Page 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I stepped off the plane and scanned the line of men and vehicles parked on the tarmac until my eyes landed on Gabe. My oldest friend stood tall and imposing next to the second car in the fleet of sleek, black SUVs, his face a mask of cool professionalism.

I waited until Jemma stepped off, as well, took her hand in mine, and we approached Gabe together.

“Welcome to Italy,” Gabe said, his voice gruff but sincere. He pulled me into a brief, tight hug before turning to Jemma.

He pulled off his sunglasses, and the flicker of warmth in his eyes surprised me.

Then he opened his arms, and Jemma stepped right into his embrace.

My chest tightened. Wait a minute, why, how? Fuck, of course. I forced myself to relax. He was her brother-in-law. Gabe had known her before I did. I really needed to get over myself. Needed to learn to ignore that spear of jealousy every time one of my friends and family hugged her .

Jemma exchanged pleasantries with Gabe, her easy smile conveying how happy she was to see him. “You’re with me,” Gabe said and led Jemma to his vehicle. He helped her into the back, and she slid into the middle.

Gabe took the wheel.

I intended to slide into the backseat with her and claim my seat, but Matt pushed me aside. “Sorry, big brother.” He grinned, not looking sorry at all as he claimed the seat next to my wife. “You snooze, you lose.”

Dom, who had rounded the car, chuckled as he got in on the other side, effectively sandwiching Jemma between them—leaving no space for me. “We need to debrief Jemma on Italian etiquette,” he said with a wink.

I narrowed my eyes at them, but Jemma’s laugh dispelled my irritation. “It’s fine, Vince,” she said, her green eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’m sure I’m safe without you glued to me for a few minutes.”

Gabe cleared his throat—probably suppressing a chuckle— and stared at me from behind the wheel. “You riding shotgun or what?”

With a resigned sigh, I slid into the passenger seat next to Gabe. As we pulled away from the airstrip, I couldn’t help but glance in the rearview mirror, watching Jemma animatedly chatting with Dom and Matt.

“So,” Gabe said, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

I nodded, completely preoccupied with the conversation going on in the back.

I gritted my teeth, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the armrest, the sound of Jemma’s laughter mingled with Matt and Dom’s voices grating on my nerves. I should be the one sitting next to her, not them.

Gabe’s voice pulled me from my brooding. “So, how was the flight?”

“Fine,” I grunted, my eyes fixed on the rearview mirror.

“Ah, I see.” Gabe chuckled. “Too busy watching your wife to catch up with an old friend?”

I shot him a glare, but he just smirked.

In the backseat, Matt leaned closer to Jemma. “So, you met Gabe’s brother, Cristo, right? Who do you think looks better: me or him?”

My jaw clenched. I was about to turn around and tell Matt to shut up when Dom chimed in.

“Oh, come on, Matt. As if your ugly mutt could ever compete with anyone,” Dom said, then turned to Jemma with a wink and laid his hand on her thigh. “But in all honesty, I’m the hottest, right.”

Jemma laughed, a sound that usually delighted me but now only fueled my irritation. “You’re definitely the hottest.”

Dom grinned.

I turned around and narrowed my eyes when our gazes met. The seriousness in his expression didn’t match his playful tone as he continued, which set my teeth on edge. He hadn’t removed his hand from her thigh either. “What are your thoughts on threesomes?”

I could feel Gabe’s head snap to me.

This was it .

The image of Jemma with anyone else—even in jest—made my blood boil. I’d entertained the thought once, briefly, but the reality of my feelings hit me like a truck.

Jemma was mine and mine alone. No sharing. No threesomes. Nothing.

“Gabe,” I growled. “Stop the car. Right the fuck now.”

Gabe gave me a what-the-fuck stare but did as told.

As soon as we came to a stop, I got out, rounded the hood, and yanked open the car door, my patience snapping like a frayed wire. “Out,” I growled at Dom, who looked more amused than intimidated.

