by Cora Reilly
“I’ll do my best,” I said. I didn’t know the city yet. I hadn’t seen anything except the brief glimpses of the city on our drive to the house.
“Is there anything you want to do? I work a lot. Do you have a hobby you’d like to keep up, or anything else you’d like to pursue?”
I considered that. Anna was starting college in Chicago this fall but she was one of the few allowed to do so. Given Danilo’s past experiences with my sister, I doubted he’d like me being on a campus every day.
“I like aerobics and swimming, but that’s not really something I’m pursuing as more than a hobby. But maybe I could start by learning to cook? I feel at a disadvantage since my husband can cook, and I can’t.”
Danilo’s mouth twitched. “I won’t say no to that. We have a few fine dining restaurants in our portfolio. I could ask one of the chefs to come over and teach you.”
“That sounds good,” I said. I could already imagine Anna rolling her eyes at me for wanting to learn to cook, but it was a start. Once I’d found my place in Indianapolis and didn’t feel quite so lost anymore, I could figure out what to do. “I’m thinking about taking a few college courses next semester.”
Danilo looked surprised. “All right. What did you have in mind?”
I hadn’t expected him to be open to the suggestion, so I hadn’t really put much thought into it. Maybe his desire to make it up to me was why he was so open-minded. “Maybe creative writing.” I’d always had a colorful imagination, and even if most of my scribblings couldn’t be considered literature, I liked the idea of creating art with words one day.
“I suppose you’d have to wait for the spring semester. If that’s what you want, we’ll figure it out. A bodyguard would have to be with you at all times, of course.”
“Of course.” I searched his face, trying to figure out if he was only agreeing to placate me or if he was being serious, but his expression didn’t give anything away.
He met my eyes, and I flushed. I wasn’t even sure why. We were close and he was half-naked.
“As for your swimming, there’s an indoor pool on the first floor.”
“Really?” I asked excitedly. We never had a pool at our mansion, so I always had to let Samuel drive me to a swimming pool in an Outfit-owned gym. He refused to let the bodyguards accompany me because then they’d have seen me in a bathing suit.
Danilo reached for me and brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “You’ve got a bit of syrup on your cheek,” he said roughly.
I flushed and pulled back, wary of my body’s reaction to the fleeting touch. My heartrate had picked up and heat raced through me. “I’ll wash it off. Will you show me the pool?”
He dropped his hand, his smile wavering. “Of course. Just let me grab a shower first.”
We got out of bed, and after I’d wiped the syrup off my cheek, Danilo headed into the bathroom. To my surprise, he didn’t close the door but left it ajar. I got dressed in one of my favorite lilac summer dresses and put on some makeup while the shower ran, but eventually curiosity got the better of me and I casually walked by the bathroom, risking a peek inside.
Danilo was in the shower, his eyes closed as he rinsed shampoo from his hair, his head tilted back slightly. Rivulets of water ran down the hard planes of his body down to his cock. My core tightened with a mixture of desire and anxiety. I was curious to know what it would feel like if I allowed Danilo to touch me and make me feel good. How it would feel if he buried his face between my legs like he’d mentioned? Some of my scribblings had been short stories about Danilo and me, and how I imagined our intimate encounters.
My cheeks grew even hotter.
I wouldn’t go down that road for a while. I hurried past the open door and left the bedroom. I hadn’t paid much attention to my surroundings last night, so I had a hard time finding the stairs in the huge house. Eventually, I found myself in a huge living room. Like the bedroom, this room, too, was furnished in a modern, sleek style, contrasting with the old house. My eyes were drawn to the French doors that opened to a beautiful patio and an even more stunning garden with a cascade leading down to a pond. I opened the door and stepped out, following a pathway of white steps down to the pond. Pink and white waterlilies floated peacefully on its surface. I squatted down to touch one of the gorgeous flowers when a huge orange head bobbed out of the water. I cried out in surprise and fell on my butt on the lawn. More heads burst through the surface. Large goldfish from the look of it.
