Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles 4)

Nevio looked at Remo.

“Your mother’s right. I don’t want you to touch that marker again.”

Nevio gave a small nod, mischief in his eyes.

Cradling Alessio against her chest, Leona sat beside Fabiano on the sunchair. They were both talking to Alessio.

“If Alessio and Massimo turn out like Nevio, I’ll fear for our sanity,” I murmured against Kiara’s head. She looked like she couldn’t imagine anything better.

“As long as they’re happy, I’m happy,” she said.

Our eyes met, and I had to agree. As long as Kiara and our sons were happy, I would be too.

KIARA

Alessio rolled over on his stomach and pushed onto his knees then braced himself on his hands, shoving his butt into the air. At only ten months, he was already hellbent on starting to walk. With his bum in the air, he peered up, unsure how to straighten.

He grinned when he saw me watching and my heart exploded with love.

“Nino!” I called. Two days past my due date, I had trouble rising from the sofa without help, much less bend down to pick up Alessio.

Nino hurried into the gaming room, alarm on his face. “Contractions?”

I shook my head, stroking my belly. “Massimo seems pretty content in there. I really hope he comes soon. I feel like I’m bursting any day now.”

Nino slowly came over and spotted Alessio still in his awkward position. He picked him up and raised him up over his head, much to Alessio’s delight. He wasn’t a very vocal baby, definitely not as loud or boisterous as Nevio.

“He was trying to stand,” I said. Nino came toward the sofa, sank down beside me and set Alessio down on his butt between his legs. He held out his fingers and Alessio latched onto them with his small hands. Nino pulled slightly and eventually Alessio stood on shaky legs then took a couple of unsteady steps. Holding onto Nino’s legs, he gave another toothless smile.

“That’s good,” I said. Nino stroked Alessio’s hair and our boy beamed up at him with those ocean-blue eyes.

“Have you changed your mind about the home birth?” Nino asked quietly.

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “No, and I won’t. I want a natural birth.”

“I just don’t see why we shouldn’t use the options modern medicine can offer us. We’ve evolved from the middle ages.”

I laughed. “I know you don’t like it, but I don’t want to give birth in a hospital. I want to be at home, surrounded by people I trust. This is the safest place for me and the baby.”

Nino gave me a look that made it clear how unhappy he was about my decision. “The safety aspect is really the only perk.”

Since the incident with their mother, Remo had forced the owners of the other neighboring house to sell as well. That mansion was now the new Camorra gym and the security center in Las Vegas, meaning we always had a high number of Camorrista close by.

“The doctor said it’s okay. I’ve had a healthy pregnancy, we have a healthy baby. Everything will be fine. I know I can handle it.”

“I know,” Nino murmured, then leaned over and kissed my temple before touching my belly.

Nevio rushed into the gaming room, brandishing a permanent marker in his small fist, laughing like a little madman. I grinned. His dark hair was all over the place and he was dressed only in underpants. His entire upper body was covered with scribbles, probably in permanent marker. He stumbled to a stop in front of us, beaming first at Alessio then Nino. Then he jabbed his finger against his own chest before pointing at Nino’s tattooed arm with the permanent marker.

“Dattoo,” he exclaimed.

I covered my mouth with my hand. “Oh, Savio’s in so much trouble.”

Nino reached for the marker and gently pried it out of Nevio’s hand, who glared and said, “No!”

“Nevio, behave,” Nino said firmly, putting the marker down on the table.

Nevio made a move toward it. Nino shook his head and the little boy dropped his arm with a pout.

Savio staggered in, breathing hard, carrying Greta, who was holding her white stuffed rabbit. “Where’s the little devil?”

One of Greta’s arm was covered in permanent marker as well.

Nino shook his head. “I told you to stop staring at your phone.”

Savio’s eyes took in Nevio’s upper body. “Fuck.” He glanced at Greta who was regarding her painted arm curiously. “You should have snitched on him.”

Greta looked at her uncle with those big eyes.

“Serafina is going to kick your ass,” I whispered, stifling laughter.

“Maybe next time she won’t ask me to play babysitter so she and Remo can get it on.”

Savio stalked toward us and Nevio’s smile turned mischievous. “Don’t you dare run again.”

Savio set Greta on her feet and she tiptoed toward us and climbed on the sofa. Nevio backed away slowly then whirled around, giggling. Savio jumped over the other sofa and caught up with Nevio in two large steps, wedging the kid under his arm like a potato sack.