Page 94 of The Merciless Don's Bride

Watching Cassie move about my bedroom wearing nothing but my shirt is fast becoming my favorite past time.

I lean against one of the shelves in my wardrobe as she flips through my suit jackets like she’s searching for a needle in a haystack. She’s barefoot and her hair’s a mess considering she just woke up about twenty minutes ago. I’d been trying to be quiet considering it’s only 7am but she’s a light sleeper. As soon as I stepped out from my shower, I found her wide awake.

We were up pretty late last night. After the days spent apart, it was like neither of us were ready to let sleep be a barrier between us again.

“This one,” Cassie says, pulling a dark navy blazer and holding it against the light. “It’s giving dark, sexy mafia overlord.”

I smirk, buttoning my dress shirt, “I am a dark, sexy mafia overlord, sweetheart.”

She turns around, her expression soft with that glint of mischief in her eyes.

“Arrogance is not a good look on you.”

“Everything’s a good look on m, sweetheart.”

She wrinkles her nose but there’s a light smile playing on her lips. I let out a low laugh and walk over to her, taking the blazer from her hands and brushing a kiss across her temple.

“Do you want to have breakfast with me before I have to leave?” I ask her.

She lets out a small sigh, “Sure, I can go back to bed after. Remind me again why you’re leaving the house at the crack of dawn?”

“It’s 7am,” I remind her gently. “Plus, I already told you. We have a meeting. All the heads of mafia organizations and their second in commands. I called for the meeting because I’m looking for someone.”

Her brows furrow, “There’s so much that doesn’t make sense in that statement. First off, aren’t you supposed to hate each other? I always hear about gang wars in the city, isn’t that about warring factions in the Cosa Nostra?”

“There used be a lot of fighting,” I agree. “But in the past couple of years things have really calmed down. Mostly due to intermarriages between families. Plus, since we got a truce with the Bratva, it’s been easier to work together.”

“Oh, so you’re all friends now?”

I chuckle, “I wouldn’t say that, especially since my family’s usually on the outskirts of it all, but it’s pretty peaceful. That peace might not last long though and there are some among us that seek to destroy it.”

“Who are you looking for?”

“Traitors. I plan to weed out anyone working against me. I need to make sure there aren’t any enemies wanting to strike at me in the shadows.”

I also want to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Santori.

“You sound paranoid,” she teases softly.

“If by paranoid you mean careful, then sure. I need to be able to see any danger coming, to protect you and the family as well.”

She smiles wrapping her arms around my neck, “I feel absolutely safe now and it’s all thanks to you, Damien.”

“Good, I plan to keep it that way.”

We make our way downstairs, Cassie’s hand brushing mine as we move through the quiet halls. The two of us don’t speak, lost in our own thoughts. When we reach the dining room however, the silence is broken.

Sofia is already seated at the table, cradling a cup of coffee and reading something on her phone. What we don’t expect is the tall figure leaning casually against the back of a chair, with a wide grin on his phone.

“Ah. The lovebirds have arrived!” he announces, spreading his arms.

“Dante,” I say on an eyeroll. “You’re meant to be scoping out the building where the meeting’s taking place.”

As my second in command, it’s paramount that he attends the meeting with me. He flew in from Chicago yesterday but I hadn’t been expecting him to join us this morning.

“Luca’s already on that. I wanted to have breakfast with the family. Or am I not welcome?” he arches an eyebrow, daringly.

“Of course you are,” Sofia states, glancing at Cassie and I. “Everyone take a seat.”

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