasn’t being cagey.”

“Mm-hmm.” Gemma shot me a doubtful look. “Took a little peek into the bridal suite, and there’s definitely a gun being pressed to that girl’s head.”

“Not hers. Her father’s,” I corrected with a shrug.

She sighed. “Enzo, have you evenseenthis girl? This world will tear her to shreds.”

I focused on adjusting my cuff links. “From my understanding, that’s the whole point.”

“Right. Women are pawns. How could I forget?” she muttered dryly.

Before I could respond that my hands were tied and I wasn’t exactly a willing participant either, a man who dwarfed my sister’s five-eleven frame came up behind her to loop an arm around her waist.

The blond giant sporting overgrown, shaggy hair and smiling so wide I could count every one of his teeth extended a hand to me. “Sasha Gusev, but everyone calls me Goose.”

“Enzo Bellini.” I offered my name as we shook.

His blue eyes lit up, and he bounced on his feet. “Babe! Did you tell your brother about our pet sperm?”

My eyes bulged, and I choked on air.

The fuck did he just say?

I’d seen too much for anything to faze me anymore, but a few minutes with this guy was enough to throw me off balance. He was unpredictable, which in my line of work made him dangerous. Though the bubbly, energetic man currently standing opposite me was easily the least-threatening person I’d ever met. Honestly, it was a wonder my sister hadn’t eaten him alive. Guess it was true what they said about opposites attracting, because their temperaments couldn’t be more different.

Gemma’s face had turned beet red, but her husband remained oblivious to her embarrassment, explaining, “Our little gosling.” His hands shifted to her lower abdomen.

Understanding dawned, and my mouth dropped open in shock. “Oh, wow. Uh, congratulations?”

My sister peeked over her shoulder, hissing, “I thought we weren’t telling anyone yet.”

Sasha laughed, shaking his head. “He’s not just ‘anyone.’ He’s family.”

“Uncle Goose!” Bianca’s voice called out. “Can you show me the right way to throw the flowers again?”

“Ah, duty calls.” He pressed a kiss to the side of Gemma’s head before saying to me, “See you at the reception.”

Clearly, no one had told him this wasn’t a typical wedding. There would be no celebration with dancing and drinking after the ceremony. Okay, well, maybe there would be drinking, but I would be doing that alone while I sulked about the sharp left turn my life had taken.

Once my brother-in-law was out of earshot, I huffed, “That guy? Seriously?”

Gemma folded both arms over her chest defensively. “What about him?”

I shrugged. “Not exactly who I’d peg as your type.”

She rolled her eyes. “Maybe not, but he worships the ground I walk on and fucks like a god.”

“Watch your language. We’re in church,” I gritted out.

“And here I was, thinking you had to hand in your Catholic card the minute you committed a cardinal sin and took a life. My bad.” Sarcasm leaked into her tone.

Shoving my hands into my pockets, I changed the subject. “So, a baby, huh?”