Page 59 of Under His Control

“Yep. Pretty much. They don’t keep secrets.”

I lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “And neither will we. From each other or the rest of them.”

Later, at the frou-frou tea time place, we did exactly that. I carried Olivia in, crushing her fluffy tea party dress as I held her at my left side. At my right, Eva held my hand and walked with us. We showed up as a couple, as a little unit of three, and there was no way anyone wouldn’t understand I was with her, that she was with me, and both of us would support Olivia.

I wasn’t expected to stand by here as a soldier on guard, but it was impossible not to. While Eva and Olivia sat around with the other women, I stayed back along the wall with several of the men. It was a couples thing, not just the women invited. When I asked Eva why this baby shower included men on the guest list, she said that it made the most sense. All the women here would have equally overprotective guards and significant others nearby, so why not simplify it?

It sounded controlling, that these Mafia women could never go anywhere alone or have independence, but it was simply a fact of life for them. They were the daughters, sisters, girlfriends, and wives of powerful men, and like Eva explained, everyone would fight or sneak their way into taking that power and money for themselves.

Multiple other soldiers were positioned around the room, in and out of it, so I wasn’t nervous about anyone breaking in and causing issues.

After the stressful night I had at the Devil’s Brothers’ compound, I was glad for a chance to just be, to relax and smile at Eva and Olivia partying. They played games. We all had food. Olivia walked everywhere, stunning me with how quickly she was mastering the fine art of seeming to be all over the place at once.

Still, as I stood back with the other men, we shifted to talking about business, about work.

“It’s not in vain,” Franco argued with me when I complained about the recording devices being found and destroyed at the compound.

“How is it not? I snuck in there to place the bugs, and they found them immediately.”

Andy, the soldier Romeo often relied on to spy on the bikers, shrugged. “It’s just the way it is. They sweep for bugs constantly. They’re paranoid motherfuckers.”

“So if I went back another time, they’d find them again?” I asked. I wasn’t volunteering, but curious.

“Yeah.” Andy smirked. “Just like the first two times I tried to record anything at their main clubhouse.”

I sighed, shaking my head at the slight failure. They weren’t blaming me, but I held myself accountable, anyway.

“And it might not be necessary,” Romeo chimed in. “My father and I are hoping that things will come to a head sooner than later with both of them. Stefan and Reaper won’t last as partners for long. They’re both too greedy and volatile.” He glanced at me. “If we play this right, they’ll cancel each other out and spare us having to lose any men in this war.”

That would be an ideal outcome. Fewer casualties. Less destruction of property. I was all in favor of that.

“Hey,” Eva said as she approached with Olivia in her arms. She was fussing, but that could easily be fixed. “Do you know where?—”

I pointed at where I’d set Olivia’s bottle on a nearby table. She was doing her hungry fuss, and any minute now, she’d be cranky because she was tired. I was damned proud of myself for knowing how to read her so well.

“Perfect. Thanks.” She hoisted her higher on her hip.

“She’ll get sleepy,” I reminded her.

She nodded. “Yeah. And I’ll bring her to you to hold. My arm’s about to fall off.” It might have sounded like a complaint, but with her smile, it was more like a joke. When the mood struck, Olivia could cling.

“I’ll be waiting.” Before she walked off, I snagged her close and kissed her.

“You didn’t wait long,” Franco teased.

“Long for what?” I asked.

“To sleep with the boss’s niece.” Franco chuckled at Romeo, rolling his eyes.

“And you call yourself head of security?” Romeo joked. “They were fucking before we hired him.”

Franco raised his brows, still amused, and I merely shrugged. They could have their entertainment.

We all laughed it off, and I was damned glad that Eva and I had come out as a couple here. Like I suspected, everyone already knew that we had something going on. All those weeks of sexual tension had to have given us away.

Now that we’d taken another step forward to a real relationship, I appreciated their support.

Even if we didn’t have it, if anyone protested in the family, I would’ve fought for her.

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