Bound By Love

by Reilly, Cora

  Matteo let out a low whistle.

  Luca got into Romero’s face. “Didn’t you tell me not too long ago that you weren’t interested in her? That there wouldn’t be a fucking problem when she was around? I remember that conversation pretty damn well, and now you’re fucking telling me that you were seeing Liliana behind my fucking back all summer?”

  Luca looked murderous. I touched his arm and positioned myself halfway between them. “Luca, please don’t get mad at Romero. He and Lily didn’t mean any harm. They fell in love. It just happened.”

  “And you knew all along?” Luca muttered. “You knew and didn’t tell me? Didn’t we have a discussion about loyalty and trust when you helped Gianna run away?”

  I blanched. He was right. For him it was betrayal if I kept things like this from him, and it wasn’t like I didn’t know that. “They are my sisters.”

  “And I’m your fucking husband.”

  “Luca, she didn’t mean—” Romero began.

  Luca jabbed his fingers against Romero’s chest. “You stay the fuck out of this. You’re lucky I don’t put a bullet into your head right this second for going against my orders.”

  “Hey, calm down, Luca. Maybe it’s not as bad as it sounds,” Matteo said, surprising me. Usually he was the one adding fuel to the fire.

  “Oh, I suspect it’s exactly as bad as I think it is,” Luca murmured. His eyes fixed on Romero. “Just tell me this: will we be in trouble on Liliana’s wedding night?”

  “Lily won’t marry that guy. Isn’t he over fifty? It’s ridiculous,” I said.

  “Over fifty and a nasty piece of shit,” Matteo added.

  Luca glared at Romero. “Will there be a fucking problem on her wedding night?”

  “I slept with Lily,” he said calmly. I cringed at his admittance.

  Luca cursed. “Why couldn’t you leave your dick in your pants? Couldn’t you at least have drawn the line at actually fucking her?”

  “I don’t regret it,” Romero said. “Now less than ever.”

  “This is a fucking mess. Do you realize what happens if Benito Brasci finds out his wife isn’t a virgin? Scuderi will figure out it happened in New York, and we’ll be screwed.”

  “I don’t think there will be a problem. I stood beside Brasci at the urinal once. That guy’s cock is tiny. He can’t possibly expect there to be any blood on the sheets with that small sausage. Liliana probably won’t even notice his cock in her,” Matteo joked.

  Romero lunged at Matteo.

  At Matteo. They faced off, knives pointed at each other.

  “Enough!” Luca roared, shoving them apart. “I’m going to put you down like rabid dogs if you don’t get a grip on yourselves right this second.”

  “He started it,” Matteo said. He had that gleam in his eyes. That gleam that reminded me of what he was. Of what both Luca and he were. It was easy to forget sometimes when we sat around the dining table like a normal family.

  “You provoked him,” I said. “What you said was horrible.”

  Matteo rolled his eyes. “My God, I was trying to lighten the mood.”

  “You failed,” Luca said coldly. “Now put your knives away. Both of you.”

  Romero sheathed his knife and Matteo did the same.

  “I shouldn’t have attacked you,” Romero said eventually.

  Matteo nodded. “I should keep my mouth shut now and then.”

  “But she’s not pregnant, is she?” Luca asked after a moment.

  Romero shook his head.

  “Then maybe we’ll get out of this unscathed. Brasci might not notice, and there are ways to fake bloodstains on the sheets,” Luca said. He didn’t look my way, though I guessed he was thinking about our wedding night, how he’d bled for me, and now I had kept a secret from him again. I knew he didn’t always tell me everything that happened in the Famiglia, but that was different. He kept secrets to protect me from the horrors of his world. I kept secrets to protect my sisters.

  “She won’t marry that man,” Romero said.

  Luca raised his eyebrows. “Oh, won’t she? Are you thinking about stopping Scuderi? Maybe kidnap Lily and marry her?”

  It was clear that Romero was hell-bent on risking a conflict with Luca. Romero, who had always been loyal, who was Luca’s best soldier. All because of Lily. He must love her.

