EPILOGUE

SIX MONTHS LATER

ELIO

Orion chuckles as I pull into the driveway of the quaint little house I’ve been visiting just about every Sunday since I was born.

“What?” I ask, putting the car in park and glancing at the silver band on my ring finger. He proposed a month ago, slipping the ring on my finger while we were in bed one morning, and I still haven’t gotten over how fucking good it looks there. Maybe it’s not so much the ring as the fact that it’s proof Orion is mine. And, unlike all the bruises he’s so fond of leaving hidden under my clothes, I can actually show the ring off to the world.

“I just can’t get over the fact that a bunch of mobsters have Sunday dinner with Grandma.” He gets out of the car, and I do the same.

“You won’t be laughing when you taste Nonna’s meatballs. I would literally kill a man for them.” My stomach growls just thinking about Nonna’s food.

“To be fair, that’s a pretty low bar though, right?” he says dryly, and I bark out a laugh.

“It depends on the day, Boss. You know that.” I wink and he just grins and shakes his head.

I fucking love the feral, brutal side of Orion, but watching him relax and let some of his inner demons rest over the past six months has made me fall even more in love with him.

“Should we have tried harder to get Jack to come?” I ask. I bought him a wheelchair he can use on his own a few months ago, and we’ve managed to get him out and about a few times a week since then. I have a feeling Sarah had a lot to do with him accepting the expensive gift, but I’m not above using whatever leverage I can get. If a pretty girl was what it took, then so be it. Unfortunately, dinner at Nonna’s seemed to be a sticking point for him.

Orion shakes his head. “I don’t think he wanted everyone to see me feed him.”

“Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that.

“He’ll come around eventually,” he assures me, and I nod.

“He’s your family, which means he’s my family. I just want him to know that.”

He gives me a soft smile and comes around the car. He wraps his arms around me, and I lean into him.

“You’re pretty fucking sweet for a murderous mafioso, you know that?”

I snort. “Thanks, I think.”

Lorenzo’s car pulls in behind mine, and then two more park on the street. Alessio, Salvatore, Xaviaro, and Sparrow all pile out of their respective vehicles and the front door to the house swings open.

“Hurry up, ragazzi , the food is getting cold,” Nonna scolds.

“Uh-oh, let’s not get in trouble with Nonna Moretti,” Sparrow says without a hint of mockery, picking up his pace and leading the way up the front walk.

We’re all treated to hugs and comments about being too skinny.

“You’ll have to send me home with some leftovers then, Nonna,” I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Of course I will.” She pats my cheek and smiles. “Now, tell me who this handsome man is.”

“Nonna, this is my fiancé, Orion. I wanted to bring him by sooner, but he’s usually busy with work.”

“What do you do for work?” she asks, waving for us to follow her into the kitchen.

“Oh, um, I was an MMA fighter, but I just retired,” he answers, throwing a grateful look in my direction.

I set up an irrevocable trust for Jack a few months ago, which I got a thorough spanking for followed by tearful thanks. It’s more than enough to cover whatever medical needs come up, a nicer care facility, and any other damn thing he needs.

“Such a brutal sport.” Nonna frowns and shakes her head.

Sparrow stifles a laugh; I’m guessing at the same irony that has me smiling. MMA is too brutal, but raising a family of mobsters is just another day in the life of Nonna Moretti.

“What are you going to do now?”

That’s the million-dollar question, and it’s one he’s been dodging every time I’ve asked for weeks now. I arch an eyebrow, waiting to see if Nonna will manage to get an answer.

His cheeks pink lightly, and he ducks his head. “I’ve been looking into what it would take to start a youth outreach program, actually.” He darts a shy glance in my direction again. “Maybe if the kids and teens in this city had options other than violence, things might start to change.”

The room is silent for a second, and it looks like Orion is holding his breath. Maybe waiting for us all to take offense or tell him the idea is stupid. Maybe just unsure what else to say about it.

Nonna nods approvingly. “I like it.”

His shoulders sag and he smiles. “Thanks,” he murmurs.

“Now, you boys, help me with all this food.” She waves at the serving dishes, and everyone jumps into action.

I grab Orion’s hand before he can pick anything up and lean in close.

“I love that idea too, Boss. Count me in.”

His eyebrows go up. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Money, help, whatever you need to make this happen.”

“Somehow, I don’t think a Mafia funded youth outreach really sends the message we’re going for.” Humor rumbles in his voice, and I chuckle.

“Fair enough. It can be on the down-low though.” I shrug.

“I appreciate it, Brat. We’ll talk about it.” He kisses my forehead, and I grin. “I’m trying to get Jack on board too. He’s being stubborn, but I think he’ll come around. There’s so much he could do to help; he just needs a kick in the ass to do it.”

I nod and return his affection with a kiss right over the scar on his jaw, his rough stubble tickling my lips. “If anyone can pull it off, it’s you,” I murmur.

This city might be a bit fucked up, just like we all are, but if Orion thinks he can change it, make it better… hell, he’s managed to make me better, so anything is possible. One thing I know for sure? I’ll never bet against Orion Barros.

The End