It had been three weeks since Matteo’s surgery, one week since the bombshell Dom dropped at the family dinner. We were on high alert, but it was hard to feel the urgency behind the walls of the De Lucci mansion.
Matteo and I were getting into a routine. We frequently spent leisurely mornings joining his parents for breakfast in the sunroom. Bianca returned to Harvard and lived with a relative in Cambridge with added security like Fort Knox. Nico stayed in Hell’s Kitchen to stay close to Renz and Liz.
Everyone was keeping an eye on everyone.
A special family meeting was called this evening. Matteo hinted it was time to tell me his secrets. I had visions of a blood exchange. From what I’d gleaned so far in the comings and goings of Dom and the closed-door discussions with Matteo’s side, this was more than mafia business. It involved an overarching operation that spanned both the legitimate and illegitimate side of the family.
“So, how’s De Lucci doing?” Luca asked me on the phone. After breakfast, Matteo and Mr. De Lucci went into the study while his mom went to Eamonn’s. I loved talking business operations with his mother. She wasn’t merely a trophy wife. I could see how Ava kept Cesar on his toes. I wondered if that was Matteo’s fate with me. I smiled inwardly.
“He’s recovering nicely.”
“He’s a lucky bastard.”
“Of course he is. He married me.”
Luca chuckled. “Great mentality. But how is his recovery? Any issues?”
“His liver panel came back with good numbers. No alcohol yet.” But that was upon my request, not the doctor’s.
“That would kill me.”
“Don’t say that. If Matteo could survive without alcohol in the last three weeks, you could do it too if you set your mind to it.”
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit for putting up with a man whose scotch has been banned.”
“You give me too much credit.” Although admittedly, Matteo had called me a PITA.
“Just don’t forget to take care of yourself too.”
“Aw, you worry about me too much. I’m fine,” I said. “The De Luccis are great.”
“It seems they can do no wrong in your eyes.”
“Hey, do I detect jealousy?” I laughed.
“Not at all.” He was totally jealous. My uncle was highly competitive.
“You should find a woman to marry,” I told him.
“I’m hanging up now.”
I laughed harder. “Seriously, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“The boss of the biggest organization in Italy is now your jilted groom. He hasn’t come out and declared war yet, but your husband is out of commission. Of course I’m worried. I should send Rocco and Tony for your additional protection.”
“Do not send Tony and Rocco,” I warned. “Stop undermining Matteo. He’s on top of it.”
Silence.
“I’m serious, Luca.” I wasn’t admitting to my uncle that I’d noticed a psychological vulnerability in my husband in the weeks following his attack. He’d been regaining self-confidence. I’d be damned before I let him put doubts in my husband. Matteo was used to calling the shots. The injury had definitely taken its toll on him more than what was physical.
After another few seconds of silence, he said, “Fine.”
I ended the call just as Matteo walked into the living room. “Who was that?”
“Luca.”
His brows drew together. “He’s been calling every day.”
“He misses his bratty niece.”
Matteo looked thoughtful, and when he realized I was watching him, he smiled tightly. “Don’t forget our plans this evening.”
“I’m excited,” I said. “I can’t wait to be let into the De Lucci inner sanctum.”
A fond smile eased the tension on his face. He walked over and hauled me to my feet. “You’ve always been in my inner sanctum since I made you mine on that cliff.”
“I miss Maine.”
“When this business with Santino is over, we can go back.” He paused. “I owe you a honeymoon.”
“Soon.” I tipped up my chin for his kiss.
“Can’t wait,” he growled before claiming my mouth.
“No.”
I stared at my husband’s reflection in the bathroom mirror. I wanted to look good for our dinner date before the meeting, but I might have overdone it. I wore the pink and white bustier with matching garters. It had comfortable boning and it pushed my breasts up to the extreme while shaping my waist without cutting off my oxygen.
Matteo and I had been circling around each other when it came to sex. In the last week, my lingering hurt feelings about the condescending “pretty head” comment had made me less receptive to my husband’s overtures. But I was about to put him out of his misery…after the meeting.
