23. Gabriella

23

GAbrIELLA

E nzo and I spend the rest of the night making love and telling each other “I love you” over and over again. Now that we’ve started saying it and we’ve admitted our true feelings, we can’t seem to stop. For the first time, my life feels balanced and I’ve never been happier. I have so much more to keep me busy and satisfied than just work. I love working and have no intention of stopping, but it’s nice to know that my entire life isn’t going to revolve around only that one aspect anymore.

At some point, we wander down to the kitchen and put together a plate full of cheese, crackers and some fruit. I need sustenance after all of the delicious things Enzo has done to my body tonight. Being pregnant is wearing me out, though, and Enzo makes sure I eat and hydrate between all the sex.

We’re sitting at the island, munching away, when I pitch him an idea that’s been lingering in the back of my head for a long time now. “I know things are a little crazy right now, but remember when I mentioned wanting to support small businesses?”

Enzo pops a cracker into his mouth and nods. “You seemed pretty passionate about it, if I recall correctly.”

“I’m very passionate about it,” I declare, “and I want to start a fund.”

“What kind of fund?” he asks, getting into business mode, his agile mind fully focused and already taking mental notes.

I love seeing this side of him and I tilt my head, ready to present my idea and hope that he’ll want to come onboard with me. “Well, since I won’t have to worry about resuscitating Holloway’s company anymore, I’d like to focus on supporting some local small businesses that might be in trouble.”

“Okay. I’m listening. What ideas do you have?”

“I’d like to develop a fund that can provide the money they might need, but also the training, advice and leadership necessary to make these businesses a success in the long run. That would include marketing and PR advice and a digital online presence. Some people might not even realize that they don’t necessarily need a brick and mortar shop. A lot of services can be handled online nowadays.”

I go into some really specific plans that I’ve been tossing around in my head and Enzo offers some great suggestions that make my ideas even better. We’re such a good team and work so seamlessly together. It’s so inspiring and I can’t wait to make things start happening and see it all come to fruition.

“So you want to do this with me?” I ask him an hour later, so pumped up by everything we’ve just discussed that I can barely sit still.

“I want to do everything with you, Gabriella,” he murmurs, gaze locked with mine. “Let’s work together, have a family together and love each other in every possible way. Whatever your dreams are, I want to know and I want to share them with you and help make them come true however I can. Seeing you shine, knowing you’re happy…it’s all I want.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “You’re the best partner I could ever hope to have.”

Enzo turns my stool toward him, drags it closer and kisses me until my toes curl. I’ve had enough to eat and I’m ready to go back upstairs. “Are you ready for round two?” I ask, laying my hand over his smooth, flat abs and then letting it drift down, down, down.

Enzo sucks in a sharp breath as my palm cups him. Squeezing, teasing, coaxing his cock to grow and lengthen in my hand. He groans. “I think we’ve passed round two,” he rasps, thrusting lightly. “Aren’t we on like round five already?”

I let out a low, throaty laugh. “Probably. Whatever number it is, I’m ready for more.”

“You never have to tell me that twice.” He pushes up off his stool, quickly adjusts himself then grabs me, lifting me up into his arms. “Let’s go, honey.”

I wrap my arms around his neck then lean in and start licking and nibbling the skin on his throat.

“Ah, Jesus, Bri,” he grunts, picking up his pace. “You’re going to make me blow before we even get upstairs.”

“So, let’s stay down here,” I suggest. “There are lots of places we haven’t done it yet.”

Enzo shakes his head then does an about face, stalks across the room and drops me onto his couch. I laugh, bounce a bit on the cushions, and look up into his dark eyes. They’re so full of heat and longing. Above all else, they’re overflowing with love. I reach out, hook my fingers in his waistband, and slide his pajama bottoms down. Licking my lips, I admire his beautiful cock for a moment then pat the couch.

“Now get down here and fill me up,” I say. Of course, he instantly obliges and it isn’t long before we’re both crying out in ecstasy, practically shaking the rafters above us.

God, I love this man, I think.

I truly feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Having Enzo and a baby is going to keep me on my toes. No doubt about it. But he fulfills me in a way that no one else ever has before. I’m looking forward to everything yet to come. Whatever my future brings, I know it will be bright and beautiful because Enzo is a part of it. A part of me.

Well, everything seems bright and beautiful until the next day when the Five Families discover what happened and announce an emergency, very mandatory, meeting. I know we have to go, but I also know we’re in big trouble and they’re going to put us through an inquisition of the worst sort.

I also know that Miceli is the one who shot and killed Tommaso. As if my family didn’t hate him enough for killing Rocco, now he’s taken care of both brothers. Shit. No one is planning to share that information, though. As far as the Alliance knows, Tommaso is dead and Romeo was arrested for attempted murder. No one has placed any blame anywhere yet and we’re going to do our best to make sure Miceli doesn’t take the fall. Not on my watch. He saved our lives—me, Enzo and our baby—and I will always be grateful to him for that.

