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ISABELLA

S etting my bags down, I sit on the edge of the bed and sigh.

The lodge is just as we left it a few weeks ago. And returning so soon is such a strange feeling. To a place I expected to never see again. A place that feels like another lifetime.

Even in such a short time, I have so many happy memories here. Sometimes stressful, harrowing memories, but still happy.

Even more so now that this is to be our home for the foreseeable future.

According to Adriano, it’s the sole remaining asset that only we know about. A truly safe, safe house, off the books. Completely forgotten.

Not even Dom knows about it. Not that he should be looking for me now that his rival is dead and buried.

I hear the brothers out in the foyer, joking and cutting up.

They’ve enjoyed traveling together, however tiring the journey was. Alessandro especially, drinking, talking, just being themselves. It’s completing a missing piece in his life.

Although we are still on the run, technically.

Subterfuge was key the entire way here.

The past few days have been pure chaos.

And not just the battles, the kidnapping, the attempted and fake murder.

This trip was particularly winding, ensuring that no one could trace out movements. Boats, trains, planes, buses, and disguises I’m still washing out of my hair.

The funeral was first, and the hardest. Alessandro had to go on his own, sneaking aboard a ship while the rest of us flew, escorting the casket to his family’s homeland. Which left me with the brothers for several days.

Safe to say, we got to know each other a good bit.

They only hazed me a bit.

After the funeral, we took a roundabout train journey then a bus, meeting Alessandro on the far side of the Mediterranean and then hopscotching through Europe under the pretense that the brothers needed time to grieve.

It was a show, all of it meant to divert attention.

Let Dom settle in back in New York, and let the idea of Alessandro fade out a bit before they return to the States. Assuming they do.

They took steps to ensure they couldn’t be traced so they could come with us to the lodge.

But I get the impression it’s a visit, not a long-term stay like us.

Once they reemerge there will be no reason for anyone to come looking for me, or to think anything is amiss.

Laying back on the bed, I stare at the ceiling for a bit. A huff of laughter at the door interrupts my daydreams.

“What are you doing in here?” Alessandro asks, leaning on the doorframe, his shirt hanging open, showing off his impressive chest, a hint of his bandage poking out. Ciro’s already making up stories about how he took a fatal shot for the family and how the scar will go down in history.

“I was considering taking a nap. We’ve been going nonstop for days.”

“Agreed. But that’s not what I meant. What are you doing in the guest room?”

“Oh. I guess I hadn’t decided where I was sleeping yet.”

“Is that so?” His head tilts back, looking down the bridge of his nose at me.

“I mean, where else could I sleep?”

He’s on me in a heartbeat, planting his powerful hands on either side of me, his eyes simmering with unguarded heat. A little yelp slips out as I snatch at the linen of his shirt, gripping him, tugging him closer.

“I can think of a few dozen places I’d like to sleep with you on.” He holds back when I pull, teasing with his tongue, flicking my bottom lip.

“Mmm…I think your brothers might have some issues with us making love all over the house.”

“Fuck them. They can deal with it.”

“I’d rather you fuck me…” I purr into his ear and Aless tenses, his pants tightening between my legs.

“Your wish is my command…” His lips devour my earlobe, making me tingle from head to toe.

Voices out in the hall have me growling, pushing Aless off of me.

I groan, pushing him off. He looks disheveled, like I just rained all over his day.

“It sounds like Angelica, Tomas, and Gigi just got here,” I mutter, nodding toward the door.

“Oh! That’s why I came to get you. I’m putting the guys up in the east wing. Angie and Gigi were going to stay in the guest room, unless…”

“Of course they can. I’ll just move my stuff into your room.”

“You mean our room?”

“We’ll see…I recall someone being very touchy about their private space…”

“That was back when I didn’t trust you. And you’ve been in there plenty of times, now.”

“Oh, is that why? That was when it was still your room.” I reach for my bags but Aless cuts me off, snatching the huge suitcases up like they weigh nothing.

“No lifting!” Alessandro grunts over his shoulder, hauling my things across the hall.

A layover in Rome got me most of my clothes, the rest remain in storage until one of the brothers can retrieve it all for me. Not that I have a ton of stuff, or need it.

“Ugh, macho nonsense. If we are going to share this room, it needs to be even.” I immediatly start opening drawers, looking into the closet. Alessandro’s eye twitches as I check every cabinet and drawer. “We’ll have to do better than the guest room for them eventually, you know?”

“I do,” he lugs the bags to the closet, watching me rearrange the dresser, clearly biting his lip.

I’m going to have such a good time pushing his control freak buttons…

“I was thinking that once the trio leaves, we might remodel the east wing for Angelica and Gigi. That way they could have their own apartment.”