I wanted to look sexy for him, and judging from the scorching look he was giving me, I had succeeded. But…“We’re late for our reservations,” I stressed. I didn’t know if I had the willpower to resist him if he tried anything. He wasn’t the only one chafing on a sex moratorium.
Matteo wore dress pants and a shirt, open at the collar with the tie hanging around his neck. He’d tanned easily and regained the swarthiness of his skin from tinkering outdoors on his Jaguar. He was sexy as hell. And knowing what lay underneath those clothes would make sitting through dinner difficult. Maybe he was right. We should take the edge off first.
He closed the distance between us without breaking eye contact. His hands cupped my ass and squeezed. “You know how garters drive me crazy.”
I tried not to moan, but a tiny sound of pleasure escaped me. “We’re really running late, Matteo.”
“I’ll drive fast,” he murmured. He slid the palm of one hand over my hip, fingers sliding past the flimsy barrier of my thong right into my pussy.
“Ung,” I breathed, falling forward and gripping the edge of the countertop.
His breath was hot against my neck, and he was still watching me when he brought that hand back up to suck my juices off his fingers.
That action was hot as fuck. He brought his other hand to cup my jaw and turned me into his kiss, while he resumed his exploration between my legs.
He finger-fucked me while he fucked my mouth with his tongue. We’d exchanged fervent kisses, but this was something else. These kisses were like fucking.
Our tongues crossed and tangled. We broke apart and nipped at each other’s jaws and lips in playful challenge all the while teasing me below. All my blood rushed to my core and I was about to come. He withdrew his fingers.
“Matteo,” I sobbed. I needed his tongue or his fingers or his cock to finish the job. “I’m close.”
“I know, baby,” he whispered. “Not yet.” He slid my panties off and bent me over the counter, kicking my feet apart. “Spread those arms. Don’t move them.”
I heard the clink of his belt and the sound of his zipper.
Then his cock nudged my center, sliding up and down my sensitized flesh. I was so close. The sensations were at a peak. I whimpered as a shudder wracked through me. “I need more.”
His cock crowned at my pussy. “Jesus, you’re tight.”
“It’s…” I panted. “Been a while.” My toes curled in anticipation.
“I fucking missed this,” he rasped. He continued pressing in. “Baby.” His voice was strangled.
“Faster, Matteo.”
He gave a choked sound. “I’m only a fourth of the way in.”
“What? Shit.” I tried to rise, but he pushed me back down. I grew wetter.
I already felt so full of him.
He withdrew slightly to push back in. Then he started rocking, trying to wedge his big cock into me. Every time I tried to help him, he pushed my shoulder down. I was panting and sweating all over my makeup. “Hurry.”
“Dammit, baby.” He pulled back and punched in.
I hissed. The pleasure stung. He started pounding in earnest. Thrust for thrust, I surged back to meet him and my wetness lubricated me as he buried himself balls deep, over and over. He fingered my clit and I exploded in waves of pleasure, crying out. He followed me soon after, grunting loudly as his cum pulsed inside me.
I missed this.
I missed his domination.
I missed our connection.
Matteo folded over me and cleared the hair from my face. He kissed the back of my shoulder, the back of my neck. I tingled at the sweetness of his gesture.
“Let me get you cleaned up,” he murmured. “We’re late.”
The parking behind The Grindhouse building was almost full. Matteo parked the Jaguar behind a Ferrari which I knew belonged to Paulie.
As we headed in, we ran into Ronan. Somehow I wasn’t surprised to see him, but his appearance meant I was correct and this involved more than the De Lucci crime family.
Instead of heading up the stairs to the apartment, we walked past the boxing gym to a door behind the staircase I never knew existed.
Trevor was manning the entrance.
“Hey, girl,” he said. Without waiting for him to come forward, I left Matteo’s side and gave him a hug. I was promptly pulled back.
Trevor chuckled and gestured for us to head on down. “Your uncle and Dom are already there.”
