41

After dinner, we head into the family room for drinks and to chat.

Chase, Danilo, and Vincent are at one side talking, Tommy having said he was sitting this one out, muttering something about how he hasn't slept for three days. Eva isn’t here, and unsurprisingly so is Matteo. Hopefully, they sort out their issues. Peacefully.

Niko strides in a moment later, a glass of scotch in his hand, I had come in ahead of him when he went momentarily to receive a phone call. He walks right up to where I’m relaxing back on the couch, enjoying another glass of wine, it’s my second and last one for tonight and I’m determined to savor it.

“Scoot over sweetheart,” he says when he stops in front of me. I lean back, bringing my glass to my nose and inhaling the sweet scent of grapes.

“Why?” I blinked up at him coyly.

“I want to sit with you”

Call it what you want but Gianna was right after all, he has barely looked away from me all evening, smoldering me in his heat, and I have had to stop f