LUCA The next day we went back to the Hamptons to get some clothes Aria needed. From now on she would stay in New York with me . I wanted her close, and I was needed in New York.
When we entered the mansion, Gianna and Matthew were sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast. It was almost lunchtime, so they had probably slept late, or rather, fucked late as usual. Gianna leapt up from her chair and rushed toward us. I let go of Aria. Before Gianna hugged her sister, she gave me a sharp look. “Are you all right?
Did that brute treat you well?”
I stiffened. Had he implied that I had mistreated Aria?
Even when I thought she had fucked Dante, I had never laid a hand on her. I had killed and tortured people for much less. Aria gave me an apologetic look before I headed toward Matteo as she and her sister moved to the lounge area and sat down .
Matteo patted me on the back. “Did you finally get your head out of your ass?”
My eyes remained on Aria. I had a hard time letting her out of my sight now that I had her back, now that I knew how vulnerable she was.
“What’s going on with you? I thought you settled your argument.”
“Yes.” I turned to Matteo, who was watching me cautiously. “Aria is pregnant with my child.”
Matteo’s eyes went wide, his gaze shifted to Aria and then back to me. “Are you going to be a father?”
Could he have sounded more shocked? I cast a lightning glance, then focused on Aria, who was apparently placating Gianna .
“Maybe that was one of the reasons Dante let her go and chose the photo tactic to weaken you.”
I nodded, “Maybe. If I ever get my hands on him, I’ll ask him if he wanted me to kill my wife.”
“He knew you wouldn’t kill her. He probably thought you would risk a headless attack on his territory, on him, so he could kill you.”
I did not know Dante’s motives, but I would have given him an excruciating death if I ever found out.
“How do you feel about becoming a father?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Our father was not a model.”
“No, that’s for sure,” Matteo muttered. We exchanged a long look. Our childhood had been a fucking ordeal. If we hadn’t been there, we would have gone crazy.
“She’s a girl. It will make things easier,” I added.
Matthew smiled. “If she’s as beautiful as Aria, then we’ll have our hands full keeping men away.”
My lips curved into a hard smile. “Let them come.”
Matthew laughed, excitement flared in his eyes at the prospect of blood, then he calmed down and peered into my eyes. In the first weeks after he had received the photos of Dante and Aria, after I had gone all the way down and slaughtered the bikers, and again afterward, he had been worried. “I’m glad you didn’t go completely crazy.”
I touched his shoulder. “That would have been your chance to be Chief.”
Matthew was as alpha as I was. He hated being told what to do, hated having to kowtow to anyone. This had led to more than one torture session from our father. Yet he had never used my moments of weakness to improve his position.
“That you supported me instead of sticking a fucking knife in it, even though I gave you plenty of opportunities, Matteo, that I will never forget.”
Matteo nodded, then his mouth twisted into an annoying grin. “I see the pregnancy hormones have already rubbed off on you.”
“Don’t hold your breath for sappy emotional outbursts, asshole.”
Matthew punched me in the stomach, but I stiffened my muscles before the impact and made no sound. “I know you only reserve them for Aria.”
My eyes shifted to Aria. She looked up and as always a warmth crept into my body.
Matteo and Gianna had returned to New York with us two days earlier. I knew it was because Matteo wanted to keep an eye on me and because Gianna wanted to keep an eye on her sister, but I honestly couldn’t care less why they had made that decision. Romero and Lily had already been to New York , because as the new Captain her presence was required, and Lily had to help Romero’s mother who had broken her leg. Aria was happy to have her family around again. She and her sisters were sitting on the couch, flipping through the children’s magazines Lily had brought.
As long as I didn’t have a second bodyguard for her, I wouldn’t let her leave the apartment unless I was with her.
“Maybe I could take a few shifts,” Romero suggested.
I shook my head. I had worked things out with him and would have preferred that he guard Aria again, but that was no longer an option. “Now you’re a captain and you’re a husband. That changes things.”
Romero’s eyes darted toward Lily, and I knew I could not let him watch over Aria. His priorities had changed, and knowing the impact of love, I knew no threat would make him choose Aria’s life over Lily’s, if it ever came to that.
“What do you think of Demetrius?” I asked.
“He is a good fighter, loyal and unattached. For him there is only the Family,” Romero said, and his mouth tightened in guilt.
“He took Angelo for us, he didn’t blink when you killed Gottardo.”
Demetrius hated his father and his half-brothers. As a bastard son, he had suffered living with them. He was grateful that I had killed them.