As we descended the steps, I whispered to Matteo, “How about your dad?”
“Dad feels it would undermine my authority and your introduction if he shows up tonight. He already did the turnover to me last year. It would raise doubts about my capability to lead, especially after I’ve been shot.”
“Oh, Matteo.”
“It’ll be fine, baby,” he said gruffly. “I’m already feeling more like myself.”
When we reached the bottom of the steps, I clasped his hand. “I’m glad.”
He exhaled a breath, tugging me to his side. “Ready?”
Curtains surrounding the landing served like a pass-through between sections. We turned right. Matteo split the curtain and I’d never been more self-conscious in my entire life.
Not since the first time I’d given a speech at a charity gala.
Heads turned our way. Men and women were in business suits while others wore black-clad gear typical of military black ops. I recognized a few men from Ronan’s team.
I hesitated, unsure of myself.
Nico’s voice said behind me, “Give them hell, Sera. You’re Lady Archer now.”
“Lady what?” I glanced at Matteo.
“Thanks, bro.” My husband looked over his shoulder. “Don’t ruin the ceremony.”
“This isn’t some kind of kinky cult, right?” I gulped.
Nico’s chest shook with laughter.
“That’s a negative,” Matteo said. I didn’t know what he saw on my face, but his brows drew together. “Do you want to go to a kink club?”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “Not sure.”
Matteo whispered in my ear, “We’ll find out.”
I couldn’t tell if he was serious or teasing.
“Hey, lovebirds, save that for later,” Paulie called amidst a sea of black.
Matteo told me Carlotta hadn’t wanted to be involved in the organization after finding out what it did, preferring to remain oblivious but supportive.
It was up to me to decide after they gave me the facts.
“Nephew…” Paulie dragged Matteo over and gave him a hug. “Glad to have you back in the fray.”
“Thanks, Paulie,” Matteo said. I felt a slight tension strumming down his arm to our joined fingers, but it dissipated quickly.
The basement was basic with exposed brick and ventilation ducts giving it an industrial interior. I spied computers stacked at the end of the wall hidden by a half divider. The area that we were in had trays of sandwiches and boxes of coffee.
Matteo and I had already eaten dinner for which I was thankful, because I didn’t think I’d be able to eat now that anxiety was gnawing in my gut, about to learn about my husband’s secret life.
We were mingling with a couple from Connecticut when Daniel appeared. Somehow, I wasn’t surprised either. My brain had been trying to piece together who was involved. After the scene at the nightclub, I knew Matteo and Daniel were more than business partners.
I’d never seen Daniel this pissed though.
Matteo stiffened beside me.
“This is what you do?” Daniel confronted my husband.
“Daniel!” I gasped. “What the hell?”
“This is neither the place nor time,” Dom cut in. “Respect, bro.”
Daniel looked at me, his face torn with regret. “I didn’t want you involved in any of this.”
Confused by his words, I wasn’t able to ask him what he meant because Matteo cut in. “Enough. Remember who you’re talking to, Wu. Sera is my wife now.”
An ugly sneer distorted Daniel’s face. There were unspoken words and venom in the tension that fell between the two friends.
Were they still friends?
Nico grabbed Daniel’s arm. “Come on.”
Matteo led me toward the center of the room. I was in a daze trying to process.
What didn’t Daniel want me to be a part of? A knot of apprehension twisted my gut. I trusted Matteo, right?
He was my husband.
I had vowed to him for better or worse. Heck, we’d already gone through in sickness and in health.
“Let’s get this ball rolling.” There was an urgency in his voice. My vision swam for a moment, taking in the sea of faces. I contemplated passing out and maybe delaying the ceremony. Listen to Daniel’s argument. What would it be? That my husband participated in criminal activities? That wouldn’t surprise me.
A server appeared and started handing out champagne. I raised a brow at Matteo.
“One glass should be fine, especially in this moment.”
The doctor did say at our discretion.
