Page 87 of Ruthless Reign

“You. Just you.” He climbed up my body to kiss me. We couldn’t have sex how we both wanted, not until I healed completely, but he still rubbed me the way only he could, enough to bring me pleasurable euphoria and calmness.

The next day, Leo came to visit. I’d seen him at the hospital, of course, but now that I was home, we could get down to business. Our uncles had asked me to help him run the family, and even though I didn’t think I was qualified for such a thing, Leo had been steadfast in his agreement.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, sitting across the dining room table from me, drumming his fingers on the wood. He’d started wearing the Caputi signet ring, and that made me even more proud of what we’d done. Our father had worn that my entire life, and I was happy it now belonged to a man worthy of it. Leo would never do to me what our parents had, and I had faith he could run the business much better than any of the Caputis before him.

“Okay,” I said and sipped at my coffee. “Sore, but that will pass.”

He nodded. “And your husband?”

“He’s getting ready to take us to the clubhouse. Church is today.”

“So much for fate, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and grinned in that cocky way that meant he knew he’d been right.

“It didn’t kill my husband, but it almost killed me.”

“Hmm. I recall you stepping in front of her gun.” Leo tsked and shook his head. “Some fate if you’re the one who makes the stupid decisions.”

I gave him a nasty look, mumbling Italian expletives under my breath. “I saved my husband, didn’t I? What would happen to our alliance if he died?”

My brother shrugged, nonchalant and seemingly too high and mighty to even consider it. “We’ll never know now.”

He smiled and drummed his fingers again, a nervous tick that clued me into something going on with him that he didn’t want to share.

“What is it?” I raised my eyebrows, bracing for the worst.

“I’ve appointed Chesco as my second,” he said.

“Good.” I liked that. He would keep him in line when I couldn’t.

“There are rumors,” he said. “Some of the underbosses are already talking about a coup.”

I tsked my teeth. “Benito was almost dethroned several times, even once by our father.”

“We must remain strong,” he said, reaching across the table to grab my hand. “We must remain united.”

“Of course.” I sensed something in his stare, an undercurrent of a plot developing, one he wouldn’t share unless I pushed. “Leo, what are you thinking?”

He shrugged. “It might be time for me to make my own alliance.”

“Oh?” I couldn’t imagine him as a married man, but then again, I didn’t know this version of him as well as the one before. Getting sober had changed him in a million ways, all for the better. “And who are you thinking?”

He smirked. “You should help me with that.”

“Okay.” I started to consider the best possible candidates. If one of the other families were talking dissent, perhaps it might be worthwhile to start there. “We need to shore up our trade agreements. The cartel has exclusively been tied to the Roses, but now that we’re family, perhaps they would reconsider.”

“There are the Canadians and the IRA.” Leo continued to talk business as my husband walked into the room and straightened his cut. He wore his jeans and a black T-shirt, but my oh my, how delicious he looked in such a casual outfit. It made me wish I was completely healed. It made me wish I could get rid of my brother and drop to my knees and beg my husband to do despicable things to my mouth. It made me want to start a fight for no other reason than to have him put me in my place.

Roman leaned down behind me and kissed the side of my neck, nuzzling me in a deep show of affection that turned my insides to mush and curled my toes.

“I should head out,” Leo said, standing. “It’s good to see you,mia sorella.Please don’t scare me like that again.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t,” Roman said with a devilish grin.

“I won’t,” I said. “Trust me. Getting shot once was enough for a lifetime.”

28

BEAR

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