—Ellie— After we landed in Mexico, Damian immediately rushed Tristan off to a hospital the Camorra worked with, and Savio stayed with me. I was exhausted and emotionally drained. “What happens with us now?” I asked tiredly. Savio gave me a surprised look. “I will take you to the mansion. Tristan will want to have you and his kids around when he returns.” “You think he will survive?” Savio nodded. “Tristan won’t die.” I followed Savio to a car and sank down on the backseat with my children. When I jerked awake, we had arrived and Fabian was staring through the window as if he was seeing a ghost. He opened the door. “What the fuck?” “Tristan’s got kids,” Savio explained. “I see that,” Fabian said. Savio took Samuel again, and I got out with Isabella, who had her face buried in my neck. Fabian couldn’t stop staring at Samuel, then finally he met my gaze. “You saved Tristan?” I nodded. Fabian searched my eyes
—Ellie— I was up early the next morning and blinked against the soft light streaming in through the window. I had barely slept, and not just because of my twin’s erratic schedule. Worry for Tristan had haunted my sleep. I got myself and my babies ready before I headed downstairs, carrying them on my hips. Following the scent of coffee and bacon, I made my way into the kitchen but stopped in the doorway. Adam, Savio, and Damian were sitting around the kitchen table while Kate was stirring something in a big pot. All eyes turned to me, and I swayed on my feet. I’d always been the enemy, the captive, and now I was what? A guest? An intruder? “Good morning,” I said then turned to Damian, fear clogging my throat. “How is he?” “Stable. A few broken bones, bruises, rupture of the spleen. He’s upstairs, knocked out with pain meds.” “He won’t like that one bit,” Savio said grinning. “You know he prefers pain to being helpless
—Ellie— Damian walked into the living room where Kate and I were sitting on a blanket with Samuel and Isabella. Kate was a natural with kids, and it was obvious how much she loved them. She held Samuel in her lap as she showed him a picture book. Isabella sat in my lap, her tiny hand wrapped around my thumb and looking down at the book in my free hand. I looked up at Damian but his eyes were on Kate, who was smiling down at my son, practically glowing with happiness. Slowly, he dragged his gaze up. “Tristan just woke up.” Without thinking, I got up with Isabella clinging to me. I didn’t want my kids there when I first talked to Tristan after he’d woken. I felt like we needed a moment before I could allow that. I untangled Isabella gently and laid her down on the blanket, then hesitated. Kate looked up with a smile. “Damian and I can watch them while you talk to Tristan.” Damian moved closer but I stayed where I was.
—Ellie— As far as patients went, Tristan was a nightmare. He was a nightmare in many other regards as well, but giving his body time to heal wasn’t on his agenda. Damian wasn’t happy about it. “You need to rest, Tristan. It’s been only three days and you’re already running around.” “I’ve had worse. Now stop the fucking fussing. I’m not a child.” “Maybe not. But I’m obviously the only one of the two of us capable of sane decisions.” “Neither of you is sane. Now help me with this fucking crib,” Savio muttered. I leaned in the doorway of the future nursery. Damian and Kate had gone shopping this morning, and now the four Russo brothers were trying to put together the furniture. Though Damian and Savio were doing all the work because Adam’s arm was in a cast and most of Tristan’s body was bandaged, not to mention the many broken bones in his body. Adam sat on a plush baby blue armchair, which sat close to the window. Sometim
—Ellie— Only one week until Christmas. The mansion was decorated beautifully with red baubles, golden tinsel, and sprigs of mistletoe. Luckily Isabella and Samuel weren’t mobile yet or the greenery would have had to go. I’d sent Mateo a few messages, telling him I was safe and asking if he was okay. He hadn’t replied yet but I knew he’d read the messages. Maybe his hurt was still too fresh. Five days weren’t enough to come to terms with the fact that your sister betrayed you for a man you hated more than anything in the world. My messages to Mom and Arianna hadn’t even been received. I suspected Dad had gotten new phones for them so I couldn’t contact them. I approached Kate as she stirred a new batch of baby food, a sweet potato puree. “Do you get Christmas presents for each other?” Damian had given me a credit card from one of the Russo bank accounts yesterday, and while I’d wanted to decline at first, I took the card. Tristan see
—Ellie— After bringing the twins to bed, I grabbed my phone and headed for Tristan’s bedroom. Damian had practically dragged him there so he could lie down and rest. I knocked. “Come in, Querido.” Frowning, I entered. “How did you know?” He regarded me with an expression that sent a little shiver down my spine. “Because my brothers don’t knock, they barge in, and Kate usually stays away from my bedroom.” I nodded, my hand still on the door, debating if I should leave it open just to be safe. Tristan smiled knowingly. “I’m practically bedridden. No reason to be worried. I won’t attack you.” Bedridden. As if. That man couldn’t be broken easily. I closed the door. I wasn’t worried about him making a move. I was worried I’d throw caution in the wind and do what I’d been dreaming of forever. “As if that would stop you.” He didn’t say anything. I held up my phone. “I thought you’d like to see photos of Samuel and Isabella
