“Dario,” he drawls, “do you like this neighborhood?”
“Ah, yes. It’s beautiful and full of history,” Dario says cautiously. “Why do you ask…Fuck, what do you know? I looked in this area, and no one is selling.”
“Not yet they aren’t,” Silas chuckles. “Easton, I didn’t even think about the Turley family moving.”
“Their property is nice,” Lyle says innocently. “Their gate closes to the street so you can’t see into it either. It’s a nice, big, eight foot high fence.”
“Talk dirty to me, Daddy,” Dario says without thought. Lyle snickers as Dario shrugs without a care. “I’m finding that real estate gets me going.”
“You should seek help for that,” Cassidy muses, picking up plates to bring them inside.
“The house is five houses down on the right. They’re going to quietly list it soon, but would probably be open to a private buyer,” Easton explains.
“I can’t let anyone know we bought the house,” Dario says. “Having our name on the listing wouldn’t be safe, and I don’t trust that a fake name would hold up.”
“Pablo, let’s work together on that problem,” Shiloh says. “We can set up a property management company under an umbrella company and put the house under that name. Ourhome isn’t in our name either for that reason. If you’re relocating your men on a more permanent basis and begin buying homes, have them pay you rent at a low cost, and then it’s income that’s legal.”
Pablo grins excitedly. “It’ll give us legitimate income.”
“Exactly. If anyone ever comes sniffing, you’re property managers,” Shiloh shrugs.
“That’s delightfully evil and so smart,” I admit.
“It’s a random idea, but damn if it doesn’t work perfectly,” Shiloh grins.
“Do you think they’ll let us see the house now?” Rosa asks cautiously. “Also, are we really planning to stay in Savannah long term? Should we buy this house?”
“One, thank you for saying ‘we’. We're planning to put your name on the deed. Second, my wife’s life is here,” Nico says, taking her hand as she moves closer to us. “I was considering living part of the year in Michigan, and part here. I don’t know how this will all work yet, because if I’m cutting my losses in Michigan, there won’t be a reason for me to live there anymore. Either way, we need a home in Savannah.”
Easton doesn’t give Rosa a chance to reply to that before he announces that he just finished speaking to the owners of the house, and they’re willing to let us tour it. Silas shoos us out the door, insistent that he’ll finish cleaning up. I swear, these men are saints. I know Pack Tremaine will undoubtedly help as well, but they have no problem hosting people at their home.
Dare I say it, I think they really enjoy it.
Walking out of the back gate, Easton walks with us down the street toward the house.
Nico’s fingers reach out for Rosa’s and she slides her hand in his without thinking. When people are actually meant for each other, I’ve heard that the bond has a way of smoothing out their bullshit. Ciro’s arm wraps around Pablo’s waist, and they beginto speak softly with each other as we walk. At least we’re all dressed for the most part.
Dario’s hand on mine makes me jump, and I turn my head to find he’s falling into step beside me.
“A penny for your thoughts,micina?”
“They’re worth more than a penny,” I sniff, letting him tug me closer. “Why the sudden urge to buy property?”
“Roots,” he grunts. He speaks quietly as we lag behind the group, and his arm sits over my shoulders, a weight that doesn’t make me want to push him over. “They’re important, and that's what we’re planting here in Savannah as we court you and Rosa. We may as well show you we’re serious, Verona. Nico mentioned Rosa’s name will be on the deed. While it’ll be in a way no one can find it, it’s no less true. Everyone in this pack will own this house, and the business Pablo sets up will be the same. Nico’s bond sickness is a reminder that we aren’t temporary, and we’ve been going about this the wrong way.
“Instead, today we are building for our future,micina.Even if our family remains the six of us forever, that’s enough. The rental is too quiet, and I even miss Nico’s restless walking throughout the night.”
“He wasn’t sleeping at all?” I ask, finally allowing myself to lean into his body. His scent is softer since he’s a beta, but I find it calming. I don’t know him very well, but I can tell he loves his brothers.
Familial love isn’t something I know very much about, but I can recognize it in how the Domino brothers go to bat for each other.
“No. Ciro or I would sit with him until he’d manage to get to sleep. Sometimes, that meant plying him with alcohol to do it. Don’t tell Pablo. His birth father was a drunk. It’s why we won’t have more than a glass around him, and we won’t do whiskey,” Dario divulges. “Nico’s been twisted up by Rosalia since he mether. It happened quietly, until his every nerve ending screamed for her. That’s what last night was about. The screaming wouldn’t stop.
“So today, we build our future, and put away childish things.”
“Oh?” I ask, looking up at him through my lashes. He gazes down at me, somehow keeping us from tripping on anything.
His words feel ominous and heavy, yet a glimpse of a smile is on his lips.
