Chapter 47 – Nico
Itrudged up the stairs and opened the front door. Lights were on farther into the house, but the foyer was cast in gloom. It was hard not to miss the shimmer of a moon-kissed dress.
Or the smell of bleach.
“I can get used to this,” I murmured as Magnolia Rae emerged from the front parlor. She arched a brow, and I laughed roughly. “Coming home to you, my sweet cherry.”
“There are some things you should know,” she said, holding up a hand to halt my advance.
I knew them already. The boys had filled me in. Taking a step forward, I nodded. But if my beauty wanted to tell me, I would listen.
“Arabella left. She’s safe,” Rae started.
Safe and controlled. Arabella was going to stay with Luigi’s dad until she figured out what she wanted to do with her life. It was a step in the right direction for the brand new adult. Giuseppe would let her test her wings, while keeping an eye on her.
“Before she left—” Rae looked to the side, gaze pinning on a spot in the foyer as if to check for blood “—she shot Sanderson.”
“She had it coming.” I wrapped my arms around her, capturing her arms at her side and bringing her close.
Looking up at me, Rae huffed. “You knew all that, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “Guilty.”
Bending, I brushed my lips against hers. Dio sacro, a man could get lost in her taste.
“Thank you for cleaning it up, but Rae?”
“Hmm?”
“That’s the last time,” I said vehemently. “From now on, you’re my queen and you’ll never scrub another floor as long as I live.”
Rae considered my words. “I don’t know, things might get pretty messy in the near future.”
“They might. But you’ll be away from the danger,” I assured her.
With a little laugh, Rae tucked herself into me. Mannaggia. She was so warm, so soft. Suddenly, I was starving.
“Did your buddy tell you Arabella nearly burnt the house down?” Rae asked sweetly.
“I’m glad you talked her out of it.” I slowly pulled the pins from that beautiful, wild mess of hair.
“I thought so,” she muttered. “You’re kind of attached to this hellhole.”
“No,” I corrected, “but it’s not that bad of a house. We just haven’t been able to properly use it before now.”
Scooping her into my arms, I began to carry her up the stairs.
Rae let out a half-hearted squeal. My girl was tired. And no wonder. It was nearly five in the morning.
“One question,” I began, walking down the hall to the room that was now going to be ours. “Where are your shoes?”
Her bare feet twitched. “I was kind of hoping you’d chase me. Since we have the place to ourselves now.”
The admission made my cock pulse greedily.
“But then I figured you’d be busy with mob stuff, and I didn’t expect you to come back at all,” she added.
“The most immediate problems are solved.” I pushed into the bedroom and kicked the door shut behind us. “The rest can wait.”
