Page 134 of Massimo

I kiss her once more, fighting the urge to haul her over my shoulder and take her upstairs. Instead, I pull back and tuck her into my side, then face my gathered family.

Jerome looks on like a proud grandfather. Gabe has returned from the basement and stands beside Gemma. Vito stands besideZioMarco, who still looks hesitant and worried about what I've done. Creed comes closer to us, and Nova stiffens.

I know she witnessed the altercation between Creed and me in my office while she was in the safe room. She's also aware of what happened with Sophie.

Creed extends his hand. "Never thought this is how I'd meet Massimo's chosen one. He's the most traditional and conventional of us, but I guess he threw in some of Vito's unhinged mayhem antics."

Nova slips her small hand into his tattooed grip and bites her lip before saying, "I'm sorry for what my father is responsible for regarding your wife."

Creed's look softens, and he covers her hand with his other one. "The sins of the father shouldn't reflect on the daughter. Welcome to the family, Nova."

"Thank you." Her voice is hoarse with emotion.

Creed turns to me with a grave expression. "I'm actually here regarding something to do with Nova."

The mood shifts instantly, the weight of his words pulling us back to the threat at hand.

We gather around the island, and Jerome hands Nova one of the smoothies he always keeps on hand for her, fussing over her like always.

"What the fuck happened?" I ask Gabe and Vito.

"Coordinated attacks spread out around the perimeter wall," Vito reports. "Damien sent the guards to investigate and ensure no breaches occurred. ThenZioand Vincenzo arrived, and Damien tried to call Gabe, Gemma, Jerome, plus the guards in the house—nothing would go through."

My jaw tightens, and my fist clenches. "Something blocked Damien from making the calls. Or someone." I turn toZioMarco. "Vincenzo is supposed to be back in Italy, yet he's here with you."

"He did leave," Marco explains. "But then he showed up, demanding I take him to you."

"And you never thought to call me?" I growl.

He looks guilty. "I, too, believed you might have the Mancini…" At my look, he corrects, "Nova. I was trying to protect the family from the backlash and thought if I cooperated with Vincenzo—"

"I'm your Don,Zio," I cut him off harshly. "First and foremost, I am your leader. The one you pledged your utmost loyalty to.Ourfamily comes first."

Each word pushes my anger toward rage, and I'm nearly vibrating, trying to remain in control.

Nova's small hand cups my cheek. "Marco thought he was putting the family first, Massimo. He thought his actions were protecting you."

My gaze shifts from locking my uncle in the crosshairs for a kill shot to my wife. She's good and pure, but I see the vein of dark in her. She understands this world—accepts it but still views things from a perspective of the benefit of the doubt.

However, my uncle's future depends on the rest of what he has to say.

I glance back at him, and he nods, looking as if he's finally realizing and accepting that Nova is nothing like any of the other Mancinis.

"Vincenzo returned,desperate, Massimo,"Ziosays. "He's afraid of something. He promised he wasn't here to harm Nova but to help us against Mancini."

I quickly process this, considering it from all angles, then turn to Vito and Gabe. "What happened on the perimeter walls?"

"Small explosives were detonated," Gabe says. "Not big enough to cause any sort of damage, though."

"Likely meant to be a distraction." Vito flexes his scarred hands, making his knuckles crack.

"Vincenzo knew from his visit here that we had a skeleton guard crew," Gemma adds.

My strategic mind fits the pieces together—the attacks were a distraction, keeping our skeleton crew occupied while Vincenzo jammed communications to the house. But I suspect he wasn't working alone.

"The explosives—where they linked to the ones used at the gate with the self-driving car?"

"It's too soon to know," Gabe says. "But Tino and Marcelo are gathering everything that remains for analysis."

---