by Blaire Drake
Slowly, I nodded. “That makes sense. I think you're right. He's always been hiding in your shadow.”
“We're like the American versions of Prince William and Harry. I'm William.” He smirked. “He's Harry. The party boy who has limited responsibility.”
“I could give him some. Eventually, of course. But I think he'd be good with it. He just needs the freedom to be somebody.”
His smirked changed to a smile. “I think you're right.” He pulled the coffee mug from beneath the machine. “You have a little time. You have allies in this city who will be pleased to see your father removed from power. Some won't be, so you'll have to prove yourself, but I can stay as long as you need me to. I know everyone here.”
“Thank you,” I said honestly. “I have no idea what I'm doing.”
“I know.” He winked. “She'd be proud, you know. Alexandria.”
I took a deep breath.
“I once heard her tell Dad that she hoped she'd be here to see you kick your father's 'sorry fucking lying ass.' I know how hard it was for you. She'd be proud you kept your promise to yourself.”
“It wasn't hard. Not really,” I admitted. “Me or him, right? That's how it was. I think I knew that. Now I can get the Romano family back to how it should be.”
He slowly smiled. “I called the hospital this morning and pretended to be Carlo's cousin.”
“He doesn't have any cousins in America.”
“Yeah, but the hospital are idiots.” He snorted. “He's awake. He's stable, but still pushing critical. Luckily he'd just bled, and no major organs had been hit. He had his appendix removed and a blood transfusion. He drifts in and out of consciousness, but they think he'll be okay.”
If only 'think' was good enough.
I would believe it once he was standing in front of me again... And not before then.
Chapter Thirty – Adriana
A week passed in the blink of an eye. Between visiting with other families to introduce myself with Angelo's help and slowly rebuilding the chain of command that would ultimately be beneath me, I had little time to mourn or think about Hunter. Angelo called daily and kept me updated, and while the news was always good, I refused to think about him being with me until he was.
Apparently gunshots—and emergency surgery—took a long time to recover from. Especially when you lost so much blood you really did almost die.
I felt like I'd become even closer to Gaige—and Angelo—in the past seven days. They'd both pinned themselves to my sides, becoming unofficial sort of bodyguards, and I realized that I didn't want Angelo to go back to Los Angeles.
Right now, he was my favorite person, because he'd done the one thing I never thought he could do: Find Hunter's parents.
Apparently, they'd left New York and hidden in Yukon, Canada, after Hunter turned eighteen. It explained why he'd never mentioned them, but I got the feeling they didn't particularly like him doing the job he did.
There was also, according to Angelo, the fact that Hunter's dad had once tried to kill mine.
Personally, I wanted to kiss him for that, but whatever.
That's what I was doing as I thought about how drastically my life had changed in such a short space of time—waiting. For his parents. I knew they were going to the hospital to see him before they came here, to me.
I'd been banned from the hospital. “You don't need to see him with tubes and machines and shit,” I'd been eloquently told. “He said no,” I was also told.
It sucked.
I wanted to see him, but at the exact same time, I was afraid of what I'd find.
I'd already pushed money aside for the medical bills that were sure to make a millionaire cry.
I looked around the office. It was almost bare, as whenever I wasn't being the Boss and getting stereotyped, I was ripping out every ounce of my father that I could. I'd started with this room. It'd once been Mamma's office, full of light wood and bright paintings. Once upon a time, shelves that held stories of happily ever afters and endless recipe books lined the walls.
I wanted that again. I wanted a wall of books, a desk big enough for two, and a giant, squishy sofa to collapse onto when everything was done.
I wanted a little slice of light in a world I knew would be full of darkness.
I got up and walked out of the room. I couldn't touch many other places yet, and I was slowly getting used to someone always being around. I also had a crazy request for someone to find my asshole cat and bring him to me.
Armo Pontarelli insisted he was on the case. More likely that he'd delegated it, but I was happy someone was potentially bringing me the little tuna thief.
In the dead of night, when I couldn't sleep and flashes of Hunter lying on the floor, dying, ran through my mind, I missed my furry friend.
I wanted everything to flip back to how it was.
I almost wished that instead of coming here, I'd hidden. I had every chance, but my sense of desperation for this family, for the empire that belonged to me... Except the empire had crumbled, because the people that propped it up before never belonged to me. They belonged to my father, although it was never his.
Now I had to rebuild. Everything.
I just wished I had Hunter here to help me. It would have made everything so much easier, because he knew. He knew what he was doing. He knew the men who stared at me apprehensively every time I accidentally walked into a room where one of them was.
Proving myself was hard without having someone who believed in me wholeheartedly. Angelo and Gaige were there for me, sure, but I had doubts over how much they believed in me.
Hell. I had doubts over how much I believed in me.
“Hey.” Angelo poked his head around the living room door. “Carlo's mom just called. They're headed back to their hotel for now. She's feeling pretty crap after seeing him.”
“Okay. They're welcome to stay here if they want to.”
“I offered, but they're understandably apprehensive.”
“That's okay. Thank you for letting me know. Now I have an hour or so in which to lament my current situation. Excellent.” I dropped onto the sofa with a huff and swung my feet up onto the coffee table.
