Serafina made a shush noise and gave me an apologetic smile. I stifled laughter. “I’m Savio’s wife.”
Nevio gave me an uncomprehending look.
“That’s how we felt when we found out Savio was considering marriage,” Remo said dryly.
I chanced a glance at him, trying to decide if he’d been against the bond, but his expression was the hard mask I knew.
Savio spread his arms. “Hey, I’m a good husband.”
I snorted, couldn’t help myself, then flushed when everyone looked my way.
Serafina laughed, and soon Kiara and Leona fell in.
“Didn’t leave the impression you wanted, hmm?” Serafina asked Savio. Realizing what she was referring to, I cringed. We never talked about sex at home.
“Maybe he’s losing his touch,” Fabiano suggested.
Savio raised his brows. “Don’t worry about my touch. It’s satisfactory.”
“Leave him be. His blue balls make him irritable,” Remo said.
My eyes widened.
Serafina elbowed her husband. “Stop it.”
Savio leaned in, squeezing my thigh. “Don’t let my brothers rile you up, Gem. You have to get used to their inappropriate humor.”
I could see that. It would definitely take some getting used to.
Adamo stumbled into the kitchen, looking sleepy and completely disheveled. The attention focused on him and I relaxed. Savio squeezed my leg again. “I’ll give you a tour of the house after breakfast so you get to know your home.”
I could have kissed him right then. Sometimes he annoyed me, and it was easy to cling to my anger for what he’d done in the past, but then he did something like this and I wondered if it wouldn’t be easier to forgive and forget.
After breakfast, we made our way back to the bedroom where we showered, separately to Savio’s disappointment. “Ready for the tour?” Savio asked when I stepped out of the bathroom.
He took my hand. I loved how he always did it without hesitation as if I’d always been at his side. For me, physical closeness with him was something I had to get used to, but he didn’t give me time to feel anxious. He motioned down the corridor of the second floor. “My brothers don’t usually enter my wing, with the exemption of the gym below. But if you feel uncomfortable with their presence there, they can turn a room in another wing into a gym.”
I quickly shook my head. “I don’t mind. I was only startled this morning.”
“And embarrassed,” Savio added, brushing his fingertips over the hickey on my throat.
“That too.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see how long you’ll blush so easily.”
Living with him and his shameless brothers, probably not very long. “What’s in the rooms?” I motioned at the four doors branching off.
Savio shrugged. “One of them is for my sneaker collection—”
I interrupted him. “You have an entire room for your sneakers?”
He opened the door to our left. Rows over rows of shelves filled with sneakers lined the walls. I gave him an incredulous look. “You can’t be serious! That’s bigger than the room I had at home.”
“I like sneakers.”
“Do I even want to know what’s in the other rooms?” I said with a huff.
He grinned. “Probably not. So sue me, I like to dress nicely.”
I shook my head again. “So vain.”
He kissed my throat, squeezing my waist. Then he grabbed my hand again and led me downstairs. It was a living room with a white sofa, a huge black TV hanging on the opposite walls and modern dark wooden furniture. Everything was neat and matched. “I didn’t think your place would be this clean. Diego’s room is a hazard zone.”
“Adamo’s too,” Savio said with a grimace. “I prefer it clean.”
I smiled. I was glad that I wouldn’t have to pick up dirty socks after him like I had to do for Diego… and Dad. My heart throbbed painfully, and I had to swallow hard. Savio searched my eyes, then he pulled me against him, giving me comfort without me asking for it. I cleared my throat. “What about the living room in the main part of the house?”
“It’s where the entire family spends time together, but it can get messy and loud with all the kids and people, so sometimes I prefer to stay here and watch a movie. My family is a crazy loud bunch that can drive even the sanest person to insanity.”
“I love that you have such a big family under one roof. It fills a house with life,” I said. “Do you think they’ll ever accept me?”
Savio peered down at me. “Kiara, Serafina, and Leona will see you as part of their clique in no time. My brothers and Fabiano are harder nuts to crack.”
