Page 63 of His Wicked Wants (West Coast Mobsters #6)
NERO
A week later, we’ve just finished a seven-course dinner in the formal dining room and the guests have returned to the grand salon. This dinner tonight serves two purposes: a goodbye to Jack and Miller as they seek a new life in Las Vegas, and a formal welcome to me as new Underboss for the Family.
A sense of unreality settles on me as I look around the salon. All my dreams have come to life here tonight—everywhere I look, I see love, respect, and acceptance, the warmth of family and friends. And not just Castellanis, either: Roxanne Bernardi and her husband, who has fully recovered now, are chatting happily with Anna-Vittoria Esposito and her son, Bricker, who keeps looking around for Max Pedretti. But Pedretti, looking dapper in a well-cut dinner suit, is busy talking to Al Montanari, who was invited tonight with a few of the other retired Castellanis—Vito DiPietro, Gene Lombardo, who has given up his legal practice for golf, and even Legs Liggari.
I’m actually pleasant to Liggari when he sidles up to me with an obsequious greeting. Now that he is no longer in a position of power, I find I can tolerate him a little better.
As for the Bernardis and their Family, they seem to have settled into their new position in the LA hierarchy: diminished but surviving. They serve as a reminder of Sandro’s mercy and faithfulness to his allies—and his ruthlessness, after we hunted down the traitors. That balance of kindness and cruelty is what makes him such an effective Don.
Nearby, Charlotte, whom Roxanne Bernardi now freely acknowledges to be her daughter, charms everyone around her. The sight of her laughing and carefree after everything she’s been through lifts my spirits. I’m relieved to see no lasting trauma in those bright eyes. When she catches me watching her, she gives me a shy smile, and I wave to her. Gino treats her like his own, the three of them presenting the picture of a perfect family.
But the most important person here is Gabriel. I can’t not be aware of him. When he’s near me, I feel settled. When he’s not, I find myself turning to seek him out. I look for him now and see him talking to Darian, Miller, Nate and Teddy. My heart aches, but in a pleasant manner. I feel so completely content .
But there’s one more task for tonight, and I catch Julian Castellani’s eye from across the room. He joins me at the far end of the salon, seating himself at the grand piano as I take out my violin. Julian plays a few dramatic chords to get the attention of the crowd.
“In honor of our celebrations this evening,” Julian announces, “Nero Andretti and I would like to play for you. This is a piece we have composed in Don Castellani’s honor.”
There’s polite applause, and the crowd rearranges itself to face us. I place the violin beneath my chin, catch Julian’s eye, and give him a nod. With that, we launch into it, and as I play, the melody swelling and soaring through the room, and the crowd is transfixed, I feel the truth of it: this is everything. Not the applause. Not just the astonished delight in my talent. But the people here, the ones who have changed me. Shaped me. True family. True friends.
And true love. I find Gabriel, see his pride in me glowing from his face, and suddenly the music is only for him.
The final note lingers, fades into the appreciative silence, and the applause afterwards is deafening. But I barely hear it. I barely care. Julian takes several bows, but I don’t even notice—I’m already moving, making my way to where I belong.
With Gabriel.
He meets me halfway, throwing his arms around my neck as I hug him close. “That was incredible,” he tells me. “ You are incredible.”
“You make me incredible,” I say nonsensically, but he understands what I mean, laughing and kissing me.
I kiss him back, hard, in front of everyone. I have nothing left to hide now, because I have everything I need right here in my arms. Gabriel is holding me tight as though I’m something worth keeping—and in his embrace, I believe it.
He is mine. I am his.
Per sempre .