Page 45 of The DeLuca Crime Family: Vol. 1

“Aunt Anna! You’re finally here!”

Gianna’s face lit up, an expression that never failed to warm my heart and stir my body. She hugged Chiara tightly and chirped, “Hey there, pigtails!”

Chiara huffed good-naturedly and shook her head. “I haven’t worn pigtails since I was, like, eight.”

Gianna chuckled. “Maybe so, but you’ll always be that cute little pixie to me.”

“I’m feeling a lot like chopped liver over here,” Gabbi grumbled.

Chiara hugged Gianna again, then trotted over to give her sister a squeeze. “You know I love you, Gabs. But Aunt Anna isthe best.”

“True.” Gabbi winked at my wife.

Gianna’s cheeks turned pink, and she cuddled into my side. I was never surprised that she had everyone eating out her hand. My wife was the most beautiful, charming, intelligent, and loving woman on God’s green earth. But it was her connection to the little children that always made me feel the fuzzy kind of shit that no mafia boss would ever admit to.

I pulled her deeper into my embrace and put my mouth beside her ear. “I love it when your skin turns such a prettyshade of pink,mia dolce. Makes me want to turn your sexy little ass the same color.”

Gianna gasped, but a shiver raced through her body, making me chuckle.

“Cougino.” Gianna jumped as the sound of the deep, masculine voice. I looked from my woman to the front door where the man calling me cousin was standing.

Raffaele stepped outside, and we greeted each other with a grip of hands and a quick hug.

“Right on time,” he murmured as he gave my wife a kiss on the cheek, earning a deadly growl from deep in my chest as I yanked her against my side again. He just smirked at my reaction. “Ciao, Anna.”

She greeted him brightly in return, then headed inside when he gestured toward the door. When I thought she was out of earshot, I glared at Rafa. “Cousin or not, you put your lips anywhere near my wife again, and you’ll be singing soprano after spending some quality time with my blade.”

“Nic,” Gianna huffed, shaking her head in exasperation. I winced when I realized I hadn’t been quiet enough. But the corners of my lips lifted when she didn’t say anything else before turning around and letting Chiara pull her through the entry toward the kitchen.

We’d been together for over a decade, and I was still as obsessed with Anna as the moment I first laid eyes on her. My possessiveness had only grown, and while she grumped about me being rude, we both knew she loved the Neanderthal inside me.

I walked into the kitchen to find a mass of people talking and laughing. Several were making food, even though the table was already covered with dishes. It seemed a lot of the family had gathered to greet us. I almost felt guilty that Gianna and I wouldn’t be staying long. Almost.

“Nicollo!” Aunt Guilia cried happily, rushing over to envelope me in a tight hug. I returned it and kissed her cheek.

“How are you, Zia?” I glanced around and smirked. “Still trying to feed an army, I see.”

She laughed and leaned to the side, staring behind me with a frown. “Where are yourbambinos?”

“At home,” I told her. “We’ll bring them next time, I promise.”

They’d begged to come, and I’d almost given in. However, they were still in school, and I was looking forward to a trip alone with my wife. We were rarely away from our children, preferring to be together as a family. But it had been far too long since I’d had a night with my Gianna that didn’t require my hand over her mouth while I made her come so we didn’t wake the kids.

Aunt Guilia smiled knowingly and chuckled. “I can understand that. Just so long as you bring them next time, and I expect it to be within the next year, not the next decade,il giovanotto.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Mamma!” Gabbi called out. “The sauce is bubbling!”

Aunt Guilia jumped and spun around, hurrying off to deal with whatever problem had arisen.

I let the crowd have Gianna for another five minutes before I couldn’t take it any longer. Threading my way through the room, I took her hand as soon as I could reach it.

“It’s time to go,mia dolce.”

“But—”

I growled as I bent my head so she was the only one who heard me speak. “Unless you want me to throw you over my shoulder and march up the stairs—in which case, everyone will know exactly what we’ll be doing—I suggest you say goodbye and get moving toward that door over there.”

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