Matteo’s eyes widen as they meet mine and I see the little bit of shine in them.
“Thank you, Don Bastiano. You will not regret this.”
I smirk at him.
“Now that you are part of the club.” I let my eyes meet Mia and Isabella’s eyes as well. “All of you. You can call me Bash. It’s something only my closest family calls me. You qualify as such.”
Sofia squeezes me and I look down at her. She beams up at me as she leans in to kiss me.
“Lo, set up the meeting.”
“On it boss.”
“Isabella, if you are up for it, maybe the rest of us can meet downstairs for breakfast.”
“Food? Oh, I am starving. Thank God almighty. I knew I liked you Bash.”
I chuckle at Isabella’s enthusiasm.
“Let’s go then.”
Chapter Eighteen
Sofia
The morning passed by quickly. Before long, I found myself yawning and needing a nap. I look around the table and smile. These people are my family. Them and Uncle Tony, who I was able to speak to after breakfast. Seems no one knows where dear old Gina got off too. He swore he would kill her if he ever saw her again for putting me in danger.
He wouldn’t have to. I would do that myself if she was ever stupid enough to come around again. She burnt her bridges here in New York. If she were smart she would be on her own journey across the country. Then again, Gina never was the brightest crayon in the box.
I smile as I watch everyone laughing and having a good time. Izzy looks much better now that she has moved around a bit and gotten some food. While she glares at him, Giovanni is never far from her. Always making she’s to be within reach in case she falls or needs help. That man is in love with her and she doesn’t even notice it.
Or maybe she does and she doesn’t want to acknowledge it.
Matteo looks much better too. His shoulder is still bothering him. I can tell by the way he holds it, but he is moving better than he had been last week. He catches my eye and give me a wink. I smile at him. We have become such great friends since he took that bullet for me. Before him, I never really knew anyone who would be willing to die for me. That bonds you to someone.
I glance to Mia and see her eyes furrowed as she watched Lorenzo smile at his phone. I’m scared that like me, she has already lost her heart. I just hope Lorenzo is worth it. I would hate to have to kill the man for hurting my bestie.
I wonder if Bash would let me.
I look at the man currently occupying my mind and find him smiling warmly at me.
“Tesoro, you look tired. You want to take a nap with me?”
The mischievous gleam in his eye makes me question his motivation. I glance back at the table and see literally everyone giving us knowing looks.
“I am quite tired. There’s been a lot going on the past couple days.”
He chuckles.
“Let’s get you some rest then.”
He pulls me out of my chair and just as we turn the corner from the kitchen to head towards the stairs our friends let out a bunch of cat calls. My face heats at the attention.
“Assholes!” I call back, but I can’t help the smile on my face.
Hell, I want to cheer at the fact that we are together. I never thought this gorgeous, strong, fierce man would ever think of me more than a piece of ass. Then he went and surprised me. He loves me.
I won’t lie and say that doesn’t scare me to death. I should be afraid of what his love means. The last man I was with thought it meant he had the right to beat me. Something in my heart tells me Bash is different. He has never tried to hurt me. Instead he has risked his own skin to save mine. He is everything Ryan wasn’t.
