Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

DANI
For a heartbeat, no one moved, no one talked.
“What does that mean?” I knew exactly what it meant. Terzo just made an enemy— my father.
“Your father is going to kill my brother,” Celestina said angrily.
“Cee,” Terzo scolded his sister.
I shut my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. “I’m not gonna let that happen.”
All eyes were pinned on me, including Terzo and Gaetano.
Terzo wasn’t impressed. He might have already figured out the next words that would come from my mouth. “Abso-fucking-lutely not!”
“Language.” I faced him. “I will give him what he wants.”
I heard a gasp, probably from Celestina, but mostly groans and curses. Gaetano hadn’t said a word, but remained calm before us.
“And what is it exactly? You don’t have the fucking book.”
“Son, one more fuck coming from you, I might just consider your wife’s opinion.”
“Papa!” His voice raised, narrowing his gaze at his father. “Are you going to get her killed? If you consider her suicidal opinion, then just shoot me in the head. Go ahead.” He shrugged at his father.
Gaetano pulled his drawer, that made my heart stop.
“No!” Fears overwhelmed me that something else stirred inside my chest– my protective instinct– to protect my husband. Even though my body was shaking, I came before Terzo to shield him. I would do whatever it took to protect him. “Please don’t!”
“Dani, he’s not gonna shoot his own son,” Celestina said calmly.
“I’m touched, Dani. You’re a woman of your own.” Gaetano pulled out a shiny wooden box and placed it on the desk. He pushed it forward. “This is for you. Consider this a wedding gift. Your protection.”
I swallowed hard, but I was terrified of the thought that he was going to kill Terzo because that was absolutely insane.
I felt large hands rubbing my arms before Terzo whispered, “Who’s trying to be a hero now? And I’m touched, mia bella.”
I elbowed him. “You’re crazy. Shut up. I just married a lunatic.”
Someone from behind chuckled.
I took a step forward to check the box. I was more curious about what was inside than accepting a gift that I was sure I didn’t deserve. My father just threatened this family, but Gaetano still considered me his daughter-in-law and a new member of the family.
“I can’t accept this, sir.” I pushed it back.
“It’s rude to decline a gift, Dani. You know that,” Gaetano said in response to my objection.
I licked my dry lips and opened the box. My eyes widened to see the most beautiful yet dangerous gift I’d ever received in my entire life. I picked it up, a little lighter, but the matte nickel finish with gold accent, black chrome, and the bold letter S on the grip made the design just perfect.
“It’s a custom .380,” he said proudly.
“Is this mine now?” I asked with enthusiasm. My fear just vanished, replaced with joy and excitement. “Are you sure you don’t wanna give it to Celestina?”
Celestina came and checked it with me. “Oh, Papa. This is beautiful. So, do you like it, Jane Bond?”
I had completely forgotten the real issue. Celestina and I just giggled as we traced the S engraved on the grip.
“This is real gold, right, Papa?” Celestina traced her finger on the accent. What I loved about it was the gold-plated trigger.
I rounded the desk and hugged Gaetano. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Out of joy, I even forgot he was the Don. I kissed him on the cheek.
“You should have consulted me first, Papa,” Terzo said, sounding disappointed.
“And then what, son? You disapproved? This is a gift. Your wife is your gift. Be happy about it.”
The words your wife is your gift made my heart flutter. I went to him and said, “You know how to ruin my moment, don’t you, Terzo?”
“Just make sure you won’t use it on me, mia bella.” A wide smile broke on his face. “It’s perfect and it suits you.”
“Just your picture. I promise. On a serious note, though. Really? You’re okay with this?” My eyes widened, and he just nodded, seemingly genuinely happy for me.
“It’s Papa’s gift. Of course.”
“You deserved it,” Gio said behind me. Marco said the same thing.
“Thanks.” I smiled.
“Okay. It’s late. We’ll discuss the issue tomorrow. Get some rest.”
Terzo was about to talk to his father when Gaetano stopped him. “It can wait, son.”
I brought the gift back to Terzo’s house and kept it in the drawer of the nightstand. Then I took a quick shower in one of the bathrooms in the house.
When I came back, Terzo was already in bed in his boxers, which left me swallowing. He was typing something on his phone when he noticed me. His gaze locked with mine. I could see the anticipation brewing in his eyes as he put his phone away.
“We’re not sleeping together.”
“This is our bedroom. I’m not sleeping on the floor.” He patted the empty side. “Come. It’s late. I’m exhausted and I haven’t slept in two days. You can stab me to death in the morning.”
Hesitantly, I joined him in bed and lay on my side, and pulled the duvet up to my neck. The mattress stirred.
My back stiffened. “What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, he slipped his arm under my head, the other settled on my waist, pulling me close to him. Then he rested his leg over mine and sighed. “I just wanna feel you that you’re real and here with me, mia bella.”
“We’re alive, Terzo.” I hardly believe it, but I was breathing. He was warm, and I felt him. This was real. If there was something real about us was the growing feeling I had for him.
“Yes, we are, beautiful,” he whispered before pressing his lips on my shoulder.
My heart squeezed with the turmoil of emotions. I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and faced him. His eyes slightly widened, but the anticipation was intense. I cupped his head and captured his lips in a searing kiss. All the fear and sorrows transformed into something more beautiful.
We didn’t know when our last would be, or if we had tomorrow. Time might not be on our side. Right now was what mattered most for us. We didn’t have the luxury to waste. The kiss was a mix of desperation and longing.
I melted into him. My body recognized his, and still trusted him. The kiss went on until we were both catching our breaths.
“I swear if you stop me now I’d rather cut my dick.”
I stared at him in shock. “Why would you do that?” I began unbuttoning my pajama top and smiled. “A little help, please?”
It only took seconds before I was completely naked under him. Thankfully, he didn’t rip off my panties. I had limited pairs in my suitcase. We continued kissing while his hands slid all over my chest, leaving trails of fire in their wakes.
I gasped as he captured my breast with his mouth, sucking hard enough for my back to arch. He took time worshipping my body. His mouth reminded me of what it was like to be alive and live our lives together. His hands moved as if I were a work of art. He was gentle. His touch was thoughtful, as if a promise that there would be more.
“God, I miss you.”
His mouth was gone, leaving me aching. I looked down at him, grinning, eyes dancing in humor. “God or me, Dani?”
“You make me come or I will sleep in the other room.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“You have five seconds—”
I did not finish my sentence, he went on doing his job, giving the same attention to my other breast while kneading and rolling my nipple with his fingers. Then he settled between my legs, pressed his thick arousal against my wet entrance, making me gasp.
“I need to feel you bare, Dani.”
“Yes, please?” My reply was caught between lust and uncertainty. I still wasn’t on the pill. With our current situation, I couldn’t get pregnant and bring a child into this world.
“You have doubts?”
I met his gaze. “No, but I still have to see a doctor.”
“I got you, wife. Do you trust me?”
“Do I have a reason not to trust you?”
“My body and dick are yours, Dani.” But that was not what I meant. With his dark eyes filled with need, how could I deny him when this was what we both wanted?