She gave me a strange smile. “I am surrounded by men like him. They are my family. I am married to one.”

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

“Or are you saying that Fabiano has done worse than you?”

I wasn’t sure what Fabiano had or hadn’t done, but I had committed pretty much any crime imaginable. There was only one difference between the Famiglia and the Camorra, and it was the one crime I wasn’t guilty of.

“They don’t spare women, Aria.”

She swallowed audibly. “I know. But I have to believe that there is good in him.” She touched my chest where my Famiglia tattoo was. “I got through to you. Perhaps I can get through to him.”

If anyone could do it, then it was Aria. She had won my heart after all.

It had begun snowing when we got out of the car. I drew my Beretta, listening for suspicious noises, but it was quiet except for the sound of traffic in the distance.

Aria shivered. “Don’t kill him. Please.”

I didn’t say anything. It wasn’t something I could promise. If he made a wrong move, I’d end him before he could harm Aria.

“Don’t mention Marcella or Amo,” I warned.

She scowled. “Luca, I love my brother, but I would walk through fire for my children and you. I would never risk their safety. We’ve fought so hard to keep them a secret from our enemies. I won’t put that on the line for Fabiano or anyone.”

I wasn’t sure how much longer we could keep them a secret. They were growing older. We’d pulled back from the public for them, and I had threatened a few journalists who thought they could write something about us. Nothing had gone public. Dante had done the same and without Orazio as a spy, I didn’t know anything about his children.

I gave Aria a nod and signaled her to walk ahead. I raised my gun but stayed back. I spotted Fabiano as we turned the corner. He was leaning against the wall, looking fucking relaxed.

His eyes zeroed in on Aria but he didn’t notice me. I aimed at his head.

“Hello, Fabi,” Aria greeted him and showed him his letter. “You said you wanted to talk to me alone because you needed my help?”

He stepped closer with a look on his face that I didn’t like one fucking bit. Aria let him come much closer than we’d agreed on. The hand with his gun still hung limply at his side though.

His eyes turned to me and he smirked as he spotted me.

“Finally being sensible, Aria,” he said, and there was a flicker of something on his face I couldn’t place.

“I know a thing or two about mob life.” She tilted her head up at him. “Aren’t you worried for your life?”

“Why would I be?”

He looked like a man who had faced death on many occasions and who didn’t fear it. He had nothing to lose, and it made him a dangerous enemy.

Aria unfastened the bracelet and held it out to him. “It was Mother’s. She gave it to me shortly before her death. I want you to have it.”

“Why?” he muttered, glaring down at the bracelet, then up at Aria.

“Because I want you to remember.”

“The family that abandoned me?”

“No, the boy you used to be and the man you can still become.”

Aria was too good for this world even after years as my wife.

“Who says I want to remember?” He leaned down to Aria, his face too close to hers, and I released the safety on my Beretta.

Fabiano straightened. “You want me to be a better man. Why don’t you start with the man who’s pointing a gun at my head?”

Aria pushed the bracelet against his chest and he took it.

“Perhaps one day you’ll find someone who will love you despite what you’ve become, and she will make you want to be better.” She finally stepped away. “Goodbye, Fabiano. Luca wants you to know that next time you come to New York, you will pay with your life.”

I didn’t lower my gun as Aria headed toward me, but Fabiano made no move to follow. He was staring down at the bracelet. He reminded me of myself when I was younger, before Aria. Without her, I’d be a different man today. Perhaps I’d have become like my father.

Aria arrived at my side and I wrapped an arm around her before I led her away. I considered sending someone out to kill Fabiano but decided against it. War with the Camorra was the last thing I needed at the moment.

Aria was silent during the drive home, and she still hadn’t said anything when we stepped into our penthouse in the early morning. I gave her the time she needed to face reality. When we finally settled in bed, Aria stretched out on her back, and me on my side facing her, I broke the silence. “Will you be okay? Don’t blame yourself. Fabiano made his choices, not you.”

I was worried Aria would do something crazy for her brother again.

Her blue eyes were solemn. “I’m okay,” she said. “I am, honestly. Fabiano is a grown man. He is Enforcer of the Camorra. He isn’t the boy I knew. I can’t protect him anymore and it’s not my job. You and Marcella and Amo are my priority. You are the ones I need to take care of.”

I could tell she meant it, but deep down she’d always hope Fabiano would eventually become human again. Maybe she’d be proven right. She had softened my cruel heart; who was to say the same wouldn’t happen with Fabiano?

I stroked her cheek and her eyelids fluttered. She looked tense and tired, and yet fucking gorgeous.

“Turn around, principessa,” I ordered, and she rolled onto her stomach without protest. I knelt beside her on the bed and ran my hands over her soft skin, massaging away her tension. She let out a soft sigh, her body turning slack. My eyes trailed down her spine to her perfect ass. I squeezed the round globes, then bit down on the soft flesh lightly before I soothed the spot with my tongue. Aria trembled, and moaned softly. I kneaded her ass cheeks as I trailed open-mouthed kisses up her spine.

I brushed her hair away and nibbled on the crook of her neck lightly as my fingers dipped between her folds, finding her dripping wet. She turned her head to the side, biting her lower lip, and I entered her slowly. She moaned, eyes closing in pleasure. I watched her face as I fingered her. She arched her ass in rhythm with my thrusts, driving my fingers deeper.

When my cock was painfully hard, I moved my body over hers and slid my tip in, savoring her heat for a moment before I filled her completely. Her back arched against my chest. I propped my elbows up, caging her in and began to thrust into her slowly at first, then faster and harder. I kissed her throat, then bit down, marking her, and her walls clamped down on me as she cried out her release. I slowed my thrusts, waiting for her to catch her breath before I picked up my pace again. We had the penthouse to ourselves tonight, so I wanted to make her scream as often as possible.

I wedged my hand below her body, rubbing her clit as I slammed harder into her. Aria came again, shuddering and gasping, and when my own release gripped me, she was swept up again and came a third time.

I stayed on top of her, careful to keep off most of my weight as I kissed her neck and throat, then claimed her mouth for a kiss.

“You still mark me,” she said with a hint of amusement, rolling on to her back. “Do you really think there’s anyone out there who doesn’t know that I’m yours?”