—Tristan— “I never considered marriage an option for the two of us,” Damian said thoughtfully as we stopped beside the pool. “I never thought I’d find a woman I wouldn’t want to kill after a few hours.” Isabella gave me a toothy grin, and I stroked her hair back. It had grown quite long and curled slightly like Adam’s hair did. “Hmm, mia cara, ready for your first swim?” Samuel was nestled in Damian’s arm and as usual making grabby hands at the colorful tattoos. I could already guess what he wanted to get once he was older. Fabian was already lounging on the pink flamingo float Savio had used before I’d banned any kind of whoring in the mansion. I rolled my eyes at him. “That’s a disturbing sight.” Fabian shrugged. “It’s comfortable.” Savio and Adam were playing water ball close to the waterfall in the pool and bickering as usual. It was the first swim for the babies since we didn’t have a heated pool before and only had it installed now that t
—Damian— Having a small wedding in our circles was a social faux-pas, especially if a Don married, but I was glad Tristan and Eleanor had chosen to keep it in the family. It made the preparations less complicated, particularly the safety measures. Of course, it would have been even less hassle if Tristan hadn’t chosen to invite Ellie’s cousin. “I don’t trust him,” I said quietly as Tristan got dressed in one of the guestrooms in my wing. He wasn’t supposed to see Ellie before the ceremony. Kate and Ellie were really adamant about it. Kate had been going absolutely overboard taking on the entire organization of the decoration, cooking, song selection, and everything else. Tristan closed the last button of his black dress shirt. “Neither do I, but Mateo would do anything for his cousin. I see how close Samuel and Isabella already are, even though they’re still small. Ellie and Mateo have formed a bond all their lives. He won’t do anything that could hurt her.”
—Damian— Isabella fumbled for the flower, grabbed it with her small fingers and stuffed it into her mouth. “Careful,” Savio hissed. “They are edible, don’t worry,” Kate said and started laughing. Part of the flower peeked out between Isa’s pouty lips. Her eyes darted from Kate to Savio then me and Samuel. Kates’s eyes flew back to the mansion where Anna was waving at her. “I think my presence is required. Can you take her?” Savio’s eyebrows shot up. “I never held her. She’ll cry.” “Give it a try,” I said. Isabella had been watching Savio with more interest these last couple of weeks, more willing to tolerate his easy-going nature than my more reserved approach. Savio leaned down so he was eyelevel with Isa who still had two petals stuck to her mouth. “All righty doll-face, I’m going to take you know. No crying.” Kate held her out and Savio carefully took her, and then held her against his chest. Isa’s eyes had grown wide but she was still quiet.
—Ellie— The wedding was scheduled for late afternoon. I chose a Boho-style dress without pearls or a bodice. The top was knitted with a V-neckline, and the skirt flowed freely around my body, touching the ground in soft waves. My hair was down and fell in untamed curls around my shoulders. I allowed myself another moment to regard my reflection. Today I was absolutely certain of my love for my future husband. Tristan held my heart in an iron grip, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Love can bloom in the darkest place, and ours did wildly, freely, untamable. I hadn’t thought it possible to feel that way for someone; occasionally I’d dreamed of it or foolishly hoped for it, but I knew it to be a rare gift in our circles. I left our bedroom and walked through the silent hallways of the mansion, a place that had become my home and a safe haven for Isabella and Samuel. Russo. A name we all would carry with pride. A name that our kids would always be able
—Ellie— “Thank you for bringing him here, Tristan.” I touched his chest, hoping he could see just how fiercely I loved him. “Whatever’s in there, it’s yours,” he said with a dark smile. “And I love every part of it, of you, the good, the bad, the light, the dark, even your blackest corners.” His eyes flashed with fierce affection. Damian did the ceremony since we didn’t want any outsiders around for our special day. He’d gotten the license to do so only recently, which didn’t pose a big problem in Las Vegas. We kept the ceremony short, foregoing a long-winded traditional speech before we spoke our vows. We each had chosen rings for the other that we hadn’t seen yet. I took Tristan’s hand and slipped the ring on. It was a black tungsten carbide ring with an ebony wood inlay. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Carbide is twice as strong as steel,” I whispered. “Because you are the strongest man I know.” I smiled at the flicker of adoration in his eyes. “A
—Damian— The wedding ceremony passed without incident and Ellie was very happy about her cousin’s presence, which led to my brother being happy as well. Seeing Tristan content at all was a rare experience, so I tried to make peace with Mateo’s attendance. There would be enough time to kill him later once Ellie had gotten used to being without him. I didn’t miss Adam’s furious eyes when he saw one of his tormentors. He hadn’t argued when Tristan and I had asked him if it was okay for Mateo to attend. I made my way over to him, while Ellie and Tristan talked to Mateo. Adam stood off to the side, smoking. Tristan and I had given up trying to bring an end to this habit. He was almost sixteen, old enough to decide for himself. Taking another drag, he tore his eyes from Mateo when he noticed me. “Are you all right?” I asked. “Sure,” he murmured. Then put out the cigarette on his forearm where the burn scars marred his tattoo. I gripped his wrist hard to st
—Tristan— “Tristan,” she said, half angry, half desperate. I closed my mouth over her clit as I slammed my fingers into her, and she arched up, crying out my name as her release shook her body. I kept thrusting and suckling until she began jerking, overwhelmed by the sensation. Sliding my fingers out of her channel, I dipped my tongue in, causing her to let out another low moan. I pushed to my feet, shoving down my pants and crashing my lips down against hers so she could taste herself. “Ready to be fucked now?” I growled. “Oh yes,” she groaned, her marble cheeks flushed with desire. I hoisted her up against the door, her dress bunched between our bodies as she wrapped her legs around my hips. Locking gazes, I drove into her in one hard thrust. Her walls clamped down around my cock, and she tilted her head back with a gasp, baring that perfect throat. I marked her unblemished skin, my fingers digging into her soft thighs as I slammed into her again and again. She
—Kate— A couple of days after the wedding, Ellie, Anna and I poured ourselves glasses of champagne and settled on the sun chairs. We still had a few leftover bottles from the wedding and now that Fabian had asked for Anna’s hand, we had reason to celebrate. “I still can’t believe he asked me to marry him,” Anna whispered, beaming at the diamond ring on her finger. “The wedding seemed to motivate him,” Ellie said with a smile. I raised my glass. “See, I told you he would ask.” Within the first hour we started our second bottle, and somehow we ended up talking about sex. The alcohol helped lower our inhibitions, though Ellie was definitely the one with the least problems to discuss those matters, which wasn’t that strange considering who she was married to—being around Tristan all the time, you just got desensitized. “What was the strangest place where you’ve had sex?” Ellie asked over her glass, her eyes glowing with mischief. Anna considered that with
—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