Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles 4)

I shuddered at the thought of what they’d done to Remo. Adamo was hurt bad enough and he wasn’t the one who’d kidnapped Serafina.

Fabiano’s phone beeped and we all tensed. He took it from the table, his blue eyes quickly scanning the message. His expression lit up with relief. “They have him. They’re bringing him to Vegas.”

I cupped my mouth, letting out a stunned laugh. “What about Serafina?”

“Nino didn’t mention her, but if she helped Remo escape, she can’t return to the Outfit.”

Fabiano hugged Leona and released a harsh breath. I smiled and stood, giving them time. Fabiano loved Remo like a brother. He’d tried to be strong but he had been as scared for Remo as I.

I hurried upstairs toward Adamo’s part of the mansion, feeling like I could fly. Remo would live. I could only imagine what Nino must feel now. I hammered my fist against the door and Adamo opened it, looking scared.

“Is he …?”

Tears sprang into my eyes and I smiled. “Nino and Savio got him.”

“Alive?” Adamo whispered, taking a step back, beginning to shake.

“Yes. Serafina saved him. He’ll be here soon.”

Adamo and I stared at each other and then I just threw my arms around him. He winced, but before I could pull back, he hugged me even tighter, so tightly it must have hurt him.

It took several hours before a car finally arrived. Fabiano hurried toward the door while I rushed upstairs to get Adamo. He was in the shower. “They’re here!” I called.

“I’ll be down!”

I stormed back downstairs, taking a detour past the library where Leona had holed up to read in peace. I ripped the door open. “They’re here!”

Not waiting for her reply, I hurried toward the main part of the house, hearing Savio’s voice.

“How is he?” I asked, then froze completely, unable to believe what I was seeing.

“Nino took him to hospital,” Savio said, but I wasn’t looking at him.

Serafina stood in the gaming room with two babies on her arms, twins and without a doubt Remo’s kids. They had his eyes and hair, and the boy even his facial features. For a moment I was sure I was imagining things.

Leona appeared behind me and her mouth dropped open. Definitely not my imagination. Remo was a father. They were the cutest little babies I’d ever seen. Those dark expressive eyes drew you in like a moth to the flame.

The little girl began to wail, her face turning red, and her twin began to squirm in Serafina’s arm at the sound.

“I need to feed them and change their diapers. Then they need a place to sleep,” Serafina said, glancing between us uncertainly. I tried to imagine how she felt, returning to the place where she’d been held captive, to the people who had ripped her from her family and treated her like the enemy.

Savio and Fabiano didn’t seem to know what to do either.

I gave Serafina a smile, hoping to reassure her. “Would it be okay if I took you to the bedroom you were in last time? I don’t want to open the other rooms in Remo’s wing. Or would you prefer to stay in my and Nino’s wing?”

Serafina gave me an ironic smile. “I’ll stay in Remo’s wing.”

I helped Serafina settle into the bedroom and prepared the formula she’d brought. As I held the boy, Nevio, in my arms and fed him, my longing for a child of my own returned with a vengeance that caught me off guard. Hopefully, things would fall into place now.

I left Serafina and the children, even if I would have loved to watch the babies sleep, and headed downstairs. Savio, Adamo, Fabiano and Leona were in the gaming room on the sofas, still in shock over the newest addition to the Falcone clan.

I sank down beside Leona. Savio had his head thrown back and looked like he was moments from passing out.

Adamo gave me a curious look. “How’s she?”

“She seems to be doing fine. Tired, as are the babies. They’re sleeping now.”

“Babies,” Adamo repeated with a shake of his head. “I can’t believe Remo’s got kids. I’ll have to see them with my own eyes to wrap my brain around it.”

Savio nodded, then yawned. “I’m still not over it and I’ve been staring at doll-face and little Remo for hours.”

“Doll-face?” I said with a smile.

“Did you take a look at that face? If you put that kid up on a shelf, nobody would realize she wasn’t a puppet.”

Fabiano laughed. “Fuck. This … this is the weirdest day of my life, and I’ve had plenty of weird living with you assholes.”

“You were responsible for at least quarter of the weird shit, so don’t play saint,” Savio said with a grin.

Fabiano gave Savio the finger, which he returned. Adamo chuckled, then held his side with a wince.