Page 111 of Dominance

Alessandro is frustrated, understandably so.

“I just wish I could do something to help.”

“You are doing something to help. You’re protecting yourself. You’re keeping Isabella safe, the baby safe. That’s what’s most important right now.” I smile, gripping his massive shoulders.

“Look at you. You always were too responsible for your own good.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t feel so responsible. I feel like I’m fucking in over my head.”

To be fair, Adri’s always in over his head. I mean, look at him. He’s the shortest, get it?” Ciro snickers.

“I get why we call you Zero.” Ero rolls his eyes.

“Adriano may be the shortest of us, but he’s got the best brain out of all four of us,” Aless continues, meeting my gaze. “Use it. Outsmart that bastard. And stay safe.”

Isabella watches from the porch for a while, resting her hand on her belly. When the time comes, I give her a friendly grin, hopefully putting the tension of my behavior in the spring behind us. We’re family now after all.

“Good luck, Adriano,” she says, stepping down.

“Not going to tell us to be careful?” Ciro quips.

“No. Be fuckingdeadly. Do whatever it takes to survive,” Isabella says, joining the four of us. She’s like the fifth point in the star. The missing piece in our puzzle. She fits right in, even if I know she doesn’t necessarily agree with everything we do.

“Where are you two off to next?”

“Uh, not sure,” Ciro gives me a look.

“Barcelona. There will be new mission parameters for you there.” Dom trusted me to relay that message at least, if not the details.

“Seriously? Already?”

“Yeah. Looks like you won’t be making my special day. Just do me a favor.”

Ciro and Ero both perk up.

“Follow those missions to theletter.”

Fiero nods, seeing the look in my eye. Ciro hesitates, grimacing.

“You’re going to do something stupid aren’t you?”

“I learned from the best, from watching you. And I need you two out there, causing mayhem.”

“For someone who doesn’t feel qualified to lead, you sure look good doing it.” Aless hugs me, slapping me on the back.

The drive back down the mountains is a bit somber. Quiet.

The hours it takes to get to Florence is a buffer, a time of introspection for all three of us.

The twins drop me off, letting me out near my hotel. I don’t say much, just that I’m proud of each of them.

“Sacramental schmuck.” Ciro grins.

“It’s sentimental, you dumb fuck.”

“You’re both jackasses.”

“Says the guy getting married.”

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