Page 22

22

ARCHER

K arma is a funny thing, I think, as we leave the barn. Carlotta is tucked under my arm and, as we walk across the yard, her brothers explain what happened on their end while we were battling it out in the barn.

Apparently, Gallo had evaded capture during the takeover and managed to escape through a back window with a couple of his henchmen. While they searched the house, they were already headed for the barn. I’m not quite sure how he cut the side of his face, but the man was deranged and deserved his fate. Especially after trying to kill Carlotta. No one messes with my girl and gets away with it. Fucking no one.

“We have things to discuss,” Miceli states, and it’s quickly decided by the group gathered that there will be an immediate emergency meeting of the Five Families.

All I want to do is take Carlotta home and care for her. I know she must still be shaken, but Miceli insists we all go. Including me.

I halt in my tracks. “Me?” I echo in surprise. I am not part of the Five Families and have never been to a meeting. And why would I? I don’t even have a family left, much less any connection to these powerful mafia clans.

“That’s right. You’re a part of what just went down and now it looks like you’re sleeping with my baby sister.”

“Miceli!” Carlotta hisses. “That’s none of your business.”

“If this man eventually marries you, that makes it my business. Because then he’s family.”

Marriage is something I thought was never in the cards for me. Especially after losing Caitlin. The sad truth is I never really loved her. But now, I can’t stop thinking about marrying Carlotta. In fact, the idea has taken root and I’m beginning to obsess over it.

Everything that has happened between Lottie and I has been so soon, so sudden, and yet so damn good. So why not keep up with that tradition? The sooner I get her brothers’ permission, I decide I’m going to put a ring on her finger. A very big, very shiny diamond ring.

Because I am not letting this amazing woman go. Not ever.

It’s decided that the meeting will take place in the backroom of an Italian restaurant where the Rossi’s know the owner and are good friends. We climb back into the Range Rover while Miceli makes the call and sets everything up.

I pull Carlotta against me and she lays her head on my shoulder. For the duration of the ride, Miceli, Leo and I talk about what happened at the farmhouse and Carlotta pipes in to tell us what Gallo said about his son and how he had approached her, but she blew him off. She also informs us about how the Holloway deal falling through cost him his job and, in the end, his life.

That was a curveball no one expected. But I can only feel so much sympathy for the man. No one forced him to borrow all that money from unsavory loan sharks. At some point, he needed to take responsibility for his own bad decisions. And if Carlotta wasn’t interested in pursuing anything with Maximo then that’s her decision, her right.

Once we reach the restaurant, everyone is ushered into the private back room where wine is already being poured into glasses. I hate to think a man’s death is cause for celebration, but Gallo was a thorn in everyone’s side and his bold attempt to destroy the alliance, the table, and these five powerful mafia families, led to his own downfall.

I can only have so much sympathy for the man. Technically, I have none and I won’t mourn his passing. Not after the terrible things he did. But I can see the toll that all of this has taken on Carlotta and I think she might even be harboring some guilt over what happened. We’ll have to talk about it tonight and she needs to understand that everything that happened was Carmine and Maximo Gallo’s own damn faults.

The table is huge and everyone eventually is present—The Rossi’s and their wives, The Bianchi’s, The DeLuca’s, The Caparelli’s and The Milano’s. It’s a damn intimidating room of the most powerful people in this city, and I’m getting a few side eyes. I can tell some of them are wondering why I’m here and, hell, I’m beginning to wonder that myself.

Carlotta and I sit down next to each other, and I reach for her hand beneath the table. She glances over and squeezes. It occurs to me that I am the only person here not related by blood or marriage. Technically, Leo Amato isn’t yet either, but he and Gia DeLucca are engaged and have a date to tie the knot next month.

But me? I’m nobody.

“Maybe I should go,” I whisper uneasily.

“Don’t you dare,” she replies.

“But—”

“Stay,” she implores me, and I give in, nodding, willing to do anything for her.

