Page 54 of His to Claim

“Don’t look, sweetheart,” Damon whispers, gently turning my face away from the horrific sight. I bury my face against his chest, breathing his spicy scent deeply, and then hear a familiar voice. We both turn to see Angelo who just popped up over the side of the loft.

“Well, well, well,” he draws out, mouth curving up in a smirk. “What have we got here?”

Suddenly shy, realizing we’re going to have to tell my brothers about us, I smother my face deeper into Damon’s warmth.

“I love your sister,” Damon announces loudly enough for everyone to hear. All attention snaps up to us from below, and I feel my face flush with happiness.

“And I love you,” I say. Arms wrapped around each other, I look from one brother to the next, watching them each process what we just revealed.

I’m not sure what to expect, but no one looks too surprised and smiles break out all around. Relief fills me and I slump against Damon. Everything I ever wanted is right here in my arms and I can feel my siblings’ approval.

My world is suddenly right again.

“Sure took you guys long enough,” Damon complains. “But we handled it. Didn’t we, sweetheart?”

I nod and then he lowers his mouth again, catching my lips in a kiss that is so full of promise, so full of love. And I have no doubts that we have a future together.

22

ARCHER

Karma is a funny thing,I think, as we leave the barn. Carlotta is tucked under my arm and, as we walk across the yard, her brothers explain what happened on their end while we were battling it out in the barn.

Apparently, Gallo had evaded capture during the takeover and managed to escape through a back window with a couple of his henchmen. While they searched the house, they were already headed for the barn. I’m not quite sure how he cut the side of his face, but the man was deranged and deserved his fate. Especially after trying to kill Carlotta. No one messes with my girl and gets away with it. Fucking no one.

“We have things to discuss,” Miceli states, and it’s quickly decided by the group gathered that there will be an immediate emergency meeting of the Five Families.

All I want to do is take Carlotta home and care for her. I know she must still be shaken, but Miceli insists we all go. Including me.

I halt in my tracks. “Me?” I echo in surprise. I am not part of the Five Families and have never been to a meeting. And why would I? I don’t even have a family left, much less any connection to these powerful mafia clans.

“That’s right. You’re a part of what just went down and now it looks like you’re sleeping with my baby sister.”

“Miceli!” Carlotta hisses. “That’s none of your business.”

“If this man eventually marries you, that makes it my business. Because then he’s family.”

Marriage is something I thought was never in the cards for me. Especially after losing Caitlin. The sad truth is I never really loved her. But now, I can’t stop thinking about marrying Carlotta. In fact, the idea has taken root and I’m beginning to obsess over it.

Everything that has happened between Lottie and I has been so soon, so sudden, and yet so damn good. So why not keep up with that tradition? The sooner I get her brothers’ permission, I decide I’m going to put a ring on her finger. A very big, very shiny diamond ring.

Because I am not letting this amazing woman go. Not ever.

It’s decided that the meeting will take place in the backroom of an Italian restaurant where the Rossi’s know the owner and are good friends. We climb back into the Range Rover while Miceli makes the call and sets everything up.

I pull Carlotta against me and she lays her head on my shoulder. For the duration of the ride, Miceli, Leo and I talk about what happened at the farmhouse and Carlotta pipes in to tell us what Gallo said about his son and how he had approached her, but she blew him off. She also informs us about how the Holloway deal falling through cost him his job and, in the end, his life.

That was a curveball no one expected. But I can only feel so much sympathy for the man. No one forced him to borrow all that money from unsavory loan sharks. At some point, he needed to take responsibility for his own bad decisions. And if Carlotta wasn’t interested in pursuing anything with Maximo then that’s her decision, her right.

Once we reach the restaurant, everyone is ushered into the private back room where wine is already being poured into glasses. I hate to think a man’s death is cause for celebration, but Gallo was a thorn in everyone’s side and his bold attempt to destroy the alliance, the table, and these five powerful mafia families, led to his own downfall.

I can only have so much sympathy for the man. Technically, I have none and I won’t mourn his passing. Not after the terrible things he did. But I can see the toll that all of this has taken on Carlotta and I think she might even be harboring some guilt over what happened. We’ll have to talk about it tonight and she needs to understand that everything that happened was Carmine and Maximo Gallo’s own damn faults.

The table is huge and everyone eventually is present—The Rossi’s and their wives, The Bianchi’s, The DeLuca’s, The Caparelli’s and The Milano’s. It’s a damn intimidating room of the most powerful people in this city, and I’m getting a few side eyes. I can tell some of them are wondering why I’m here and, hell, I’m beginning to wonder that myself.

Carlotta and I sit down next to each other, and I reach for her hand beneath the table. She glances over and squeezes. It occurs to me that I am the only person here not related by blood or marriage. Technically, Leo Amato isn’t yet either, but he and Gia DeLucca are engaged and have a date to tie the knot next month.

But me? I’m nobody.

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