Matteo raised his flute to our audience. A string of tension pulled taut when he and Daniel locked eyes across the room. Matteo’s smile stretched to that fake one I hated. Like a jackrabbit in the presence of a predator, I wanted to bolt from the room, but when my husband turned his focus on me, pride was the only thing I could see reflected in his gaze. He flashed a smile that settled the uncertainty roiling in my stomach.
“Sera, welcome to the Archer Syndicate.”
A round of enthusiastic welcome and cheers went around the room.
“My father started this organization in 1996,” he continued. “Global law enforcement left us alone as long as we’re able to keep the criminal underworld under control.”
Matteo continued to give a gist of the organization. Archers were the heads of different territories. Matteo was Archer Prime who oversaw operations in North America and Daniel handled South East Asia. Ronan handled Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine. Dom handled New York, which in itself was huge. Their soldiers were called Arrows—people clad in black tactical clothes like Trevor. The men and women in suits were Archers who managed the Arrows. They could also work alone and do purely financial matters. After RICO, organized crime had intertwined itself so deep into Wall Street, it needed several people to monitor.
After my introduction as Matteo’s wife, the chatter among groups resumed. People came up to us to welcome me into the organization.
When I was able to assimilate the facts better, something bugged me, but like a misfiring engine, my brain refused to make the connection.
“The Galluzo was set to become the strongest organization in Italy if Santino had married me,” I said.
Matteo shrugged.
“We had a workaround.” Dom joined our conversation. He gave me a one-arm hug and said, “Welcome, cuz.”
“Luca is not part of this, right?” I asked.
Dom shook his head. “Uncle is too much of a wildcard, but we do have connections in Chicago.”
“He’s heard rumors. Or rather he said, the De Luccis don’t play fair.”
“Rumors are good.” Paulie walked up to our huddle. “Keep people wary. The stupid and greedy ones are more likely going to get exposed.”
“And what’s your role?”
“I’m here as adviser. I’m too old for this shit,” Paulie said. “That’s why Cesar and I are retiring. Leaving it to the young ones.”
“So where does this problem with Santino and the Galluzo stand?” I asked.
Matteo looked at Dom and then back at me. “This is the perfect example of how we operate. We have the underworld, and the Archers are what run parallel with the underworld. We don’t interfere unless we see a shift in power that would make one organization too powerful to the detriment of the rest.”
“So you’re an equalizer?” I asked.
“That’s a good word for it,” Matteo said. “This thing with Santino and the Galluzo is still too chaotic to determine who has the upper hand.”
“So, now that I know about this organization,” I said. “What’s my role as your wife?”
Matteo grinned. “You can choose to be involved in meetings. You can offer counsel.” He looked around the room. “The mafia as a patriarchy is dead. Wives and sisters can play larger roles if they wish to.” He nodded to several women both dressed in business suits and black tactical gear. “Or you could choose as Carlotta and Mom did to remain in the know, but not involved. It’s up to you.”
I exhaled a sharp breath. “This is a lot to take in.”
“There’s no rush, baby.” He kissed my temple.
After our huddle broke up, Matteo encouraged me to talk to the other Archers and Arrows. Each one had a story to tell about how they ended up joining the organization. Most of them had been victims of criminal organizations that had gotten too powerful. More than a few were already related to members. Still, vetting was stringent, especially when coming in as a distant relative or through friendship.
“So, how are you finding your new role, Sera?” I turned to see Renz.
“Matteo is giving me time. I didn’t see you earlier.”
“I like to stay in the background. I’m more of an associate than an Arrow.”
“Oh.”
“It was Mom’s idea,” he said. “After what happened to Liz, it didn’t feel right. Don’t get me wrong. When Sam gets older, maybe I’ll take a more active role. But right now”—he tipped his chin toward the table of food and drinks—“I’m happy to provide coffee and sanctuary.”
I laughed. “I think coffee is a noble cause.”
“Got that right.”
“I better look for my husband and make sure he’s not sneaking a shot of scotch somewhere.”
Renz laughed and waved me off.
The crowd had thinned. I couldn’t find him in the room where we had the meeting, so I walked over to where the computer servers were humming. I found Trevor.
