Reign (The Larussio Legacy Book 3)

by Via Mari

  I swallow hard. Damn, he pretty much told her that even if she walks away from the Family, walks away from me, regardless of what she knows, that she is free to go and will be protected. He clearly has come to care for the woman I love.

  I watch with a tightened chest. In my heart, I know she didn’t just agree to be my wife because she was frightened by what my Family may do or say after the protocol breach, but I can’t help holding my breath as she takes in what he’s said. She has been given freedom to leave.

  “Thank you so very much. You can’t know what that means to me, Great-Uncle. I know it costs money, but do you think we can either all go back to the Larussio estate, or we can bring Nonna and her nurse here, so we can all be under one roof?”

  I let out the breath that until just this very moment I didn’t realize I was holding. My entire life could have changed in an instant. I could have lost the woman who has grown to mean everything to me.

  “No! We don’t move her anywhere until we find out why the Larussios plucked our family right out of their hiding! Tell us why our wives and children were moved to your estate. I gather that it’s for their safety, and no disrespect, I appreciate your willingness to ensure all of Serena’s family is protected, but the fact of the matter is that if she wasn’t involved with the Larussios, her family would not need protecting! Who are these people that you are safeguarding us from, tell us! We can help!”

  Serena’s brother isn’t going to be placated without an explanation, and while the entire Larussio Family and many of the security guards know exactly what Serena meant, and why she worded it the way she did, her brothers do not.

  Salvatore glances down at his phone and then starts texting. Great-Uncle and I get the message at the same time.

  Just got full clearance for her brothers.

  Thank you. Can we fix this now?

  Great-Uncle watches his phone and gives me the nod: consent to address her brothers. “You have the right to know. Until a few moments ago you did not have clearance, but it has come through now.”

  “We do not give a goddamn about your protocols, Family ties, or anything else. You have my wife and children in your estate. I don’t think there’s any ill intent here, but you snatched them from a place that I put them to ensure their safety,” Aramis says.

  Salvatore’s eyes go dark, and he marches right up to Serena’s older brother and grabs him by the lapel. “Listen, it’s been a long day, and I’ve had about enough of your disrespect. Serena is safe, your family is safe, and not once have I heard a goddamn ‘thank you’ for all that our Family and security team have done to keep it that way!”

  “We had them protected!” Aramis yells.

  “Get this. The safe house you placed them in is owned by a club who answers to the people looking for Serena. Do you understand? At any time, they could have swiped one of your wives and sent them back to you piece by piece until they got who they really wanted, your sister. They will do anything and everything to get to her, and the only way we can keep her protected is to ensure that anyone in her circle is safeguarded, too.”

  I shudder at the visual this brings, but Sal only speaks the truth, and her brothers need to understand the severity, too.

  Aramis and Salvatore have both gone quiet, but I can see the trace of smoldering anger lingering, along with a new understanding in their eyes. Her brothers look to me and then to Serena, trying to take it all in. “We did not know. It would seem we owe you our deepest apologies and sincere gratitude for the things you have done. We would consider it a privilege to have you continue providing protection for Serena and our families. We will pay you!” Aramis says.

  Salvatore is the one that they’re talking to, but Great-Uncle interrupts. “We will keep your family protected, and it will not be an additional cost for you or your family.”

  I nod in agreement. “Your family will be protected as our own. You will stay with Serena and Nonna at the estate until we have found the people responsible for this. I need to return to the States and will feel much better having the three of you there to keep Serena company while I’m gone.”

  Serena spins slowly on her heel, giving me the full intensity of her glare. A storm is brewing in those deep brown eyes. I prepare for the full wrath of her passion because I know what’s coming ,and the answer is most definitely no. She will not place herself in further danger, and that is not negotiable.

  “We can talk about this a little more later, Serena,” I say, hoping to quiet the oncoming volcano, but it’s far too late for that. As soon as her mouth opens, Salvatore’s dark eyes widen with amusement, and I settle in for the tirade that erupts from my passionate dark-haired beauty.

