Page 120 of Alessio

Conversation turned on the club, and Marcus. An easy, safe topic. It allowed Corrado to join in without having to bring himself into it, which Alessio figured the man appreciated. With Guzzi mafioso, it could go either way.

For now, Corrado relaxed, but Alessio kept an eye on him because that could change in a blink. An offhanded comment from one of the many men who just wanted to point out again that Corrado didn’t wear the Guzzi legacy the same way his brother did, or his other brothers who hadn’t arrived yet. Or perhaps someone who wanted to share their opinion about what they believed about Corrado and Alessio’s relationship.

Although, now, it was different.

A woman stood between them.

Alessio highly suspected a comment would come because of that if nothing else. And if he could shut it down before it turned into something that might cause a problem, then that would be far better for all of them.

He’d become used to this game with these people. They were careful when their boss happened to be around, but other than that … Corrado became fair game. Like he had been for most of his life.

Alessio wouldn’t stand for it.

For the most part, Corrado ignored the shit they threw at him from people who, as far as it concerned Alessio, didn’t deserve to breathe the same air as either of them. He didn’t want to cause issues for his brothers, or father. God knew Alessio could understand that, but it left Corrado as the proverbial punching bag.

Which he was not.

Anyone else, and he’d cut their throats.

Just not these people.

It irritated Les to no end.

“He’s not wrong, though,” Ginevra said.

It didn’t take Alessio and Corrado long to figure out what she was referring to. Across the VIP section, the rest of the other Guzzi brothers had arrived in a trio. Chris, and the other twins didn’t waste time greeting the people closer to the stairs before crossing the floor, and joining the rest of their family.

Bene and Beni busied themselves with Marcus, congratulating him on the club before turning their attention on Ginevra just long enough to greet her the same way their older brother had earlier. Chris laughed as he leaned over the booth to give his twin a one-armed hug.

“Got them both out tonight, huh?” Chris asked.

Corrado flashed his teeth in a grin. “Careful.”

“I’m just saying you’re in a far better mood when one of them happens to be around. That’s good for all of us, Corrado.”

Alessio glanced at Corrado from behind Ginevra, nodding as he did so. “He’s right, though.”

“Fuck off, all of you.”

Someone had to tease Corrado, but they did it in such a way that didn’t make him the lesser man in the room because his choices didn’t match their own. All in good fun, and Corrado knew, too.

There was no malice here.

Only respect.

And of course, love.

They were simply careful about how they showed it. Alessio doubted they would change that about their relationship. He didn’t want people to see the depth of this thing between them. Oh, he believed Ginevra understood, but that was different.

She should.

She was in it, too.

Everyone else?

Fuck them.

Corrado caught Alessio’s stare again, but he didn’t find playfulness reflecting back. Instead, he found the same silent intensity that had accompanied their relationship from the beginning. A conversation that wasn’t had with words because they never needed to say things to make sure the other heard what they wanted said.