Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

Despite the cold weather, we took a stroll along the beach the next day. Simona was strapped to Giulia’s front in the sling while Daniele and Loulou jogged along the edge of the water. The dog barked at the waves, trying to snap at the frothing water.

What a stupid thing, but it made Daniele and Giulia smile, so it could stay for now. Seagulls soared over our heads. Giulia held out her hand, and I linked our fingers after a moment of hesitation, worried about Daniele’s reaction, but he didn’t seem to care. His attention was on the dog and the ocean.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I took it out to find a message from Faro.

Call me ASAP

Frowning, I pushed the phone back into my pocket. The wind roared too loudly for a phone conversation.

“What is it?” Giulia asked.

“We need to head back to the house. I need to call Faro.”

Her face fell, and for half a second I considered ignoring Faro’s message, but I’d told him not to bother me unless it was important. “Oh, sure.”

I squeezed her hand. “We can head out tomorrow morning again.”

She nodded then called, “Loulou, Daniele, come here!”

Both the dog and my boy turned to her and skipped toward us. For a moment Daniele’s face reminded me of the past, almost as childishly innocent as back then.

The moment we were back in the beach house, I called Faro while Giulia cleaned sand off the dog and Daniele.

Simona crawled on the floor, chasing a ball that rattled in the most annoying way. “What is it? I hope it’s important. I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“While you were busy banging your young wife, Luca went berserk. He killed his Uncles Gottardo and Ermano, and that cousin of his whose brother’s throat he crushed.”

I leaned back, shocked. “What the fuck happened?”

“Nobody really knows. Matteo’s not very forthcoming with information. It’s rumored Luca chopped up the entire new chapter of the Tartarus MC in Jersey too.”

Simona tugged at my pants and slowly pulled herself up. I reached out to steady her as she grinned toothlessly up at me.

“There are rumors that he’s on the hunt for traitors… some suspect it’s got something to do with his wife. This is hush-hush, but she went to Chicago where she met Dante fucking Cavallaro.”

I braced myself on my thighs, my thoughts spinning out of control. “Do you think Aria was in on the betrayal?”

“She’s still alive.”

Luca and Aria had appeared happy on the outside, or as happy as a marriage in our world could be, especially if the husband was a man like Luca… or myself.

Giulia appeared in the living room, worry clouding her face as she looked at me. Slowly, she walked closer.

“I’ll be back tonight. Arrange a meeting. My father needs to be there as well.” If Luca went on a major killing spree like that, I needed to make sure my own city was cleaner than clean.

“Will do.”

I hung up.

Giulia sank down beside me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Your face says something else.”

“It’s business. Luca killed two Underbosses. His Uncles Gottardo and Ermano.”

She jerked, eyes filling with shock. I realized how inconsiderate I’d been. They were her uncles too, but I’d never gotten the impression that she liked either of them very much, which wasn’t surprising. They had been sadistic egomaniacs.

“Are you sad about your uncles?”

She looked as if I’d pulled her out of her daze then gave a sharp shake of her head. “I’m worried about you. What if Luca gets rid of more Underbosses?”

“He won’t get rid of me. Not unless I give him reason to, and I haven’t.”

She nodded slowly, then her eyes widened again. “Kiara!”

“Who?”

“My cousin Kiara. She’s Ermano’s daughter. What about her and my aunt?”

“I don’t know. Faro didn’t mention anything.”

She gripped my arm. “Cassio, please find out. Kiara is only twelve. What if she got hurt?”

“I doubt Luca would hurt a child.”

Her worried expression compelled me to pick up my phone again. Usually I would have called Luca directly, but that seemed unwise in the current situation. “Pack our bags and get Simona and Daniele ready. We need to leave in thirty minutes. I’ll ask my father about Kiara.”

Father picked up at once. “Faro told you?”

“He did. That can wait until our meeting. I need info on Ermano’s daughter and wife.”

“The kid is alive, but Ermano shot his wife.”

Father’s voice held a note that set my teeth on edge. “All right. I’ve been talking to friends in New York, trying to get a feel for Luca’s current mood, if he’s done killing—”

“Everything’s going to be fine.”

“You should have told him everything, Cassio.”

“Father, it’s going to be fine. The past is the past. Telling Luca now would definitely be my death sentence.”

I hung up and went into the bedroom where Giulia was packing our bags. Her eyes were fearful when she met my gaze.

“Kiara is alive but her mother’s dead.”

Giulia covered her mouth with her palm. “What’s going to happen to her?”

“Luca still got a few relatives he could ask to take the girl in.” I took the bags from her. “Come now. I really need to get back.”

