Page 69 of Of Desire And Deception

Cosimo kissed my forehead and stroked my hair, but his eyes were cold, his jaw tense. “Love. Obsession. I find your betrayal has obliterated the line, goldilocks. I would have given you the fucking world, but now I’ll be the demon who haunts your nightmares.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Olesya decorated Dante’s house with thousands of tiny white lights for the holidays. You’d think that Christmas spirit was fucking birthed there, with the ten-foot tree covered in gold ornaments and—you guessed it—more of the damn lights. Garland adorned practically every surface, and she had little decorative gift boxes tied with bows everywhere they would fit.

I’d made it through an entire afternoon of celebration, including two meals and seemingly endless mulled wine. Without Niccolò to pull me aside and center me occasionally, I felt twitchy, my fingers brushing over my knife repeatedly. Dante got pissed when I played with my knife at family events, so I restrained myself.

Bianca’s daughter Ilaria started fussing, and a strange urge came over me. Before I realized what I was doing, I’d plucked her from her father’s arms and cradled her awkwardly to my chest. Bright blue eyes started up at me, and her little lips pursed like she didn’t know what to do next.

“Stop,” I whispered gruffly. I knew fuck all what to do with babies. “There’s nothing to cry about here.”

Ilaria tilted her head and blinked. I swear, for a moment, she saw me and fucking got my meaning, but that was impossible. She didn’t know that the house we stood in had never been safe when my father was alive. The tears I’d shed within the walls and in the old cellar had been earned through endless hours of physical and mental torment. The small child I held would never know such horror. I’d make sure of it.

The sins I’d commit for my family knew no bounds. If it ensured their safety, I would sacrifice my own life.

La famiglia è tutto.

Family is everything.

I looked up, finding everyone staring at me, mouths agape. “You act like I’ve never fucking held a baby.”

“She’s not crying,” Bianca said in awe.

“Of course not. I’m her favorite uncle.” I smirked, looking down at Ilaria. Dante and Romeo protested, curbing their language in front of the baby. I ignored them and focused on my niece. “Aren’t I, piccola principessa?”

She gave me a gummy grin and let out a coo of excitement. Carefully, I transferred her to one arm and reached for my knife, flicking the blade open and holding it out of reach above her. The steel caught the glint of all the twinkling lights, and Ilaria laughed. “One day, I’ll teach you how to use one of these. Then you can carve off the dick of any man who thinks he’s good enough for you.”

“Okay,” my brother-in-law Colin chuckled nervously and stepped in, reaching for his daughter. “I think that’s enough excitement for one day. It’s past this princess’ bedtime, anyway.”

Reluctantly, I put my knife away and handed her over, feeling the loss of the pure bundle of innocent love. The more I saw my siblings settle down, the more I wanted it. It awakened a longing for normalcy I’d never been allowed, given my occupation in the family business.

All I could think about was returning to my wife and spending the evening with her. Remi didn’t know it was Christmas. I hadn’t told her our wedding day was Christmas Eve. At least I had a gift I was sure she’d appreciate—eventually.

I dutifully kissed the ladies’ cheeks and hugged my brothers, breathing slowly to cull the claustrophobic feeling when they touched me. The anxiety tingled under my skin but receded as I stepped away.

Martina handed me a bag filled with containers of leftover food from the day, and I thanked her before heading out. It was a bittersweet day, filled with the usual fanfare. But it felt more hollow than normal without seeing my twin and his wife. I’d talked to him on our family video call earlier and saw how big Mia was getting. Soon, there would be another tiny Neretti in the world.

I wanted to add my own to the mix. The cold outside barely registered as I climbed into my car and traveled across town to Deception. The lot was empty, and the building was dark save for the security light over the back door. I keyed in my code, then headed downstairs with the food bag and Remi’s gift.

Whistling, I entered the dungeon. Remi’s eyes met mine, blazing with that fire I never intended to extinguish. She’d yet to realize her mind was the enemy in our war. Her body betrayed her desire for the dark and twisted things I wanted to do to her. My cock swelled at the thought.

“I know men use the old ball and chain to describe wives, but you’re taking this too literally,” Remi snarked, holding up her foot and shaking it so the attached chain rattled.

I chuckled but didn’t rise to the bait. “Merry Christmas, wife. I’m so glad you dressed up for me.”

She looked down at the wedding dress she still wore. Her hair was delightfully disheveled, and the wrinkled fabric clung to her modest curves. “If it weren’t the only thing I had to wear, you would have found it torn to shreds.”

“Wedding dresses don’t survive long in the Neretti family,” I replied ruefully. Olesya had destroyed hers, and Niccolò’s blood had stained Riona’s. I guess Mia’s had fared well, but Remi didn’t know that. I pulled out my knife. “You want to tear it to ribbons? Let me help.”

I placed the bag of food on a nearby table and stalked toward my bride, tossing my knife in the air and catching it by the hilt without looking. It was an intimidating party trick to have in one’s repertoire. My wife’s eyes widened as she watched.

“You know, somebody is going to notice I’m missing soon,” Remi insisted. She’d told me that every day, but I laughed it off. “And given our… connection… the Bureau will come knocking on your door.”

“Nobody misses you yet,” I offered coldly. “And if anybody bothers to look for you, they’ll think you’ve gone to New York to visit your mother for the holidays.”

“My car—”

“Was driven out of state by somebody who looks just like you. She stopped at gas stations on the way to New York, using your debit cards,” I finished. “You continue to underestimate me, Remi. You’ve been an FBI agent for a few years. I learned to play this game when I was a child. I haven’t been caught yet and don’t intend to be in the future. The sooner you see that and give in, the easier your future will be.”

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