“They’re harmless. They thought you’d feed them.”
I turned my head toward Danilo who headed down to me, obviously stifling amusement. “What are they?”
“Koi fish,” he said. “My father used to collect them. When he died, I took them in. My mother doesn’t like animals much.”
He held out his hand to me, so he could pull me to my feet. I gave him an embarrassed smile, brushing grass from my butt. I tried to see if I still had dirt on my dress but couldn’t twist my head all the way around. Feeling daring, I presented my butt to Danilo and asked, “Did I get all the dirt?”
He took longer than necessary to assess my backside for any stains, then he shook his head and growled, “It looks fine.”
I turned back to the fish and stifled a laugh. More had now gathered near the surface.
Danilo took a box with pellets out from a small wooden box hidden among the reed lining parts of the pond. He poured a small heap on his palm then squatted next to the water. He held his hand in the water, but not deep enough for the pellets to drift away. Immediately several Koi fish appeared and began eating out of his hand.
My eyes widened in surprise and I crouched next to Danilo. “I didn’t know fish could be this tame.”
The corners of Danilo’s mouth twitched. “Koi are the exception. Some of them are more than ten years old. They even have names.”
“What’s his name?” I asked pointing at the biggest Koi with a splattering of white on its back and a white mouth.
“Takeda,” Danilo said. “My father named them after famous Samurai. He admired the codex of the Samurai.”
“I never figured you for a pet person.”
Maybe Danilo was right. I didn’t know enough about him to justify the strong feelings I’d had for him all my life. But I was drawn to him.
He smiled wryly and pulled his hand out of the water. “I’m not, really. I like animals but I don’t really have time for them. Fish aren’t demanding, and I like feeding them after a long day at work. It calms me down and reminds me of my father.” For a second, it looked like he was embarrassed by his admission.
“I get it. It’s peaceful.”
He held out the box of pellets. “Do you want to try to feed them?”
I bit my lip. “They don’t bite?”
Danilo took my hand and piled fish food on it, then guided my hand into the pond. The water was cooler than expected and goosebumps flashed across my skin. Maybe the cold wasn’t the only reason for my body’s reaction. Danilo’s gentle touch might have had something to do with it as well.
I giggled when the first Koi touched my palm. It was the big one, Takeda. Its strange eyes seemed to fixate on me before he snatched up more food.
They were really careful and watching them fascinated me. I couldn’t take my eyes off them, but Danilo watched me.
I pretended I didn’t notice. I’d longed for his unwavering attention for so long, so I didn’t allow myself to let self-consciousness take the lead.
Danilo and I stayed like that for a while, and I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in forever. I got why Danilo sought this place after a long day of work. I doubted his duties as an Underboss could be classified as peaceful in any regard.
Eventually, when we didn’t have any more food to give them, the Koi began to swim away, diving below the water lilies. “I really love this place.”
Danilo smiled—an honest, less guarded smile. “I’m glad. This is your home. I want you to feel comfortable.”
I glanced around. The garden was vast and meticulously kept. Bushes and stone walls kept it hidden from prying eyes. I could only make out the occasional roof of the surrounding houses, which seemed to be in a similar Victorian style.
“Irvington is an old neighborhood with many beautiful mansions,” Danilo said. “I can show you more of Indianapolis tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you busy with work?” I hadn’t expected a honeymoon, or any kind of attention, really.
Danilo gave me a tight smile. “I blocked the next few days for you. I’ll only have to do a few things I can’t postpone, but I wanted to give us time to get to know each other.”
I bit my lip. I hadn’t expected that. Samuel always called Danilo a workaholic, which was funny since he was the same way, so I’d assumed he’d return to business as usual right after our wedding.
“That sounds good,” I murmured.
We rose and stood across from each other for a moment. Without my heels, Danilo was a head taller and much broader than me. “Can I change things? Like decoration or furniture?”