  I touched Luca’s arm. “Luca, please. Can’t you talk to my father?”

  “Talk to him and tell him what?” Luca growled, gray eyes hard as they settled on me. “That my best soldier screwed his daughter and wants her for himself? That I broke my oath to protect Liliana, that she’s lost her fucking honor? That will go over fucking well.”

  “No, but you could tell him that Gianna and I want our sister in New York with us and ask if he wouldn’t consider marrying her to someone from the Famiglia. You wouldn’t have to tell him to whom right away. It would give us time to figure something out.”

  “I can’t get involved. It’s none of my business. And if your father has already promised Liliana to Brasci, he won’t change his mind. It would make him look bad and offend Brasci.”

  “But we have to do something!” I begged, my grip tightening.

  “I won’t go to war over this!” Luca roared back, shaking off my hands as he stepped back.

  I quieted, stunned by his fierce anger. It wasn’t only directed at Romero, but also at me.

  “Fuck!” he snarled and stalked back into his office.

  I followed Luca. Since I’d started working the books, I’d often worked at Luca’s desk when he’d been out or even when he had been around. I closed the door. Luca sat in his desk chair, and regarded me with a deep frown.

  I hesitated in the center of the room as I was again confronted by his fury.

  “I thought we’d agreed that you wouldn’t keep secrets from me again. Not after what happened with Gianna. You remember the promise you gave me?”

  I did. I moved around the desk and stopped in front of Luca. “I do. I hoped things would solve themselves. I only wanted Lily to be happy. Romero and she are in love. It’s something beautiful. Something I didn’t want to have destroyed.” I eased between his legs and rested my palms against his chest as he leaned back in the chair to scan my face.

  “Destroyed by me?”

  “You are Capo. You would have stopped Romero from pursuing Lily. You have to put the Famiglia first, but I don’t.”

  He straightened so our faces were on the same level. His eyes were fierce. “You should put our marriage first. And when have I ever put the Famiglia before you? I should, damn it, I shouldn’t even consider you when I make decisions that concern the Famiglia, but I always do and you know that.”

  “I know,” I whispered. “Am I not allowed some secrets? I didn’t want to burden you on top of everything else that’s been going on, and I didn’t think she’d have to marry so soon.”

  “When it comes to your siblings, you never think things through to the end. You are too emotional.”

  “You would keep a secret for Matteo, wouldn’t you?”

  “Don’t turn this on me,” he said quietly.

  I ran my hand up his neck and into his dark hair. He didn’t relax under my touch, but he didn’t pull away either, which I took as a good sign. “Everyone’s got secrets. I’d never keep something from you that concerned our relationship.”

  “Are you sure you can draw a line?” Luca asked.

  I sighed. “I’m sorry, Luca. That’s all I can say. We’ll figure a way out of this mess.”

  “Your sister will marry Brasci and pretend to be a virgin. That’s all there is to do. We won’t figure out anything.”

  Luca’s voice didn’t brook an argument, but the idea of letting Lily take the fall didn’t sit well with me.

  “We can’t let her marry that man.”

  “You married a man you feared because it was for the good of the Outfit, Gianna married a man she didn’t want, and now your sister Lily will have to do the same.”
/>   “That’s not the same thing. We are close in age and so are Gianna and Matteo, and you and Matteo aren’t sadistic to women.”

  “But you didn’t know that before you married me, Aria. You feared me like the devil, flinched from my touch, expected me to rape and beat you, and yet you said yes. You did what was expected because you know the rules of our world, and even your sister Gianna accepted her fate after that one mishap. You can’t protect Lily from this world.”

  I pressed my forehead against his. “I feared you, but you proved me wrong. You gifted me with something I’d thought impossible in our world,” I whispered. Luca’s eyes were keen and softer than before, but the hint of anger remained. “You gifted me with love and tenderness, and there are no words to express how very grateful I feel. I know both are rare in our world, and I don’t want you to think I take your love or your trust for granted, because I don’t. I know it’s an honor that you are like that with me.”

