Page 98 of Thorns of Death

Dio mio! I’d have to start seriously talking to them about protection so we didn’t end up with tons of little baby Marchetti bastards before I managed to even get my own wife pregnant.

“Neither of you will be tapping any ass.” I kept my expression stern and my tone scolding. “We’re going to Russia. Isla’s sister-in-law is in the hospital. Her brother needs her, and she will need us. Can you do that for her?”

Their expressions sobered and they nodded in unison. “Sì, Papà.”

Enzo shifted on his feet uncomfortably, hesitating before speaking his next words. He didn’t like to show his emotions.

“When we were in the safe room, she comforted us about Donatella trying to kill us,” he stated, his voice pitching. It had been a while now since both of them began referring to her asDonatellarather thanMother. “She said sometimes people suck, but it’s not our fault.”

I nodded. “È vero.”It’s true. “You are good boys and make me proud. Donatella is lost. In her mind and her hate.”

They agreed. I fucking hated that they had to know their mother wanted them dead. I tried so fucking hard to shelter them from her mental illness. But when she’d almost gotten to them when they were seven and eight, I had to come clean. I couldn’t leave them blind and vulnerable to their mother.

“Isla’s too soft,” Amadeo stated matter-of-factly. “It’s dangerous. Donatella will take advantage of that.”

I agreed with my son. Isla was soft, but I also sensed strength and courage. She certainly had no qualms standing up to me, and that gave me hope. There were some women who were oblivious to the dangers lurking. My gut told me Isla wasn’t one of them.

“It’s our job to keep an eye on her,” I said. “We are a family, and we take care of each other. Si?”

Soft footsteps sounded behind me and the four of us shared glances with the unspoken agreement.

Isla appeared at the door, dressed in jeans that hugged her curves and a purple cashmere sweater that hung off her shoulder and offered a glimpse at the outline of her breasts. On her feet were plain black flats. Practical for the long journey ahead.

Madonna, she was breathtaking. Like a fallen angel ready to seduce the devil. She could parade naked, in the most breathtaking dress, or in rags, and she’d steal my breath away every time.

“Did you know your closet is bursting with women’s clothes, all of them with the tags still attached and in their garment bags?” she remarked. She waved at the boys and gave a non-committal nod to Manuel. “Either you have tons of female guests who have no clothes, or you planned my kidnapping.”

I let out a sardonic breath. She really liked to push my buttons. “It’s not kidnapping if you came into my home of your own free will.”

While I waited for her to leave Russia, I stocked up on clothes for her in all my homes that I usually frequented. I couldn’t wait to see her reaction to her closet in Italy.

She let out a sardonic breath. “For a visit.”

“Potato. Potahto.”

She cocked her eyebrow. “Wow, I’m impressed. I didn’t know Italians knew English expressions.”

“You’d be surprised by what I know.” I smirked knowingly, and her cheeks reddened.

Apparently, she decided to ignore me, turning her attention to my sons instead. “Hey, boys, I like your mini-Enrico suits. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable traveling in jeans, though?”

Enzo shrugged. “Real men wear suits. And real women wear dresses that show off their legs.”

Madonna santa.I’d have to talk to Enzo about throwing those kinds of remarks at my wife.

“Enzo, that’s not how you speak to a lady,” I snapped. “Especially not your stepmom.”

Isla raised her palm and narrowed her eyes on Enzo who was about to say something.

“Okay. Let’s set some ground rules,” she started sternly, and my dick stiffened in my pants. For crying out loud. This woman could recite the Bible and I’d get a hard-on. “You need to get to know a girl, not her legs. Let’s crawl before we start walking.”

All four of us gave her a blank stare. Who in the fuck was talking about crawling? Although, I wouldn’t mind my wife crawling to me, naked, wearing nothing but heels.

A clearing of a throat pulled my head out of my fantasy. Everyone was staring at me.

“What?” I barked, annoyed that I was so easily distracted. Usually I was laser-focused. “Don’t you forget, I’m capo here. So cut the shit.”

“Calm down,nipote. Nobody was challenging you. Your wife asked you a question.”