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It was the fourth time on his side, his coughing worse, his voice raspy and weak, that he finally broke down and gave us answers. It hadn’t taken as long as we’d thought. Guido was weak. He confessed. Enzo recorded it. Then it was my turn to finish what I’d started.
I gripped my knife in one hand then squeezed his face so his mouth opened while he struggled. I grabbed his tongue, cut off the tip, then leaned close as he choked on the blood filling his mouth. “Your hands. That’s for attempting to touch what’s mine. And the tongue? Who’s going to take you seriously now, if they can even understand you?” It wouldn’t kill him, but enough damage had been done that he would remember me. “If you even think about coming near what’s mine or ordering anyone else to, I’ll finish the job I started.”
I tossed the piece of his tongue to the ground where he could see it then pivoted and stalked over to Summer, who flashed me a blinding smile as I took her hand and led us out of there. We were done. It was time to go home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
SUMMER
The next morning, I barely remembered falling asleep on the way home or Luc carrying me to our room, getting me out of the ruined dress, and cleaning me up. I’d awakened in his arms, refreshed and happy.
It wouldn’t be long until we moved into our new-to-us home, once he swore in as a Brambilla boss. That was happening later.
Things felt settled, and I was content. Luc had delegated most of my workload to Becca for the time being. I couldn’t handle doing nothing, though, and I loved the math part of the job and had made sure that portion would remain mine to do.
No one was around yet, but I was sure some of the wives would drop by later, especially when the guys were at the ceremony. I curled my toes beneath the blanket as I got comfortable. Luc had a few things to do after breakfast, so I’d pulled on leggings and a sweater, gotten a cup of decaf coffee, and put a romantic comedy on the TV.
Our clothes from last night had gone in the trash. We’d done what we needed to do, and I thought Guido had gotten off easy for his part in Lauralee’s death. The only thing staying my hand was that I’d gotten revenge for her with Ben and protected my unborn child.
I was at peace with what went down and how I’d bound myself to the Mafia life. So long as Luc was in it, I was happy.
It didn’t take long for me to get lost in the hilarity ofWhy Him?I hadWe’re the Millerscued to play after that. I thought that last one was more comedy than romance, but I was okay with that. Laughter was key. I was taking it easy today after the stress of the night before.
Luc came in, and my eyes were immediately drawn to him. He prowled rather than walked, given that athletic muscle-on-top-of-muscle build of his. My body heated, and I hit pause in the middle of a funny and cringy scene.
He pursed his lips as he sat beside me, lifting my legs so they were in his lap. I leaned back against the throw pillows I’d piled behind me and studied him and the way his hair looked mussed, as if he’d run his hands through it multiple times. “Is everything okay?”
“Guido was delivered home, and Max got word from Leo.”
I tensed. “Do we need to worry about retaliation?”
“No. I don’t think so. Not about that, anyway. The New York Mafia isn’t as powerful as Chicago’s Five Families, but we’ll keep an eye on them. Something is brewing, and with Mia Tucci missing, they’ve definitely got something in the works.”
I worried my lower lip. “We should help her.” After all, she’d gone out of her way to warn me.
Luc grunted. “We’ll see what happens. As for Leo Amato, he has a copy of the video Lauralee took and also the one where Guido confessed about the plan to kill him.”
“That’s good, right?” I couldn’t see how that wouldn’t work in our favor.
“Leo’s in denial, or at least he was when we talked. He rejected it, saying the videos were rigged and that the Chicago branches are trying to cause strife in his family.”
I scrunched my nose and tried not to laugh. “He’s sort of an idiot, then.”
“He is. The Tucci and Morelli families also got a copy. We haven’t heard back but probably will from Dante Morelli within a day. I doubt Joey Tucci will thank us. He’s just as bad as Leo, but he’ll use the information, where Leo denies it’s real.”
“How did he get to be boss?”
He chuckled. “Blood.” He grabbed my feet and massaged them.
“Wow, that feels pretty good. Is this a perk of pregnancy? Will you do this when my stomach is swollen and my back is killing me?” I teased.
“Summer, all you have to do is ask, and I’ll do anything for you.”
My heart melted. “I just fell in love with you all over again.” I curled my fingers around his forearm, and I tugged him closer. “Take me upstairs.”
A deep laugh rumbled through his impressive chest and sent a shiver down my spine. His light-blue eyes darkened as his pupils dilated. He took the mug from my hand, set it on the table, then swept me into his arms. I wrapped mine around his neck, my body already heating in preparation for what I knew was coming. I loved that man. Promising the rest of my years with him was the best decision I’d ever made.
* * *