“Come on, Vince, we were just?—”

“Now.” My tone left no room for argument. “You can hitch a ride in one of the other vehicles or walk for all I care.”

Dom raised his hands in surrender, a smirk playing on his lips as he opened his belt and slid out of the car.

I took his place next to Jemma, slamming the door shut with more force than necessary.

Matt chuckled from Jemma’s other side. “Bit overprotective there, aren’t we, big brother?”

I ignored him and focused on Jemma instead. She was biting her lip, trying to suppress a smile.

I couldn’t tell if she was amused or annoyed by my behavior, and that uncertainty only fueled my irritation. I knew I was behaving irrationally, but I didn’t even care.

“Matt,” I said, my voice clipped. “Sit up front.”

Matt raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He squeezed Jemma’s hand before moving to the passenger seat, and I immediately pulled Jemma closer to me.

As Matt settled in, Gabe glanced at him. “Does he act like this all the time?”

Matt chuckled, shaking his head. “Only since he met Jemma for the first time. You should have seen him when he crowded her, and she hit him. He didn’t even flinch. They were hilarious to watch from day one.”

I tuned out their laughter, focusing instead on the woman in my arms. I followed her gaze through the back window and watched until Dom disappeared into one of the vehicles behind us.

Let them laugh. I didn’t care. Jemma was my wife, and I wanted nobody too close to her but me. And I especially didn’t need my brother or Dom to proposition her or ask about her sexual preferences. I tightened my arm around her, savoring the warmth of her body against mine. She was here, she was safe, and she was mine. That was all that mattered.

Jemma looked up at me, her green eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place. She cupped my cheek, and her gentle touch instantly calmed the storm of jealousy that had been raging inside me just minutes ago.

“You’re impossible,” she said, her voice filled with affection rather than annoyance. Her green eyes locked with mine, a small smile playing on her lips. “Chill, Vince. I’m yours and nothing and nobody will ever change that.”

Her words washed over me like a soothing balm. I pulled her closer, buried my face in her hair, and inhaled her scent. She was right. She was mine, and I was hers. Nothing else mattered .

“Not even a threesome with Dom,” she whispered and popped my calm state like a balloon with the prick of a needle.

I glared at her, and she just grinned.

Little brat, you just wait.

As we pulled up to Gabe’s sprawling estate, I felt a mix of anticipation and unease. It had been too long since I’d been here. My mother had taken us a lot as kids, almost every summer, but once she was gone, I never visited again…and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The moment we stepped out of the car, the front door burst open. Sophie came rushing out, her pregnant belly leading the way, with Cara hot on her heels. They made a beeline for Jemma and Fee, enveloping them in a tangle of arms and squeals of delight.

Before I could even process the reunion, the women had whisked Jemma and Fee away, their excited chatter fading as they disappeared into the house.

“Start getting used to sharing your wife because those girls together—they can chat for days,” Cristo said, joining the little group of men that had assembled.

I slapped his back. I’d kept in contact with Cristo the most throughout the years even though he was the youngest of the Falcone brothers. Especially during the years Gabe was gone.

“Well.” Gabe stepped forward and clasped my shoulder. “Welcome to Castello dei Pietra. Good to have you all here,” he said, his voice gruff but sincere.

I suddenly felt a tap on my arm. I turned to find Gabe’s mother, Maria, standing there with open arms and a soft smile .

“Vincenzo,” she said warmly, pulling me into a tight embrace.

I’d met her briefly in Malta, but with Matt in the hospital and everything that was going on with Alex and Fee, we didn’t really have time to connect.

As I hugged her back, memories flooded my mind. I remembered countless afternoons spent in her kitchen, the smell of her famous lasagna filling the air. I remembered her laughter mingling with my mother’s, their friendship a bright spot in the darkness of my memories.

“It’s good to see you, Maria,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.

