His Stolen Bride - MINK Page 0,32

you have a moment?” Lucenzo asks. His face is unreadable.

“Eat. I’ll be back.” Santino kisses my neck.

“Everything okay?” I turn to him.

“My wife came on my face before she showered with me. I’d say things are more than okay.”

“Santino!” I smack his chest, my face warming. He and Gianna both laugh.

“Leo, you're with me.”

Leo gives my sister a kiss before joining Santino. My husband has been including my best friend in more and more family business, and I can’t thank him enough. Leo is already learning so much, becoming stronger and wiser under Santino’s steady tutelage.

“We aren't giving you up. You aren’t going anywhere unless you want to. We will fight to the death,” I vow to my sister.

“That’s what I’m worried about.” She sits heavily beside me, and I wrap my arm around her.

“We are strong. We’ll survive, and we’ll welcome a new life into the world very soon. We’ll destroy anyone who threatens that future.” I might not want to carry the Carrera name, but that blood runs through my veins. If my father wants a war, I’m more than willing to give him one. I’m not scared of him anymore. Not with Santino by my side. He’s made me strong, and I have no doubt my husband will keep his word to me.

21

Santino

“They’re coming.” Lucenzo hustles toward my office. I haven’t seen him move this fast in a while. The house has been settling down, Gianna and Leo adapting right along with Bella and me. I should’ve known it wouldn’t last.

“Fernando?” It’s not truly a question.

“Yes. And two trucks full of men.”

“He’s not fucking around this time.” I stride into my office.

“He’s come for Gianna.” Leo is tense, a piano wire on the verge of breaking.

I shoot off a text to Cato, then open the office wall and pull out an array of weapons.

“Our men?” I ask.

“Already guarding the gates and stationed around the house.” Lucenzo pulls his favorite semi-automatic rifle from the wall.

I stash some knives on my person, then load up with two guns. Leo takes a good selection as well. Then I grab two more handguns and turn to head back to the kitchen. Lucenzo takes off toward the entry with Leo at his heels. They know what to do.

When I enter the kitchen, Bella has her arms around a wan Gianna. What I’m about to tell them won’t help, but they need to know what’s coming.

“Here.” I lay the two guns on the table.

“What’s this for?” Bella looks up at me with worried eyes.

“You both know how to use it, right?” I pull Bella into my arms and hold her close. “Right?”

“I—we—I mean, yes. We know how to handle a gun.” She clutches me tightly. “Are they coming?” she whispers and reaches back to grip Gianna’s shoulder.

“Yes. I don’t know how this will go. Fernando didn’t announce the visit, but he and more men than is customary are almost here.”

“Oh no.” Gianna hangs her head. “He’s taking me back.”

“Never.” Bella almost snarls the word.

“That’s my beautiful wife.” I kiss her forehead. “Be fierce. Be strong. I will meet him head on and try to stop a war before it begins. But I won’t have you sitting here defenseless. Take the guns, go upstairs and lock yourselves in our room. Barricade the door.”

“Deja vu,” Gianna mumbles. “All over again. Bloodshed.”

“Not yours.” I step back and cup Bella’s face, and I memorize again, committing her to memory in case I have to take her image with me into the deepest pit of hell. She is my angel come to life, the spirit that moves, the star that guides me.

“I love you.” I kiss her hard, too hard. But I can’t leave her without leaving a piece of me. So I give her a taste of my love, my devotion.

And when I pull away, there are tears in her eyes. “I love you, too.” She reaches for the gun on the table and palms one. “No one’s taking you or my sister away from me. Understand?” She checks the magazine, then the chamber, loads a round, then thumbs off the safety.

“Holy shit, that was hot.” I grip her hips and pull her in for one more kiss.

“Santino,” she sighs as we part.

I say a silent prayer that this embrace isn’t our last.

Gianna takes the other gun, and I walk them into the hall, then to the staircase.

“Go, hurry.” I can hear engines approaching. “They’re almost here.”

Gianna hurries up the stairs, one hand on her stomach.

“Don’t leave