“And Tomas?” I can’t help pressing my lips together and raising my eyebrows.

Aless tongues the inside of his cheek, trying not to laugh.

The two of them have clearly been dancing around something for a while now.

“I don’t want to touch that with a forty-foot pole.”

“I think it should be up to her. There’s enough rooms for him to have his own, but then again, the servants’ hallway has a couple to spare too…”

“And the idiot will probably volunteer to stay down there even if she offers him her bed!” Aless pulls me into a hug, chuckling.

“Maybe they need a little shove.”

“Like a blizzard?”

“Precisely.”

“Get settled in and unpacked. I need to go check on the twins and Adriano, make sure they aren’t causing trouble.” A little slap on my ass and he’s out the door.

“I’d give them about half a day before they’re bored out of their minds and fighting,” I shout after him.

“Less than that if they have to share the bunk beds! Adriano, I thought I told you to separate them!”

I can already hear the shouts, the playful banter, escalating into cussing. A second later, Angelica’s “mom” voice cuts through the noise, “Hey. Watch the language. You’ve got a toddler in the house!”

Several sing-song apologies filter out from the east wing a second later.

A huge grin spreads across my face as I sort through my bags. This is my life now.

My family.

The day slips by, mainly caught up in unpacking, settling Angie and Gigi in, and playing host to a full house. Sunset finds us all around the big kitchen table, better suited to a casual dinner than the dining room.

Carla is beaming with the entire family here, fussing around the kitchen, refilling wine glasses like every adult here is her child.

“You’re gonna get big and fat living up here eating Carla’s cooking, Sandy.” Ciro is on his third glass.

“Just like that? No more ‘boss’?” Alessandro snaps back, rolling his shoulders.

“Not unless you’ve got a mission for us. Other than playing board games and drinking all day. How about Al?”

“Your nicknames fucking suck, Zero.” He smiles, though, looking over at me.

“Ouch! My feelings. Isa, knock his clock off for me, would you?”

“It’s ‘knock his block off,’ dickhead,” Ero echoes into his wine glass.

“Adriano, why don’t you fill us in on your field trip?” I interrupt before food starts flying.

“Not exactly dinner conversation.” Adriano shrugs. “But it went about as well as could be expected. Shit’s definitely gone south, even in Europe. Oops, sorry, Angelica.”

“It’s fine … she’s not even listen?—”

“Shit south!” Gigi sings and all of us freeze.

Right before the entire table erupts in uproarious laughter.

She giggles right along with us, clearly unsure why we’re laughing, but thrilled to be at the center of it. After a few minutes of tearful chuckles, we manage to reset, Adriano sighing and continuing his report.

“Anyway, our supporters and affiliates are pretty much staying neutral, waiting to see who comes out on top. Most of them will just keep working, not take sides, per se.”

“Can’t blame them,” Aless grumbles. “Some loyalty would be nice, though.”

“Don’t get me wrong, they prefer us to the new guy, but with you publicly dead…” Adriano shakes his head.

“Nothing like this has happened in over a hundred years. There’s been squabbles, sure. But a full-blown takeover? And under your watch?” Ciro waves at Carla to leave the bottle. He’s going to be dancing on the table by ten.

“ Our watch, you mean. And thanks for rubbing it in, jackass.” Aless sits back, running a hand down my back. “The all-powerful Diamantes brought low. It’s hard to believe.”

“Almost sounds like you’re giving up,” Adriano posits, quirking an eyebrow.

“Fu—heck no. There’s no such thing in my book. We’re biding our time until we can strike back.”

“He’s right. We have to beat Dom at his own game, outsmart him.”

“We’re always smart, except for Ciro,” Ero mutters.

“I’m not the one who blows up sports cars.”

“You just burn down nightclubs.”

“Says the guy who torched the team mascot costume our senior year…”

“I found it that way. Just added some vodka to help it along”

Aless watches his brothers, a faint smile gracing his full lips. I could stare at him for hours.

“So, where does that leave us?” Alessandro finally gets the conversation back on track.

“For now, we’re stuck. I got a call from Domenico yesterday.”

Aless tenses, everyone at the table sitting straighter.

“What did he want?” Tomas leans forward.

“He wanted to know when I, when we, are coming home.” Adriano looks at Ciro, Ero, Tomas.

“You’ve got to be kidding…” Angie protests, glancing at Tomas, her face worried.

“Makes sense. You three are his most valuable assets. I’ve got the staff and security in my corner. If we fall in line, he’s as good as accepted by the entire organization. At least in the underworld’s public eye.” Tomas folds his hands in front of his face, clearly unnerved. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him that I needed a day to think about it. That we were still in mourning.” Adriano grinds his teeth. “I wanted to tell him to get fucked.”

