Page 124 of The Gangster King

Adelina still finds my protective nature humorous.

When this baby is born in a month, I’ll remind her—in our bedroom—that I’m still a bad ass gangster. Until then, I have her wrapped up in an invisible bubble wrap.

Aka—me.

Mia takes the tray from me and places it on the table, freeing my hands so I can place them on Addy’s swollen tummy.

“I was fine,” Addy says.

“You weren’t fine. You can barely stand up without tipping over.”

“Rude.” She says against my lips as I lean way over and kiss her.

“It’s the truth. No more lifting until I say so.” I pat her bottom and guide her to her seat as I wave out my hand, encouraging our guests to do the same.

Sit.

I swear, it’s like trying to herd cattle.

“Just give me the word and I’ll have him taken out, Addy.” Braxton smirks as he bites into a piece of pineapple. “Technically, he no longer exists.”

Dick.

But he’s right. We don’t exist anymore.

Not as the same people we once were. But we kept our first names. Now we are Mr. and Mrs. Romano. A common Italian surname.

“You will do no such thing,” my mother, and his mother-in-law, says, whacking him around the head.

Braxton overreacts and Gianna just laughs at him.

I stand behind Addy’s chair, my hand on her shoulder, and take in all the Dark Kings.

They’re all here in New Zealand.

Adelina and I decided it was the safest place for us, somewhere we both wanted to live. It was either that or Iceland.

Mom was shocked when I told her what we were doing, but after a lot of crying and yelling, she folded and said her children were more important than our family legacy...and the lifestyle she was accustomed to.

Gianna and Braxton also moved with us.

It gets better...

So did Decker and Isabelle.

These men have become my best friends. Something I never imagined would’ve been possible a year ago.

Connor followed through and helped me sell my properties and is still running the legitimate businesses on my behalf. We plan to sell them soon as they aren’t profitable, and damn, Barrett charges a hefty management fee.

I’m joking, he’s doing it for free.

They’re going on the market in the new year, which is just a few weeks away.

Right now, everyone is here for Christmas Day. In this part of the world, it’s summer. The sun is out, the sky is blue, the birds are singing, and a soft breeze is blowing over the large deck of our home overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Our house is modest, but it’s all we need.

“Sit.” Addy pats my hand, and I take my seat at the head of the table.

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