Becoming her Salvation (Zanetti Famiglia Book 7)

by Hayley Faiman

  SALVATORE

  The city comes into view as the plane lands, and I am so glad to be home. Although, I could see going on a vacation to Arizona. It was pretty and peaceful, plus I really enjoyed getting to know Drago and his men. I can completely understand why Gavino chooses to do business with them. They’re all good men.

  After walking off of the plane and gathering our luggage, I head toward the waiting car at the end of the arrivals area outside of the airport. Gavino’s driver, Paul, lifts his hand and waves us over as he opens the trunk of the car.

  “Thanks,” I murmur to him, then help Rosana into the back seat, sliding in after her.

  “I would prefer if you would move back to the condo with me,” I say, thinking about her going back to her apartment in the city, alone.

  She doesn’t say anything right away, but slowly turns to me. “I haven’t made a decision yet,” she murmurs.

  “About?”

  She watches me for a moment. I’m so fucking tired that right now I almost don’t care. Except, I don’t think I’ll ever truly not care what Rosana does. I worry about her, and I don’t want to ever let her out of my sight again, even if that’s not practical.

  “My job, my life.”

  “Me?” I ask.

  She laughs, reaching across and taking my hand in hers. My gaze flicks to hers, and I watch her for a moment. I feel like such a pussy when it comes to her, but I’ve never felt this way before. I feel the need to protect her and I’ve done a really shitty fucking job of it thus far.

  “I love you, Salvatore. I know that I want to be with you no matter what.”

  My fucking heart starts beating, maybe for the first time ever. It beats, it thumps against my chest, and I realize this is what I needed from her. She could tell me she needs me, and even loves me all day long, but until I heard that she wanted me, I don’t think I truly believed her.

  “I just don’t know if I want to quit my job and…”

  “And make yourself vulnerable to me again,” I say. She nods her head. Then I tell her something that I hadn’t mentioned yet in hope that it will sway her into coming back home to me. “I filed a withdrawal of our divorce before I left for Arizona.”

  “Salvi?” she breathes, her eyes wide with surprise.

  “I knew that I had made the biggest mistake of my life as soon as I filed the initial paperwork. I should have never done that. I made a vow to you, a promise, and I should have just been a better husband—a better man. I was a weak fool for even filing. As soon as all the shit with Valerius went down, I knew that I had to at least try to reverse the damage.”

  She’s quiet and I’m sure Paul is loving this conversation, especially me admitting that I’m a weak ass pussy, but I don’t care. This is my life—this is my future and my wife. Nothing else matters but her and me right now.

  “I’m coming home,” she whispers. “Home to you.”

  Smiling, I clear my throat, then lean forward and touch my lips to hers. “I’ll never run scared again. I’ll never push you away like that again,” I murmur against her mouth.

  “And I won’t run, I’ll let you help me,” she breathes.

  The car stops and I gather her things, and mine, before we head upstairs and straight toward the bedroom. Leaning against the doorjamb, I watch her as she unzips her bag and starts separating her clothes from her bag. She doesn’t even take a moment to breathe, she just gets right to work.

  “Doctor tomorrow?” I ask.

  She hums with a nod. “Doctor tomorrow.”

  “Hungry?”

  Only then does she stop and look over to me, a smile playing on her lips. “Starving,” she purrs. But the look in her eyes tells me that she’s possibly starving for something other than food.

  Pushing off of the doorjamb, I walk toward her. She turns to me and takes a step in my direction as well, but only one. I close the rest of the distance between us.

  Her eyes are wide, but innocent looking, and I know she wants something other than food right now.

  Reaching out, I wrap my fingers around the side of her neck. “I’ll order in when we’re finished.”

  “Finished?” she asks.

  Chuckling, I squeeze her neck gently. “Finished,” I growl.

  Without another word, her gaze focuses on mine as she sinks down to her knees. I don’t even have to direct her to unbuckle my pants. She reaches forward, her fingers moving eagerly to undress me.

