34. Liam

I’m in heaven. Who knew fucking—no, making love—could permeate to my very soul. I’m a part of her and she’s a part of me. It’s that old cliché of puzzle pieces. She’s been the missing piece in my life. The thing I need to be whole. To be complete.

I’m doing my damnedest to draw this out as I move in and out of her, but the tension is coiled so tight in my balls I’m about to explode.

She comes, and I savor the sound of her cry, the feel of her body gripping me, holding me, making me hers.

“I love you,” I say to her as she hovers in the height of pleasure. “So fucking much.”

“Liam.”

When she says my name, I feel it deep in my heart.

“Come again, baby,” I insist. I keep moving, keep thwarting my own orgasm so I can watch her succumb to pleasure again. I sit back on my heels, gripping her hips and pulling them over my thighs as I continue to drive deep, deeper. My thumb teases her clit, and she jerks, arches, and gasps. She’s getting close again.

“Pinch your tits.” It comes out a little bit demanding, but she doesn’t balk. Her fingers squeeze the hard pink tips. I can feel the response as her pussy pulses around my cock.

“Oh, fuck, baby… so good. Do you feel it?”

“Yes.” She writhes, her head going back, exposing the lovely column of her neck. “Liam… I”m going to come…”

“Yes, come…” I grit my teeth, knowing this will be the end for me. I’m fully cocked and loaded. But I want to watch her orgasm wash through her one more time.

Her fingers grip the sheets. She arches back, her body going taut, her mouth rounding into a perfect O. She’s so amazingly beautiful.

She shudders, and that’s it for me. My orgasm rams into me like fucking freight train.

“Kate!” I growl out as I thrust, grind, and empty into her. I do it again, and again, until I’m boneless.

I carefully roll off, not wanting to squish the baby. I pull her to me, holding her, wondering when in my life I’d ever done anything good enough to deserve her love. Maybe I was good in a past life. Whatever the reason, I’m going to savor every moment, every second with this woman until I draw my last breath.

We lay quietly, but it’s not awkward. Nothing needs to be said. Well, there’s one thing that should be said.

“I love you, Kate. You undo me.”

Her head tilts up, and her smile is brilliant. “Good. Because you have no more chances. You’re stuck with me now.”

There’s a part of me that is still afraid. But mostly, I’m worried I won’t be able to keep her happy or protect her. It’s funny that I have no problem staring down the barrel of the gun, but I’m terrified of failing Kate.

“I’m not going anywhere. My life is here with you and our daughter.” I grin. “A girl. Fucking amazing. Have you picked a name?”

“I have a list.”

I laugh. “Of course you do. What’s on it?”

She rests her head on my shoulder. “Eva. Innessa. Sophia?—”

My heart thumps hard in my chest. “Sophia?”

“Yes, and Larisa and Mina.”

I swallow. “My mother’s name was Sophia.”

She rises over me, looking into my eyes. “You said your mother loved you.”

“She did. The perfect mom. Like you’ll be.”

“Then that’s what we should name her.”

I rub my hand down her back. “We don’t have to.”

“We do. It’s good to honor our past. I’m named after my grandmother. What was your father’s name?”

“Maxim. Everyone called him Max.”

“When we have a boy, we’ll name him Max.”

I can’t believe my luck. She’s thinking of the future. With me. I roll her until she’s under me again. “Will there be more kids with your family name?”

“My mother’s name was Eva.”

“A name on the list. How about Sophia Eva or Eva Sophia?” I kiss her because I can’t help myself.

“Thank goodness we have a few months to decide.”

I can already picture a large house in the country filled with kids. Six, maybe. I wonder what Kate will think of that?

Afew weeks later, Kate is settled into my Manhattan apartment, and I’ve closed on the purchase of land an hour north of here to build us a home. It will be gated and armed to the hilt, but inside, it will be a sanctuary.

As promised, I arranged a home office for her to run her bookstore, and on occasion, she’s able to go in person, although not without at least six men guarding her. She balked at first and I had to be an asshole about it. She acquiesced and didn’t fight me on protection thereafter. I wonder what Elena and Lucy have taught her about being a wife to a made man. It’s definitely not to be subservient because Kate has no qualms about standing up to me or putting me in my place. And I fucking love it.

Elena and Lucy set up a baby shower for Kate, and so we’re now at Donovan and Lucy’s place. The ladies are having a good time sitting outside in the back, enjoying the summer day. I’m happy to see the sparkle in Kate’s eyes has fully returned. Aria, Niko’s little sister, is here too, although she seems sulkier than usual. Whatever is going on between those too doesn’t seem to be getting better.

“Let’s go to the office and let the ladies do their thing,” Niko says to me.

“Sure thing.” I follow him inside and to Donovan’s office.

“Got shots all around,” Donovan says as we enter. He’s prepared four glasses of something potent.