  Serena

  I don’t think I heard him correctly at first, but no, he did just tell my brothers that he intends to go back to the United States without me. Giovanni wants to leave me confined at his estate, and believes that he can lock me away from the world like a little princess. Well, I have already done that, and I am not doing it again!

  Giovanni glances from my brothers to me and his eyes meet mine in challenge. He is clearly serious about this plan. I know he just wants me safe, but no, just no! I narrow my eyes at him. “I will not be held a prisoner in that bubble of an estate! I am not going to be the good little wife kept at home while you fly around the world on your fancy jets, taking care of all your business!”

  I eye the men in the room, and Salvatore has a wide grin on his face. I walk to him and point at his chest. “What, tell me what is funny, because none of this”—I gesture around us—“is funny to me! It is my life we are talking about, and I’m not going to waste it pining away for my husband, day after day, night after night! No, I will be by his side, isn’t that right, Giovanni Larussio,” I say, turning to find his eyes lit up with amusement, too!

  Gar! These men are absolutely infuriating. “You, you find this funny, too! I will not back down on this. I will be where you are, not locked up like a prisoner. I won’t have it!”

  At that, his eyebrows raise. “Are you quite done?” Giovanni asks.

  After all that, this is his only question. “No, I am most certainly not done, Giovanni Larussio. I want to be with you! Not left at home!”

  “I’ve heard you out, and now, my fiery little beauty, you are going to remain quiet because it is my turn to talk,” Giovanni says.

  I huff, and he smiles widely at me and that only infuriates me more. “Tell me what you have to say, then, Giovanni! Tell me!”

  “I gave you the chance to discuss this later, in private, but that time has now passed since you’ve made it somewhat of a family affair. I guess our security team may as well stay for the rest of the scene, too,” Giovanni says, earning a wide grin from Nate, who I give a quick glare of disapproval to. “What you didn’t give me a chance to say before you marched head long into your lengthy tirade is that I intend to leave you with your brothers only for the next two weeks. This will give you a chance to spend time with your family, and for the security team to double the manpower at The Larussio. They believe they’re close to finding out who is pulling the strings. Once we have that information, we will put the danger you are now faced with behind us. You will give me two weeks, Serena. It is not negotiable; it is for your safety. I will not have my future wife lying dead at my feet before I’ve had a chance to marry her.”

  I breathe in deeply, letting his words sink in, and I can’t even look up at him. Time and time again he is there for me, putting my safety first, but doesn’t he know that being without him is like not living at all? Tears of embarrassment and frustration pool in my eyes.

  Giovanni’s eyes fill with concern, and that just makes the tears fall even faster. He closes the distance between us and wipes them from my cheeks. “Gentlemen, Serena and I need time alone, excuse us.” He lifts me into his arms, carrying me bride-style down the hall to a large office, closing the door behind us, and
settles onto an embroidered sofa with me still cradled in his arms.

  He holds me close, rubbing my back. My tears simply won’t stop, they continue to run down my cheeks. “Tesoro, tell me what is wrong.”

  I shake my head and nuzzle deeper into his chest, overwhelmed with embarrassment for my actions and inability to get myself under some sort of emotional control lately. I should have known Giovanni would have a plan that would allow us to be together, but even two weeks is too long for me to contemplate right now. I don’t know what has come over me … I am so needy, and emotional, and cry at the drop of a hat, and clingy and tired and … late.

  I sit up in his lap, quickly calculating days in my head. So late, over two weeks—and suddenly the realization that the tenderness in my breasts may not just be from Giovanni’s firm handling of them sinks in.

  He’s watching me intently, wipes the remaining tears from my face, and pulls me down to kiss my lips gently. “What’s the matter, Tesoro? Tell me,” Giovanni demands softly.

