Page 140 of King Of Order

He was model-beautiful, with thick brows above striking eyes I sensed would melt into a heated pool of cerulean bliss or glacial sheet over like hell itself. The rest of him, rugged and stunning, carried a masculinity that would leave most women breathless.

I, too, if I hadn’t been standing next to my hunk of spunk.

Alessio’s eyes glittered with a wicked sense of humor as he shook my hand and pulled me in for a kiss on the cheek.

Vitto, the youngest, grinned at me with an easygoing charm that put me at ease. He was also beyond handsome, with wavy dark hair to his shoulders, a smirk on his sexy lips, and a confidence that only a young bull carried.

Their girlfriends, beautiful, each in their unique style, smiling and welcoming, chimed in and introduced themselves.

Cleo, Alessio’s elfin girlfriend, was kind and quick to hug me.

Mia, Lorenzo’s partner, had a new softness about her, a quiet glow that came with the infant she held in her arms.

I marveled at the couple’s surprise baby—Gio, short for Gianni, tiny, beautiful, and now adored by everyone.

‘We named him to honor the Calibreses’ departed father. It was his middle name and now his grandson’s,’ Lorenzo rasped.

Rio’s brothers encircled the child, making cooing noises I would have never expected from men so rugged and sure of themselves.

My heart swelled at the sight, but I recognized a pang of something else—a longing for something I didn’t realize I missed.

Mauri, the family consigliere, appeared from his room upstairs with his cat, Lupo, in tow.

The black feline slinked and prowled, owning the place like he was king, while Mauri’s sharp eyes took in everything with a warmth hidden behind his stoic expression.

Given our history, he greeted me with a smile and chin jerk.

The house overflowed with joyous energy in preparation for Rio’s birthday—the main reason for the gathering.

Excitement erupted in full force once everyone settled into their rooms and came downstairs a few hours later for the planned feast.

The scent of grilling meat filled the air long before I got to the terrace.

I walked into the sound, and the sight of Rio’s brothers laughing and teasing each other was like a constant background hum to the afternoon.

The garden, drenched in golden sunlight, was a vision. The heat softened by a gentle breeze that rustled the vine leaves, climbing the villa’s walls. It was idyllic, almost too perfect, like something out of a dream.

I wandered to where Lorenzo, Alessio, and Vitto gathered around the barbecue. Thick cuts of meat sizzled on the grill, the fat dripping and causing bursts of smoke to rise in little puffs.

Vitto held the tongs, flipping steaks with exaggerated precision.

Lorenzo and Alessio took turns trying to wrestle them away from him, tossing insults back and forth like it was an Olympic sport.

‘That’s not how you flip a steak!’ Alessio scoffed, shaking his head. ‘You’re going to ruin Rio’scompleannowith your incompetence.’

Vitto shot him a grin, unfazed. ‘It’s a miracle you manage to eat at all, considering your tragic palate.’

They went on like this, their jests growing louder, but their affection was evident in every jab, each dramatic roll of the eyes.

It was like watching a well-rehearsed performance they perfected over years of practice. The meat crackled and hissed as Vitto finally conceded and let Alessio take over, a playful shove between them that almost sent a plate of sausages flying.

I couldn’t help but smile at so much warmth—this family, their banter, the easy way they existed around each other.

Inside, the kitchen was a flurry of activity.

Mrs. Venetio, a woman I admired for her quiet strength and undeniable presence, was the center of it all. She led the women in making fresh pasta.

Her hands moved with the grace and speed of someone who had done this a thousand times before. She kneaded the dough with effortless precision while Cleo, Mia, and I fumbled through our attempts.

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