“Tape?” I asked Matteo.

He shook his head.

“I won’t scream,” the crazy fucker said.

“We will see,” I said quietly. “Who are you?”

His smile widened, and I lost my shit. I grabbed his arm and brought my knife down. Matteo clamped his hand over the guy’s mouth, but he didn’t need to. The guy shuddered but made no sound, and I wasn’t entirely sure if he didn’t enjoy the pain. A challenge.

Matteo gave me a look as he dropped his hand from the guy’s mouth.

“Who are you?” I growled.

“Remo Falcone.”

Fuck. “And what, pray tell, are you doing in my territory?”

“Looking for alliance. I’m going to kill my father and all his men and take over Vegas, and you can either be my ally or my enemy—it’s up to you.”

Matteo snorted. “To think there’s someone who’s more crazy than you and I.”

I gave Remo my coldest smile. “How about I kill you now?”

“Then my brother will have to hurt your wife.”

I gripped his throat. “What did you just say?”

“Your penthouse is well guarded,” he pressed out. “There isn’t a good shooting position even for the best shooter from any of the surrounding buildings, except for one. There is one window in a nearby skyscraper that allows a clear shot if someone’s leaning on the banister of your rooftop. It’s a difficult shot. Few men could hit a target from that distance. Few men could have figured out that one spot. Luckily one of those men is my brother Nino, a true genius. And your beautiful wife is leaning against that banister right as we speak.”

I dropped my hand from his throat, my stomach clenching tightly. Matteo met my gaze, lowering his knife.

“What do you want?” I said with barely controlled rage. I focused on it because the other emotions would weaken me, and I had a feeling Remo knew how to use weaknesses.

“Only your attention,” he said. “I have no intention of hurting your wife.” He brought the cut on his arm to his lips and sucked the blood away. “I want you to stay out of my fight, and I don’t want you to help my father no matter what he offers you. I will be Capo soon, and then I want you to remember this day,” he said, lips and teeth covered with his own blood.

Crazy and dangerous.

He took a step back.

“I thought you wanted to know if I was ally or enemy?”

He tilted his head. “I think you might need more time to think it through. Perhaps one day we can do what should have been done a long time ago: destroy the Outfit and split their territory between us. When my father contacts you, remember that I could have killed your beautiful wife and didn’t, Luca. I don’t care for your territory, but I want what’s mine, and I will do anything to get it.” He walked backwards slowly and disappeared in the shadows, and then the engine of a bike roared up.

I ripped my mobile out of my back pocket and called Aria.

The moment she picked up, I hissed, “Get inside now!”

She sucked in a breath but I heard movement. “Luca, what’s going on?”

“Where are you?” I asked, already running toward my car. Matteo was close behind, talking to Demetrio and ordering him to send out every available soldier to look for Nino and Remo Falcone.

“In the living room. Demetrio is letting down the shutters. What’s going on?”

“Stay inside.”

I hung up, my pulse racing with fury and fear alike.

“What the fuck was that?” Matteo muttered.

“A warning,” I growled. The Camorra had never been in my focus. That would change now.

The moment I stepped into the penthouse, Aria came running and I clutched her to my body. Orfeo had joined Demetrio. She looked confused and scared. “What’s going on? Nobody’s telling me anything.”

“False alarm,” I assured her, and she frowned.

I kissed her forehead then moved to Orfeo. “Find someone who’s been a sniper. I want to find that spot.” Orfeo nodded and rushed off.

We didn’t find the spot until a letter was taped to the door of the Sphere two days later with directions. I wasn’t sure what kind of game Remo Falcone was playing, but I couldn’t risk a fight with him as well. Dante and the Outfit needed to stay in my focus. I couldn’t deal with the Camorra on top of that.

chapter 25

ARIA

I was starting to count down the days to my due date. I felt like a rhino, and finding a comfortable position at night was near impossible. I propped my hip up against the kitchen counter; even standing was a bother now.

Luca came into the kitchen and kissed my lips. “How are you?”

He’d been almost constantly at my side, ever since the incident that prompted Demetrio to let down our shutters and shove me away from the windows. Luca hadn’t shared details with me, but it must have worried him to the very core because Matteo had handled the majority of business in the weeks after. Only in the last two weeks had Luca started to relax a little.

“Hungry.” I always was. Where in the beginning food had been a struggle, now eating was all I could do. Luckily, I hadn’t gained much weight. I thanked my good genes.

Luca touched my belly. “And how is she?”

I put my hand over his. “She’s very active. Doesn’t allow me much sleep at night.”

“I know. Soon the pregnancy is over.”

“I doubt we’ll sleep better then.”

Luca stroked my belly with his thumb.

Steps rang out, and he straightened and pulled his hand away a moment before Demetrio rounded the corner, then froze. “Will you be staying home today?”

Luca couldn’t show this type of gentleness in front of his men. At least he didn’t hide his feelings as much when Matteo was around.

“No,” Luca said. “I have to meet with the Captains.”

I touched my fingertips briefly to his chest over his heart and tattoo. Be careful. My eyes told him, and he knew. He gave me a brief, possessive kiss before he left.

Grabbing a book, I headed outside into the garden of the mansion, Demetrio trailing after me. Gianna and Lily were already sunbathing in the late June sun but I couldn’t stand heat in my state for long. I missed New York, but after the incident Luca had insisted I stay in our mansion. However, now that my due date was approaching I’d have to return to New York in the next couple of days, since that’s where the hospital Luca had chosen was.

I managed to maneuver my body out of my dress and sank down into one of the sun chairs with a groan. My bikini bottoms were hidden by my belly, and for a moment I wondered if I’d put them on the right way.

Gianna lifted her sunglasses and exchanged an amused look with Lily.

“Wait till you’re pregnant and can’t move anymore,” I muttered as I stretched out, groaning again.

“I have absolutely no intention of getting pregnant, trust me. Neither Matteo nor I want kids.”

Lily bit her lip. “I’d love to have children with Romero, but we’ll wait a few years until I’m a bit older.”

I’d never thought I’d become a mother at twenty-three either, but now I was happy.