“Please be good to my girl, Savio,” she whispered, her eyes earnest in their worry for her daughter. “Gemma is a good girl. She’s got a heart of gold, but even gold isn’t indestructible. I know as a Falcone, Diego’s threats mean nothing to you, but maybe the wish of a mother does.”
Tears filled her eyes. She looked exhausted and too-thin. Since Daniele’s death, she’d been breakable. “Claudia, you don’t have to ask me to be good to Gem. I won’t hurt her, and if I tried, she’d kick my ass as she should.”
Carlotta smiled shyly. I held out my arms, and she immediately leaned forward. Claudia handed her to me, and I pressed her to my chest. She was a tiny kid, no surprise, given her illness. “Hey Lotta, you look dashing in your dress. Like a princess.”
She giggled and actually snuggled against me. Her dad was gone, a constant male presence in her life, and knowing Diego’s workload, he probably didn’t have time to fill the void. I stroked her head.
Gemma pulled away from Diego who’d been hugging her for a long time. They both stared at me. I gave them a wink then turned back to Carlotta. “Will you dance with me later?”
Carlotta nodded, biting her lip.
“Your other guests are waiting for their turn,” Claudia said and took Carlotta from me before she and Diego moved to the side. Gemma linked our fingers and stood on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. “Thank you for making her feel special. She’s been through so much. She really likes you.”
I squeezed her hand as she turned back to the guests. Nino and Kiara waited before us. Kiara had tears in her eyes. Each of them carried one of their sons. Both were dressed in bow ties and suspenders, earning admiring glances from all the women around.
Gemma’s face twisted with rapture as well. My baby alarm went off at once, and I realized I should have talked to her about not wanting kids within the next ten years at least. Four kids in the house were already more than enough, five if you counted Aurora who was over half of the time with Leona. Did Gemma even take the pill or was that against her traditions?
Fuck. If I had to use a condom tonight, I’d kick myself.
Nino gave me a nod and clapped my arm. “Congrats.”
I raised an eyebrow, remembering his words about marriage. “I thought marrying wasn’t an accomplishment that warranted congratulating.”
“That’s true under normal circumstances, but given your promiscuity, attempting such a bond is a daring endeavor worthy of congrats.”
“Is a fuck you or thank you warranted in response, because I’m honestly not sure,” I said. Leave it to Nino to insult me without batting an eye.
Nino gave me the ghost of a smile that equaled a full-blown laughing fit in his case. “Just remember how much this wedding cost us when you consider returning to your old ways.”
“Okay, this is definitely a case of a heartfelt fuck you.”
Kiara moved in front of Nino, giving him a meaningful look before she hugged me. “I’m so happy for you. I knew you’d find the right girl for you.”
The congratulation ordeal dragged on forever after that, but eventually Gemma and I were in the back of the limousine that would take us to our mansion for the festivities. I pushed the button that raised the barrier between the back and the front with the driver.
Gemma gave me an indignant look. “Savio…”
I reached for her waist and hoisted her on my lap. With a gasp, her hands clamped down on my shoulders.
“This dress is so you. Innocent choir girl and sex on legs at once. Fuck, Gem, you’re killing me. I won’t be able to think about anything but tonight.”
“Who says anything will happen tonight?”
I raised my eyebrows then smiled lazily as I cupped her face and pulled her closer. “It’s tradition for the bride and the groom to consummate the marriage, Gem. You of all people should know. Wasn’t your family one of the last supporters of the bloody sheets tradition in the Camorra?”
“There won’t be any bloody sheets tonight,” she said angrily, but the delicate blush traveling up her throat took away from the venom in her voice. I ran my thumb across the pink trail.
I pressed my face into the crook of her neck, kissing her soft skin right where her collar ended as my fingertips discovered the soft bumps of her spine. Goose bumps rose on