Once everyone is settled, the families get down to business. They’ve already called in a cleanup crew to take care of Carmine Gallo’s body and the fallen guards. The ones that are still alive have already been dealt with—warned to disappear, or more than likely, threatened with a brutal death.

Whatever happens, one thing is clear—there will be no police involvement. The Five Families doles out their own brand of justice and it does not involve law enforcement. Somehow, I guess it’s possible because their power and influence extends to everyone of importance in this city.

They’ve also made it their business to take care of the local businesses and neighborhoods. They aren’t just a group of people out to fight and kill and make money off the backs of hardworking locals. They’ve started organizations that help the small business owners, thanks to Gabriella and Enzo.

Of course, Carlotta has already informed both of them about Maximo and Holloway Corp. I can tell they feel bad, but there’s nothing anyone can do now. What’s done is done, and nothing can bring back Maximo Gallo or, for that matter, his revenge-seeking father. And, in my mind, that’s a good thing.

The meeting goes on for a while and during that time, food and wine are shared. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s a party. But the atmosphere isn’t festive; it’s all business. I can appreciate how this group has learned to work together because from what I know, things didn’t always run this smoothly. Like anything else, there were bad apples and bumps in the road. However, over the past year or so, all of the issues seem to have been addressed.

What I see now is a well-oiled machine and a group of powerful people, working together in a cohesive unit, for the betterment of the city and its residents. But, never underestimate their charity because if anyone threatens their families, they will end you with a vengeance.

Just ask Carmine Gallo. Or Caleb Durant. Or Rocco, Tommaso and Romeo Bianche. They all went after the Rossi family or a woman they loved and not one of them is still breathing.

Needless to say, I consider myself lucky to be on Miceli Rossi’s good side, as well as the others.

“And now our final piece of business,” Miceli says, looking over at me. “As most of you know, Archer here has been key in helping the Five Families resolve certain life or death issues with my family. He gave me pertinent and timely intel regarding my wife after she’d been kidnapped, and I will be forever grateful to him.”

Not sure what to say, I incline my head. Once again, I feel Lottie squeeze my hand and I squeeze right back.

“Tonight, he saved my sister’s life and it’s a debt I will never be able to fully repay.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Miceli,” I tell him earnestly. And I truly mean it. “I don’t want a huge sum of money deposited in my account for my involvement in Carlotta’s rescue. Besides, there’s not enough money in the world that could equal her worth.”

I look over at Carlotta and she beams me the most beautiful smile.

“All I ask is that you—all four of you—grant me permission to marry your baby sister. Because I can’t imagine spending a day without her.”

A few aww’s fill the air and before anyone can respond, I push my chair back with a scrape and drop down on one knee. Then I send a curious glance to her brothers.

“Can I keep going?” I ask, raising a questioning brow.

They all laugh and nod their approval.

“You better keep going,” Carlotta exclaims, and this time the entire table bursts into chuckles and smiles of approval.

My heart has never been so damn full and I turn all of my attention on the woman who captured it. My mysterious Queen of Hearts who I know so well now and can’t wait to discover even more about her.

“You have my heart, Lottie,” I say simply. “And I want to share everything with you.”

“Oh, Damon,” she murmurs, eyes shimmering in happy tears.

“Damon?” Angelo echoes. “That’s his first name?”

“Yeah, who knew?” Miceli interjects with a grin.

“It fits him,” Alessia murmurs, leaning into her husband.

“Keep going,” Carlotta says eagerly, and more laughter fills my ears.

“Carlotta Rossi, my Queen of Hearts, you made me realize that I’m capable of all the things I never thought I was, and I love you. I love you so damn much for being so amazing. For showing me I do have a heart, even when I thought I didn’t, and for filling it with love.”

“I love you, too,” she whispers.

“Then marry me, sweetheart.”

“Yes! Yes, of course, I will!” She pulls me forward, practically right onto her lap, and I have to grab onto the chair’s armrests to steady myself. Then I lower my head and we kiss in front of the most powerful mafia families in New York City.