“What happens if you don’t go back?” I ask the question on everyone’s mind, knowing the answer already. Alessandro and I have been around and around about this.

“Manhunt.” All four brothers and Tomas say on top of one another immediately.

“Well, then,” I laugh humorlessly.

“If you aren’t with him, if you try to disappear, he’ll know something is up,” Alessandro summarizes. “You should go back. Swear your loyalty to him.”

“Are you joking?” Adri looks aghast. “It’s one thing to show up, keep up appearances, but swear fealty to that bastard? No way.”

“It’s the only way.” Ero sits up straighter, looking like he’s realizing something. “And you have to do it, Adriano.”

“He’s right,” Ciro adds, sobering some. “You’re the head of the family now, like it or not. And for the record, I don’t.”

“You stay close to the center of the operation. Ciro and Ero will act as your eyes, ears, and hands, undermining Vipera.” Aless shrugs. “It’s the long game.”

Adriano looks like he might be sick.

“What says he doesn’t kill all of you on sight?” Angelica whispers, handing Gigi to Carla. She’s glaring at Tomas. He’s going to get an earful later…

“It's a risk.” Adriano is processing, tallying the data. “But I think he values our blood too much. And more than that, he will want the satisfaction of turning his rival’s brothers. Using us to his ends.”

“Great. Don Dom is going to have us cleaning toilets in no time,” Ciro huffs.

“Better than feeding worms,” Ero muses.

“And it’s the only way to beat Dom at his own game. Enemies closest. That’s what screwed us this time. We had no idea he was a threat until he was already in.”

We all look at one another, digesting the decision. After a few seconds, Alessandro stands, raising his glass. “To Dom. May he reap what he’s sown.”

The rest of us raise our glasses.

“To my brothers. To the Diamantes. We may be scattered, but we cannot be broken.”

“Here, here!” Ciro cheers, gulping down his wine.

“On that note, I think it’s time we retire for the evening.” Aless gives me a sly look.

“Agreed. I’ll see you all in the morning. Ciro, don’t go running down the mountainside in the dark,” I tease, following my lover out.

“And Ero, don’t you dare put him up to it!” Alessandro shouts over his shoulder.

We close the door to our room, changing for bed. I’m removing my jewelry when Aless comes up from behind me, sliding his arms around me, covering my hands resting on my belly.

“Finally,” he rumbles into my ear.

“I thought you’d talk all night…”

“There are far more pressing matters to attend to all night .”

“Promises, promises …”

“Speaking of promises…” Aless turns me in his arms, his forehead scrunching. “We haven’t really had much time to deal with…us.”

“We’ve got plenty of time, now.”

But I know what he means. The tumult of getting here, traveling, has kept us preoccupied, pushing any real conversation of what we are out ahead of us. It’s a rift I haven’t been able to close.

I see it every time the baby comes up. Every time we talk about the future.

“There’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

“Agreed. I’m starting to think that’s okay, in some ways,” I offer, losing myself in his hazel eyes.

“I would be fine with however much you choose to share with me, or how little, as long as you are yourself with me. But somehow, I doubt that you’re going to be able to resist asking me questions. All the questions.”

“I can be stubborn if need be. I won’t press you on anything you don’t want to tell.”

“If we make it a competition, I have no doubt you will win. You’re too tenacious and driven not to. I love that about you. You never let things go until you get what you are looking for. And the fact is, Isa, I want to share everything with you.”

“But …”

“It’s hard to talk about a lot of it. But I can promise you this: any question you ask me, I will answer honestly. 100 percent.”

“Good. Because I always know when someone’s lying.”

“I wish I had your intuition,” Aless sniffs, grimacing.

“Who would dare lie to you, the great Alessandro Diamante?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe some photographer, Miss Bianchi?”

I can’t help snorting a laugh. “Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh.”

“It’s alright. I’m actually pretty impressed, now that I’m not fuming mad about it.”

“I promise to be honest with you too, Alessandro,” I pull him into a kiss, tasting his lips. “Starting with this, I want you to bend me over this dresser and take me…”

He grins, sliding a hand along my back, pushing me onto the smooth wood, rucking up my skirt and squeezing my ass. His scalding lips find the crook of my neck, jolting shocks of electricity down my arms, legs, deep into my core.

“Mmm … don’t hold back.”

“I don't want to be too rough. You know, for the baby's sake.”

“I’ll tell you exactly how rough you can be with me, Alessandro,” I hum, reaching back to grip the frigid pillar of smooth sex tearing from his boxers. “And don’t worry, no matter how hard a diamond gets, it can’t break me.”