“What’s wrong?” Enzo murmurs, coming up and wrapping his arms around me.

“I’m worried. You didn’t see how intense things got when Miceli came under fire when Rocco died. It was like the Spanish Inquisition.” The Rossi’s hadn’t been allowed in that meeting to support their brother, but I know how serious it was and how intense this kind of thing can get.

“No one is going to know who fired the shot that killed Tommaso.”

“I know. I’m just hoping the other families understand.”

“Tommaso and Romeo acted out of revenge. I’m still not sure how I was the one lucky enough to capture their wrath first–”

“Because of me. Lili let it slip about our one-night stand but, in her defense, she’s also the one who found out you were in trouble and led us to the boathouse.”

“Thank God for that. Otherwise I really would be sleeping with the fish right now.”

A shiver runs through me. “Don’t even say that,” I chastise and press a kiss to his lips.

Enzo glances down at his watch and frowns. “Well, guess we better go. Don’t want to be late to the inquisition.”

Ugh. “This is not going to be fun,” I warn him.

Little do I know at the time, but that’s an understatement. The meeting takes place in the back room of a fancy hotel in downtown Manhattan. It’s a little more flashy and out in the open than the usual places they choose. Enzo and I walk into the windowless room, holding hands, a united front. All gazes zero in on our laced fingers.

“Have a seat,” the head of the Caparelli family says and waves a hand toward the large round table.

At least we aren’t lined up in front of the others like Miceli had been. It was like he’d been standing in front of a firing squad. That gives me hope, but it’s short-lived. As I look around the table at the other families, no one looks happy or like they might come to our defense. And that infuriates me. Why are we the ones under fire after what my cousins did? Shouldn’t they be the ones in the wrong?

Biting my tongue, but getting ready to strike, I wait for Caparelli to start the meeting because he’s clearly the one running things today. I’ve never cared for him overly much. He has a head of shocking white hair and likes to order his enemies killed execution-style without so much as a conversation first. I’d hardly call him fair or a good listener, and I think he’s about as empathetic as a brick.

At least all of the Rossi siblings are here, including their youngest sister Carlotta, and that makes me feel better. I still want to get to know her better because she reminds me a lot of myself—an absolute pistol, trying not to be overshadowed by her older, very protective and extremely alpha brothers. She sends me a little smile and I smile back.

“Now that we’re all here, I’d like to know what the fuck happened last night,” Caparelli states, his voice sharp as a dagger. “Miceli, you’re fucking family is going off the goddamn rails and becoming a serious problem.”

“That’s not true!” I blurt out and Enzo squeezes my hand beneath the table.

“Then why don’t you explain to us what is true, Gabriella,” the head of the Milano family says. He’s in his late fifties, balding, and his two sons sit on either side of him. Everyone stares at me, blank-faced, waiting for some kind of explanation.

“I began seeing Enzo,” I state calmly, “and since I am a grown woman, I don’t see how that is anyone’s business. But Tommaso and Romeo made it their business.”

“Your cousins were looking out for you.” I glance over at my great Uncle Sal. He rarely comes to meetings anymore and has passed the responsibility on to me, Tommaso and Romeo. We’ve always gotten along in the past, but his dark eyes are filled with turmoil and I have no idea how this is going to go—if he’ll be on my side or theirs.

“I understand that,” I say carefully, “and I would have appreciated it if they’d come talk to me if they had concerns. But, instead, they viciously attacked Enzo in front of his loft.”

“They did,” Angelo says, backing me up. “I drove up and saw they had jumped my brother, so I stepped in to help.”

“Then they came after me again the other day,” Enzo informs everyone. “I was going to go check on Gabriella because she wasn’t feeling well when they appeared, tased me and tossed me into their car. There wasn’t much I could do against the repeated taser attacks and when my muscles finally started to cooperate again, Tommaso and Romeo had taken me to a boathouse and tied me to a chair. They were furious that I was with Gabriella and kept saying they weren’t going to stop until they’d wiped out my entire family. They wanted retribution for Rocco and they said they were starting with me.”

“My friend Lili found out Enzo was in trouble and called me. She got their location and I immediately left, calling Angelo for help,” I inform the table.

“Tommaso and Romeo had come unhinged,” Angelo states. “I called Miceli and Vincentius for backup. By the time we got there, they were pouring cement into a bucket and planning on tossing my brother into the harbor.”

“We surrounded them, told them to stop, but they wouldn’t listen,” Vin says. “That’s when all hell broke loose and they began shooting at us.”

“So what were we supposed to do?” Miceli asks. It’s a rhetorical question and no one speaks. “We fired back. Protecting each other, the people we love, is the most important thing.”

“Tommaso was shot and knocked Enzo into the water,” I continue, backing up the others with a nod. “Me, Miceli and Vin jumped into the water and swam down to save him.”

For a long moment, no one says anything. Maybe they’ll side with us, I think hopefully.

“Why were the police called?” Aldo DeLuca asks. “We are supposed to handle things ourselves, not involve outsiders. And especially not law enforcement.”