“I’m thinking of appointing him as Washington’s sub-chief if he proves himself.”
“The extra incentive will definitely help,” Matteo said.
Romero nodded but did not seem convinced. “He’s still young.”
“Twenty. You weren’t much older when you started guarding Aria.”
“Do you trust him with Aria?” asked Matteo.
My eyes shifted to my wife, who was smiling at her sisters, her palm pressed against her belly.
“No. But I don’t have many options. I can’t watch her all the time. And I know Demetrius’ weakness. I will use it to keep him in line if necessary.”
Demetrius entered our gymnasium, his eyes cautious as they rested on Matthew and me. He usually worked with Orpheus, the son of one of my captains, and it was obvious he was wary of my reasons for calling him here. He was one of the few family members I could stand, even though being a bastard he was not even officially considered a family member. He had always been a loyal resource.
“Luca, Matteo,” he said cautiously, stopping a few steps away from us. His eyes scanned my clothes with a frown. I had already changed into sweatpants, nothing else. There was no point in getting blood on a T-shirt.
His gaze shifted to the ring behind me, and tension filled his body. He was tall, as tall as Matthew, but a couple of inches shorter than me, and not as muscular, but that was a given.
I could see caution and a hint of worry in his eyes, but he did not reach for his gun or try to run away. “Did you call me?”
His voice was firm and met my straight gaze.
I nodded and took a step toward him. He did not back down . “You’ve proven your loyalty over the past few years and I’m thinking of appointing you as Washington’s Under Chief.”
His eyes registered surprise. Washington was one of the most important cities in my territory and he was just my Uncle Gotthard’s bastard son, not someone who should have inherited his father’s title, but he was someone who had never given me reason to distrust. He was usually going to be a captain, nothing more.
“It is an honor,” he said. “What do I have to do to prove my worth?” Again caution and circumspection.
“You will guard my wife for the next year.”
Demetrius’ eyes grew wide. “What about Sandro?”
“He’ll be the second guard, but I want someone as lethal as you when I’m gone. Let’s see if I’m right in saying you’re the best choice.”
I nodded to Matteo.
He pulled out his knife and gave his shark smile. “You should take out your knife too. I will try not to kill you.”
Demetrius took off his jacket and unsheathed a long curved knife, then held it at chest level as he faced Matteo.
Matteo lunged. The knives resounded. Demetrius held his ground, but Matteo was not there to kill, of course. Still, I was pleased with what I had seen.
“Enough,” I said. “Now you will fight with me.”
Demetrio wiped the blood from a cut on his cheek, then looked at me circumspectly.
“Without weapons,” I said.
He dropped the knife and I attacked. I landed a few hard blows on his hips, stomach and face, but he hit me a few times too, not enough to make me fall to my knees but it was better than nothing. Finally, I grabbed his throat and pulled him to the ground, then drove my knee into his chest. I loosened my grip on his throat just enough to make him breathe , then I brought my face closer. “Aria is my wife. She’s mine.”
He swallowed, a hint of anger in his dark eyes. “I would never do anything, I swear.”
“I don’t have to tell you what I’ll do if you touch her.”
“Everyone knows it’s off-limits, Luca,” she said in a shrill voice.
“I’m not crazy. And no offense, but she’s not my type.”
Matteo laughed. “Demetrio, you’ve got a dick. He’s your type. I’m Luca’s brother, and even I can admit that I like what I see.”
I cast a glance at Matteo. He shrugged his shoulders.
Demetrius shook his head. “She is beautiful,” he admitted and my fingers twitched. “But I prefer strangers. They are not as reserved as our women.”
I tilted my head. I had thought the same thing before Aria, but I was pleased with her reaction. I could not perceive a lie.
“You will protect her with your life.”
“She will be safe with me,” he said firmly. I believed it too, but I would still have preferred Romero, I would always have preferred him. However, he was now Captain and I could not ask him to step down from that position, and his feelings for Lily made him too volatile. If he had to choose between Aria and Lily, the choice was clear.
I let go of Demetrius and straightened up, then held out my hand to him. He took it and I pulled him to his feet and patted his shoulder, then lowered my voice menacingly.
“Orpheus is like your brother, and his family has always been closer than yours.”
I left the rest unsaid, that if he did wrong, Orpheus would be the one to pay the price.
Demetrius stiffened. “You can trust me with your wife, Luca. I swear it on my honor.” He touched his tattoo.