She nodded slowly, still looking a bit stunned. I walked over to her, cupping her cheek. “Everything will be fine.”

The drive back passed in relative silence. Giulia was lost in thought, and Simona fell asleep as she usually did in the car.

Elia and Domenico were already in my house when we arrived. They helped carry everything inside. Giulia followed me as I changed into my usual business attire.

“Where’s the meeting taking place?”

I knotted my tie. “You don’t know the place. It’s a nightclub.”

I could tell that Giulia wanted to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to talk business with her. I kissed her lips lightly. “Don’t wait up tonight. It’ll be very late.”

On my way out of the house, I called Faro again. “Everything set up?”

“Yes, everyone’s on their way.”

“Have our watchers said anything about movement in the clubhouse?”

“They seem to have a meeting. All the bikes are in front of the club.”

Now that Luca had destroyed an entire chapter in cold blood, the retribution of the MC was only a matter of time. They were volatile, bound by fewer rules than us. It was part of my life I didn’t want Simona, Daniele, or Giulia to be part of. I’d do my best to protect them from it.

After Cassio was gone, I grabbed my phone and sank down on the sofa. Simona was busy with a picture book that simulated animal noises, and Daniele sat on the blanket beside her, only half focused on his game while he kept throwing glances toward his sister’s book.

Loulou curled up beside me, and I began stroking her soft fur at once, hoping it would calm me. Since Cassio had told me about my uncles, my heart had been beating faster than usual. In the mob, falling from grace usually meant your death. I wasn’t sad about the death of my uncles. They had been bad men, even by our very twisted standards, but I was worried what it meant for Cassio, for us, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my poor cousin, Kiara, who was now an orphan.

I called Dad’s number. He didn’t pick up after the first few rings, which was unusual for him. He always made time for me. What if Luca had decided to get rid of him too? It wasn’t a secret that Dad wasn’t his favorite. Marrying me off to Cassio was supposed to guarantee Dad’s position, but would Cassio really protect him? They didn’t like each other very much. Maybe for me, Cassio would put a good word in about my father.

Finally, Dad took the call, and I slumped in relief.

“Giulia, tonight’s not the best time for a call.”

“Are you all right? I heard what happened.”

Dad sighed. “I’m fine. I can’t deny it, it’s been disturbing to hear about Luca taking down one family member after the other, but I’ve never done anything that could be construed as betrayal.”

“What’s going to happen with Kiara? Have you heard anything?”

“Matteo contacted us and asked if we’d be willing to take her in.”

Dad’s voice made it clear that he wasn’t fond of the idea. “She needs a home and we’re family.”

“Your mother and I have worked hard to improve our family’s standing, taking in a traitor’s daughter could ruin all our efforts.”

“Dad,” I said, shocked. “She’s twelve. She’s innocent. Please don’t tell me you’ll refuse to take her in because of something her father did. That would be exceedingly cruel.”

Dad was silent for a moment. It wasn’t that I didn’t think him capable of cruelty, but he preferred not to appear that way in my eyes. “Luca might not give us much of a choice anyway. With the way things are going, disappointing him could be too risky.”

“Then don’t risk it and give Kiara a home.”

“How are things between Cassio and you?”

“Good.”

“They are?” Dad asked as if he didn’t trust his ears. It saddened me, knowing that he’d expected the worst from Cassio and had still given me to him.

“They are. Promise to call me as soon as you know more about Kiara, okay?”

“I will. Your mother wants a word with you.”

I stifled a sigh. Knowing Mom, she was probably alarmed the recent development with Kiara might kill her social standing, and that meant she was already planning how to take countermeasures—ones that usually involved me or Christian.

“Giulia, how are you?” The forced cheer in her voice confirmed my suspicions.

“Okay. A bit worried about Kiara.”

“When can your father and I expect a grandchild from you?”

All right. That was her plan. “Simona and Daniele are both young. Taking care of them takes up all my time and energy.”

“They aren’t yours, Giulia. You have to make clever decisions. Having a child of your own will solidify your position, especially if you have a boy who might become Underboss.”

“Daniele will be Underboss, Mom. And if I ever want a child, it won’t be for tactical purposes.” Cassio and I hadn’t discussed children yet. He’d insisted I take the pill, which I would have done anyway because I definitely didn’t want to get pregnant at the moment. I wanted to be the best mother for Daniele and Simona, and a third child wouldn’t make the task any easier.

“Now that you’re a wife, you can’t afford being naïve.”

