Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles #5)(103)

The common room was deserted but the French doors were open, so everyone was probably at the pool. “How about we check on the sweets your sister promised me?” Savio suggested.

“Nonna always said sweets are the way to a man’s heart,” I said, remembering her secretive smile whenever she told me.

“Your nonna was a very wise woman.”

In the kitchen, I quickly filled the cannoli with the cream, but Savio and Carlotta were already stealing half of it before I got my hand on it. I swatted his hand away, but his quick reflexes proved difficult to outsmart even in the kitchen.

With Carlotta on his lap, he finally settled at the table and stuffed his face with my cannoli. Carlotta dug in, too, which made me smile even more considering how bad of an eater she’d always been in the past.

“Delicious, Gem. Like all of you.”

My eyes widened and I gave him a warning look. Even if Carlotta had no clue what he meant, I’d kick his ass if he said something like that again.

He took another bite. “I’ll definitely keep you. A woman who can bake like that needs to be my wife.”

“I am your wife.”

“See, I made the right choice.”

I shook my head. The door swung open and Kiara came in with Massimo and Alessio. They were a year and two years older than my sister, but much taller than their age gap suggested. Savio set Carlotta down, but she was too shy to approach the other kids. Savio bent down, took her hand and introduced her.

My heart melted.

Kiara came to me and squeezed my arm. “Things going well between you two?”

I nodded.

“I’m so happy. I always hoped Savio would find a good girl who’d take care of him after everything he and his brothers have been through.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I only smiled. I’d take care of him if he let me. Carlotta spent the night at the mansion so Mom could get a full night of sleep. The Falcones had a spare bed that we put in our bedroom. Carlotta was used to sharing a bed with Mom, though, so she cried until we allowed her to join us. Within minutes she fell asleep and lay curled up between Savio and me.

He gave me a knowing look over her tiny form. “You’re playing dirty. Do I really scare you that much?”

He didn’t scare me, nor did his touch, but my body’s reaction to it, definitely. It was like I was losing control of my body.





Carlotta was a cute kid and she got along well with the other kids. Gemma was beaming all day, impossibly happy that her little sister was doing better. I had to admit I was relieved when we returned the little girl to Gemma’s mom the next day. Sleeping with a toddler in your bed was a challenge and eventually I’d given up and slept on the sofa.

“I still feel so bad that you had to sleep on the sofa,” she said after we’d taken Carlotta home. Her guilt over something like that was too adorable.

“You can make it up to me by having a movie night with me. Popcorn and all.”

“Really? Like a date?”

“Like a date. I want to stream a few fights that took place in L.A. last night.” With Carlotta around, we hadn’t been able to watch them live. I could have joined my brothers in the common area, but I didn’t want to leave Gemma alone with her sister.

“With the Madman from L.A.?” Gemma asked curiously.

“Fuck, I love that you know these kinds of things and enjoy more than girl things.”

That evening we settled on the sofa together and I locked into the Darknet part where we always streamed our fights and races, so people could watch them and place bets.

Gemma came in with a bowl of popcorn that smelled divine. I grabbed a handful and stuffed it into my mouth, groaning at the salted caramel note.

“I made the caramel and added some sea salt.”

I pushed another popped kernel into my mouth. “It’s perfect. I want this every evening.”

“Won’t you get bored of it soon?” she said in a strange voice, voicing it in a way that suggested she didn’t mean popcorn.

“If something is this good, how can I resist?”

Turning on the stream, I wrapped an arm around Gemma’s shoulder and pulled her against my body. She was dressed in sweatpants and a tight Tee, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. “You really went all out for our date.” I, too, was wearing sweatpants and a shirt but I couldn’t resist teasing her. It was too much fun.

She frowned. “What’s the use of dressing up for movie night?”

“You’re sexy as fuck as you are anyway. No need for fancy clothes or makeup.”

Obviously pleased, she snuggled against me, the popcorn wedged between us.

“I always dreamed that it would be like this. Us being together.”

I had never given it much thought how we’d spend our time outside of the bedroom. I’d been so obsessed that the rest had blended into the backround. But this, spending time together because we enjoyed the same things was amazing. I tightened my hold on her and focused on the screen where the first fight began.

“His high kick was badly executed. Not the right angle and no tension,” she said. “It’s like he’s a newbie. If you had done this kick, the other guy would have been on his back.”

She sounded almost proud, which gave me an unexpected sense of satisfaction. I kept sneaking glances at Gemma throughout the fights, relishing in her intense expression and fascination with the brutal sport. Thinking that I’d almost lost her, lost this, to another man, made me so fucking furious at myself. I’d been a major dick.