Twisted Bonds (The Camorra Chronicles 4)

Sometimes I hate your control…”

He chuckled and kissed my neck. “It’s as hard for me as it is for you, but we need to make sure you behave next time.”

CHAPTER 17

NINO

Having a small wedding in our circles was a social faux-pas, especially if a Capo married, but I was glad Remo and Serafina had chosen to keep it in the family. It made the preparations less complicated, particularly the safety measures. Of course, it would have been even less hassle if Remo hadn’t chosen to invite Serafina’s twin.

“I don’t trust him,” I said quietly as Remo got dressed in one of the guestrooms in my wing. He wasn’t supposed to see Serafina before the ceremony. Kiara and Serafina were really adamant about it. Kiara had been going absolutely overboard taking on the entire organization of the decoration, cooking, song selection, and everything else.

Remo closed the last button of his black dress shirt. “Neither do I, but Samuel would do anything for his sister. I see how close Nevio and Greta already are, even though they’re still small. Serafina and Samuel have formed a bond all their lives. He won’t do anything that could hurt her.”

“I assume neither would you, which makes this is a risk after all.”

Remo smiled twistedly. “You’re right. I won’t lay a hand on Samuel unless he attacks Serafina, which he won’t. But I know that nothing would hold you back if you considered Samuel a threat to any of us.”

I gave a tense nod. Letting the enemy not only into our city, but into our home, wasn’t something I was comfortable with and if Samuel acted out of turn, he’d pay the price for it. I would have killed him last time we captured him, if it hadn’t been for Remo’s veto.

I glanced out toward the gardens where an arc with white flowers had been set up by Kiara who was now spreading petals in a path from the house down to it. She’d barely had a moment of rest these last few weeks, always caring for the twins, the wedding, for every member of this family, and while she enjoyed doing it, that wasn’t the only reason why. We’d been trying for so long to get her pregnant, without success. I’d considered bridging the subject of seeing a doctor and chose to wait until the festivities were over and we had some peace.

Adamo joined her outside for a smoke. I sighed then turned back to Remo who put the small parcel with Serafina’s ring into his pocket.

“I’m still concerned how Adamo will take it. Samuel was among his torturers.”

Familiar hatred burned in Remo’s eyes. “He was. I won’t ever forgive the asshole, but for Serafina I’ll allow him to live, to be here.”

My phone beeped. It was a message from Fabiano. “They’re here.”

“Then go down and keep an additional eye on him.”

Nodding, I headed outside. When I arrived at the arc, Fabiano and Samuel were crossing the Scuderi premises toward our garden. Samuel’s demeanor changed, becoming more vigilant when he noticed me. Sadly, he didn’t reach for his gun. Kiara had disappeared from view and she’d return soon. The idea of having Samuel close to my wife didn’t sit well with me.

Fabiano gave me a curt nod then said something to Samuel, who shook his head and motioned to a spot a good distance to the side of the arc where he stopped, never taking his eyes off me. He and Fabiano looked distantly related even though they weren’t. Both the blond of the Outfit they were famous for.

Our eyes met and I saw the same eagerness in his face that I felt, a desire to end this today, once and for all, but for Remo I’d hold back. In my peripheral vision, I noticed Kiara coming my way with the twins on her hips. She looked beautiful in a red summer dress with her dark hair flowing down her shoulders and the babies on her arms. Her face was glowing with happiness, a sight that always stirred something in me, even on days when the emptiness of the past filled my chest.

Savio was a few steps behind her, stuffing his shirt into his pants and glaring toward Samuel. I met Kiara halfway and took Nevio from her, who squirmed and twisted, wanting to walk as usual. Kiara smiled and her eyes darted toward Samuel. “Do you think he wants to see his niece and nephew?”

“We won’t let him near the children without Serafina and Remo present,” I said.

Kiara nodded. “I guess that’s for the best.”

Nevio let out an angry screech when I didn’t put him down.

“No,” I said firmly. “If you calm down, I’ll set you down.”

Nevio’s eyes flashed with anger and he started wailing. Ignoring his tantrum, Kiara and I headed over to the arc.