“I trust no one, but you will prove your worth.”
“I will. Is there a reason Sandro is no longer enough?” he asked cautiously.
“She’s pregnant,” I said, even though my body was reeling at the idea of admitting it.
Demetrius nodded, but I could see a hint of apprehension in his expression. Good, he knew what kind of responsibility I had given him. “He will be safe.”
“If you have suspicions about someone, first deactivate them and then ask questions. I’d rather face the consequences of killing one too soon than one too late, understand?”
Demetrius nodded again. “Are you going to make it public?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t want people to know until there is no way around it, and even then only the Family. I don’t want pictures of Aria’s pregnancy or our child to end up in the press. If you notice a photographer, get him, or at least his name, and I will take care of it. Dante already knows. We have to stop the Bratva or Camorra from finding out.
Understand?”
I had caught a hint of surprise on his face when I had said that Dante knew, but I had not bothered to explain.
“Understood,” he said.
I gave him another stern look before saying, ” I will introduce you to my wife tomorrow.”
Demetrius tilted his head.
AIR Luca had always been protective. By now I was used to it . But since he had found out about my pregnancy, his protection had reached a new level. He hardly ever let me out of his sight and never left me alone with Sandro. I knew that he had found me a new bodyguard and it was obvious that the idea did not sit well with Sandro, but he and I had never gotten along very well. Romero had been like a friend, and even a brother, but Sandro had always been just my guard.
Luca headed for the elevator as it began to rise, but I stayed back against the kitchen counter. The doors opened and a tall young man stepped forward. He shook Luca’s hand and then followed him toward me, scrutinizing me closely. I remembered the onyx-colored eyes and black hair.
“This is my cousin, Demetrius,” Luca said. He was a bastard son. I had heard about him and hated him. I had seen him several times over the years, the first time at my wedding. He was a teenager then, a couple of years younger than me. He must have been twenty, twenty-one now? He bowed his head respectfully and I smiled and walked over to him, holding out my hand.
Demetrius cast a glance at Luca, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. But really, by now I was used to this kind of behavior from Luca’s soldiers. Luca noticed my reaction and smiled. I did not wait for his okay and took Demetrius’ hand and shook it. I tried to remember when I had last seen him, probably at some family function or maybe even at Luca’s father’s funeral. “It’s good to see you again, Demetrio. When was the last time you were at Salvatore’s funeral?” He shook his head, his hand stiffly in mine. “No, the last time was three years ago, when Luca beat me up in the gym because I suggested fighting with you.” I opened my eyes wide and laughed as I let him go. “Oh well. I guess that’s a day you don’t like to remember.”
He had changed a lot since then. He didn’t look like a boy anymore, and there was nothing insecure about him. He had hardened like all Made Men eventually do. “No,” he said. “That was a lesson I had to learn.” Luca looked at his cousin with piercing eyes. I could tell he didn’t trust him the way he trusted Romero, but if Luca had chosen Demetrio I knew I was safe with him. “I can’t wait to meet you,” I told him. Surprise crossed his face before he hid it. “Why don’t you stay for dinner?” His dark eyes shifted to Luca, who nodded.
“Aria prefers to meet her bodyguards.” I suppressed my annoyance at Demetrio’s need to gain Luca’s approval. Matteo and Gianna also joined us. Demetrio was tense throughout dinner, but he was polite and not too intimidating, so I felt quite comfortable in his presence. That night, as Luca and I lay in bed, I asked, “Why him?” “He has proven his worth over and over again in recent years. My Uncle Gotthard, his father, was a worthless piece of shit, but Demetrius is a loyal soldier. I want to put him to the test.” “M et him?” “I need a Sub-Chief for Washington and I want to give the job to him.” He stroked my hair. “And he’s lethal. He has no real ties. His mother is dead and he’s not married or anything.” “So you think he’ll have no problem giving his life for me,” I said. Luke smiled darkly. “He will not hesitate to die for you, believe me, because if anything happens to you while you are under his watch, I will set a new record.” I shuddered at the subterranean vein in his tone. “Record,” I repeated , even though I had a feeling I knew it. Luca shook his head and kissed me softly, his eyes softening. “Nothing will happen to you or our baby, believe me .” “You can’t lock me in, Luca. I still want to work on the books. I have to do something. These last few weeks with nothing to do have been hell.” He sighed. “When you start showing up, we need to keep you out of the public eye as much as possible, or at least make sure you won’t be recognizable.” “I can get another wig,” I teased him.
