Chapter Twenty-One

~ Nico ~

"Make sure all the beds have fresh sheets," I directed as I walked through the house with our housekeeper. "And the flowers, white orchids for Mr. Hu's room. Everyone else can have roses, but Mr. Hu prefers orchids."

"Yes, sir."

"Have you created a menu for the welcoming banquet?"

"Yes, sir, Mrs. Sabatino went over it this morning and approved it."

"If she approved it, then it's good." I might be in charge now, but Nonna was still the real boss of this villa. I deferred to her in all situations. The woman had decades of experience over me.

I still couldn't get over the fact that they had decided to hold the annual mafia conclave here. Granted, I wanted to treat these men to a nice vacation for everything they had done for me and Luca, but what did I know about hosting a conclave?

It didn't make sense to me that the five families from New York City would be meeting in Italy. We couldn't be considered neutral ground because we were another mafia family, just Italian ones.

Whatever.

I'd never understand mafia life, but I didn't really have to. I was the husband of a mafia don, but Luca still did everything he could to keep me out of it. I just needed to make sure my home was run like a well oiled machine.

And that was exactly what I was trying to do. In the month we'd been back in Italy, I'd done everything I could to learn how to run such a large household.

This was my first opportunity to host something so big and I was terrified. Luca was insistent that I could do it as were Nonno and Nonna . I was pretty much shaking in my boots.

I clasped Sofia's hand with mine. "You've run this house for ages and I have full confidence in you. I'm sure this will be wonderful."

Surprisingly, the older woman blushed as she dipped her head. " Grazie, Mr. Nico."

No matter how many times I asked the people that worked here to call me Nico, they refused. They felt it was disrespectful to me and my position in this household.

I couldn't get out of it.

"I'm going to go check in with Luca. If you have any questions, come find me."

Luckily, the conclave wasn't supposed to happen for another couple of days. I still had time to fall apart.

" Sì , Mr. Nico."

After she walked away, I turned toward Stefano, who luckily had no lasting effects from my mother drugging him. "Where is Luca?"

It was easier to ask than search this place. It was too damn big.

"He's in his study, Mr. Nico."

I made a beeline for the study. When I reached the heavy oak door, I knocked. I knew better than to rush inside. It wasn't that I wasn't allowed, but I didn't want to hear anything I shouldn't.

The door was opened by Franco.

"Is now a good time?" I asked.

"Boss is just finishing up a phone call so it's good."

Cool.

When I walked in, Luca was sitting at his desk on his cell phone. I started to go to one of the chairs in front of his desk, but Luca snapped his fingers. When I glanced at him, he gestured for me to come to him. As soon as I walked around his desk, I was grabbed and pulled down onto his lap.

Luca wrapped an arm around my waist and continued talking. I did my best to ignore most of what he said and by the time he hung up, I had my head resting on his shoulders, closing my eyes as I rested.

When I felt a hand stroke down the back of my head, I smiled and opened my eyes. "All done?"

"I have a few more phone calls to make later, but I have to wait for the time difference before I call Vinnie."

"He's bringing Nicky, right?"

"He is," Luca replied. "All of them are bringing their spouses. You'll have lots of friends to hang out with while we're in our meetings."

I was actually looking forward to that.

"Vinnie, King, Díaz, Petrov, and Kenji have all confirmed that they will be here as did the Italian connections. In a couple of days, we will have a full house. Are you ready for that?"

"Yes?"

"That sounds like a question, Nico."

"Well, yeah, kind of. Sofia and I have gone over everything with your grandmother and I think we have it all covered. I guess we'll see when everyone gets here."

"You'll be fine, cuore mio. I have no doubt that you have everything covered. I do, however, need you to make up an extra suite. Vito Antonelli said he's going to be able to make it."

"Was that who you were on the phone to?" I asked.

Luca nodded. "I had called him to find out if he had made any headway in finding out who had taken out the D'Angelo family."

"Did he?"

"Not yet, but he did have some interesting information to share."

"What was that?" I asked.

"Turns out old man D'Angelo had a brief affair a couple of decades ago so there is one D'Angelo left alive. Currently, Vito is searching for him so he can bring him back here to Italy to take over the family business."

"Is this guy in the mafia?"

"Vito didn't say," Luca said, "but I didn't get that impression from him. If this guy isn't, it's going to be quite the shock for him when he's handed an entire mafia empire."

"I hope he find whoever did this."

"He will," Luca replied. "Vito is a smart man. He'll figure out who did this and make them pay."

Luca lifted me up and placed me on the desk in front of him, scooting between my thighs. "There is something else I want to talk to you about."

I squinted at the seriousness on Luca's face. "Is it my parents?"

Had they done something else?

"Kenji called me. It seems your father had racked up some debts gambling in one of his casinos. Since your father lost the company and their money, Kenji shipped them back to Japan to work in one of his factories. Considering the amount of money they owe him, I doubt they will be back."

I didn't say anything as I thought about that news and how I might feel about it. Strangely, it was only relief. I had no emotional connection to Isabella and Victor Rossi, not an ounce.

"Okay."

Luca's eyebrows lifted. "You're okay with this?"

I nodded. "They brought this on themselves."

"I just don't want you to have any regrets, Nico."

"I don't," I answer back. "Like I said, they brought this on themselves. They have no one to blame but themselves."

"If things change, you'll tell me?"

I looped my arms around Nico's neck. "Of course I will."

I discussed everything with Luca.

I do have one more bit of news for you," Luca stated. "I was kind of saving this as a surprise for you, but now is as good a time as any."

"What?"

"Gena has agreed to be a surrogate for us when we decide to have kids, well, two kids. One from you and one from me."

"We never discussed having kids."

"You want them, don't you?"

"Yes, of course," I said quickly so he'd know I was in favor of this idea. "I just never expected it to happen, especially since e never discussed it."

"Well, I can think of nothing I'd like better than having a couple of kids and raising a family with you."

That would be so amazing.

"Now, give me a smile."

I knew what he wanted, the smile he wanted.

I smiled as brightly as I could. " Ti amo, marito mio ."

Did I need to say anything else?

~ The End ~