  “I just didn’t want to be without you. It feels like forever every time we are apart. I wanted to go with you, too, but now, well, things are different now, things are just so different now,” I say, still letting my revelation marinate.

  “Serena, tell me what is different. I meant what I said, it will only be for two weeks.”

  I reach for his hand and place it on my lower belly. “Giovanni, I’m late. I think you are going to be a father, my love.”

  Giovanni’s eyes light up with joy and his hold on me tightens. “Serena, you have made me the happiest man in the world today.” His lips find mine again, and he kisses them softly at first, but then with more pressure as I part for him.

  Our passion ignites quickly, the need to be joined as one all-consuming. He is fully erect, and I am always wet and ready for him. He unzips, lifting me, and in one quick movement slides me on top of him. “I need to be inside of you, deeper, right now, Tesoro,” Giovanni growls, his hands grasping the curves of my bare ass cheeks under my skirt as he brings me down excruciatingly slow, settling me all the way down to the very end of him.

  His mouth captures my moan as he lifts me, and then brings me back down, gliding me over his velvety steel hardness, over and over again. The heat is all-consuming. I won’t be able to hold back if that’s what he wants, if that’s what he demands, because my center is already quivering with need.

  Giovanni grips me tighter, bringing me down hard, time and time again, both of us consumed by our passion. “Come, Tesoro,” he tells me before capturing my lips and silencing my cry as the orgasm begins rocking through my entire body, wave after wave. He doesn’t stop, instead continues to slide me over his body, extending my pleasure while releasing his seed deep inside of me.

  When he finally slows, I sink against the strength that is Giovanni, completely spent from the events of the last few days, and realization of our coming gift, feeling sated and secure in the knowledge that Giovanni will protect me and our child from whatever is looming.

  Gio

  My dark-haired beauty is exhausted. I spend the next twenty minutes just holding Serena to me, knowing dinner will be served soon, but not wanting to let her go from my arms. The thought of her belly swollen with my child causes my chest to fill with pride, but at the same time with a dread I’ve never known before, and fear for Serena and the baby’s safety. I caress her back and her neck as she nuzzles into me. I would love nothing better than to hold her in my arms for the rest of the evening, but there is much to be done tonight.

  Serena’s eyes have closed, and she is half dozing. I lift her, laying her down against the softness of the couch, and leave her to go and wash in the adjoining bathroom. Her eyes open when I return and lift her skirt, watching me with sleepy interest as I run the warm cloth over her skin. As many times as I have cleaned her, Serena’s cheeks still flush with embarrassment at the intimacy.

  “Dinner will be served soon, and I’m sure your brothers are worried that I’ve carted you off and have done horrible things to you,” I say.

  “At least now I know why I’m constantly a babbling mess,” Serena says, standing as I straighten her skirt.

  “Let me get rid of this and we’ll go to dinner,” I say, walking the cloth into the bathroom.

  When I turn, she’s followed me and is watching me from the door. “I should make sure I don’t have messed-up hair,” Serena says, smiling shyly at me.

  I pull her to me, kissing her lips, and straighten her long locks by running my fingers through her silky waves. “Beautiful as ever.”

  The men are still talking in the dining room and have opened wine before dinner. I slide out a chair for Serena, and her brother stands to pour us both a glass. “None for Serena. She’ll have water, I’ll get it,” I say, leaving the table and coming back with a glass of water and lemon.

  They’re all grinning from ear to ear. We are in Italy. Our family drinks red wine before, during, and after dinner. It is a norm, unless of course you are pregnant, and while some women in this country continue to partake of a little wine throughout the course of their pregnancy, Serena will not.

  She places her hand in mine underneath the table and squeezes. I glance over at her, and she mouths a thank you to me. Dinner is a simple linguini and clams, served by the staff that live on-site at the safe house designed to be similar to our estate. Serena takes a couple bites, and I can tell just how tired she is as she eats her meal.