“Where’s the fourth, or does one of us get two?” I ask, taking a glass.

“Luca is coming.” Donovan eyes Niko as if he’s gauging his reaction.

Niko’s expression is one of distaste, but he doesn’t say anything as he takes a glass.

“Did you ever figure out your mole?” Donovan asks.

The memory of standing over the bed of my FBI contact with a gun to his head comes to me. He might have betrayed me, but I have the dirt of a lifetime on him. He hadn’t just been working with Igor, he’d also been working with Tiberius Abate and Giovanni Fiori when he’d disposed of Captain Emerson, Kate’s father’s, body. I own him now.

“Yes,” I respond.

“Is he dead?” Niko asks.

“No. He’s working for me.”

“Sweet.” Donovan holds up his glass and clinks it with mine, then drinks.

“I guess we’re not waiting for Luca.” I toss back the booze that turns out to be tequila.

Donovan pours more into our glasses.

“Kate seems settled,” Niko says.

I smile because I can’t help myself. I must look like a fucking loon, and I don’t care. “Yes.”

“Thank fuck you got your shit together. Seriously, dude, you were the worst.” Donovan shakes his head at me.

“A friend set me straight.” I give Niko a sincere smile of appreciation.

He smiles back, putting his hand on my shoulder. “I’m just so glad to see you happy for once.”

“For the first time,” Donovan adds.

“What have I missed?” Luca enters the office.

Niko practically sneers at him. I glance at Donovan, who rolls his eyes.

“We’re toasting to Liam getting his shit straight with Kate,” Donovan announces.

“Here, here,” Niko says.

“Congratulations.” Luca joins in the cheers, but his eyes stay on Niko.

“How long are you in the U.S.?” I ask Luca.

“Not long. I have to return to Italy.”

Donovan frowns. “I hope these visits aren’t about checking on Lucy because as you can see, she’s just fine.”

Luca nods to him. “Lucia is very happy. I have no reason to check on her. Besides, she’s a fierce woman who can take care of herself.”

“Damn right.” Donovan downs another shot.

“So, why are you here?” Niko’s shrewd eyes narrow in on Luca.

“Business.”

“What business?” Niko’s hackles rise, which tells me he’s concerned Luca is working with a rival family.

Luca sets his glass down. “It’s not one that concerns you, Don Leone. I value our alliance.” He turns to me, shaking my hand. “Congratulations again. When love can blossom and grow, it’s a lovely thing.”

Was that a diss to Niko?

Luca reaches out to shake Donovan’s hand. “As always, it’s a pleasure to see you and Lucia.” He turns to Niko. “Arrivederci, Don Leone.”

I watch as Luca walks out. “That sounded quite final.”

“Good.” Niko grabs the tequila and pours another shot.

“Care to share?” I ask.

“No. It’s done. Finito.”

“Yeah, and so is your relationship with Aria,” Donovan quips.

“She’ll get over it.”

So it is about Aria and Luca. “I guess you”d better hope he doesn’t have a friend like you, or he’ll be back,” I say.

Niko glares at me.

I want to laugh. He’s so serious. “You’re going to stroke out when she gets engaged, aren’t you?”

“Probably. If I’m lucky, I’ll find her a suitable man.”

Donovan lets out a laugh. “Man, if you’re choosing, I doubt he exists.”

“Let”s go outside.” Niko downs his final drink. “The ladies might miss us.”

“Probably not Aria,” Donovan says under his breath.

We return to the back yard, and my gaze goes immediately to Kate. She sees me, and I wink at her. I want to whisk her away from here, take her home, and make love. Or maybe just watch an old movie or play board games. I’m open to anything as long as Kate is with me.

“You’re not such an asshole anymore,” Lucy says, coming to stand by me.

“Coming from you, that’s a compliment.”

“But if you hurt my friend, I?—”

“No need to threaten me, Lucy. If I hurt her, I’ll deserve whatever punishment you serve up.”

“As long as we’re clear.”

“Crystal. Now if you’ll excuse me.” I head over to Kate and sit next to her.

“All good in the boys’ club?” she asks.

“It’s all good with me. Not so sure for Aria.”

“Don’t mention it around Niko. It will make his head explode,” Elena says. “I don’t know what the deal is. Luca seems perfectly fine.”

“It’s not Luca, per se,” Kate says. “She’s Niko’s little sister. I suspect she’s lucky he hasn’t sent her to a convent.”

“He can try,” Aria says from behind us.

I take Kate’s hand. “It’s an interesting little family we have here, isn’t it?”

She tilts her head. “This is a family, isn’t it?”

It’s not the family I had as a boy, but it has the same elements. Love. Respect. Caring. To think I nearly squandered it away. Luckily, with help from my Mafia brother Niko, I saw the idiocy of my fears and thinking.

Now, I’m determined to live each day relishing this family, and in particular, the woman who brought light and love back into my life.