Danilo hesitated, glancing back to the house. “Sure, but maybe you can tell me your plans beforehand.”
“You don’t have to worry that I’ll turn this into a pink, frilly girl’s dream. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“Trust me, I noticed,” he murmured, his gaze sliding along my curves before they hit me with their toe-curling intensity. This less restrained side of Danilo startled me, but I appreciated it. I wasn’t sure how to handle it yet. It had come on too suddenly, and I couldn’t help wondering if he was forcing it to make amends for the past.
“Let me show you more of the property.”
I kept my arms wrapped loosely around my middle, and made sure to keep walking an arm’s length away from Danilo, so he wouldn’t try to take my hand. His touch wreaked havoc with my body, and I needed to keep a cool head, to take this slow and really allow Danilo to do what he’d promised.
Danilo led me around the patio to a huge winter garden encased in glass. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was the indoor swimming pool. Danilo opened the door for me. My jaw dropped at the size of the pool. It had Olympic dimensions. Palm trees in huge tubs decorated the corners, giving off a vacation feel.
“I try to work out here at least twice a week. It’s a good addition to the gym,” Danilo said, motioning toward the pool.
I itched to swim a few rounds in the pool but decided to wait for another day. A door at the back of the swim hall led back into the house. Danilo touched my back as he led me down the hallway. “Is this okay?” he murmured, his finger brushing my back to indicate what he meant.
I met his gaze. My first impulse was to say no, but it wouldn’t have been the truth. “I don’t mind.” In fact, I liked the gentle touch and how Danilo tried to make sure I felt comfortable. I regretted provoking him last night in my need to force a reaction out of him. But what was done was done, and we now had to figure out a way to go from here.
Danilo led me into a huge kitchen. “You can cook here whenever you like, but Theodora usually takes care of dinner. I only use the kitchen for breakfast. You’ll meet her and the rest of the staff when you return from your lunch.”
I nodded and followed Danilo back out and down the long corridor toward a living room, adjoining dining room, a library, and cigar lounge as well as a guest bathroom. “Where’s your office?” I asked eventually.
“Upstairs. I prefer the view over the gardens from up there.”
“The gardens are really lovely.” We paused in front of the staircase, Danilo’s palm still on my back.
“When do you need to leave for your date with the women?”
“In about an hour,” I said. “We’re meeting in the hotel restaurant.”
“I can drive you there and have a quick word with your father and brother. I’m sure I’ll find them in the bar with Dante. Will your parents and brother come over for dinner tonight?”
“Can they?” I asked hopefully.
“Of course. I’m sure they’ll be glad to see you again before they have to leave tomorrow.” Danilo moved even closer and cupped my cheek. “I told you I’m going to make it up to you. I’m invested in this marriage.”
His palm was warm and strong against my cheek. The way he sought my closeness like this after years of his distance felt reassuring. Still, I stepped back with a small smile, wanting to be the one to set the boundaries this time.
Sofia and I entered the hotel lobby together, my hand resting on her hip. She didn’t draw back as she’d done in the mansion, instead, she stayed close to my side, probably to keep up appearances in public. Many of our guests from other cities had stayed in the hotel and were mingling in the lobby, either checking out or talking to each other. They all looked our way the moment we stepped inside. The men tilted their heads in a respectful greeting and the women sent curious glances Sofia’s way.
I accompanied her to the entrance of the Capital Grille where she’d be meeting the women. The head waiter greeted us politely, motioning toward the back of the restaurant where I spotted Mom, Emma, Valentina, Beatrice, and Anna. Their eyes were glued on us.
I turned to Sofia. “I’ll pick you up at two-thirty?” I didn’t want to let Sofia out of my sight for too long. I wouldn’t have trouble staying busy until then. Pietro, Samuel, and Dante were waiting for me in the wine bar for lunch and a quick business chat.