Luca chuckled. “That might be an option, yes.” His fingers on my waist became increasingly distracting. “What do you think about turning the small guest room into the nursery?” “Not the big one?” “It’s downstairs.” He nodded tensely. “Our daughter needs to be close to us , you’re right.” He closed his eyes briefly. “How will I protect you and her?” I ran my fingers over his tattoo Family.
“Nothing will happen to us.” He relaxed slightly but a tinge of tension remained. I sat down and Luca’s eyes squinted in confusion. I ran my hands down his firm belly to the elastic of his underwear. I hadn’t gone down on it since we had made our peace, afraid my nausea would set in if he accidentally hit my throat, and that wasn’t something I wanted to happen. He hardened immediately and desire flashed in his eyes. Yet he said, “Aria, you don’t have to do this.”
I pulled down his underwear and his cock came free. ” Don’t you want my mouth on you?” He made a strange sound from deep in his throat, half laugh, half moan. “I’m close to coming just to have your face next to my cock.” I laughed and he smiled, then stiffened as I bent down and took his tip in my mouth and swirled my tongue around it. The taste of him squeezed my center in excitement, no sign of nausea. Encouraged by my body’s reaction, I slid more of his length into my mouth and hollowed my cheeks, setting a slow pace. Luca moaned, a low sound that made moisture accumulate between my legs. He looked at me through half-closed eyes, his shoulders flexing as he grabbed the blankets. I took special care of his tip as he liked and cupped his balls. “Air,” he croaked, “Fuck, it feels so good.” He clenched and I sucked him harder, enjoying the way his body stiffened and his breathing became labored. I savored the first hints of his cum, but before he could release himself into my mouth, Luke pushed me back gently and came on him as his cock twitched. I continued to massage his balls, then moved on to caress his muscular thighs. “Why did you do that?” I asked curiously. Luca gave me a satisfied smile. “I didn’t want to risk you getting sick.” I huffed. “I wasn’t going to throw up on you.” Then I added : “I think. I feel pretty good.” And it was true. My nausea had almost completely disappeared since Luca had come back into my life. “I didn’t want to risk it,” he said quietly, then wiped himself with a handkerchief before reaching out to my arm and pulling me closer. “Sit on my stomach.” I straddled him as he asked, and he lifted my legs so that I could lean on them before pulling my legs out from under me and spreading them apart, exposing me to his hungry gaze. I shuddered as his eyes took their time assessing me. “So wet because I had my cock in your mouth,” he growled , and I trembled with excitement, spreading my legs a little wider. I liked giving Luca pleasure. It made me feel powerful, but it wasn’t just that. I loved how he went wild when I pleased him with my mouth. It was a wonderful sight. He ran his palms down my legs and his fingers caressed the sensitive skin of my inner thigh, but he didn’t touch me where I needed it; he just watched me intently as I wiggled on top of him. “Please,” I gasped. His finger adorned the outer edge of my folds. “Are you begging me? Begging to release me?””Yes,” I said abruptly. “Don’t you know that begging doesn’t work on me?” he asked darkly, and I almost came upon hearing his voice. “Luca, please.” “Please what?”
I squinted my eyes but his gaze was dominant and possessive, and my core stiffened. “Please touch me, please.” He slid two fingers into me with excruciating slowness, and his mouth opened as he looked at me. I came hard before he was even halfway in, bending backwards against my knees, moaning and half delirious with relief. Luke moved his fingers in a gentle rhythm as I rode out my orgasm, his eyes moving from my center to my face. I rocked my pelvis slightly as he slid in and out slowly, curling his fingers deep inside me. He pressed his thumb against my clit and pushed harder inside me, and I cried out again, unable to hold back my release, but Luke still did not.
relax. His fingers continued their gentle torture and I came again, slumping forward, palms pressed against his chest, panting and sweating. Luca’s gray eyes stared into mine.
“I don’t think I can come again,” I croaked, feeling almost faint.
“Relax, princess. Just wait a moment. We have to make up for lost time.”
I leaned back on his legs and he continued to finger-fuck me slowly, unhurriedly. His stomach was clammy from my arousal and his movements produced embarrassing wet sounds. I groaned and his gaze became incredibly more possessive. It took a long time, but eventually my walls stiffened almost painfully and another release surged through me.
Luca sat up, claiming my mouth, and I held him tight.
“Amazing,” he whispered as his lips grazed my tender throat, and all I could do was nod.