  When dessert is served, she starts to push it away, but I dip my spoon in her dessert and bring it to her lips, enjoying the soft blush that paints her cheeks as she takes my offering in front of our family. I take another spoonful and feed it to her, and then another. Her eyes have gone hazy. She loves it when I care for her like this. “Gentlemen, Serena has had a rather difficult day. I’ll tuck her in and be down shortly,” I say, not missing the smirk that Salvatore is trying to hide behind his glass of wine.

  She tells everyone good night and takes the hand I offer as we make our way through to the great room and to the stairs. I don’t miss the sleepy flicker of her eyes and scoop her into my arms to carry her up the stairs. By the time we’ve reached the door to our room, she is nuzzled into my chest and has fallen soundly asleep.

  I lay Serena on the bed, making quick work of her clothing and drawing the covers over her before kissing her gently. This woman has become my everything, and now there will be a child, a little person that we created, and that I will do everything in my power to protect.

  Serena won’t be happy that she’ll be left alone at the estate for a couple weeks, but I will do everything in my power to return to her quickly.

  When I reach the dining room, the men are talking amongst the men in their own circles. Her brothers are talking with one another, and my cousins are talking to each other, while the team of security men whisper amongst themselves. I sigh. It will take time for her brothers and my cousins to come together. I take a seat next to Sal, and he hands me a bottle of red, which I commence pouring into my glass. “So, when’s the wedding, daddy?” Salvatore says so that only I can hear.

  I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “As soon as it can be arranged. Small wedding, just family and friends. We don’t announce it until we’ve found these fuckers, and by that time no one will be the wiser. We won’t have the pregnancy announced for another couple weeks after the wedding,” I say.

  He nods. “Sounds like a good plan. You’re a lucky man. She is absolutely devoted to you and will make a good mama,” Salvatore says, raising his glass in a toast.

  “I couldn’t agree more, even if she is a handful now and then,” I say, and he raises his eyebrows.

  “You certainly seem happy with that charge. I can only hope to find that kind of relationship one day.”

  I glance up, feeling the gaze of my great-uncle upon me. He is smiling from across the table and lifts his glass in a
silent salute, and I return the gesture.

  Everyone’s wine glass is filled, and the servers head back to the kitchen. The security team is still watching every move the brothers make, and they are looking at me like some sort of explanation is in order. I can’t begrudge them for that. If she were my sister, I’d want one, too. She is Catholic, and we are not married. I take a strong pull of my wine and get prepared for Serena’s brothers’ tirade because they are every bit as passionate about their feelings as Serena. I smile at the thought of the grandmother they get it from. Lord help me.

  I pick up a fork and clink it against my glass until the chatter ceases and all eyes are on me. I owe everyone here a bit of an explanation for everything that has happened today. “Serena isn’t feeling herself right now. She was being honest when she told everyone that she holds no ill will for having to deal with our Family protocols, but she’s also been going through emotional changes, which you saw this evening.”

  Her older brother’s eyes narrow at me, and I raise my hand in a gesture to ward off the onslaught which undoubtedly is on the tip of his tongue.

  “I asked Serena to be my wife earlier this evening and she said yes. I intend it to be a quiet affair with just our family. She will also probably share this with you herself after we confirm it officially, but she is carrying our child.” I raise my hand up again, signaling silence. “Please, before anyone says anything to the contrary, let me make this perfectly clear. I asked her to marry me with no idea that she was with child. This is undoubtedly not what you wanted to hear, but I love your sister with all my heart, and I will ensure she and our child are taken care of and protected.”

  Her older brother hasn’t stopped looking at me and nods thoughtfully after I finish speaking. “I’ve seen how much you have sacrificed time and time again to ensure not only that she is safe, but that her family is safe as well. I apologize for my rashness. Just know I was worried about my sister and my own wife. I know what it is to care so deeply for someone that you will do anything for them, and it is clear you feel that way about Serena,” Aramis says, and her other two brothers nod their heads in agreement.