“All right.” She hesitated, then moved closer to me, stood on her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. It was over too soon and probably for show like every touch in the last few minutes, but my body flared to attention.
Smiling, she turned and headed for the table. My eyes were drawn to her narrow waist and firm ass. Eventually, I tore my gaze away and strolled to the bar.
Dante, Pietro, and Samuel were already seated around a dark-wood table when I entered and sank down on one of the heavy red leather armchairs.
Dante gave me a terse smile. Pietro and Samuel, however, regarded me with a gleam of murder in their eyes.
“A Primitivo for me,” I told the waiter.
“Good choice,” Pietro said. “It’s my favorite red.”
“Mine, too.”
“So, how are things?” Samuel asked, interrupting his father and me.
I waited for the waiter to set down my glass and took a sip before I answered, “Very well, as expected.” If they thought I’d give them more than that, they had another think coming. I didn’t like to share private details with others, especially not when they weren’t as stellar as I’d hoped they would be.
“Sofia’s in the restaurant with the women, I presume?” Dante asked.
“Yes. I dropped her off.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t mind her lunch date,” Samuel said, watching me closely.
I raised my eyebrows. “Sofia can do as she pleases.” Within the boundaries of our world, of course.
“I’d like to discuss Grigory’s foray into illegal street racing,” Dante said with a pointed look at Samuel, who inclined his head and leaned back in his chair.
“It’s not part of our business model, so I prefer him extending his interest in that direction. Maybe they’ll lose focus on weapons and drugs,” Pietro said.
“It might lead to a conflict with the Camorra and the Famiglia, or it could make them work together. I think we need to keep a close eye on the situation. We can’t have the Bratva working with the Camorra.”
“I doubt that’ll happen,” Samuel said. “Remo’s good at holding a grudge, and we know he has a grudge against Grigory after he refused to help him.”
“Remo’s also a businessman. He isn’t the madman he likes to play so often,” Dante said.
I gritted my teeth. Remo could have been dead. The Camorra wouldn’t have been as strong without him. Instead, he paraded around in the west like a king.
Dante regarded me. He knew I still considered his decision to let Remo and Serafina leave a mistake.
“We
could sabotage both the Bratva and the Camorra races to stir up a conflict between them,” I suggested, instead of my initial urge to demand an attack on Remo fucking Falcone.
Dante thought about that before he nodded. “That could work, but we have to be careful about it. Our cooperation with Senator Clark has extended our reach in the political elite, but these people don’t like to be associated with bloody incidents, so we can’t risk having any suspicion fall on us.”
“We could plant two of our men in either race circuit. They hold qualification races now and then. I’m sure we have a few ambitious young soldiers who would be eager to play racers for a while and cause the occasional accident,” Samuel said with a chuckle.
“They have to be unknown faces,” Pietro said.
I nodded. “Definitely not from well-known families. We’ll have to give them new identities to get through the background checks. I don’t doubt Grigory and Remo keeps a close eye on their racers. It’s a million-dollar game.”
I was glad that Dante hadn’t quite lost his bite and wanted to play dirty. I’d been waiting to mess with Remo’s business for a while.
We soon lost any sense of time as we discussed possible prospects for the task. When I glanced at my watch and saw that it was almost two-thirty, I pushed to my feet.
The other men gave me curious looks.
“I promised Sofia to pick her up at half past.”
Pietro smiled. “Don’t make your wife wait on your first day. I’ll pay.”
“Will you and your family be joining us for dinner tonight, Dante?”
“No, I’m afraid I have to return to Chicago. I have a meeting with Senator Clark early in the morning.”
I inclined my head and strode away. When I crossed the lobby toward the restaurant, Emma, Anna, and Sofia left the restaurant.
Emma’s face lit up when she saw me. Anna looked less pleased to see me. Sofia had probably shared details of our night with her, which didn’t sit well with me. I’d ignored Marco’s messages asking for details.
