Page 132 of His Guilty Pleasure
Julian, sitting in the bay window, turns to look at him. "I think you should accept him, Don Castellani. He would have useful information."
I'm pretty damn surprised at that. Julian, so far as I'm aware, hasn't had much to do with Nero Andretti. And then I'm doubly surprised when Sandro turns to me.
"DeLuca. What do you think?"
I'm about to stammer out that it's none of my damn business, but Pedretti gives me this look, reminding me I'm here for a reason.
So I think for a second. Glance around the room.
Julian's staring straight at me like he's trying to transmit a psychic message or something. And then, very subtly, he raises an eyebrow.
"I, uh. I mean, I think Julian is probably right," I say at last. "Bringing Nero into the fold…it's a risk, sure. But it's a calculated one. And in this business, sometimes you have to take a chance to reap the rewards."
Am I imagining the approval in Sandro's dark eyes, the slight nod of acknowledgment?
"I am also inclined to allow Nero to demonstrate his loyalty," he announces to the group at large. "Not in a senior role, of course. Perhaps we can find a crew for him."
"Legs Liggari's crew could do with some new blood," Jack says with a grin. "And Nero wouldn't be able to get into too much trouble working collections."
The meeting wraps up soon after, with a grudging consensus to allow Nero to work with the Family on a probationary basis.
"A moment, DeLuca," Sandro says, as we all stand to leave. I hang around, and after they're all gone, Sandro gives a smirk. An actual smirk. "Thank you," he says. "I know it must have galled you to agree with my brother, but it afforded me the opportunity tolooklike I was consulting, at least, if I didn't just ignore everyone's misgivings."
So Sandro already knew what he planned to do. He was just pretending to hear advice. But I get it. It keeps the older guys like Lombardo and Montanari happy to think they get a say, and even if I don't agree with him, I've decided Don Castellani has a better view from the top.
I trust his judgment.
"But in confidence, DeLuca," Sandro goes on, "I want a very close eye kept on Nero Andretti. Max Pedretti has enough to worry about already up at the house, and since Nero is staying on the grounds, I thought you might be better placed."
"You got it, Boss."
"Be subtle," he adds. "He will be expecting it."
I nod. "Leave it to me, Boss. I like to think I've learned a little something about being underhanded recently."
He laughs. Loud. "One more thing, DeLuca. The others don't know yet, but I will be announcing it later today…"
Much later in the day, I clock out and head back to the suite, where I find Darian frowning at his laptop in the living area. "What's up, D?"
He sighs, turning the laptop to show me the screen. It's an email from Sandro, announcing that Gino Bernardi and Roxy Rochford's upcoming wedding will be hosted here at Redwood, as a sign of the new alliance between our Families.
"I thought you might be upset," Darian admits, his eyes searching mine. "About having the wedding here. About Roxy not facing any consequences…"
Sandro already gave me a heads up, and I appreciate that. It means I got the anger out of my system before I hear it again from Darian now.
I take his hand, lacing our fingers together, and I grin. "Life's not always so black and white, D." Darian snorts, his thumb stroking over my knuckles. I turn his hand over and press a kiss to his palm. "Don't get me wrong, I still think Roxy's a snake. And consequences have a way of catching up to people. But as long as you put her in the same room they had during the parley, I'll play nice."
Darian's brows shoot up, surprise and amusement warring on his face. "You want me to put them in the same room?"
"Hell yeah, I do. Let Foxy Roxy lie awake wondering who might come creeping through that passage in the dead of night. She can enjoy the nightmare she created for herself."
Darian shakes his head, a reluctant laugh escaping him. "You're terrible, Raffi."
"And you love me anyway," I retort, pulling him in for a quick, hard kiss. "Now come on. I was promised all the sex I could handle when I got home. I expect you to keep your word, Mr. Thornfield-Hayes."
He grins, bouncing to his feet. "Oh, at once, Mr. DeLuca. At Redwood Manor, we always strive to provide the verybestservice." He turns me, shoving me down to the couch, and mounts me as he starts unbuckling my belt. "But maybe I'll take charge today. I think you deserve to relax."
"Whatever you want from me, sweets, that's what I'll give you."
For the rest of my life, whatever he wants. That's what I'll give him.
