After breakfast, we made our way back to the bedroom where we showered, separately to Savio’s disappointment. “Ready for the tour?” Savio asked when I stepped out of the bathroom.
He took my hand. I loved how he always did it without hesitation as if I’d always been at his side. For me, physical closeness with him was something I had to get used to, but he didn’t give me time to feel anxious. He motioned down the corridor of the second floor. “My brothers don’t usually enter my wing, with the exemption of the gym below. But if you feel uncomfortable with their presence there, they can turn a room in another wing into a gym.”
I quickly shook my head. “I don’t mind. I was only startled this morning.”
“And embarrassed,” Savio added, brushing his fingertips over the hickey on my throat.
“That too.”
He chuckled. “We’ll see how long you’ll blush so easily.”
Living with him and his shameless brothers, probably not very long. “What’s in the rooms?” I motioned at the four doors branching off.
Savio shrugged. “One of them is for my sneaker collection—”
I interrupted him. “You have an entire room for your sneakers?”
He opened the door to our left. Rows over rows of shelves filled with sneakers lined the walls. I gave him an incredulous look. “You can’t be serious! That’s bigger than the room I had at home.”
“I like sneakers.”
“Do I even want to know what’s in the other rooms?” I said with a huff.
He grinned. “Probably not. So sue me, I like to dress nicely.”
I shook my head again. “So vain.”
He kissed my throat, squeezing my waist. Then he grabbed my hand again and led me downstairs. It was a living room with a white sofa, a huge black TV hanging on the opposite walls and modern dark wooden furniture. Everything was neat and matched. “I didn’t think your place would be this clean. Diego’s room is a hazard zone.”
“Adamo’s too,” Savio said with a grimace. “I prefer it clean.”
I smiled. I was glad that I wouldn’t have to pick up dirty socks after him like I had to do for Diego… and Dad. My heart throbbed painfully, and I had to swallow hard. Savio searched my eyes, then he pulled me against him, giving me comfort without me asking for it. I cleared my throat. “What about the living room in the main part of the house?”
“It’s where the entire family spends time together, but it can get messy and loud with all the kids and people, so sometimes I prefer to stay here and watch a movie. My family is a crazy loud bunch that can drive even the sanest person to insanity.”
“I love that you have such a big family under one roof. It fills a house with life,” I said. “Do you think they’ll ever accept me?”
Savio peered down at me. “Kiara, Serafina, and Leona will see you as part of their clique in no time. My brothers and Fabiano are harder nuts to crack.”
“Like you,” I said.
Savio squeezed my hip and motioned toward the connecting corridor. “Let’s continue our tour.”
It took us an hour to discover the main house and the premises. The tables and dancefloor of the wedding had already been removed and the garden looked even bigger without them. The unrelenting Las Vegas sun beat down on us as we reached the recreational pool with the cascades. The second pool was one to swim laps for fitness purposes.
“How about we take a dip later?”
“Later?” I echoed.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I know this is bad timing, but my brothers and I have a meeting with the Underbosses because they’re all in the city for the wedding. With the Russians being a pain in our ass, we have a lot to discuss.”
“It’s okay,” I said. “I want you to get rid of the Bratva.” My voice wavered.
“We will,” Savio promised. “For what they did, they’ll pay.”
He led me back inside the house where we ran across Kiara, Leona and Serafina in bikinis, leading their kids down to the pool. “Why don’t you join us?” Kiara asked.
I glanced at Savio.
“Don’t look at me. Do what you want.”
I smiled at Kiara. “I need to call home and then change into a swimsuit, then I’ll join you.”
Savio released a groan. “I can’t believe I’ll have to listen to our Underbosses while you’re running around in a bikini. It’s breaking my heart.”
The moment Savio was gone, I picked up my phone and called home. Diego answered after one ring.
“Hey Gemma,” he said, his worry palpable.
“I’m fine.”
“You are?”
“Yes. You can stop worrying.”
“So Savio wasn’t an ass?”
“No, he wasn’t.”
“So I don’t have to kick his ass at the meeting?”
I rolled my eyes. “How are Mom and Carlotta?”
“Mom’s been emotional all morning with you being gone. The house feels empty.”
I bit my lip. “I miss you too.”
Diego cleared his throat. “Should I get Mom?”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile. Diego was even worse with emotionality than Savio.
A few seconds later, Mom’s voice sounded on the other end. We talked a few minutes, in which I had to assure her several times that I was fine. I felt guilty for leaving her so soon after Dad’s death, but she had insisted I start my own family. That was what she wanted the most for me.
I grabbed a swimsuit—a sexy two-piece, which Toni had bought for me and I’d never worn because it was too revealing. Wrapping a towel around myself, I headed outside. It felt strange walking through the Falcone mansion as if it was my home. It would take time to get used to my new surroundings.
Laughter and screaming reached me from the pool where Alessio and Nevio
