AUCTIONED TO HER DAD’S MAFIA ENEMIES: A MAFIA AGE-GAP REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE (AUCTIONED SERIES Book 4)

THE GIFT OF LOYALTY

It doesn’t take long to pack up the house. Andre and Vito carry the bags out to the SUV, Luca spins the keys around his finger, waiting to lock up, and Aemelia stands around looking pretty.

My god. She’s beautiful. Like the first sun breaking through the bleakest of winter skies over this sprawling city. Effortless in a knitted dress and long boots, her hair loose and trailing down her back, her face bare of makeup. Aemelia smiles at Antonio, who keeps appearing with cannoli like some kind of deranged grandmother intent on fattening up her grandkid. Watching him try to spoil her is fucking amusing and poignant.

I sip coffee, wanting to be alert. Although the risks in this transfer are minimal, my sleep-clouded brain needs help.

“Let’s go,” Luca shouts.

“Hang on.” I gulp the last of the hot, black liquid and drop the mug into the sink.

“Rinse it,” he barks, so I do, and rest it on the drainer for the next time our asses need to hide out.

We leave the house and hustle Aemelia into the back of the SUV. Antonio drives, Luca takes the passenger seat, and I get to sit next to our princess.

I reach over to take hold of her belt and tuck her in safely. She smells of jasmine, roses and vanilla creme. Delicious.

“I can do that myself,” she says.

“Yes, kitten. But I want to do it for you. This is what it means to be ours.”

I touch her cheek, then her soft silky hair. When I plant a kiss on her cheek, she smiles. “I get that one for free, huh?”

“Don’t get used to it.”

Vito and Andre pull away from the curb, and Antonio follows, resting his elbow on the car door. Luca’s phone rings, and he talks business in the usual way, saying very little that could be picked up by wiretaps. These days, he’s shifted most of our business into gambling and construction, but there are still legacy commitments that it’s harder to shut down.

It takes thirty minutes for us to reach the penthouse, and Aemelia spends most of the time looking out the window, and I spend most of my time looking at her. When I take her hand and press it to my mouth, her smile is a little wary.

“Today, we’ll eat, drink and be merry.”

She nods, biting her bottom lip. “I want you to tell my mama I’m okay.”

It’s not an unreasonable request that we can fulfill. “We can do that.”

“And my aunt.”

“What about her?”

“I’d like to see her… under the circumstances.”

The woman looked like she was halfway over the threshold of death’s door. “Talk to Luca.”

She nods, and I squeeze her hand as Antonio signals to pull over in front of our building. The underground parking garage should open automatically, but there’s a sign pinned to the gate that reads ‘Ongoing Maintenance.’

Antonio swears. “Who ordered this?”

Luca tuts, still on the phone.

“Just pull up outside, and we can park the car later,” I say, pointing to a space behind Vito’s car. Behind us, Gabe and Matteo park up two vehicles away.

I jump out of the car and round the back to open the door for Aemelia. She slides both perfect legs off the edge of the seat and slips into the space between the door and the vehicle. Luca’s still talking animatedly, his free hand gesticulating wildly. Aemelia’s eyes drift from mine to the space over my shoulder, and then suddenly, she shoves me so hard that I lose my footing, dropping awkwardly onto the asphalt. I reach for her on my way down, convinced she’s trying to make a run for it despite what we said, but then she falls on top of me, and the sound of firecrackers cuts through the air, followed by Antonio swearing and Luca going suddenly silent.

Not firecrackers.

Gunshots.noveldrama

I grab Aemelia around the waist and roll her body beneath mine, holding her so tightly, her breathing becomes labored. I reach for my gun, pulling it from my back, twisting to fire it in the direction Aemelia was looking. More gunshots tear the air, faster than my racing heart, as Vito and Andre unload their clips. A car engine revs, and tires squeal and it’s over in seconds that felt like the worst kind of slow motion.

I stare down at Aemelia, shock hitting like a slap to the cheek. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Her voice cracks. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

I scramble to my feet and tug her up, still sheltering her with my body. “Inside,” I shout, and we run into the secure lobby as our men finally do their fucking jobs and provide cover for us.

The lobby, all bright marble, white sofas, and bronze accents, make a strange sanctuary. I drag Aemelia into the stairwell and up a flight of stairs before seeking out the elevator to take us to the top floor. Once we’re inside, Antonio and Luca swear, punching the button for the penthouse, and we all look at Aemelia—the dirt on her dress, her disheveled hair, her scuffed boots—she’s alive and only superficially harmed.

“She saved my life.” I yank her against me, cupping the top of her head with my palm and kissing her hard on the forehead. “She pushed me down.” I don’t know if I’d have been hit, but it doesn’t matter. Her first thought was to save me before she thought about herself.

The elevator bell dings, the doors slide open, and Antonio covers the sensor with his hand, but none of us move. This girl was our captive, but she just proved her loyalty.

Fuck everything else in this world.

We’re never letting her go.

***

The penthouse carries its familiar, clean scent, the space meticulously tidy, the windows stretching to reveal the skyline beyond. I lead Aemelia to the kitchen, settling her onto a stool at the counter with another kiss, and open the cupboard to retrieve the brandy and four glasses. I pour double measures into three and hand Aemelia the single. We all knock it back, the liquid burning as it makes its descent to settle our nerves.

“Come,” I tell Aemelia, holding out my hand. I lead her to her room and, at the doorway, say, “Stay here while we talk. I’ll come to you when we’re done.” She nods, and I close the door behind her.

Back in the open plan living area, Antonio exhales sharply, rubbing a hand over his jaw as if trying to ground himself. Luca shakes his head, darkness turning his clear blue eyes to the depth of the ocean.

“A hit?” Luca finally asks, his voice controlled, but there’s rage simmering beneath the surface.

“Looked like a warning.” Antonio clenches his hands into fists.

“They’re dead,” I growl, throwing my hands in the air, fingers splayed wide. My heart is still hammering, my blood surging through my veins with a mix of adrenaline and fury. Whoever just tried to take a shot at us—at her—signed their death warrant.

Luca straightens; his decision is made. “We find out who sent them. This goes higher than a few bottom feeders.”

Antonio nods, his expression dark. “We have to keep her safe.”

“No one will touch her,” I grind out. “No one will damage even a fingernail.”

No one takes what belongs to us.

Not now. Not ever again.