  Unbuttoning my shirt, I strip out of it as I toe off my shoes and kick them and my pants to the side. Then her lips wrap around my cock and I close my eyes—heaven.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  SALVATORE

  The early morning light spills into the room and I roll to the side with a groan, not wishing to wake up yet. Reaching out, I slide my fingers down the curve of Rosana’s shoulder, waist, then hip, tugging the sheet down her body to expose herself to me.

  Kissing down her body, my lips follow the same path as my hands. She lets out a sigh, then slowly turns to face me. Her eyelids are heavy as she watches me for a moment, then she reaches out and cups my cheek.

  “Good morning, husband.”

  Chuckling, I lift my hand and wrap my fingers around her wrist, turning my face and touching my lips to her palm.

  “Good morning, wife,” I rasp against her skin.

  There’s a moment of silence where we just stare at one another. Neither of us speaks or moves, but eventually, my hands can’t stay away from her. She lets out a small squeal as I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my body.

  Leaning forward, I touch my lips to hers, sliding my tongue along the seam of her lips. Rolling on top of her, she spreads her thighs and my hips fit between them. Groaning, I slide my cock through her warm center.

  She gasps, arching her back and parting her lips. Slipping my tongue between her lips, I taste her sweet mouth right before I shift and sink down inside of her. Rosana rips her mouth from mine, her legs lifting as she takes me deeper inside of her.

  My eyes focus on hers. I can’t look away as I thrust into her over and over. Rosana doesn’t look away from me either. Neither of us speaks, our bodies doing all of the talking and expressing that we need them to.

  Licking my lips, I clench my jaw as I grind my pelvis against her with each downstroke. I’m close, I can feel my body climbing higher and higher. I’m on the edge, ready to fall over and I want to take her with me—I want to take her always.

  “Don’t stop,” she cries out suddenly.

  Grinning, I continue pumping into her hard and harder until I feel her entire body still. Her muscles tighten and I know that she’s found her release.

  I continue to take her, chasing my own climax. It doesn’t take me long and I slam into her one last time, burying my face in her neck with a groan as I come.

  We stay there in bed, our positions frozen as we try to catch our breaths. Only when my muscle functions come back to me do I push myself up and roll off of her. Reaching out, I place my palm flat against her belly.

  “What time is your appointment today?” I ask.

  She doesn’t say anything right away, so I lift my gaze up to look at her, wondering if she didn’t hear me. She’s watching me, though. Her eyes are focused on mine, but she doesn’t speak immediately.

  “Rosana?” I ask.

  There is another moment of silence, then she reaches out and wraps her fingers around my wrist. “Eleven,” she breathes as wetness fills her eyes.

  I don’t know what she’s crying about, but I don’t ask either. Instead, I slide my palm up the center of her stomach, her chest, then wrap my fingers around the side of her neck before I shift up and touch my mouth to the corner of hers.

  “This feels right,” I murmur. “Thank you for coming back.”

  She doesn’t say anything immediately. Instead, when I shift my head to look down at her, she lifts her hand and extends her index finger. I wait as she traces my lips with her finger before she finally decides to speak
.

  “Thank you for coming for me. Thank you for loving me,” she says softly.

  Grinning, I shake my head. “I still don’t deserve you. I still don’t think that I’ll be able to protect you fully, but I can’t let you go.”

  Admitting it all aloud makes me feel weak and stupid, but I also know that I’m not wrong. I don’t deserve her. I can’t protect her fully, but I also can’t let her go. She is indeed my weakness, and there is no doubt that any enemy could figure this out in about five seconds.

  “I need to get ready,” she mutters as she rolls out of bed and starts to make her way to the bathroom.

  “Breakfast?” I ask.

  She stops, looking over her shoulder, a smile playing on her lips. “That would be amazing,” she breathes. “I’m starving.”

  Chuckling, I slide my legs over the edge of the bed. I think about following her into the shower, but I know that she wouldn’t be fed if I did that. We’ve run out of time. So, instead, I grab a pair of athletic shorts, slip them on, then grab my phone and head down to the kitchen.

