Page 244 of Cara & Gian: The Guzzi Duet

She couldn’t expect anything different.

Cara only relaxed when Gian’s lips pressed to her temple, unbothered by the people watching them. His lips moved with his words, whispering over her skin with assurance and love.

“You are never the lesser, not in your own home, mia cara bella. Demand respect in your space because it is yours, and do not let someone take it from you. You are the queen, and this is your castle. This is your home, and those who are lucky enough to be allowed inside should understand what that means. Smile. Always smile here.”

He was right.

He always was.

It seemed like Cara had blinked—just once—and Marcus was turning one month old. Everyone had told her again and again that she needed to enjoy the time she had with her baby while he was a newborn, because before she knew it, he wouldn’t be so tiny and new. Sure, Marcus was still a newborn, but just the fact that the first month had passed them by so quickly, in a haze of long nights, dirty diapers and so much more, was surreal.

And sweet.

The ding of the elevator brought Cara from her thoughts. She lifted her stare from her sleeping son in her arms, just in time to see Tommas enter through the penthouse’s elevator with a wide smile and already opened arms.

“Cara.”

“Tommy,” Cara replied in kind, unable to stop her growing smile.

“Come here.”

Before she knew what happened, her brother had wrapped her up in a tight hug that damn near squeezed the life out of her. She wasn’t about to complain, though. It had been too long since she last seen her brother, though they did try to talk at least once a week.

“My God, look at this bambino,” Tommas said, stepping back to give Marcus a good one-over. “He’s going to be a heartbreaker.”

Cara swatted her brother on his arm, laughing. “Don’t start with that yet. He’s just a baby.”

“Prepare for it, Cara. Prepare.”

She rolled her eyes, and turned to walk them in further. “Do you want a coffee? How was your flight?”

“Coffee would be great. And it was shit, but it always is when I’m not flying privately.”

“How’s Abriella?” Cara asked.

“Wonderful and beautiful,” Tommas said of his wife. “Next time, she’ll come, too. It’s just not the right time with the little one.”

Tommas, too, was a new parent. His son, Tommaso, was only a couple of months older than Marcus. Cara had seen picture after picture of her one and only nephew, as Tommas was like every proud father with a camera in his hands, but she had yet to meet the baby.

“I get it, no worries,” Cara assured. “You didn’t have to rush up here, either, by the way. I would have understood, Tommas.”

Her brother shrugged, setting his bag to the side as they entered the kitchen. “Who else is going to come here and see this baby of yours, huh? I’m the only family you’ve got left—I need to be here for him. And you, too.”

“Sit down. I’ll get your coffee.”

Tommas shrugged off his suit jacket and took a seat at the large kitchen table. Cara didn’t miss how her brother peered around the penthouse, or the bit of it that he could see. She hadn’t been the least bit surprised when he mentioned wanting to come down for a weekend to visit, but she had been a little shocked that he actually made time to do so.

Her brother had a busy life in Chicago, especially now that he was married with a child of his own, not to mention the fact that he was the boss of the Outfit. She suspected that her brother’s time was already pulled thin in every single direction, and yet he made time for her.

Time for Marcus.

Cara appreciated that more than Tommas could possibly know.

“So, this is a nice place,” Tommas said quietly.

Cara side-eyed her brother as she set a cup of coffee down in front of him. “Say what you’re thinking, don’t dance around it.”

“When did you move out of the apartment?”