Page 12 of Bound to the Mafia Guard (Mated in the Mafia #5)

11

TREV

I found Rowan in the library, which seemed to be his place of choice for doing his homework or whatever reading he wanted to get done. I doubted many of the books in Andro’s library actually piqued his interest, since my omega seemed to like the more dark, smutty romance if his e-reader was anything to go on.

“How are things going?” I asked. “Do you have much more work to do today?”

Rowan closed the massive text and tossed it onto the table in front of him. It let out a loud smack when it hit the marbled surface.

“I’m so over this class. Why is it even required?”

I glanced at the title. “Post colonial literature: Volume 1? I thought your genre of choice was medieval.”

“It is, but apparently we’re supposed to be well versed in all kinds.” He waved a hand in the air dismissively.

“Seems to me like you might enjoy some time away.”

Rowan perked up at that. He sat up on his knees, his head in line with my torso.

I cupped his face in my hands and let my fingers dance over the skin around his neck.

“Yes. That. I don’t care where, I’m ready to break free of this academia nonsense.”

I chuckled and helped him to his feet. His fingers stayed laced in mine, and I caught the vanilla sweetness that seemed to follow my omega everywhere. My eyes fluttered closed as I drew it in.

A light pinch on the side drew me out of my daze.

I met the teasing glare of my mate.

“What?” I said.

“Don’t get distracted. You promised me a break.”

“I did. We can’t be out too terribly long, because Andro would like for us to have dinner with the family.”

“Yes, I heard that the omegas started doing weekly dinners and that we’re expected to attend.”

I grimaced. It was one thing to be a part of the family technically; it was quite another to be expected at the family events. I’d always been involved in the larger family events, but this was the immediate family. Somehow Rowan and I were a part of that now. It was equal parts terrifying and invigorating. I loved the Ferrini family. I would do anything for them. Even attend a mundane, somewhat awkward family dinner where Joey and Connor had barred us from any “shop” talk.

“So what’s the plan?” Rowan asked as we made our way out of the library and down the hall.

“It’s a secret.”

He huffed out a breath and swung my arm dramatically. “You can’t keep secrets. That’s not fair.”

I laughed, smiling in a way that felt foreign to me. Was this what happiness felt like?

“It will only be a secret for the whole twenty minutes it takes to get there.”

Rowan’s lips turned into a pout.

I took pity on him. “You know that bookstore that’s just off Canal Street? It’s three stories tall and has a mix of new and used books.”

Rowan’s eyes widened. “Yes! It has the blind date with a book and the stickers and the book boxes. We’re going there?”

I nodded. “We’re going there.”

“I thought you said it was too dangerous because you couldn’t secure all three floors or whatever you went on about.”

I grinned. “I convinced the owner to open it just to us. I already have a team there that has secured the place. I won’t take chances with your safety, Rowan. Now that Cord is officially making inquiries, we can’t be too careful.”

“I’m sorry. You had me at I have a bookstore all to myself.” Rowan placed a kiss to my cheek, then tugged on my arm, dragging me down the hall. “Come on! Let’s go!”

I was not a stranger to watching people. It was literally my job. I watched, I protected. That was my role.

With Rowan…it was not a job. It never was.

Knowing that I had a team of three stationed around the store and at both exits, I allowed myself to relax and enjoy my time with Rowan.

He started first in the history section. Already he had a basket full of books he was considering.

“I won’t get them all,” he told me.

My lips pinched as I tried to suppress my grin. “Of course not.” I knew each and every one of those books—and whatever else he found—would end up back at our home.

Rowan stuck his tongue out at me, then placed one last book into the basket.

His brow furrowed slightly as he considered where to go next. “Oh! They have a whole dark mafia section!”

I followed behind him, more like a puppy dog than a bodyguard at this moment, but I didn’t care. My mate was happy, and I was happy.

We spent a lot of time at the bookstore, and we came home with nearly half of it. Rowan had new books related to his studies, books to read for fun, and even books he planned to give as gifts.

We barely had time to drop them in our room before it was time to go down for dinner.

The dining room was set up for a feast. The table was decorated with white linen, and elaborate fresh flowers adorned the center.

“There you are,” Andro said. “We were beginning to think you’d gotten lost amongst the stacks.”

Rowan beamed with delight. “I went overboard. I couldn’t help it.”

I held out his chair, and he sat.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Joey sat to Andro’s right, while Louie and Connor were on Andro’s left.

Orsino and Ethan were across from Rowan and me.

“No Jeremiah tonight?” Louie asked.

“One of the twins has a fever, so they are staying home.”

“Probably teething,” Joey said. “Theo always spiked a fever and got an ear infection while he was teething. It was the worst. I”m not looking forward to that phase again.” Joey’s eyes went wide, and he clapped a hand over his mouth. “Oops.”

Andro chuckled. “Relax, love. We planned on sharing our good news tonight.”

Rowan grasped my hand under the table.

“You’re expecting?” Connor shouted as if they were across the room rather than across the table.

“Yes. We are.”

Rowan’s grip on my hand tightened, and he vibrated with excitement. “That’s so exciting. Congratulations!” His voice was warm, filled with genuine happiness. His gaze turned to me, and it was as if our future flashed in front of my eyes.

Would we be making a similar announcement soon? Happiness for my friend, and also for my own future, bubbled out of me, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.

“Congratulations, Andro. And Joey, of course.” I lifted my glass in a toast.

The others followed suit.

Throughout dinner Rowan held my hand tightly.

“Rowan.” Andro’s voice boomed, startling Rowan slightly. “How are your classes going? Are you enjoying being back at school.”

“Yeah, it’s been nice. Today I found a few different books that will help with my thesis. I know I could find them online, but there’s just something different about holding a physical book, you know?”

I smiled at his enthusiasm. HIs passion for his coursework was one of the many things I loved about my mate.

He was well into a long discussion about his bookstore finds when suddenly his face went pale, and he pushed his chair back so quickly that Louie had to catch it before it fell.

I followed helplessly as my mate ran from the room. I caught up to him as he pushed his way into the nearest bathroom and emptied the contents of his stomach.

I grabbed a fresh towel from the cabinet and wet it. “Baby? Are you okay?”

Rowan leaned back and clambered up. I held the cloth out to him, and he took it. “I’m fine. That was… That was weird.”

“Do you need anything? I can get water or maybe some ginger ale from the kitchen?”

Rowan’s mouth twisted, and he looked as if he might retch again. “No more food. I think… I mean, I don't want to assume.”

“That you might be pregnant?”

He smiled, despite the circumstances. “Yeah, that.”

I pulled him into my arms. His face was a bit warm and his skin clammy, but he was my mate and I wanted to hold him. “It's very possible.”

“That would be exciting. Don’t you think so?” HIs eyes were hopeful as he stared up at me.

“That would be beyond exciting, omega. I would be over the moon. Why don’t we go back to our room and get some rest? You’ve had a long day. We can reach out to Dr. Nindy tomorrow.”

Rowan’s body relaxed against mine. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”