“My mum used to say it to me when I was younger. I never understood it until now.”
She exhaled a slow, unsteady breath that seemed to carry the devastation of a storm beneath its gentleness.
“Will you take care ofMammafor me? You are so patient and kind to her. And Sani. He’ll spiral at first. But I know you can keep him from losing his mind.”
“Of course,” I answered quickly. I was already looking forward to spending more time with Cecilia and getting to know her better. I could tell she’d lived a colourful life and I knew she’d enjoy telling me all about it. Sani was anotherstory, but I’d try. “You say that like you’re leaving now. If the men can find a better solu–”
“Whenthe men realise this is our best and only option, things will move quickly. Knowing you will be here with them makes the thought of saying goodbye a little easier. IfMammaasks about me, tell her I’m safe and happy, won’t you? I plan to be, but I don’t want her to worry.” She sighed. “I guess soon enough, she’ll forget to ask.”
I wrapped my arms around myself as the last of the sun vanished from sight, leaving a warm glow behind. “Life is beautiful and so fucking brutal. Nothing ever lasts. And nothing is ever promised.”
“There’s something so savagely devastating yet incredibly uplifting about that, though, isn’t there?”
“There is,” I agreed, meeting her gaze and mirroring her wistful smile. “There really is.”
Soulmates
With Cher’s music streaming through my earphones, I let the frustration seep out of my pores from the sauna’s sweltering heat and tried to rid my mind of thoughts of my little sister walking down the aisle in a white dress towards a fucking Bratva bastard.
We took another vote tonight, and the majority ruled. Fabi, Alessio, and Max were in favour of a marriage alliance, while Gio and I were still firmly against it. It was becoming harder and harder to stand our ground as Raya seemed to be quietly swaying all the women in the family as well. So it was most likely going to happen. And there was fuck all I could do about it. After all, I had caused this bloody mess to begin with, as Alessio liked to remind me. So I had to get on board with the plan because there really was no better option for us.
Contacting the Bratva and offering them a marriage alliance still carried risks. They could refuse and honour their word to McKenna. In that case, we’d have no choice but to go to war.
When it started to feel like my skin might actually melt off, I opened the sauna door into our home gym and noticed the large bouquet of black roses on the weights bench and one of my black tuxedos, freshly pressed, hanging from the pull-up bar. There was no sign of anyone else in here as I walked over to them and pulled out the handwritten note.
Tonight, it’s my turn to take care of you.
Put on your suit and come find me.
–A
Oh fuck me. Were those butterflies in my stomach?No wonder women loved this shit so much. I dived into the gym shower and took my time getting dressed, wanting to make sure I looked my best for my wife. Snatching up the flowers, I slipped the handwritten note into my suit jacket and made my way through the house towards my bedroom. I smirked at the soldiers who gave me impressednods, clearly thinking I looked like a man on a mission to swoon his woman, when little did they know I was the one falling on his knees for her.
By the time I reached the bedroom door, I could hear the soft, romantic melody drifting through it, and my hand paused on the handle. For once, I felt a little out of my element. No one had ever done anything like this for me. My heart was barely able to control itself, and beneath the excitement and admiration was an odd flutter of nerves.
I opened the door to a room lit in gold. Candlelight flickered across every surface, softening the edges of my masculine dark walls. But what shone even brighter was the woman standing in the centre of the room, looking like a goddess in a shimmering gold dress. Her blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders in waves, and she smiled at me, looking a little shy and unsure, reminding me of the woman who walked into that massage room.
I placed the roses at the foot of the bed, staring into the only eyes in the world I could drown in.
“Graziefor my flowers,” I husked, my voice already low with need as I stepped towards her. “Let me thank you properly.”
She lifted her hand, halting me. “Wait!”
My eyebrows furrowed, and I tilted my head as she let out a shaky breath.
“I have this all planned, and if you come any closer, I’ll forget it the moment you touch me.”
I smirked with a cheeky glint in my eyes. She rolled hers.
“I mean it, Sani. Behave,” she ordered, then let her teasing smile play on her lips. “For now.”
For once, I did as I was told. I slipped my hands into my trouser pockets and shifted on my feet, showing her I was ready to listen.
She licked her pretty stoned-rose covered lips and slid her hands down her sides. Then she looked at me. Really looked at me, in a way many people rarely dared to.
“You chose me the moment you saw me.”
The truth of that statement settled in the space between us, and I nodded, knowing she was just beginning and that I shouldn’t interrupt.