He grinned. “Hey, Sera, welcome to the dark side.”
“It’s not that dark. You forget who my uncle is.”
“I’d say you’re a perfect fit,” one of the Arrows with Trevor said.
“Aw, thanks. Have you seen Matteo?”
“I think I saw him and Daniel go to the Armory.”
“Armory?”
“It’s on the left, coming down from the staircase.”
“Oh, behind the curtain.”
“Yup.”
I headed back to the meeting room and through the dividing curtain and was greeted with an iron door. Curious, I tested the handle and it was unlocked. I was a part of them now, so I had free rein of the basement, right?
“Did you tell her, huh?” Daniel yelled.
I stilled, my hand pausing on the lever, wondering if I should let them know I was here.
“Keep your voice down.”
Was Matteo hiding something else from me? I thought all was said in that meeting. My heart sped up a couple of beats, as if I was on the cusp of falling off a cliff.
“Or what? You’re afraid Sera is going to find out that you and I planned to make me jealous?”
What? The champagne I consumed turned sour in my stomach.
“You lost your chance, Wu.”
“Did you tell her about the shares? That you dated her to force Gustavo to sell to you in exchange for leaving Sera alone?”
What shares?
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Fuck you, De Lucci.”
“Both of you,” Nico cut in. “Save it for later.”
Taking several calming breaths, I pushed open the door. “How about now?”
Matteo whipped around, his face an implacable mask, but I’d known my husband long enough to tell he was feral and wanted to snap Daniel’s head off.
The other man wasn’t cowed at all. He looked just as pissed.
“Explain,” I said.
The two eyed each other.
“From what I can tell so far, both of you conspired to play with my feelings,” I said.
“It wasn’t like that,” Daniel said hoarsely. “I genuinely care about you, Sera.” He reached out an arm, but I gave a shake of my head, so he dropped it to his side. “I didn’t want to bring you into this.”
“This as in the Archers?” I laughed without humor. “You know who my uncle is, right? I’m not some damn damsel in distress. I know how to defend myself. I’ve held a gun since I was twelve and I know how to use it. You do not grow up in the mafia not knowing these things.”
“I wanted you and Ivy to be far away from what we were doing,” Daniel argued. “She’s had enough tragedy from our father’s death. I wanted her to have a normal life. To feel safe.”
“What does that even mean?” I said. “You’re hunting down the people who hurt your family?”
“The Triad. All the criminal organizations,” he said. “They cannot have too much power.”
“I got that,” I said. That was why Daniel was always in Asia, while he kept Ivy in the United States. “But what does that have to do with keeping Ivy out of it?”
Matteo and Daniel looked at each other. Ivy’s brother’s shoulder slumped. “I wanted her to have a normal life.” He already said that.
“She’s a social media star. That’s far from normal.” Something occurred to me. “Oh my God. You’re using that as smoke and mirrors. You’re using your sister to disguise your movements.”
“That’s not what that is,” Daniel snapped. “The Triad needs to know that we’re not seeking them out.”
“I’ve told Wu that keeping Ivy out was impossible,” Matteo said. “Sooner or later going after the people who we’re trying to keep under control will figure things out. Look what happened to me.”
“You never addressed that in there,” I said.
Matteo was edging closer but stopped when I physically recoiled. Taking a step back, I hugged my biceps and glared at him.
“The matter has been addressed. The postmortem of that incident has been distributed to the Archers.”
“He didn’t want to appear weak in there by explaining how Santiago got to him,” Daniel said.
“I can very well explain it to my wife,” Matteo snapped. “Before the Galluzo, we were trying to rein in the Santiago organization.”
“I’ve heard of them. They have ties to the Mexican cartels.”
“Yes. We were able to subdue them, but there were splinter groups.” Nico was the one who answered. I remembered him taking the lead role with the security team when Matteo was shot. “There usually are, but they know better than to call attention to themselves again. One of them planted a person inside our hotel. Some kind of blackmail scheme where our employee reported on our movements. The attack on Matteo was pure luck. When we checked in, the person was on duty and reported to Santiago. The security division of our resorts do stringent background checks on our employees. This was a one-off.”