  As soon as I step foot into the kitchen, my phone buzzes in my hand. Looking down, I am surprised to see that it’s Gavino. Sliding my finger across the screen, I lift my phone to my ear.

  “Vino,” I say as soon as I place my phone against my ear.

  “We got a problem, cugino.”

  “What?” I grind out.

  “Valerius.”

  “He’s dead,” I remind him.

  “But his brother isn’t, and he is pissed the fuck off. Renzo is in my office. I need you here, now.”

  After confirming that I’ll be there, I end the call and toss the phone on the counter, closing my eyes. Renzo being in his office can only mean one thing. He’s been hired by Valerius’ brother to find and end his killer—me. Even sanctioned by Gavino, that doesn’t take away all consequences of killing a Made Man.

  ROSANA

  Salvatore is standing with his back to me. The kitchen door closed and his head tipped down. He looks defeated, completely and totally.

  “Salvatore?” I ask. He lifts his head, his eyes finding mine. Guilt swimming in his gaze. “Salvatore?” I ask again.

  “Something is going on. I have to go to Gavino’s.”

  Disappointment washes through me, but I refuse to be angry or upset about something that hasn’t even happened yet. Just because he’s going to Gavino’s for something doesn’t mean that he’s going to miss my appointment. In fact, I’ve decided that he won’t.

  “You’ll make it back to the doctor in time. I’ll just meet you there,” I say, giving him a smile.

  He watches me for a moment, then closes the distance between us. My breath hitches when he lifts his hand and cups my cheek. I love it when he touches me. It doesn’t matter how he does it, his skin on mine is heaven sent.

  “You have faith in me, bambola and you have no reason to,” he murmurs.

  Shrugging a shoulder, I rise to my toes and touch my lips to his. “Feed me, Salvi,” I breathe against his mouth.

  “Food, right?” he asks.

  I laugh, taking a step backward. “For now, food.”

  It doesn’t take Salvatore long to make some breakfast. He makes scrambled eggs, avocado toast, a banana, and orange juice. My eyes widen as he moves effortlessly through the kitchen.

  “I’ll leave you the keys to my car. I’ve already texted one of the men to pick me up. You know how to get to your doctor and everything?” Salvatore asks.

  I’m surprised that he doesn’t have a guard taking me as well, though after the whole situation with Valerius, maybe he’s decided I don’t really need someone. I hope not. I’m not that important when it comes to the Zanetti famiglia.

  I just want to live my life.

  Salvatore goes to the bedroom as I eat my breakfast. Looking out the windows, my eyes scanning the cityscape, I can’t help but wonder what everyone else in the city is doing at this moment.

  By the time I’m finished, I watch Salvatore jog downstairs, slipping his phone into his pocket as he does. He’s dressed beautifully, in a suit that fits him to perfection and his hair slicked back.

  “Do you know what this meeting is about with Gavino?” I ask.

  He shakes his head as he pats his jacket and pockets, ensuring that he has everything that he needs. He clears his throat, then makes his way toward me. I still have some orange juice left, but I already ate everything else that he made me.

  Lifting my glass to my lips, I take a long sip as I watch him. He clears his throat, then makes his way over to me, sinking down in the chair across from mine with a sigh.

  “I don’t,” he says, but I don’t know if I quite believe him. “I’ll get this done and over with, then we’ll get some lunch after your appointment before I go into the office,” he says, but he seems really distracted.

  “Okay, I don’t have a phone anymore, so you can’t call me if something changes.”

  Salvatore’s gaze flicks up to meet mine. “Add that to the list of what we need to do after lunch, yeah?”

  I open my mouth to say yes, but there is a knock on the door. He stands, tells me he has to go, then brushes his lips against the temple of my head before he jogs away from me. I watch his retreating form and wonder what the hell has him so distracted. He’s not just preoccupied, he seems worried too.

  After he’s gone, I make my way over to the house phone and I call Pippa. Her number is the only one that I have memorized and to be honest, I’m surprised that Salvatore even has a landline, but I’m glad for it right now.

  “It’s Rosana,” I say.

