Page 19 of Pregnant Bratva Wife
Giovanni and Larissa strolled over for refills. Larissa playfully nudged her shoulder against mine. “Why are you late, anyways?”
“Traffic,” I lied smoothly. “Larissa, you look lovely as always.”
My sister-in-law smiled warmly. “We were about to send out a search party. You’re never late.”
“That’s Larissa’s way of prying,” Giovanni gave his wife a warning glare. “I’m sure Federico was busy.”
“Something like that,” I said, thinking of queenly blue eyes.
Before long, Kate called us all for dinner and we took our seats. The serving staff brought out the first course, and I waited until they had left before making my announcement.
“Everyone,” I called for attention loudly. My family, those animals, continued talking around me.
I shoved back my chair. Stood. Eyes snapped in my direction.
Finally.
“I have an announcement to make. I’m getting married.”
The silence that followed could’ve made a man think he was dead.
“What the fuck?” Dante’s eyes nearly fell out of his head.
Caspian blinked. “Come again?”
Kate actually dropped the spoon in her hand. “Are you drunk?”
“No.”
“Are we drunk?” Luca raised his eyebrows.
“No.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Caspian frowned.
“It’s not a joke. It’s happening,” I said. “This weekend.”
“And where exactly did you meet this girl?” Caspian asked, his tone making it clear he already suspected the worst.
I gave them the sanitized version—meeting her after she accidentally damaged my car, being struck by her honesty and spark, deciding she was the one. I left out the manipulation. The debts. I didn’t want them to get any preconceived notions about her. To think she was a gold digger. Because she wasn’t. Autumn Malone was one thing: Loyal to a fault. When she agreed to marry me, it was a sacrifice she made for her sister.
Now that was who she was, and I didn’t want anyone to think any less of her. Some of my siblings? They wouldn’t have understood. It was easier not to give the whole truth.
“This is insane,” Achille said, shaking his head. “You’ve known her what, a week? Two?”
“Sometimes you just know,” I replied calmly.
“Bullshit,” Dante snorted. “You don’t believe in that romantic crap.”
He wasn’t wrong. I’d always approached relationships strategically. But this was strategic too, just in a different way.
I wanted her.
“Have you forgotten what happened with Elena?” Caspian asked quietly.
“Hey!” Elena protested from her seat, leveling a glare at Caspian. Thank god Gastone wasn’t there that night, or he would have blown a fuse. Gastone had kidnapped Elena in revengeagainst our family because his sister, Larissa, fell in love with my brother, Giovanni.
As a result? Love won all around, but things got complicated.