“I think there’s one more person whose permission you need,” Aldo DeLucca says.

“Yeah, you need to meet our father,” Miceli states, holding up his phone to show me the screen where an older image of him faces me. With silvered hair and a strong face, Salvatore Rossi’s reputation is legendary.

Even more so than Miceli’s or any of the men sitting at this table.

Christ . I rake a hand through my hair, my nerves eating away at me. I’m currently hovering over his daughter and I quickly straighten up, turn to face the phone and brush my sweaty palms down the front of my dirty cargo pants.

“I hear you want to marry my daughter,” Salvatore says in a no-nonsense voice. His Italian accent is thick, but his English is flawless.

I swallow hard then nod. “Yes, sir.” The head of the Rossi clan exudes such an aura of authority that I find myself transported right back to my military days. If he has this much presence on a cell phone screen, I can only imagine what it will be like to meet him in person. I resist the urge to give him a sharp salute.

Shit. I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous in my life and Carlotta must know because she stands, moves up beside me and threads her fingers through mine.

“Hi, Dad,” she says, greeting him with an effervescent smile.

“Hello, honey.” His face softens. “Do you really want to marry this guy?”

Someone chuckles—I think Angelo, that bastard—and Carlotta nods fervently.

“Yes, so very much.”

“I hear he came to your rescue.”

“Twice,” I pipe up. “I mean, two times, sir.”

Salvatore looks from me back to his daughter. “Is this true, Lottie?” he asks.

“Yes, Dad.”

“And you love him?”

“Very much,” she gushes. Pushing up onto her toes, she presses a kiss to my stubbled jawline and I feel my face heat up. No woman has ever had the power to make me blush before.

“And what about you?” he asks, turning his attention back to me. “How do you feel about my only daughter?”

“I love her,” I answer simply. “I love her more than I ever thought possible. So much that I refuse to live without her.”

For a long moment Salvatore doesn’t say anything and I get the sick feeling that he might refuse me. I don’t want her father to hate me. To not give us his blessing. Because regardless of what he says, I’m marrying his daughter. But, I’d much prefer to have the most powerful man in Sicily on our side. Otherwise, God knows, I’d probably end up disappearing one of these days, my body never to be found and most likely sleeping with the fish at the bottom of the bay.

“Preferably, I’d like to meet you before you become my son-in-law,” Salvatore says carefully. “But I know how careless young people in love can be…and what a hurry they are sometimes in when it comes to forever.”

I glance down at Carlotta then back at her father. Suddenly another face fills the screen and I get my first look at Lottie’s mother, Carmela.

“Where is my future son-in-law?” she declares. “Oh, well done, Lottie, well done.”

I can’t help but laugh. “I can see where Carlotta gets her beauty,” I say, tossing the compliment right back and the older woman grins.

“A charmer, too, I see,” she murmurs, lips twitching. “Just like your father was with me.”

Salvatore grunts and she kisses his cheek which makes his stern face crack with warmth.

“Well, if you’re done trying to scare off this young man,” Carmela says, “I have a suggestion.”

We’re all ears and wait for Carmela to share her idea.

“Lottie, how would you feel about a wedding here in Sicily at the vineyard?” she asks.

“I’d love that.” Carlotta looks up at me. “What do you think?”

“Whatever makes you happiest,” I say. And it’s the truth. I want whatever puts a smile on Carlotta’s face.

“Good answer,” Carmela says. “Then it’s settled. Lottie and I will talk details and whenever you’re ready, everyone is invited to our home to celebrate your wedding.”

A cheer goes up around us and then Carlotta squeals and jumps into my arms. I wrap my arms around her, careful not to touch her ass in front of everyone, and we kiss again. In the background, I hear Salvatore gruffly give us his blessing.

Finally, I have everything I thought I never needed. And I couldn’t be happier.