Epilogue

Stefano

Celine sat at the vanity in our apartment and slipped pink diamonds into her ears. She'd worn them the first time I'd seen her at the gala. Then she'd used pink as a way to cope with her anxiety.

I hadn't seen her have a panic attack since the day Charles Moreau's will was read. That her father must have cared for Marie gave her some comfort. He'd left his entire estate to his housekeeper.

Celine was given authority over her trust fund. It was all she wanted. The first thing she'd done was withdraw fifty thousand dollars to pay me back for Emancipator.

"Are you ready?" she asked, meeting my gaze in the mirror. A curtain of straight blonde hair draped down her back. Her skin still carried the sun kissed glow from her time on the island. But the dark circles under her eyes were gone. She wore a little makeup on her eyes, and her mouth was a sinful temptation with a sultry red lip.

I bent and kissed her neck. "I'm going to be hard all night waiting to get you home and have those lips around my cock."

"Who says you'll have to wait until we get home?" She licked across her upper lip. "Is JJ coming with us? I mean I like him." She rolled her eyes. "Just not as much as Presley does." JJ was now part of their morning tea and coffee before classes.

I smiled. "You'll get used to having a soldier with you." I would always have enemies, and she would always be a target. And now she was a wealthy heiress. We never talked about Byrne or Karas. She didn't want to live in a past filled with fear.

"But not tonight," she said. "I have you."

"The only protection you'll need tonight is from my sister. We need to have a conversation."

"Don't you dare."

"She hung your penis picture in my office at the bank," I said.

She laughed. "She, um… She took the elephant from my studio. Pretty sure she's going to put it in her office."

I growled. Her office was my office.

We rode the elevator down to the garage.

"Do you want to drive?" I'd replaced her car with a modified Bentley. Not only was the armored vehicle bulletproof, but it was also bomb blanketed and equipped with gas masks and pursuit deterrents. No one would ever take her from me again.

"I wish we could take the bike."

I held the door for her as she climbed into the passenger seat. "I'll take you out later tonight."

For the last couple of weeks, I'd been midnight dating my girl. While the city slept, we'd gone to the beach, built a fire, and roasted marshmallows. We'd rollerbladed in the parking lot of Eminence University, and we'd laughed when the automatic sprinklers had come on while she'd given me head on the ninth green at the country club.

Once at Marco's fortress, the guards opened the gate, and I drove up to the house. Cars filled the driveway.

I held her hand as we walked up the path. The door swung open, and Anna rushed down the steps.

"Finally," she said and glared at me.

"Don't start," I said to her. "You're lucky I allow you access to my girl. You're a bad influence."

Celine laughed, and I knew I'd lost the battle. Anna dragged her into the house, and I followed them in.

"I'll make you a drink," Anna said. "Ally and Romi are in the kitchen with Mia," she said to me. "The guys are outside. That is where you belong. Don't hover. She'll be fine. I promise. Savio is playing with a friend. They're in the pool."

Sadly, Savio hadn't talked about Giada since Marco had told him of her death. He'd slipped into a life with Luca and Mia. They'd become a family.

Anna's smile softened. "The Jilani's are all here, too. They wanted to be here for you and Celine. Meet me in the kitchen," she said to Celine, leaving us alone for a moment.

I stepped up to Celine and slid my hand onto her lower back. "Ti amo."

"I love you."

"I love you more," I said, and she softly chuckled.

My brother's raucous laughter echoed from the patio.

"If you become uncomfortable," I said to her. "Come find me."

"Okay, but I'm good. I love being here. I'm not afraid to be with your family."

"Our family," I corrected. "You and I are an us now."

"Io e te per sempre," she said. You and me forever.

She belonged here, with men who would protect her and women who would love her. And I simply belonged with her. I belonged to her because I was her fall from grace, and she was my saving grace. Together we were a masterpiece.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Fall From Grace – Bruno Mafia Crime Series Book Two

If you enjoyed the story, please consider leaving a review.

Wishing you good vibes and naughty nights,

KyAnn