  I fell silent and Luca didn’t say anything either, but his hands came up to my waist, the touch light. I took one of his hands and pressed a kiss to the scar in his palm. “I’m grateful that these hands always treat me with care when they have had to perform so many violent deeds.”

  Luca pulled me closer, his lips finding mine, before he retreated again and murmured, “I’m still angry at you, but I appreciate what you said.”

  I nodded. I knew he’d forgive me because deep down he understood I hadn’t gone against him. I’d only acted out of concern for my sister.

  chapter 12

  LUCA

  In late October, Aria and I had been invited to dinner at Dante’s home two days before Liliana was supposed to marry Brasci. So far nobody suspected anything, and I could only hope that it would remain that way in their wedding night.

  It became obvious the moment we set foot into his home that Dante wasn’t all that happy about having me in his house, and I got it. His wife was pregnant and vulnerable, and somewhere in the house slept his defenseless child. Even if there was peace between us, that didn’t mean we trusted each other. Things hadn’t exactly improved since the beginning of the truce. Except for not attacking each other, we’d hardly worked together in the last few years, and if Liliana didn’t manage to convince Brasci she was a virgin, war would be the result.

  Aria and I stepped into the lobby of the Cavallaro villa, and my eyes did a quick scan of our surroundings. Valentina was heavily pregnant. She hugged Aria then turned to me with a more restrained smile. She was a very controlled woman, not as controlled as Dante, of course, but no one was. Despite her restraint, she couldn’t hide her unease around me. I kissed her hand, sparing her the decision if she should hug me. The way that small kiss already made Dante tense, it was for the best that I hadn’t embraced her.

  My eyes slanted to Aria. If she were pregnant, I wouldn’t have Dante anywhere near her, but Aria wasn’t and I was glad. Life was too dangerous at the moment, and I wasn’t really cut out to be a father.

  “It’s a pleasure to have you over for dinner,” Valentina said with a small smile. Dante inclined his head but his eyes sent a very different message. My grip on Aria’s hand tightened as we followed them into the dining room and settled around the set table. Dante and I sat across from each other, and my muscles tightened because of his expression.

  “Your sister will be a gorgeous bride,” Valentina said, trying to break the tense silence.

  “Maybe it will distract from the fact that she was given to an old man like a piece of meat,” Aria said with a sharp look toward Dante.

  I squeezed her hand in warning, but she didn’t look away from Dante. I didn’t either because I wanted to make sure I knew when I’d have to pull my gun.

  “Your father wants the best for…”

  “Himself,” Aria interrupted Dante, and I tightened my hold. She winced but still didn’t stop. “After all, he got a child-bride in return for selling off my sister.”

  “Aria, that’s enough.” My voice was sharp like a whip.

  Her eyes finally found me. If we’d been alone she might have stood up to me, but we were in a room with Dante and she knew I had to show strength in front of him. Reluctantly she lowered her eyes, swallowing hard. After a moment, she turned to Dante. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

  Dante gave a terse nod. The maids showed up with the food not a second too late. We managed to go through the rest of dinner without any further incidents, and Val and Aria soon engaged in a relaxed conversation about the south of Italy, which Dante and I could join without any risks of more conflicts.

  My mobile vibrated in my pocket and I took it out, risking a glance down. It was Matteo. I held up my phone. “I have to take this,” I said as I rose from my chair and walked out of the dining room and into the entrance hall. Dante’s eyes followed me. He obviously didn’t like the idea of me walking through his house alone, but he had no reason to worry. If I had something devious in mind, I wouldn’t have left Aria alone at a table with him.

  “Matteo? What is it?”

  “I’m worried about Romero. He looks like he’s going to lose his shit. I’m not sure it was a good idea to take him to Chicago with us.”

  I sighed. “I know. Make sure he doesn’t do something stupid.”

  “I’m not sure I’m the right man for the job.”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” I muttered in a low voice. “I’m busy over here.”

  I hung up, wanting to return to Aria. Her being alone with Dante and Val didn’t sit well with me.

