Page 50 of Twisted Knight

Luca gave me a small smile. “He didn’t ask anything actually. He just wanted to know how Cassie and the babies were doing.”

I raised my eyebrows, surprised that Matteo would ever show a modicum of concern for Luca and his family.

“I know. I was surprised too.” He shook his head. “He just asked if you already told me about Baker’s Place and that I should enjoy the time with my family that, and I quote, the ‘knock-off capo’ is more adequate than he anticipated and that you would do for the moment.”

I let out a little snort. “I see… ‘More adequate.’ What a compliment.”

“From Genovese, I think it is. The guy likes you, it seems.”

“Genovese likes no one.”

Luca shrugged. “I’m not convinced of that. It may be because I just became a father and the fatherly wisdom just fell upon me.”

“I don't think that’s how it works.”

Luca waved his hand dismissively. “It totally does. I do think that Matteo Genovese feels much more than he leads us to believe.”

I thought about his breakdown again. “Maybe…”

“What about you though? I saw the little bounce in your step. You seem at peace.”

“I had sex,” I whispered. Somehow it felt wrong to say that in a room with newborns.

Luca let out a little chuckle. “Good for you? I expected that much, being so close to The Rectory, and not using it would be a waste of an opportunity.”

I shook my head. I couldn’t lie to my best friend. “It was not The Rectory. I went there but I couldn't. There was only one woman I wanted.” My eyes connected with India who was holding Arabella with a goofy smile on her face.

“I see.” Luca’s voice carried wariness. I couldn’t blame him for it. It had the potential to get messy. “I didn’t think India enjoyed…” He trailed off.

“I didn’t need to dothat.”

Luca threw me a surprised look. “You didn’t?”

I shook my head. “I gave her full control.” I looked down at the baby sleeping in my arms, a little uncomfortable. “She bound my hands and I wanted her enough to try,” I admitted.

“Uh,” Luca looked at the two women again and nodded. “I’m happy for you.”

“It doesn't mean anything,” I replied quickly, somehow not wanting to nourish a hope that should not be there. It was too new, too fragile; who said I would not revert to the monster I was when my hands would be free?

Who said she even wanted more from this scary life full of rules, codes, and death?

“It should mean something. You know, you and her, it’s not impossible,” he said as if he could read my thoughts. He jerked his head toward his wife. “Look at me and Cassie. I never thought a woman who was raised out of the famiglia could understand, could be the support needed, and yet Cassie is all of that and even more.” He smiled dreamily at her, and as if she could feel it, she looked up. As their eyes met and she returned his smile, it was like two souls becoming one. Fuck, did I crave that.

“How?”

“As long as she understands that due to your line of work, the famiglia will often have to come first despite everything you feel for her. That putting the famiglia first will be crucial for your safety but that when the choice is truly yours, she will always come first, and sometimes you can just disconnect and be thereonlyfor her.” He met my eyes. “And I’m lucky because I have you to rely on when I need to do that. I can leave it all behind and concentrate only on my wife because I know you are here to pick up where I left off.”

“I’ll always have your back.”

“I know and I’ll always have yours. You can do it too. Give this a shot, Dom. What do you have to lose?”

The piece of my heart that I thought was dead,I thought as icy fear lodged in my throat at the mere thought of India leaving.

His eyes softened and I knew he understood. “Think about all the things you could win.”

“And knowing me, you’re okay with that?”Knowing what I did, what I could do?

“Why wouldn’t I be? The woman is a lucky one to have succeeded where many have failed; she stole Domenico’s heart.”

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