Page 126 of Lies like Rubies, Part Two (Savage Jewels)

He squeezed my breast, trapping my nipple between his fingers, the lace of my bra screaming against the sensitive bud as he rolled it. “We need to introduce you to the Oscuro organization.”

As I lolled my head back on the seat, pleasure radiating from everywhere Dante’s hands touched my body, I barely had the presence of mind to ask, “How is this going to work?”

“However we want, baby,” Nick answered. “We’ll get married, we’ll combine our assets, and we’ll take over the world.”

“And by combine our assets, what they mean is that Nick actually has a retirement plan, and Dante’s practically a billionaire,” Lorenzo inserted, dryly.

“My sister’s taking over the arms manufacturing business, but I need someone to run the import/export operationwhile I explore new opportunities with Nico and Lorenzo,” Dante said as he slid his hand up my thigh, taking my dress with it, finally baring my skin, revealing my pussy to my lovers.

“Wet work,” Lorenzo said grinning.

My eyes shot to Nick. “Are you okay with this?”

“Are you?” he answered.

I laughed to myself as Dante dipped a finger inside of me, plunging it in and out, the wet sound squelching in the silence of the morning.

“Normally couples talk about the future before they get engaged.”

“We’re not a normal family,” Lorenzo said, brushing his lips against mine, then doing the same to Nico.

“Yes, Dante,” I moaned, as he circled his thumb over my clit.

“Yes, what, slut?”

“Yes, you can do whatever the fuck you want, as long as you fuck me stupid.”

Dante laughed quietly, then yanked his fingers away from me. “After breakfast, slut.”

ZioLuciano greetedme like I’d been gone for years instead of mere days. “BellaSofia!” he said, kissing my cheeks, then drawing me in for a fierce hug. “Welcome home.” He turned from the hostess stand to the rest of the restaurant. “Sofia is back!”

Tables full of familiar faces hooted and hollered, clapping and stomping their feet. How could I ever have resented my family for insisting on brunch today? I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as friend after family memberafter neighbor welcomed me home, as if I’d been gone for a decade, rather than four months.

They congratulated me, laughing at their sweet Sofia, a murderer! They kissed my cheeks and tickled my daughter, as if I’d done anything other than put an end to my stalker, a man who’d kidnapped my daughter and my mother out of a twisted sense of entitlement. No, that wasn’t fair. I’d put an end to a trafficking ring that threatened to bring the law down on all of us, that put their daughters, their children in danger.

“Mamma!” Lizzie yelled when she saw me, scrambling out of Cormac’s arms and over to me. When I scooped her up in my arms, she threw her tiny arms around my neck. “Mamma, I missed you so much!”

“I missed you too, sweetheart,” I whispered into her hair, trying to hold back my tears, wishing I could change the past, knowing I wouldn’t if I could, not if it meant keeping her safe for even one more day.

By the time we arrived at our table, a long banquet table in the back, Dante was rolling his eyes. He took his place beside me, with Lizzie to my left, and Lorenzo and Nick across the table from us.

Dante brushed his fingers over my collar. “Do you think they know what this means,micetta?” he whispered, the hot caress of his breath over the shell of my ear sending a shiver down my spine. When he bit my earlobe, coherent thought deserted me.

My father cleared his throat after we’d all taken our places at the table. “I’ll keep this short. My three children are the best children a parent could ask for. Ginevra, your strength and your courage astound me. Luca, my right-hand man. And Sofia—Sofia, I have underestimated you for your entire life. You make me so proud, everything you’ve donefor this family, that I never realized until you left, the sacrifice you made for your daughter and your mother, and your courage. I’m proud of you.”

The entire table raised their glasses to toast me as I sat there, astounded, pale, my heart pounding and my hands clammy.

My father continued. “We never celebrated Sofia’s graduation from college. Another toast, to Sofia. Congratulations.”

“Hear, hear,” my family toasted me.

I didn’t know what to say. In my entire life, my father had never acknowledged a goddamned thing I’d done well, and he’d certainly never praised me publicly. My poise absolutely shattered, desperate to keep tears from flowing down my face, I struggled to keep my smile on my face, so I didn’t reveal how shaken I was.

Dante slid his hand up the nape of my neck, gently stroking his thumb up and down over my skin, bringing me back to earth, reminding me of my own strength.

I drew my shoulders back and stiffened my spine, drawing on the same courage that had gotten me through the last four months, the last four years. “Thank you, Papà. Thank you, everyone,” I said, smiling. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Nick’s eyes danced with amusement as Luciano’s staff brought out plates and plates and plates of food. We ate and we drank, and by the time breakfast was done, I was tipsy and full of joy. I was home, with my daughter, with my family. And family included these glorious men who looked at me with hooded eyes dark with need, promising punishment and delight after we finished.

---