“He’s not going to make it to the hearing,” Matteo said.
Mob justice. The expression on my husband’s face gave me chills.
“You could have been killed,” he said. “I’m making sure none of it will touch you.”
“But you brought me into your fold,” I said.
“You are my queen.”
“Wait a second.” I held up my hand when Matteo inched closer, then pointed my finger between the two of them. “What is this about the shares?”
The two men looked at each other. Nico found his shoes interesting.
I fought the hysteria bubbling up my throat as the circuits in my brain started making connections. “Gustavo never liked you,” I told Matteo. “You dating me didn’t even have anything to do with Daniel, did it?”
When Matteo didn’t answer, I looked at Ivy’s brother. “Daniel?” My voice cracked.
“After the rumor between you and Matteo started, Gustavo offered him the shares.”
I looked back at Matteo. “And continuing to date me? Surely Gustavo wasn’t pleased with that and went against his wishes.”
“That had nothing to do with Gustavo anymore but the threat of Santino.”
“But what would that matter if you have the shares?” My whole world was crumbling, but I was hoping against hope that our time in Maine was real.
“I cared what happened to you.” Matteo’s voice was low, but I knew him enough to know he was still hiding something.
The back of my eyes started to burn. I glanced at the ceiling to keep the tears from falling, as I asked, “The day we flew to Vegas…why was Gustavo in New York?”
“Sera.” Matteo’s voice was rough. When I looked at him, his face was full of remorse, and I feared the worst. His brilliant blue eyes were stormy, but no further words came.
“Someone answer me!” I screeched. My gaze swung to Nico. “Why was Zio Gus in New York that day?”
Nico stared at me steadily. “He was giving you the rest of the shares.”
A wounded gasp escaped my lips.
Matteo started for me again, but I retreated to the door, shaking my head. “And you, husband…” Even I could hear the ache in my voice. “Did you know?”
His mouth was a thin flat line, jaw clenched so tight, he exhaled heavily. “Yes.”
“When?”
“Does it matter?”
“I guess it doesn’t anymore.” I pivoted on a heel to walk away.
He grabbed my arm and spun me around to face him.
“You’re my wife, of course it matters.”
“I don’t feel like one,” I shouted. “You married me buried under so many lies! And guess what? Until I can figure out if I can live with them, we can call this a true marriage of convenience.”
His eyes widened at my statement, and I took that opportunity to free myself from his hold and walk away from him. I slammed the iron door behind me and ran into Renz.
He searched my face and immediately noted something was wrong.
It was hard to hide because my face was streaked with tears. “Did you know?”
His brows furrowed. “I’m pretty sure I don’t.”
The door behind me opened. Renz looked over my shoulder. “What did you do?”
When no one answered, I said, “I am a pawn to deceitful men.”
“That’s not true,” Matteo said.
The bile trying to push against my diaphragm was a testament to how strongly I felt about this discovery. Matteo and I started from a lie. In my book our vows were tainted.
I turned and jabbed a finger at his chest. “I will decide whether I will tolerate your deception.”
“What did he do?” Renz asked.
“Ask him.”
I started up the stairs.
“Where the hell are you going?” Matteo demanded.
I stopped midway. I had nowhere to go. My tears fell faster. “I’ll call Ivy.”
“You’re not leaving here,” he growled. “It’s not safe.”
I stomped my foot and let out a cry of frustration. “Dammit.”
“She can stay with us,” Renz said. “I’ll text Liz to expect her.”
“My wife stays with me,” Matteo argued.
I was getting tired of turning my back on him and having to face him again. But this would be the last time. “At this moment, I’m not sure if I’m calling you my husband.”
His face fell, and the hurt on it nearly dissolved the steel in my spine. I marched up the stairs away from him and didn’t turn around again, even when my name reached me in a hoarse, broken whisper.