“Because Romeo was still alive,” Miceli states. “There was no way we were letting him walk away after what he and Tommaso did.”

“Who killed Tommaso?” Uncle Sal asks, looking at the Rossi brothers, eyes narrowing into slits.

No one breathes a word.

“Too much blood has been spilled between our families,” Caparelli states angrily. “It cannot go unpunished. Otherwise, it’s becoming a fucking habit.”

“That’s because of the Bianche family,” I cry, throwing my own family under the bus. “The Rossi’s did nothing but defend the people they love. But, Rocco, Tommaso and Romeo are guilty of kidnapping and attempted murder. If they did that to your sons would you let them get away with it?”

I focus on Milano who purses his lips then slowly shakes his head.

“No fucking way,” his older son growls. “I’d put those bastards six feet under.”

“They’d be dead,” the younger son agrees. “But I wouldn’t involve the cops.”

“So what’re you saying? We should’ve killed Romeo, too?” Angelo asks. “Even though he had put his weapon down and was no longer a threat?”

The tension in the room is so thick, so taut, that it feels like a rubberband on the verge of snapping.

“Who fired the kill shot?” Uncle Sal asks again.

Shit. “It doesn’t matter,” I say, turning to face my great uncle with pleading eyes. “What matters is that my life and Enzo’s life were in danger. Tommaso pointed his gun at me, Uncle Sal, and he would’ve shot and killed me. And not only me.”

Everyone is looking at me and I pull in a deep, steadying breath.

“He would’ve killed the baby I’m carrying, too,” I finish.

Well, that does it. Chaos erupts and everyone starts talking over everyone else. Except for me and Enzo, no one else knew that I was pregnant, so this is a bit of a bombshell. And, I’m hoping in a good way.

Of course, the Rossi’s all get up and hug me and slap Enzo on the back, full of good wishes. Carlotta pulls me into a warm embrace, her eyes tearing up. “I’m so happy for you both,” she gushes.

“Sit down!” Uncle Sal demands and slams a hand against the table causing everything to rattle. My gaze snaps over to him and I have no idea what he’s thinking. “Gabriella Maria Bianche, do you love Enzo Rossi?”

“Yes, very much so,” I state in a loud voice for all to hear.

My great uncle turns his attention to Enzo. “And Enzo, do you love my great niece?”

“With all my heart,” he responds without hesitation. “And, with your permission, I’m going to marry her.”

“Permission granted,” Uncle Sal responds immediately in a gruff voice and my jaw drops.

Enzo lowers himself down onto one knee, takes my hand in his and looks up at me. Meanwhile, my head is spinning. What is going on? Everything is happening so fast and all I can do is blink and close my gaping jaw.

“Gabriella Bianche, from the moment I first saw you, I was captivated,” Enzo says, dark eyes shining with so much love it makes my heart clench. “Your fire drew me to you and I knew I had to get to know you better. I almost got burned a few times—” A couple of people chuckle. “—but I learned how special you are and I now know that you’re the only woman for me. I can’t imagine my life without you, Bri, and I’m not letting you go. Ever. I hope that’s okay.”

The corner of his mouth edges up and I smile so big my face hurts. “I think that’ll be alright,” I whisper and squeeze his hand.

“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”

“You haven’t asked yet,” I say teasingly.

“Gabriella Maria Bianche, will you marry me?”

“Yes, I would love to marry you,” I say and he pops up, lifts me right off the ground and spins me in a circle. I throw my head back and laugh, forgetting about everyone else in the room. Right now, it’s just me and the man I love. The man I’m going to spend the rest of my life with, and I can’t wait.

“Well, this is all fine and dandy,” Caparelli’s oldest son says, “but spilling family blood should be punished. It’s unacceptable. Who killed Tommaso? No one ever answered the question.”

“No need,” Uncle Sal states and I look over at him, breath held as Enzo slowly lowers me to the ground. “Tommaso, as well as Rocco, are solely responsible for their own fates. They chose to target other members of this Alliance and they didn’t succeed. As much as I hate to say it, that’s on them. And Romeo was foolish enough to get involved and now he can deal with the law. I suggest the rest of us learn how to get along better so this doesn’t happen again. Capisce ?”

Wary looks are exchanged all around the room and then people slowly nod in agreement. I don’t think we will all ever get along perfectly, but now that the bad apples are gone, I think there’s a very good chance that the Five Families can move forward together and, at the same time, learn how to protect each other’s interests and respect one another.

My Uncle Sal walks up to us and I feel like a little girl again, hoping not to get chastised. “You know, the women who really change the game are the ones who no one knows what to do with, at first. Do you know what to do with my great niece, Rossi?”

Enzo turns his attention to me and smiles. “I do now, sir.”

“Very good,” Uncle Sal says gruffly. Then Enzo leans down and kisses me in front of everyone, showing them that I’m his woman, soon to be wife, and no one better mess with us ever again.

God, I love this man.