“Like you,” I said.
Savio squeezed my hip and motioned toward the connecting corridor. “Let’s continue our tour.”
It took us an hour to discover the main house and the premises. The tables and dancefloor of the wedding had already been removed and the garden looked even bigger without them. The unrelenting Las Vegas sun beat down on us as we reached the recreational pool with the cascades. The second pool was one to swim laps for fitness purposes.
“How about we take a dip later?”
“Later?” I echoed.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I know this is bad timing, but my brothers and I have a meeting with the Underbosses because they’re all in the city for the wedding. With the Russians being a pain in our ass, we have a lot to discuss.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I want you to get rid of the Bratva.” My voice wavered.
“We will,” Savio promised. “For what they did, they’ll pay.”
He led me back inside the house where we ran across Kiara, Leona and Serafina in bikinis, leading their kids down to the pool. “Why don’t you join us?” Kiara asked.
I glanced at Savio.
“Don’t look at me. Do what you want.”
I smiled at Kiara. “I need to call home and then change into a swimsuit, then I’ll join you.”
Savio released a groan. “I can’t believe I’ll have to listen to our Underbosses while you’re running around in a bikini. It’s breaking my heart.”
The moment Savio was gone, I picked up my phone and called home. Diego answered after one ring.
“Hey Gemma,” he said, his worry palpable.
“I’m fine.”
“You are?”
“Yes. You can stop worrying.”
“So Savio wasn’t an ass?”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“So I don’t have to kick his ass at the meeting?”
I rolled my eyes. “How are Mom and Carlotta?”
“Mom’s been emotional all morning with you being gone. The house feels empty.”
I bit my lip. “I miss you too.”
Diego cleared his throat. “Should I get Mom?”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. Diego was even worse with emotionality than Savio.
A few seconds later, Mom’s voice sounded on the other end. We talked a few minutes, in which I had to assure her several times that I was fine. I felt guilty for leaving her so soon after Dad’s death, but she had insisted I start my own family. That was what she wanted the most for me.
I grabbed a swimsuit—a sexy two-piece, which Toni had bought for me and I’d never worn because it was too revealing. Wrapping a towel around myself, I headed outside. It felt strange walking through the Falcone mansion as if it was my home. It would take time to get used to my new surroundings.
Laughter and screaming reached me from the pool where Alessio and Nevio were chasing each other. Kiara waved. She, like the other girls, was stretched out on lounge chairs. I made my way toward them. Dark hair pulled up into a cute bun atop her head, Greta was perched on Serafina’s chair, browsing through a picture book. Leona held her baby girl in her arms and Kiara watched her youngest son Massimo as he stumbled after Alessio and Nevio.
I sank down on a free lounge chair, keeping the towel around my body.
“Are you okay?” Kiara asked gently.
I nodded.
“I still can’t believe Savio is married,” Leona said with a laugh. I gave her a hesitant smile. Neither did he sometimes.
“He isn’t really the marrying type,” I agreed.
Serafina’s eyes narrowed. “Does that mean he’s made an ass out of himself again? If he pushed you, we’ll kick his ass for you.”
I laughed, relaxing. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I dropped my towel and stretched out on the sunchair.
“Please tell me he’s still suffering from blue balls,” Serafina said, whistling as she scanned my body.
I flushed.
Kiara did too. At least, I wasn’t the only one who had trouble talking about sex.
“We slept well,” I said.
Serafina clapped. “Good for you.”
Leona giggled. “You’re a bit too invested in Savio’s sex life. You’re getting as creepy as your husband.”
Serafina shrugged. “Savio deserves to suffer a bit. Look at Gemma, he’ll be suffering like crazy having that body right in front of him without getting any.”
Nevio and Alessio jumped into the pool and I jerked upright, worried they’d drown.
“They can swim,” Kiara said with a tender smile, then rushed forward to stop Massimo from following. “You can’t yet, young man.” She kissed his chubby cheek and put water wings on him despite his loud protests. Alessio, too, was wearing them.