Bound By Love (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles 6)

I sent Matteo a look. He shrugged.

Demetrio shook his head. “She is beautiful,” he admitted and my fingers twitched. “But I prefer outsiders. They aren’t as restrained as our women.”

I tilted my head. I’d thought the same way before Aria, but I was happy with his reaction. I couldn’t detect a lie. “You will guard her with your life.”

“She will be safe with me,” he said firmly. I believed it too, but I’d have still preferred Romero, would always prefer him. Still, he was now Captain and I couldn’t ask him to step down from that position, and his feelings for Lily made him too volatile. If he had to choose between Aria and Lily, the choice was clear.

I released Demetrio and straightened, then held out my hand for him. He took it and I pulled him to his feet and clapped his shoulder, then lowered my voice threateningly. “Orfeo is like your brother, and his family has always been closer than your own.”

I left the rest unsaid, that if he messed up, Orfeo would be the one to pay the price.

Demetrio stiffened. “You can trust me with your wife, Luca. I swear it by my honor.” He touched his tattoo.

“I don’t trust anyone, but you will prove yourself.”

“I will. Is there a reason why Sandro isn’t enough anymore?” he asked carefully.

“She is pregnant,” I said, even though my body bristled at admitting it.

Demetrio nodded, but I could see the hint of apprehension in his expression. Good, he knew what kind of responsibility I gave him. “She will be safe.”

“If you are suspicious of someone, disable first then ask questions. I’d rather deal with the fallout of killing one too soon than one too late, understood?”

Demetrio gave another nod. “Will you make it public?”

“No,” I said. “I don’t want people to know until there’s no way around it, and even then only Famiglia. I don’t want photos of Aria’s pregnancy or our child in the press. If you notice a photographer, get them, or at least their name, and I will deal with them. Dante knows already. We have to prevent the Bratva or the Camorra from finding out. Understood?”

I’d caught the hint of surprise on his face when I mentioned Dante knew, but I didn’t bother explaining. “Understood,” he said.

I gave him another hard look before I said, “I will introduce you to my wife tomorrow.”

Demetrio inclined his head.ARIALuca had always been protective. I was used to it by now. But since he’d found out about my pregnancy his protectiveness had reached a new level. He barely let me out of his sight and he definitely didn’t leave me alone with Sandro. I knew he’d found a new bodyguard for me and it was obvious that the idea didn’t sit well with Sandro, but he and I had never really gotten along well. Romero had been like a friend, and even brother, but Sandro was always only my guard.

Luca went over to the elevator when it began its ascent, but I stayed back against the kitchen counter. The doors slid open and a tall young man stepped forward. He shook Luca’s hand then followed him toward me, eyes appraising me carefully. I remembered the sharp onyx eyes and black hair.

“This is my cousin, Demetrio,” Luca said. He was a bastard son. I’d heard people whisper about it and I had hated it. I’d seen him several times over the years, the first time at my wedding, He had been a teenager then, a couple of years younger than me. He must have been twenty, twenty-one now? He inclined his head respectfully and I smiled and walked toward him, extending my hand. Demetrio glanced at Luca, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. But really, I was used to this kind of behavior from Luca’s soldiers by now. Luca noticed my reaction and smirked.

I didn’t wait for his okay and took Demetrio’s hand, and shook it. I tried to remember when I’d last seen him, probably at some family function or perhaps even the funeral of Luca’s father. “Nice to see you again, Demetrio. Last time was at Salvatore’s funeral?”

He shook his head, hand stiff in mine. “No, last time was three years ago when Luca beat me up in the gym for suggesting I fight you.”

My eyes widened and I laughed as I released him. “Oh well. I suppose that’s a day you don’t like to remember.” He had changed a lot since then. He definitely didn’t look like a boy anymore, and there was nothing insecure about him. He had hardened like all Made Men did eventually.

“No,” he said. “It was a lesson I needed to learn.”

Luca watched his cousin with sharp eyes. I could tell he didn’t trust him like he trusted Romero, but if Luca had chosen Demetrio I knew I was safe with him.