Bound By Love (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles 6)

Aria swallowed another bite before she put down the plate on her lap. “I don’t know. Perhaps? You are the most important person in my life. You are the father of our baby girl and I couldn’t confide in you for so long. It hurt, hurt worse than anything ever had.”

“Fuck,” I muttered. Remorse still was a strange sensation, unfamiliar in my body.

“It was my fault, too, Luca. I should have realized how you’d take my going to Chicago without your permission. As you said, I know what kind of man you are.”

“A possessive, controlling asshole?” And that wasn’t even the worst of my character traits, but Aria knew, she knew and loved me despite it all.

“Yes,” she said with a small smile. “And the man I love with all my heart.” She touched the spot over my heart. “Mine.”

“Only yours. Always.”

She brought another bite of gnocchi to her lips and ate it. Her voice became very soft when she spoke again. “Did you ever waver?”

“Waver?”

“Grace. Or other women.”

Her shoulders were tense.

“No,” I said firmly. “All I could think of was your smile.” And it was the fucking truth. I was completely whipped when it came to Aria.

“And you?” I couldn’t keep the growl out of my voice.

Aria actually threw her head back and laughed her bell-like laugh. She took another bite then filled her plate with the rest of her dish. “I wouldn’t even know how to flirt with a man, Luca. You are the only man I can imagine being close to. It’s like your possessiveness flipped a switch in my brain and made me incapable of tolerating any other man’s closeness.”

I smirked, and Aria huffed. She took another bite. I had to stifle a smile. She didn’t even notice how much she was eating.

I reached for the remote control and turned on the stereo. Soft music began playing from the speakers, and then a deep male voice started singing. Aria’s eyes flashed with recognition; it was her favorite album by Rag’n’Bone Man. She beamed, that fucking perfect slow smile taking over her gorgeous face. How had I gone eight weeks without it? Without her?

She put down her plate, regarding me, seriousness banishing her smile. “Promise me we won’t ever fight again for so long. I don’t think I can survive it again.”

I opened my arms and she climbed on my lap, wrapping my neck in a tight embrace. “I promise, and you promise me to never go behind my back again, no matter what it is. You going to Chicago alone, it was suicidal.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “It was because of Fabi. He called me the night you left for New York.”

It was betrayal. If Dante found out, he would have to put Fabi down.

Aria’s voice shook as she continued, “My father is cruel to him. He is beating Fabi, and I’m so worried he will do worse. I wanted to help him. That’s all.”

I got it. Aria couldn’t help herself. But Fabi was an initiate. He would experience, and do worse than a beating. “Did you see him?”

She shook her head. “I failed him.”

“He wouldn’t have come to New York with you. He is loyal to the Outfit.” Aria swallowed hard. I stroked her back, wanting to set her at ease. She had been upset for too long. “Fabi is strong. He won’t have any trouble surviving in the Outfit.”

And if he wasn’t strong enough, I hoped Aria would never find out.

“Can’t there be peace again?” Aria begged me with her eyes, but this was something I couldn’t give her.

“As long as I am Capo, there won’t be peace with Dante Cavallaro.” Not after the fucking photo incident.

“Dante didn’t hurt me. He wouldn’t.”

I grew tense, old anger rekindling, but I shoved it down. “He is Capo, and we are at war. Next time he gets his hands on you, he won’t let you go, trust me. You are the leverage he and the Outfit need against me. He’s under as much fire as me.” I didn’t mention that he’d been the one who was responsible for the photos. It wouldn’t serve any other purpose than to upset Aria further, and in her state she didn’t need any more stress than she’d already suffered.

Worry flickered in her eyes. “Is your family still going against you? Gianna told me you killed one of your uncles on the night you saw the photos of me and Dante.”

“I did, crushed his throat in front of the gathered Underbosses and Captains.” I didn’t mention that I killed Ermano and Angelo as well, and the fucking bikers, and the Outfit fuckers who had come too close to our borders and gotten caught. I’d sent them back to Dante in several packets. I’d killed so many in the past few weeks.

Aria released a slow breath. “And then you saw me with Dante.”