Ugh. If only it were raining and I could watch that. At least it lulled me into a flat sense of being.
“Lamenting? Nah, not a chance.”
My heart stopped at those words. At that voice. “What in the hell are you doing here?” I snapped, looking at him. “You're supposed to be in hospital!”
Hunter laughed, leaning against the door frame. “I'm not a fan of authority. They kept making me sit down.”
Angelo grinned, winked, and backed up, disappearing down the hall.
“That's because you need to sit down! Jesus Christ, Carlo!” I scrambled up and over to him, grabbing his arm.
He laughed as I guided him over to the sofa. His ass had barely touched the cushion when he tugged me down on top of him and cupped my face. Our mouths touched, the warmth of his kiss spreading through my body.
“Behave yourself!” I ordered him, pushing off of him. “You almost died, had life-saving surgery, and you're already home and trying to kiss me? You're insane.”
“I thought that was a well documented fact, Principessa.” He pulled me back down, and this time, I was prepared, so I straddled him, making sure to avoid his right side where I knew he'd be sore. In fact, I avoided his stomach all together.
I ran my fingertip down the side of his face and smiled, meeting his eyes. “Actually, I don't mean to brag, but I'm kind of the queen now.”
“I know that.” He stroked his hands up and down my back, his silver eyes glittering. “But you're always gonna be my principessa. Wait.” He stilled. “You are still mine, right? Gaige didn't go homing in on you?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “No. He didn't. Not for a second.”
“Good.” Hunter slid his arm up my back and cupped the back of my neck. He pulled my face down to his. “So you're queen, huh? How's it f
eel?”
“Pretty shit, actually,” I admitted with a small smile. “Nobody in the family trusts me yet and I'm trying to figure out who I trust. And nobody has returned my cat yet.”
“Fucking cat,” he murmured, brushing his lips over mine. “Get another.”
“No. I want my cat. Not just a cat.” I tapped his nose. “Are you in pain?”
“A little.” He winced as he admitted it. “I kinda discharged myself so the drugs are in short supply.”
I pushed off of him. “Did Angelo know?”
“Of course. Who do you think drove me home?”
“I'm gonna kill him!” I stomped toward the door and heard the creak of the leather. I spun, every protective instinct in my little body coming to life, and pointed at Hunter. “You get up and I'm gonna give you a second god damn gunshot wound. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Boss.” He grinned and sat back. “Do you have drugs?”
“How do I know? I don't know anything about this house. Angelo!” I yelled. “Hey, Pontarelli!”
“Jesus, woman, I'm here, I'm here.” He came in through the door that lead from the living room to the back deck.
I looked at the cigarette in his hand and cleared my throat. He promptly returned outside, put it out, and came back in.
“Sorry,” he said. “Forgot.”
“Thank you. Hunter needs some aspirin or something strong enough to stop him being in pain.”
“I don't know if we have any.”
“Then I suggest you go and get some.”
“Why is that my job?”
“Did you or did you not help him discharge himself and drive him from the hospital to here?”
He didn't answer me.
“Exactly. Go. Now. Thank you.” I pointed toward the door.
Angelo grinned and glanced over his shoulder to Hunter. “Only woman I'd ever take an order from.”
I swung my hand toward him, and he laughed and jumped out of the way.
“By the way,” he said as he backed up. “I just spoke to Dad. He found Rossi.”
I gasped happily. “Yes!”
“He's eating all the tuna, apparently.”
“Fucking cat,” Hunter muttered from the sofa. “Hey, where's Gaige? I want to thank him for not getting himself killed.”
Angelo laughed as he left, and I shrugged. “I think he's going up the Statue of Liberty, but who knows?”
Hunter quirked an eyebrow. “Really? Lady Liberty? That's what he's doing?”
“Well he's already done the Empire State and Central Park this week. I told him to go explore because he kept hovering and it bugged me.” I shrugged again and sat on the coffee table opposite Hunter. “Are you really okay?”
“I got shot through my appendix. I'm fucking dandy, bella.”
I pursed my lips. “I swear to God...”
He grinned, and it was the mischievous, infectious grin I loved. “I'm okay. Just hurting a little. But I'm better now that I'm home. With you.” Hesitance glimmered back at me in his gaze.
“Don't look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you think I'm going to throw you out to sleep on the lake or something.”
“Well... I wouldn't blame you.” His grin dropped, guilt taking the place of his amusement. “I did a fucking lot of really shitty things to you, Addy. I lied to you and broke your heart. I almost got you killed because I was a fucking prize asshole. I don't blame you if you don't forgive me.”
“Hunter...” I moved to the sofa next to him. “You made a choice. It was just the wrong one. Am I mad still? Yeah, kinda, but I know why you did it. And honestly, being without you for a week and watching you almost die right in front of me has kind of put it into perspective.”
He stared at me for a long moment before he shifted, bit back a shudder, and brought his hand to cup my cheek. I flattened my hand over his and turned my face into his palm, smiling as his hand, softer than usual, spread warmth through me.
“You're a much better person than I am.” He frowned, but when I ghosted my thumb along his lips, stopped.