I sighed. “I need to hang up now. Simona needs me.” I didn’t wait for her reply. Lowering the phone, I watched Daniele push the animal images in the picture book alongside Simona. The cacophony of meows, mooohs, and woof-woofs caused them to laugh. I leaned back with a smile. Every day, they captured more of my heart.

I tried to wait up for Cassio, but eventually I drifted off, awkwardly curled up in the armchair in front of the fireplace.

I wasn’t sure what time it was when cold hands touched my arm, jerking me out of my slumber. It was dark in the room except for the dying embers in the hearth dancing before my tired eyes. Cassio hovered over me, smelling of gunpowder, smoke, and whisky. “I told you not to wait for me.”

“What time is it?” I slurred, my tongue and muscles heavy.

“Late.”

I tried to make out Cassio’s face to connect the tense note in his voice to his expression, but the darkness concealed his features. Reaching out, I touched his arm. The crisp fabric of his shirt stuck to his skin. It was stiff against my fingertips, crusted with something. Cassio pulled out of my grasp with a sharp intake.

I was momentarily wide awake. “Cassio?”

I sat up and Cassio took a step back from me, out of my reach. “Go to bed, Giulia. Now.”

I stood, moving toward him. The dying embers didn’t give off enough light to see much, but part of his white shirt was dark. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

“Giulia, to bed. Now.”

“No. I’m not a child, I’m your wife, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re fine.”

“Your insolence is driving me to the brink.”

“I think you like my insolence.”

He sighed and walked out. I followed after him. The foyer was dark too. My worry increased with every step and Cassio’s continued silence. When we finally arrived in our bedroom, I turned on the light switch. My heart dropped, seeing the blood on Cassio’s white shirt. Most of it had dried, only a small splotch on his arm looked fresher. Cassio continued into the bathroom without a word, but his expression conveyed his disapproval as I followed. “What happened?”

Cassio unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off, but one of his sleeves stuck to his arm. I cringed when I saw the wound it was stuck to. I grabbed a towel and dabbed it into warm water then pushed Cassio’s hand away. I soaked the bloody material of his sleeve, waiting for it to become unstuck from the long cut so there wouldn’t be further damage.

Cassio watched me almost curiously, no sign that someone had obviously used his forearm as a cutting board. I carefully unfastened his shirt, and Cassio gave the slightest twitch but didn’t make a sound. “Not your first rodeo, hmm?” I needed to make light of the situation before my worry for my husband drove me into a panic attack. What if something happened to him? What would I do with two small children, a huge house, and a slightly twisted dog?

“It’s only a shallow cut. I’ll survive.”

I laughed but it sounded forced. Once the wound was freed from the confines of his shirt, Cassio dropped the ruined garment on the floor. “I can handle this.” He took a first aid kit from a cupboard beneath the sink.

“Won’t you tell me what happened?”

He cleaned his wound but when I didn’t look away, he sighed. “I’m not sure you should know the details of my business.”

“I’m part of your life, so let me be a part of it.”

The hesitation remained in his eyes. He looked down to his wound and patched it up with butterfly strips. “Luca’s been dealing with traitors as well as an MC that’s been giving us trouble.”

At the confused look on my face, he added, “Motorcycle club. They’re stronger in the south, especially Texas, New Mexico, and Florida, but chapters have been popping up around here. Luca asked me to see what the local chapter was up to. We captured one, a strong fighter. He got me with his knife.”

“Why would you get involved in this? Why don’t you send your men to deal with this? My father would never risk his life in an attack.”

Cassio smiled ironically. “That’s why your father isn’t the best Underboss. If you want your men’s loyalty, you have to show them that you’re willing to fight at their side.”

I shook my head. “That’s how people get killed.”

“Are you worried about me?”

I wrapped my arm around his middle and pressed my cheek to his chest. “Promise me to be more careful.”

“I’m always careful.”

“The wound tells a different story.”

“Let’s get you into bed now. It’s—”

Simona’s cry rang from the speakers. “No bed for me.”

Cassio pressed his palm to my lower back and nudged me toward the bed. “You go to sleep and I’ll handle Simona.”

“You need to rest—”

“No. Let me handle her.”

I realized he needed to do it, to hold his little daughter. Maybe it was his way to remind himself of the good in this world.

“All right.” I sank down on the bed, feeling completely drained. Cassio kissed me briefly before he headed for the nursery.

I’d grown up in the mafia world. Death and danger were constant companions, but Dad had never come home injured. He knew how to stay out of trouble and let others risk their lives for him. I admired Cassio for his bravery. Yet at the same time, I wished he were a coward like Dad so he’d be safe. For his children… and me.