  “I could kill you,” she grinds out. “I cannot believe you took off like that. On a bus, Rosana, what is wrong with you?”

  I’ve earned her scolding. I did do something really stupid. I could have been taken or hurt on that trip and nobody would have ever known how to find me. But I don’t have time to talk about this right now. She can yell at me later.

  “Something is going on,” I blurt out. “Not with me, with Salvatore. Do you know anything?”

  She doesn’t say anything right away and I’m afraid that she doesn’t know anything. Holding my breath, I pinch my eyes closed as I wait. I need to head out of here soon, so I can’t sit here in silence for much longer.

  “Renzo was hired by someone high up to perform a hit,” she whispers. “Gavino called Arlo first thing this morning at the office. I heard it over his speaker. I don’t know the details, but I heard Salvatore and Valerius’ names.”

  My lips press together and I close my eyes, Valerius and Salvatore. This can’t be good. Not at all. Valerius is dead and I have no doubt that Salvatore had permission from Gavino for that, but I think that there could be consequences for killing a Made Man even with permission.

  My stomach twists and turns at the thought of something happening to Salvatore. I couldn’t handle it, not if it happened because of me. Because of my drama and that’s exactly what it would be too.

  Ending the call with Pippa, I do something that I shouldn’t do. I call the doctor’s office and reschedule my appointment for the next day, then I search around in Salvatore’s drawers for a handgun. Grabbing my bag, I hurry toward the parking garage, climb into Salvatore’s car, and I drive straight for Gavino’s office.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  SALVATORE

  I almost stumble over my own two feet when I see none other than the head of the Trevisani famiglia sitting in Gavino’s office. I wasn’t expecting him, not in the goddamn slightest. Gavino clears his throat, and my gaze shifts over to him. He lifts a brow, widening his eyes, to show me his surprise as well.

  Instead of sitting down in the one empty seat, I plant myself against the wall and wait to see what the fuck is going on here. Gavino clears his throat, leaning back in his seat as his gaze flicks around to each of us before he speaks.

  “Apparently Valerius was a relative of Mr. Trevisani,” Gavino announces.

  Fuck.

  Gavi
no wants to take over the Trevisani famiglia, and this is not the way for that shit to happen. Lifting my hand, I rub my palm over my forehead and let out a breath. I can’t believe this shit is going on. What the actual fuck?

  “How is he related?” I ask, refusing to look at Trevisani himself. I can’t do it.

  I killed someone related to a boss. I killed him happily. I would do it again, a million times over. No fucks given that he’s related to Trevisani. I would probably kill Trevisani first, had I known that he had anything to do with that fuck Valerius.

  We’re all silent, our attention on either Gavino or Trevisani. Arlo clears his throat. “How are you related to him?” he asks, trying to figure out the gigantic elephant in the room.

  Trevisani growls, shifting forward. “You all disrespect me, you disrespect the famiglia, and you,” he shouts, spittle coming out of his mouth as he lifts his hand and points his finger directly at Gavino. “You are nothing but a manipulative piece of fucking shit. All you care about is taking over everyone and ruling the whole fucking state.”

  “Wrong,” Gavino says, his voice cool and collected as he watches Trevisani lose his shit.

  “Wrong?” Trevisani snorts.

  “Yeah.” Gavino chuckles as he stands to his feet. He leans over, pressing his knuckles against the table as he leans forward. “I want to take over the whole fucking world,” he says with a wide smile.

  There is a moment of silence, shock, and awe by Trevisani, but not us. We all know the truth. Gavino has wanted to take over the entire famiglia since the day he took out Rossi.

  We’ve all been at his back, at his side to help him do that too. He’s building an empire and I’m proud as fuck to be part of it all with him. This is something that will only provide a decent and fruitful future for our families.

  Coming together, going forward as one, having a strong famiglia can only help us, not hurt us. We are only as good as our leader and Gavino is good at that, he’s a fantastic leader. Trevisani knows it too. Deep in his bones, he knows it and he also knows that Gavino taking over his famiglia is inevitable.