—Ellie— He sat up stiffly. “Straddle me with your ass facing me.” “What?” “Do it,” he ordered. I didn’t question him, could barely think straight from the throbbing between my legs. I pushed up and climbed over Tristan, careful not to ram my knees into his ribs. My palms rested beside his knees as I knelt over him, my ass pushing out. Tristan lifted up my dress until I was exposed and my core tightened in anticipation. “Fuck,” hr murmured, causing me to shiver again. I gasped when he pushed two fingers into me, my back arching at the delicious sensation of my walls gripping him. He let out a low groan, and I almost came hearing it. I could see the proof of his own need straining against his sweatpants. “The sight of your pussy taking my fingers is the fucking best.” I whimpered in response and began to meet his thrusts, needing his fingers deeper, faster, harder. “Yes, Querido, take them,” he rasped. More wetness pooled between my legs. I t
—Ellie— I quickly slid out of bed and rushed into the bathroom to wash my hands before I returned to the bedroom. Tristan stood beside the door, waiting for me. “You should stay in bed and rest,” I said. “I should help you with our children.” His voice didn’t allow any objections, and I had to stifle a pleased smile. By the time we arrived in the nursery, Samuel had started crying as well. I took Isabella because she didn’t know Tristan well enough. Tristan lifted Samuel out of the crib without hesitation and pressed him to his chest. It was obvious that he’d held a baby before, that he knew how to handle them. I took a whiff. “New diapers.” Tristan carried Samuel over to the changing table and began his work. I watched him for a moment longer, my body flooding with so many hormones, I could feel the waterworks beginning. I blinked and looked away. “I’ll go into the kitchen and prepare their bottles.” Tristan glanced up, his gaze lingering on
—Kate— Seeing his cousins run around, Alexei at only ten months, has been trying to walk. I was on the sofa in the game room laying down while he was on his play mat. He was currently on his hands and knees with with his little butt in the air, then he looked up at me not sure what time do next, not knowing how to stand straight. “Damian!” I called out, I was a three days past my due date and I couldn't do much of anything except lie down and rest and pray that this little boy is ready to make his debut soon. So I.couldn't carry Alexei, I needed help. Damian ran into the game room, panic and worry written all over his face. “Is it the baby? Is it time? Are you having contractions?” He asked me. “Calm down Damian, it's none of that. Your son is still very comfortable in my womb. But I really hope he comes soon because it's starting to get really uncomfortable.” I tell Damian. He walks over to me and then sees Alexei who is still in his awkward position and
—Damian— Months later, we were all gathered by the pool, Samuel and Isa ran around the garden, but Samuel was faster than his sister but that didn't stop her from doing her best to catch up. Me, Kate and Alexei were in the pool, Alexei was in his shark floaty what his uncle Savio got for him, it was his size but at the same time it looked like it could swallow him whole. “Soon you're going to be able to run around with your cousins.” Kate said to him and he just laughed and smiled at her. I swam and pushed him through the water, Kate was a few days away from her due date and she wasn't able to do much. She just leaned at the edge of the pool and watched everything with a smile on her face. I didn't think it was possible but pregnancy made her even more beautiful. She says she looks and feels like a beached whale so I spend every single free moment of my time in bed reminding her that she's not. Tristan and Ellie were on the lounge chairs as they kept an eye o
—Kate— It's been a week since that horrible day, and today is also a sad day in the house, Adam is leaving to New York today. I completely understand his reasoning behind his decision, but my cousin and Tristan are on the same level, Luca might even be worse, but if Adam survives a year under him, he'll he a better man for it. We were all gathered in the living room, saying goodbye to Adam. “You be good in New York ok.” I tell him and then I hug him, I'm really going to miss him, the house won't be the same without him. Adam nodded his head and then pulled back. “It's ok Katie, there's no need to worry, I'll be good, and I'll come back home for Fabian and Anna's wedding and also when you give birth to your little guy.” He tells me. I raised my eyebrows at him. “Little guy?” I ask him. “Yea, you're going to have a boy, I just know it.” He tells me with a little smile on his face. I just laughed. “Alright, we'll see if you're right when we check. But wil
