I left my room without a shirt and headed downstairs. Maybe my brother had an update on the Bratva situation.
I ran across Kiara on her way to the kitchen. “Where’s Gemma?”
“In my bed.”
Kiara looked at my naked chest, worried. “Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her, Savio. She’s vulnerable after what happened today.”
“Of course not.” I was starting to grow annoyed. “Where are my brothers?”
“Gaming room.”
I left her standing there and headed toward the common area. Like Kiara had said, I found Nino and Remo in the living area, probably going over counterstrikes. They looked my way.
“How’s she?” Nino asked.
“Good.”
Remo raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me—”
“No, I didn’t fuck her for God’s sake!”
“You’ve unleashed your bull in unfortunate situations before,” Remo said.
Ignoring him, I walked over to them and sank down on the sofa. “Gemma is my fiancée.”
Remo shrugged.
My phone beeped with a message from Diego. “Diego’s on his way here.”
Nino nodded, then got up. “Fabiano went ahead to the Sugar Trap. He’s waiting for you and Diego to begin with the Russian. As soon as Diego’s here, you should head there. The sooner we get information out of the Bratva soldier, the better.”
Remo nodded grimly. “I’ll come along as well. Nino will stay here and keep an eye on the women and children.”
“Will you check on Gemma later? She’s asleep.”
Nino narrowed his eyes in thought. “Given her head injury, I don’t think she should sleep.”
“I can wake her,” I said.
Nino shook his head. “I’ll go up there in a few minutes and check on her reflexes and light sensitivity levels.”
The bell at the gate rang. I jogged toward the door and after checking the security camera, I pressed the button so Diego could drive on the premises.
Diego looked a mess when he stepped into the mansion. I could only imagine how his mother had reacted to the news of losing her husband and Nonna. Carlotta was probably still too young to understand the situation. He glanced around. “Where’s Gemma?”
“In my room.”
Without warning, Diego lunged at me, aiming a punch toward my face. I blocked him with my forearm and we both tumbled to the floor. Diego landed on top of me. I tried to shove him off and he punched my cheek. Growling, I bucked my hips, throwing him off and rammed my fists into his stomach, then another uppercut against his chin.
We struggled, but eventually, I knelt over Diego and held him by the collar. He was panting. “What the fuck is wrong with you, man?”
“You are such a bastard. I trusted you with my sister and you don’t hesitate to take her into your bed. She’s broken up over Nonna and Dad, and you use her.”
“Fuck, why does everyone think I’m that much of an asshole?” I released him and staggered to my feet. “I didn’t touch Gemma, you idiot. I respect her and you too much.” I chose not to mention that unfortunate kiss. It would do nothing good.
Diego wiped his bloody mouth. “You didn’t sleep with her?”
I gave him the finger, then held out my hand. “I didn’t, and I won’t until we have the blessing of the holy church.”
Diego allowed me to pull him to his feet then winced and held his ribs. Nino came over and felt them. “Nothing broken.”
Diego looked around before his gaze halted on Remo. “I’m sorry Capo for disrespecting your home.”
Remo waved him off. “You have suffered losses today.” He paused. “But next time you consider starting a fight in my home, remember I have children and nephews that don’t need to see something like that.”
Diego nodded and his shoulders slumped. He looked twice his age. I touched his shoulder. “How are your mother and Carlotta?”
“Carlotta is too young to understand anything. She won’t even remember our father but my mother…” He swallowed and straightened. “We’ll get through this together.”
I gave Remo a look. He tilted his head. “Your father died for our cause, Diego.”
Diego pressed his lips together. I knew him well enough to see he was fighting with himself.
“The Camorra takes care of the families of their soldiers. We will provide for you and your family until your sisters are out of the house.”
Diego shook his head. “That’s a generous offer, but I’m going to provide for my family.”
Diego earned good money as a soldier, especially now that he had started as an Enforcer, but if he intended to take over the restaurants, his share of the Camorra pie would be smaller, not to mention that he had four mouths to feed including himself. And Carlotta’s bills were on another level.
“Pride is an honorable thing, but don’t be stupid,” I growled.
“No,” Diego said firmly. “We can’t accept that much money. We’ll take what every other family would have gotten, not a dollar more.”
“What about Carlotta?” Gemma asked, surprising us all.
She was stealthy, I had to give it to her. Her face was tear-stained, her nose red—which distracted from her kiss-swollen lips.
“I will take care of her,” Diego insisted.
“How?” Gemma stepped up to him. “How are you going to pay for her surgery? Even with Dad, we were hardly getting by, paying all those bills, and now that he’s gone and the money he hid in the restaurant, how are you going to get that much money?”
Diego flushed. “I won’t live on charity.”
“Then don’t. But Carlotta needs that money.” Gemma turned to Remo, but Diego stepped in her way. “No, that’s an order, Gemma. I’m the master of the family.”
Gemma shook her head.
“Gemma could pay for Carlotta’s surgery. As my wife, she has free access to my bank accounts.”
“By the time you want to marry, it’ll be too late for Carlotta,” Diego said.
“We’ll marry in two months. That gives us time to prepare.”
“I thought you needed time to