“You're my person, though,” I whispered, leaning forward so our breath mingled. “Even if you can be a shitty one sometimes.”
He smiled, laughing against my lips. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome.” I pulled back, and the twinkle returned to his eye. “Besides—I can't do this alone, can I? I kinda need you a bit.”
“Just a bit, huh?”
“Just a bit. Don't get too cocky. You're still on bed rest.”
“Is that an order?”
“It's always an order, Rosso.” I tapped his nose. “Always.”
“Always.” He pulled me back into him, this time wrapping an arm securely around my body. “I like the sound of always.”
“Good. Now you're going to bed.” I kissed his cheek and stood, holding my hands out for him.
He got up by himself. Defiant little bastard. “Are you coming with me?”
I stared at him. “Not to do what you're thinking I'm gonna do.”
“I wanted a nap, but okay, if you wanna strip me naked and—”
“Hunter.”
“What?”
I smiled. “Shut up. Fool.”
He smiled right back. “Fine. A nap. But then I'm going to help you rebuild this empire you decided to steal back. While I'm lying in bed, of course. Being waited on hand and foot by your fine ass.”
I wrapped my arm around his waist and helped him down the hall. “I didn't think this through, did I?”
“Don't worry.” He rested his arm over my shoulders and pulled me into his side—his good side. “I'll make it worth your while.”
“Don't even think about paying me in sex.”
“Who said anything about sex?” He paused us at the bottom of the stairs and looked down at me. “I can't have sex with you right now, unless you want blood on the sheets.”
“So what are you talking about?”
He grinned. “Can't use my cock, but I can use my mouth. You'll just have to, you know.” He winked.
Sit on my face, his eyes said.
I sighed.
It was going to be a long recovery.
Epilogue – Hunter
Three months later.
Her hair fanned out across the light gray pillow, matted and messed up from where she'd run her fingers through it so many times during the night. Her phone had been ringing off the hook as a large drug shipment came in and was almost busted, but in the end, I put my foot down and told them to call the consigliere so he could deal with it, because she was exhausted.
After all—my father wouldn't take the shit Adriana would. Not that she took shit. She was just too nice most of the time to tell the men to fuck off.
That and she still thought she needed to earn their respect, although I saw it in everyone's eyes when they looked at her.
She was twenty-three years old, but she'd stepped into a role most fifty year old men would fear. Yes, she'd had help, but she'd made all the decisions.
She'd relayed them, at least. She named her family, from the consigliere to her capos. No one had challenged her or argued.
She'd demoted me, too.
Three days after I'd left the hospital, I'd had a dream so violent, I'd ripped the bedding with my bare hands. She'd demanded I tell her why I struggled with sleep, and once she'd silently cried for the pain she knew I felt, she flat-out refused to have me do that anymore.
Unless it was a kill or be killed situation, the only thing I'd be hunting was deer. And even then only when I was allowed.
It'd worked. We'd talked through everything, and for the most part, the dreams had gone. Except for the one where I lost her.
I didn't think that one would ever go.
Yes—she'd demoted me from assassin, but she'd promoted me to her level.
Boss.
I didn't have a choice. She all but dragged my ass onto a plane two weeks ago, flew us to Las Vegas, and haule
d me down an aisle.
Well. Maybe I did the dragging the moment she agreed. We kinda took each other and got on with it. We'd been through too much to, in her words, 'organize some fancy-ass ceremony where, let's be honest someone's just gonna die like they normally do.'
I couldn't argue with that. There was a skewed tradition that someone tended to die every time a wedding happened within the Romano family. Ours had broken that.
I gently touched the diamond band that wrapped around her finger. It was simple and understated, just like her. Not that it had existed when we actually got married, but rather after, when we went shopping.
“Stop staring at me,” she muttered and batted my hand away. She rolled over to face me, bleary-eyed, and pushed her hair from her face. “Are they fucking calling again? Because I'm going to shoot them all if they are.”
I grinned. “No. I just wanted to stare at my wife.”
“Say 'wife' again. Go on. I dare you.” She glared. “I have a name, and last time I checked, it wasn't 'wife.'”
“Boss Wife?”
She still glared.
I laughed and covered her mouth with mine. She relented, responding enthusiastically when I slid my tongue against hers and rolled on top of her. She ran her hands up and down my back, her nails teasing my sensitive skin.
“Seriously, though,” she muttered when I ran my mouth down her neck. “Did they call?”
I groaned, then stopped, and looked up at her. “This is the only time I am ever going to say his name in our bed. Gaige will be fine. I'm sure he's done it all just fine. He assisted the last smuggling and now he's running this. He's determined to be a capo for you, and he knows this is on the line.”
She sighed heavily. I knew how she was feeling—she wanted Gaige to get this right, because if he didn't, she couldn't give him the responsibility she, and he, wanted. He'd settled into New York—once he was done being a motherfucking tourist—and into the more dangerous mafia life than he was used to. He loved it.
I loved it, because Adriana got the best of both worlds. She had me, and she had her best friend.
And we didn't even try to kill each other on a regular basis anymore. Mostly because I got the girl.
