Chapter 43 - Marco

I woke up searching for the small, soft body that should have been beside me in bed, but I only found rumpled sheets. I got up, still drowsy despite the sunlight flooding the room; my abdomen burned painfully, reminding me there were many things I'd neglected last night.

I hadn't just forgotten my wounds after we arrived at the mansion, but also the Russians—I hadn't even thanked Vladimir for the helicopter. Once I had my hands on Angela, I only thought of her, of holding her in my arms and being inside her.

"Fuck!" I dragged myself to the bathroom, feeling my arm complain too from the lack of care.

I hadn't even thought of my pains when I closed the door to that room; all I could see was that she-devil in front of me.

I stopped in front of the mirror, observing the marks from her nails on my body. It had been a long night, and even after ripping the sheets off the bed and joining her in the tub, my desire hadn't been sated.

I put on boxers and pants and hurried down the stairs, searching for her. I still couldn't believe that the daughter of my enemy had turned my head this way, making me lose all reason just to not lose her.

Now that he was out of our way and with her by my side, we could finally focus on dominating the Cosa Nostra.

"You can eat, love," I heard her voice coming from the dining room and hurried there. "Here, let me help with that."

I stopped in the doorway, watching her beside her brother, cutting his pancakes into smaller pieces. I couldn't help but imagine that one day this scene could be with our son.

Was I ready to be a father? I had no idea, but I knew I wouldn't let anyone harm my children or Angela.

As if sensing my presence, she lifted her head, giving me a long look with a beautiful smile on her lips.

"I thought last night was exhausting," I murmured, entering the room fully. She widened her eyes, nodding her head to the other side, and that's when I saw her sister, huddled in her chair, eating. "Good morning, Alessia."

The girl lifted her eyes to me, and though they were so similar to her sister's, she scanned me from head to toe.

"Good morning, Mr. Falcone."

"I hope you had a good night's sleep," I approached Angela, her eyes still on me.

"It was much better than being surrounded by mercenaries wanting a chance to get into my pants."

"Alessia!" Angel scolded her, but the girl just shrugged, showing she wasn't intimidated. "She slept very well, didn't you, Enrico?"

My wife ruffled the boy's hair beside her, who opened a wide smile and turned to me. His curious little eyes went straight to my arm, focusing there for a long time, but he said nothing.

"Everything okay, big guy?" I asked, seeing his cheeks flush. He looked away to his sister, as if seeking courage, before raising his finger and pointing to my arm.

"Does that hurt?"

"It hurts just a little—it would hurt a lot more without your sister by my side." I heard a gasp from the other side of the table, and I was sure it came from Alessia.

"You need to tend to your wounds, Marco," Angela stood, wrapping her arms around my body and standing on her tiptoes to kiss me. "I'd go with you, but I want to make sure they're settled here."

My sister chose that moment to enter, with a smile plastered on her face, oozing sympathy.

"I'll help you make them feel at home. Alessia and I can go shopping. What do you think?"

The girl seemed to light up after hearing Melissa's words; apparently, they'd be even closer to her than to Angela.

"And what am I going to do here alone?" Enrico crossed his arms, pouting. "They didn't let me bring any toys."

"We can buy all the ones you want. I'm sure Nero would love to take you to the toy stores," Angela planted a tender kiss on my arm, drawing my gaze to her face and giving me a better idea. "Actually, why don't we all go shopping? I think it'll be great to take the day off."

I heard the conversation explode around me, but all I could do was look at my little angel, whose eyes sparkled as she stared at me. How had she tamed me like this?

"My children aren't going anywhere!" The haughty female voice drew our attention, stopping the conversation and breaking our connection. "None of them will fraternize with the killer of their own father!"

Angela rushed over, placing her hands over her brother's ears, while Alessia stood from her chair.

I had to admit it was quite audacious of her to speak to me like that in my own house, but I wasn't going to get worked up and cause even more pain to Angel.

"As if he were a great father," Alessia huffed, rolling her eyes.

"Watch how you speak, young lady..."

"I think it's best to get this little guy out of here," Mel said, approaching the boy and extending her hand to him, who reluctantly accepted after being encouraged by his sister.

Melissa left the room holding his hand and heading toward the kitchen, while the boy's mother glared at her with a deadly look.

I could understand she had reasons to be shaken—after all, they'd lost everything—but I couldn't understand why she'd be outraged by the death of the man who made her whole family suffer.

"We're leaving this house right now, Alessia!" she declared, grabbing her daughter's arm. "You're no longer welcome in our family, Angela—you've only brought us shame and disgrace."

"Watch how you speak of my wife," I said through gritted teeth in a warning tone. I wanted not to interfere, but I wouldn't tolerate her mistreating my angel.

"Your wife." She laughed scornfully. "You stole her from another and now proudly say she's yours..."

"I love him, Mom! And that's bigger than any deal Dad made for advantages," Angela said, completely shocking me. How could she love me in such a short time? That had to be wrong.

"How dare you say that?" Her mother shouted, but Angela didn't flinch—on the contrary, she walked up to her mother and yanked Alessia's arm from her hands.

"This is my house, and you're welcome as long as you have good manners. You're free to leave if you wish, but my siblings aren't going anywhere. The soldiers have orders to stop you—try once to take them, and I'll throw you out myself," she was direct, and I didn't see her gaze or voice waver even once. "I have hopes you'll come to your senses now that Dad isn't here to corrupt your mind anymore, Mom."

The woman looked from one daughter to the other and then turned to me, staring at me for a long time before letting out a sigh and running out of there. Then Angela hugged her sister protectively as they watched their mother disappear from sight.

I prayed she was right and the mother changed her mind about her late husband. I wouldn't let her live in our house trying to turn the children against me—it would be like feeding my own enemies with my hand. But I knew well that expelling her siblings would break my angel's heart.

We'd only be free of Mancini when his ghost left us for good—and that included everyone who liked him!