—Damian— I walked into the game room the next day and all traces of the previous day were all gone. The blood, bullets and glass, they were all cleared and the whole room was back to normal. I looked up and the glass doors that led into the garden were open, Adam sat on the ground, his back to me. I went over to the garden and sat down next to him. I looked at him and he had bags and shadows under his eyes, it was clear he hadn't slept, then I looked at his hands and they were red. “Did you stay awake and clean the game room?” I ask him, because that had to be the only explanation, both Ellie and Kate were asleep and the cleaners had not come in. “Yea, I did, it was the least I could do.” He said but he didn't look at me, he was still staring at the grass. “You didn't need to do that Adam, you should've slept. Yesterday was hard on all of us, plus you're in withdrawal so you're tired that the rest of us.” I tell him, I know he feels guilty but this isn't
—Damian— Adam looked at me hoping that I would be the clear headed one and understand where he's coming from. “It's not forever, just for a year. If I'm under Luca's rule I know that there will be no mercy for me, he'll treat me like one if his soldiers, he won't care that I'm a Russo. Especially if you tell him not to be lenient to me, Luca is as cold and violent as you, he'd relish at the opportunity.” Adam explained. “There is a fragile peace between us Adam and Luca knows that if anything happens to you Tristan will rain hell down on New York to avenge you.” I tell him. “Yes but that's only if he kills me which he won't do. If I make a mistake he'll punish me and get me back in line because I'll be his soldier but here I'll always be your little brother.” Adam said. “If Luca catches you using drugs, he won't just punish you, he'll torture you and this time Ellie won't be there to save you. He'll do whatever he wants to you and you cannot object.” Trist
—Damian— As I walked down the stairs to the basement, I had to admit to myself that I wasn't at my full strength, the blood loss had taken enough from me, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. And just because I wasn't at my full strength did not mean that I wouldn't be able to do what needed to be done. I walked into the corridor of the basement and Tristan was standing there. “You're joining me?” He asked me. “Yea I am.” I tell him. He looked at me, scanning my face like he was looking for something but I had no idea what he was looking for. “Fabian has gone to pick up Anna from campus and Saviour can't join us because he has a concussion and needs to lay down. So it's just me and you.” He tells me. “No it's not.” A voice says from behind, both Tristan and I turn around and see Adam coming down the stairs. With everything that happened we haven't even been able to handle his matter, he's the cause of everything, I don't know if I can even fully bla
—Kate— “I don't think so, but it's better to be safe than sorry.” Fabian tells me and I nod my head, he's right. I walked over to where Tristan was and Ellie came around and hugged me. “I'm so happy that you and Alexei are okay.” She tells me and I hug her back. This woman that crashed into our lives has become like a sister to me and she almost lost her husband today because Tristan was ready to lay down his life for me and Alexei and even my unborn child. “What about Samuel and Isabella, are they okay?” I ask her. “Yea they're up in their room playing, I have their monitor here with me. They don't know that anything went wrong, they saw Tristan and thought it was paint on his body.” She tells me. “That's good.” I say then pull back, none of the kids will remember this day, they won't be scarred by it. I turned to Tristan and tears welled up in my eyes, this man that acts so cold, like he doesn't have a heart, but out of all the brothers, I think he
—Kate— Damian let go of my hands and walked towards his brothers, all of them except for Adam, were covered in blood and were still bleeding from their cuts but these stubborn men wouldn't do anything about it until they end their mother. Fabian gets up and walks towards me, he has a cut on his head that's bleeding. “Come on Katie, you and Alexei need to get out of your clothes, take a shower and put on fresh clothes.” He tells me. I nodded my head at him but still I didn't move, my eyes were fixed on the brothers kneeled around their mother, this moment here had been years in the making and I'm just happy that finally they'll be able to put the past behind them. Tristan and Damian both put one hand on the hilt of the knife. They looked to Savio and Adam who nodded their heads, giving their concent and then they changed the angle of the knife and plunged the knife deeper into her stomach. She gasped and then she released a breath and stopped moving, she was dead, final
—Kate— I watched as the man I love and his brothers that I cared about, bleed out to save me and my baby. I looked down as their blood pooled on the floor beneath them and I couldn't breathe. I couldn't let this happen, they couldn't die just like that. Alexei and I needed Damian, Ellie and the twins needed Tristan and Savio, sweet Saviour he hadn't even had the chance to find love or happiness in this life, I couldn't let it end like this. Their mother gestured at one of her men. “You, get me that knife, we don't want them doing anything stupid with it.” She said. “I'm not your dog that you can order around, remember we're just helping you and we've done everything you've asked so give us the rest of our money.” The man told her. The smile on her face got wider, she wasn't phased at all. “I know what I promised you and there's plenty of money in the backseat of the car, it's under the arm rest, now get me that knife.” She ordered them again, I looked at her an