  Movement up on the stairs made me tense and turn to face the source, my body going into high alert. I paused with my hand on the gun, then slowly lowered it when I saw a tiny girl on the second to last step. Dante’s daughter, Anna.

  “Where are Mommy and Daddy?” she whispered.

  “In the dining room,” I said, not moving. Her green eyes scanned me from head to toe, and I hoped she wouldn’t start crying. I didn’t think Dante would wait for an explanation before he tried to shoot me, and I really wasn’t looking forward to killing him in front of his kid.

  “Who are you?” she said accusingly, and I had to stifle a laugh.

  “I’m your godmother Aria’s husband.”

  A grin spread on the girl’s face and she stumbled forward. I moved without thinking and stopped her fall by circling her body with my arm and lifting her up. She didn’t cry as I’d expected. Instead she wrapped her arms around my neck. “Is Aria with Mommy and Daddy?”

  I nodded as I tried to set her back down, but she clung to me. “No!” she protested. “Take me to Aria!”

  I glanced down at the girl. “Is that an order?”

  She gave a sharp nod.

  Sighing, I held her against me with one arm as I made my way back to the dining room. Dante wouldn’t like this, but if she started wailing because I didn’t do what she wanted, things would get even uglier.

  The moment I stepped into the dining room with the girl, Dante rose and his eyes would have sent most people running. “She came down the stairs and wanted me to take her to Aria,” I said firmly. I got that Dante was protective. Fuck, I probably would have put a bullet in his head if our positions were reversed.

  Aria stood, probably to go to me, but Dante gave a shake of his head and she froze.

  Fury shot through me and I had a fucking hard time controlling it. I unfastened Anna’s arms and put her down. “Thanks,” she said with a huge grin before she started running toward Aria, unaware of the tension in the room. Valentina gripped Dante’s arm and tugged until he finally sank back down on his chair. Anna jumped onto Aria, who hugged the girl to her chest and kissed her cheek. Aria looked fucking ecstatic with the kid in her arm.

  I approached the table slowly, still wary of Dante, and his eyes told me that he shared the sentiment. Aria gave me a meaningful look.

  “Dante, perhaps now would be a good time to talk in private,” I said in a civil tone.

  Dante gave a sharp nod and stood.


  Val touched his forearm briefly, and I caught the warning in her gaze. Aria, too, was pleading me with her eyes to keep it together.

  Dante and I walked out of the room and he led me out into the garden. The cold helped to clear my mind. “I am well aware that you don’t like me around your wife and child,” I said. “And I don’t like you around Aria either.”

  Dante inclined his head. “We are at peace, but in the past that hasn’t always prevented accidents.”

  He was probably referring to the truce between the Famiglia, the Camorra and the Outfit that had been broken by the Camorra by murdering the wife of the Boss of the Outfit. That had happened sixty years ago, but some things were remembered.

  “We are both men of honor, Dante. You don’t like me and I don’t like you, but I can assure you that your wife and children are safe from me. I don’t prey on the weak.”

  Dante gave me a closed-lipped smile. “Will that still be the case if truce was ever broken between us?”

  “I could ask you the same—would Aria be safe if there was war between us?”

  Dante didn’t say anything because we both knew that war was an unpredictable beast. “She’d be safe from certain things in my territory even in times of war. No woman, enemy or not, will ever have to fear rape in my territory.”

  “That’s something I can guarantee as well.”

  Neither of us said any more because there really wasn’t anything else to say. I knew that the voices in the Outfit that wanted to cancel the truce had grown louder, as they had in the Famiglia. It was old hatred that had only been buried, but not forgotten.

  I’d attended countless weddings from a young age. They had all been tense to some degree, as was to be expected with arranged marriages, but Scuderi’s wedding to the Brasci girl topped it all. The girl was younger than Aria, and Aria’s father was over fifty. That was sick even by our standards. But that on its own wouldn’t have made me tense. No, that was all thanks to Romero and Lily. They had both been gone after the ceremony. It didn’t take a genius to guess what they were doing. To hell with them. She was supposed to marry Brasci tomorrow!