We all followed Maria inside. The familiar scent of the villa washed over me—how could it be that after all those years, it still smelled the same? It felt like stepping back in time, to a place where life was simpler, where my mother’s laughter still echoed through these halls.

Gabe’s mom laid a hand on my arm and pulled me away from the others. “There’s something I need to give you,” she said softly, leading me to a quiet corner of the entryway.

From the side pocket of her cargo pants, she produced an envelope. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the handwriting on the front—my mother’s.

“She sent this to me before…” Maria’s voice trailed off, her eyes misty. “She wanted me to give it to you once you were married.”

I took the envelope with hesitation and stared at it as if it might disappear. My mother didn’t leave a suicide note, so this was a complete surprise.

“Use my office,” Gabe said, appearing at my side. He squeezed my shoulder, a gesture of silent support, then led me to his office.

He closed the door behind me, and I sank into one of the leather chairs, the letter clutched in my hands.

I took a deep breath, then opened the envelope and unfolded the paper inside.

My Dearest Baby,

it began. I could almost hear her voice as I read the words, and my throat tightened.

If you’re reading this, it means you’ve found someone to share your life with. I have faith that you’ve chosen well, that you’ve found a woman worthy of your love.

I’m sorry I can’t be there to meet her, to welcome her into our family. But I know you’ll be the best husband possible, that you’ll cherish her always.

She didn’t write it, but I could almost hear the “unlike your father” resonating between the lines. I continued reading.

I’m sorry I can’t be there to see the beautiful family I’m sure you will build. To hold my grandchildren and spoil them rotten. But know that I’m watching over you, always. I’m so proud of the man you’ve become, Vincenzo .

I love you, my son.

Mom

I put the letter down, overwhelmed by a wave of emotion. Grief, love, regret—they all crashed over me at once.

A knock at the door startled me. For a moment, I hoped it was Jemma, but instead, Gabe poked his head in, concern etched on his face. “You okay?”

I nodded and tucked the letter into my pocket. “Come in,” I said, my voice a little rougher than usual.

As he settled into the chair across from me, I took a deep breath. There was no changing the past, no bringing my mother back. But I could honor her memory by being the man she believed I could be, by being a good husband to Jemma. That’s what mattered now.

“How’ve you been?” I asked, focusing on the present.

Gabe’s face softened, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Thanks to Sophie, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” he admitted. The contentment in his voice was unmistakable.

I nodded, glad for my friend’s happiness. Then I remembered why we were here. “About that message you sent…”

Gabe got up, reached into his desk drawer, and pulled out a familiar-looking book. My grandfather’s book, with that same symbol on it. He came back and placed it on the small table between us.

“I’ve been approached by an organization called the Paraskia Syndicate,” Gabe said, his tone serious. “As it turns out, both our grandfathers had some connections to the Paraskia. ”

I stared at the book. “Paraskia Syndicate?” I’d never heard of them before, which was somewhat unsettling.

Gabe nodded. “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to work with them.” He met my eyes, his gaze steady. “I think you should do your research. You might come to the same conclusion.”

I frowned, skepticism rising within me. “Paraskia Syndicate—are you serious?”

Gabe nodded. “Ivan Zotov.”

“Ivan Zotov?” I growled. “You want to tell me that Zotov works for this Paraskia Syndicate?”

Gabe nodded.

I narrowed my brows. “Are we talking about the same Ivan Zotov? The Russian bastard who kidnapped Jemma and is still holding Mira and Bella hostage?” I clenched my fists involuntarily at the thought of that bastard and the fucking games he’d been playing. “I can’t wait to discuss this with Zotov,” I said and raised my clenched fist. I couldn’t wait to tell Zotov—without words—what I thought of him.

Gabe held up a hand, his expression cautioning patience. “I know you’re angry. But there’s more to this than you know. Just…keep an open mind, okay?”

The hell would I keep an open mind. The bastard had fucked with me and my family long enough. As soon as I got him into my sight, I would kill him. But I would do it fast—that was as much consideration as I was willing to give him.