Page 10 of Bound to the Mafia Guard (Mated in the Mafia #5)

9

TREV

“We’re sure that it’s safe to leave the mansion?” I hated that I even had to ask. But I had been out of the Ferrini security loop for so long during my recovery, and my latest assignment had taken me away from the business, not closer to it. Plus my mate was there, and I was reluctant to leave him.

Andro shot me a look, the dark arch of his brow nearly hitting his hairline. “Don’t question my judgment, Trev. I’m leaving my omega and child there as well.”

There were five of us in the back of a sleek black limousine. It wasn’t the first time I’d been in one of the Ferrinis’ fancy cars–far from it–but it was the first time I wasn’t working.

Orsino grabbed the decanter of whiskey and glasses from the wet bar.

“Listen, none of us like to leave our omegas home either, but trust me when I say that they need it. I know I need it.” Orsino tipped the glass back and drank his whiskey down in one swallow.

“Who’s with Marcella?” Louie asked as he took the filled glass from Orsino.

“The nanny. She’s watching over Marcella and the twins.”

“They’re working out well, then?” Andro asked.

“Yes. Thank goodness.”

“She’s been a godsend,” Felik said. “The twins are sleeping better than ever now that she helped us get them onto a routine.”

Orsino groaned. I had a feeling the dark circles under his eyes had nothing to do with stress from work. “I pray for that day.”

Andro chuckled and patted his shoulder. “Is that sweet daughter of yours keeping you up? I refuse to believe my beautiful niece is anything but an angel.”

“During the day, she is nothing short of perfection. At night…” Orsino’s eyes ghosted over, and he poured another glass.

Andro and Louie clapped him hard on the back as they laughed.

Seeing these tough men who I’d seen maim and kill their fair share of enemies gush over fatherhood was not something I had expected. Sure, I knew that Andro and his brothers would eventually have to produce heirs. I never thought they would become the family men that they are now. Falling in love with their omegas had changed them for the better. It was as if they had more to fight for now, more reason to protect their family name.

Now I did too.

Having Rowan experience a heat already and having it over so quickly likely meant the two of us would be fathers sooner rather than later. The thought both excited and terrified me. Since being shot I had trouble trusting whether I was good enough to protect this family anymore; now I didn’t have the option to doubt myself. I had to be good enough. For the Ferrinis. For Rowan and whatever children we had. I would not let them down.

“Davy and Nil are watching over the omegas, Trev. You know they’re capable.” Andro handed me a glass of whiskey. Drinking with my cousins was not new. However, it was usually done at home, when I was off duty.

I took the drink and sipped it, letting the velvety texture of the expensive whiskey invade my senses.

“We also hired three new guards. They’re still in training, but they are proving to be competent,” Felik said.

Much had changed since Jeremiah brought Felik home and overturned much of our assumptions about the Menetti family. Now, Felik was fully ingrained into the family business. Felik’s family had once been competitors to the Ferrinis, and his brother Vance had made a run for a portion of the Ferrini territory. A decision he regretted, or he would, if he were still alive to regret it.

“See? Everything is well in hand. Let us take you out to celebrate your mating. Even if it is to your own cousin. Cheers to keeping it in the family, buddy.” Andro lifted his glass. Mischief and delight lit up his eyes–a rarity that I wasn’t used to seeing.

They all laughed at that. It was quickly becoming the running joke about Rowan and I being related.

I rolled my eyes. “I’m from the opposite side of the family, and Rowan isn’t even a blood relative. I’d never met him until last week! We are not related.”

“You two have been at the same family events over the years, I know you have.” Louie grabbed the decanter and began refilling everyone’s drinks. Apparently sobriety wasn’t something we were aiming for tonight.

“Sure, but we never talked. He hung out with Jeremiah, and they didn’t hang with us.” I only vaguely remembered seeing Rowan at those family events. My focus had been on getting close with the brothers, knowing that I would protect them one day as my father had done for their father.

“Yeah, cause we didn’t let them.” Louie laughed. It was true. Being older and alphas, we hadn’t wanted to hang with the omegas. Not our relatives anyway.

The limo stopped in front of a restaurant that I recognized as belonging to the family. I moved to exit first, and Andro stopped me.

“You aren’t a guard tonight, you understand? Let Walt get the door.”

Walt was a colleague I recognized as having been a part of Vern’s bodyguard crew.

“This will take some getting used to,” I said.

Louie gave me a playful shove that nearly had me falling on the floor. “Don’t get too used to it. You’ll be back to work in no time, wishing you could have the time off with your omega again.”

Once we were inside the restaurant, all eyes were on us. Andro stood tall and proud, a scowl on his face even though he was in a fine mood. It didn’t look good for the mafia boss to smile too much. The patrons of the restaurant nodded hello as we walked through the dining area to the back room where a private dinner was set up for us. We even had our own dedicated bartender.

We all sat down as the staff scurried to get us our drinks. Appetizers were already on the table, and our dinners would likely be out soon. Andro waited for no one.

Once we had our drinks, Andro stood and raised his glass in a toast. We all followed suit.

“Trev, you’ve always been family. You’re a good man, an excellent guard, and we all would trust you with our lives, the lives of our omegas, and our children. You kept our omega brother safe, nearly making the ultimate sacrifice for him. The fact that you didn’t die is a testament to your strength. Now, we are trusting you with our precious Rowan. We know you’ll be a good alpha for him. Congratulations, brother.”

“Cheers.” Louie dipped his head.

Orsino grunted his approval.

“Thanks, Andro. That means a lot to me. I will not let you down.” I wanted to say more but didn’t trust myself not to cry at the kind words and trust that these men put in me. I’d live up to that trust, no matter what. For me and for Rowan.