SeraWith nothing else to focus on, I had plenty of time to plan a party before Christmas Eve. Killian had plenty of time to plan the cull of a syndicate.The staff was thrilled to be allowed to add joy and color to the old mansion. Even though it was already decorated, Killian gave the green light (aka his black card) to go and buy whatever we needed. A few days after that, snowflakes hung from the ceiling, mistletoe from doorframes, wreaths on every door, fake snow tucked into corners, hallway tables had diorama scenes, and every single stair railing was coiled with garland. It looked like something out of a Hallmark movie.The only one complaining was Giuliana. “Too many lights! That’s not where that goes! That Santa looks gouache!” But no one listened to Giuliana because there was magic in the house, for the first time in a long time.Late one night, after everyone had gone to bed, I was still wired from the hard work of the day, so I convinced Killian to cuddle and make out in my
Sera“What are you thinking about?” Killian asked softly.I blinked out of my daze. “Have you ever thought of being something else? Besides a racecar driver. In a different life, what could you be?”His brow creased in confusion, rightfully feeling like he missed the first half of a conversation, but answered, “I’ve never thought about it. What is, is. There’s no point in trying to be someone I could never be.”It was a bleak response, and maybe I’d been expecting the secret romantic to answer, not the mafia king. But I didn’t press it if I would only get the blunt realist.“So you…want to be a Don until the day you die?” I whispered, suddenly overcome with desperation.Real worry entered his gray-blue gaze, and he gripped my waist as if to ground me from drifting away. “What’s come over you, Sera?”“I don’t know,” I croaked. “I’m a little afraid, I guess.”“Of?”My mother’s well-intended but misconstrued words of warning echoed in my mind. Her stories, too. Love was rare in these fam
SeraI groggily opened my eyes, blinking sleep away as I stretched out luxuriously and rolled onto my side. “Tesoro?”Killian was gone. But that was okay. He needed to review the last few details of the Andre mission, and I needed to focus on preparing the last few details for tonight’s party.I danced across the room with an invisible partner, humming “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, fizzy with excitement. A party! A ball! It was any girl’s dream to have a princess-movie celebration with big dresses and upbeat music, imagining the perfect man falling instantly in love with you and waltzing you to your happily ever after.Princess movies didn’t have mobsters, but everything else was mostly obtainable.I got ready to go downstairs and start preparing, not putting too much effort into my hair since I would be running around half the day, and hurried to the kitchen.I skidded to a halt when I saw what a raging storm it was. Pepper and Rosemary were forces of nature as they cooked and plate
KillianFidanzato. Fidanzata.Boyfriend. Girlfriend.Sera and I were an official couple, just as she had wanted for a while now. And it didn’t feel different between us, which was one of my irrational fears. If we had new titles, there would be new commitments and unspoken rules set by society. Was I expected to bring her flowers and remember first dates and hold her hand at certain times? Sera, with a secret taste for luxury, was otherwise simple to please. But it was already established that she liked sentimental gifts that had more personal touches behind them. She liked memories.And damn, would I make the best ones for her.Including indulging her pleas for friends.I wasn’t a fan of her “comfy” clothes, which made her look like a college student with barely enough money to buy groceries. I wanted to rip them off and take her on my desk. I’d had a taste of her last night and it had satiated me, but now I was hungry for more.I shook my head and scrubbed at my face. Get a grip, Ri
SeraPenny and I walked the length of the mall with our arms laden with bags. Behind us, Alonzo and Reggie carried a few more, looking like they’d rather be in the middle of a gunfight. But at least they didn’t complain like Patrick had.“It’s so nice to be out of maternity clothes.” Penny sighed in relief as we tried on dresses for the party. She stepped out of the changing room to twirl for me. “What do you think?”“Stunning, mama!” She did look amazing; her olive skin offset the rich emerald green of a sexy but modest green dress. “I think that’s the one.”“Really?” She swished the fabric in the mirror. Then she stopped. My smile faded before she asked softly, “Do you think Mikey would have liked it?”I wanted to tell her that I didn’t know Mikey well enough to know, but that wasn’t the right thing to say at all. I went over to her and took her hand until she looked at me, her eyes glossy with tears she was trying hard to hold back. “He’d say you look absolutely beautiful, Penelope
KillianTommaso got a kick out of my “lost puppy look” when Olivia told me Sera had just left with Penelope (and Alonzo and Reggie; at least she honored my protective wishes sometimes) to go shopping.“What does the king do when his queen’s not here?” He chuckled.Olivia scowled at both of us like we were misbehaving teenagers. “Kings and their royal advisors follow their queen’s orders to look nice for the ball.”Tommaso scoffed in offense. “I look nice!”Olivia’s gaze raked him up and down. I had no idea where she got the gall to treat us like this, but I was too impressed to pull her off her pedestal. Sera’s stubbornness and impetuousness must have brought out the maid’s.“Yes, but not party-ready. Mr. Ricci, lend him one of your silk suits. Sera’s orders.”“Are they now?” Tommaso mused, only half believing her.Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “Yes.” Then she slammed the double doors in our faces.“Why,” Tommaso said as headed to my room, “did that hurt more than a knife to the gut?”I rol
SeraTears sprang to my eyes at the sight of my best friend.“Emma!” I shrieked, forgetting about my party getup, and flung my arms around her neck. “Emma, you’re here. Oh my! I can’t believe you’re here.” I pulled away. “You look amazing!”Emma Burns, my best friend for years and roommate during college and our first year teaching together, stood before me looking out of place but happy to see me. She was tall and willowy, with cornsilk hair in bouncy ringlets just above her shoulders, green eyes also shiny with tears, and lips curved in a huge smile. She wore a pretty light blue dress with fluffy white trim on the neckline and sleeves.“No, you look amazing! You look like a rich trophy wife. I can’t believe you’re here in front of me.”I squealed and crushed her in another hug. I thought I’d let go of my past life after saying goodbye to Jim, but as it turned out, as of this moment, I had only let go of him and my position at Jefferson. I hadn’t said goodbye to Emma. And now, I refu
KillianSera’s near-comical reaction to her best friend’s appearance was well worth her disappointment in thinking I was denying her that happiness. I thought I’d seen her happy before, but this was so much more compared to that. She was on cloud nine.Selfishly, I wanted to steal her away from Emma after a good hour of them chatting it up over Rosemary’s desserts. It hadn’t been difficult to get Emma here, but she’d had a lot of questions I refused to answer. I needed to make sure she was safe once this was all over. I’d taken out a lot of our enemies, but Sera was still a wanted woman.I wanted to dance with her in that form-fitting dress and stare at her ample bosom.I set my glass of wine down. Why did it feel like I’d drunk twice past my limit?“Is someone jealous?”I started at Caterina’s voice but didn’t let it show. Like all of the other women, she was a vision. We hadn’t spoken yet today, and part of me was hoping I wouldn’t have to. “Ridiculous.”“Look,” she said without pre