My heels clicking against the marble foyer of Giovanni’s home, I made my way to the dining room, the happy voices getting nearer and nearer with each step.
I pushed the doors open and all eyes shifted to me at once.
I’d never had a problem with attention, but at this very moment, my skin prickled at being under the spotlight as I studied the family seated around the dining room table.
Giovanni was at the head of the table, his three-piece black suit molded to his muscles like he was born to wear it. His strong fingers that knew how to bring pleasure formed a steeple at his chin, both elbows on the table, and the sharp lines of his jaw dominated his face.
He smiled then winked, and some tightness in my chest loosened.
His brothers, Romeo and Cristiano, sat to his right, watching me with the calculating green gaze that reminded me of my husband. The man I recognized as Mateo Agosti sat by the smaller table beside a young woman, presumably his wife,and three children. On the other side of the table, Giovanni’s sister, Marissa, was seated beside her husband, the Boston Irish mobster, Declan O’Connor.
My mother’s training, and my habit of keeping up on who’s who and what’s what, was sure coming in handy now.
While Mateo Agosti’s body language was tense and cautious, Marissa’s and her husband’s were the complete opposite. Relaxed, but I wasn’t fooled to think that Declan wasn’t a force to be reckoned with.
Marissa offered a smile, waving at me a bit too enthusiastically, and I returned it, albeit awkwardly.
A petite woman with long brown hair and brown eyes stood up, then approached me as she held out her hand.Brianna Agosti. Mateo’s wife.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Liana,” she greeted as I shook her hand. “I always knew Giovanni would be swept off his feet and there’d be no delay in wedding preparations. I’m sorry we weren’t there.”
I flashed her a tight smile. “Likewise. It came as a surprise to me too.”
“Ah, another kidnapping. Those seem to be a go-to for these men.”
Her eyes, full of comical disapproval, flicked to Giovanni, who ignored her and patted the empty chair next to him. “Come sit with me, wife.”
I blushed as I made my way toward him, the display of affection setting me off-balance.
“Welcome to the family. We’re big and loud, but it’s mostly bark and no bite,” Marissa announced, grinning as I took a seat, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had never been part of a big family.
It was supposed to be only Amara and me for the rest of our lives, but maybe this was my destiny. Dr. Freud was helping mesee that this complication could turn out to be the best outcome for her. I only wished there was a way to see her and be a part of her life—no matter how small.
Silence fell on the dining table for a second too long, my mask firmly in place. I’d learned a long time ago that showing my tells was a sure way to have my weaknesses exploited, andagain, Dr. Freud’s words rang in my ears.Trust.
She might’ve convinced me I needed to let my husband in, but extending that same courtesy to his family would take some time.
So, sealing my emotions tight, I waited for someone else to break the silence.
The Agosti siblings were unlike any I’d ever met—cheerful, optimistic, and downright happy. We would have probably never been friends if we met as children.
“Introduce your wife, brother.” It was Romeo who finally spoke. “Although she’s quite famous, we’ll pretend we’ve never heard of her.”
Everyone chuckled, but Giovanni held off on introductions when the staff chose that moment to appear, carrying in trays of food. They served the soup and the main course, some kind of filet, and when they left, Giovanni spoke up.
“Everyone, this is my wife, Liana.” A hand came to my knee underneath the table, and it was only then I realized it had been bouncing nervously. I instantly stilled, realizing that had never happened to me before. “Lia, you’ve met Romeo. Next to him is my other pain-in-the-ass brother, Cristiano”—the latter flipped him off, ignoring the soup and going straight for the meat—“my sister Marissa, my cousin Mateo Agosti and his wife, Brianna. And last but not least, my brother-in-law, Declan.”
“Don’t forget the children,” Brianna scolded softly. “Dante will never forgive you if you do.”
“Ah, yes. How silly of me.” Giovanni winked at his little cousins. “Emma, Dante, and Aspen, say hello to your new… cousin, auntie… whatever we are.”
The little ones waved, returning their attention to their food and eating while staring at the iPad. I couldn’t resist a chuckle, the little ones were always the easiest to deal with.
I cleared my throat, offering some resemblance of a smile. “It’s nice to meet you all.”
“So it’s true, you married Sofia Volkov’s daughter?” Cristiano cut in.
The corner of Giovanni’s lips tipped up. “It would appear so.”
