“Ethan, will you walk me and wait for your mom?” Mina asked with a smile.. He nodded and stepped over to herleft, and as always Neal stepped up just a little bit in front her, like he was going to guard her with his body. He’d been doing it for so long that I don’t even think he realized it.
“If only Mel was around to hear that little speech,” Declan said beside me.
“Not even that would help me. She needs to get a few hits in at me first.” Once Ethan had said it, there was no going back. Plus, on top of taking him on the ‘job’…tonight was not going to go at all as planned. I could feel it. God fucking damn it.
“Look on the bright side,” he said when we got on the elevator.
“What’s on the bright side but sunburn?”
He snickered and leaned against the paneling. “After all these years, she running out places to not lethally shoot you.”
Neal laughed out loud causing Mina to elbow him in the ribs, but it didn’t stop him.
“Fuck you both,” I muttered under my breath when the doors opened again and we were in the cream and gold hotel lobby. Across from us, another pair of elevators opened and even though I knew she was pissed off at me, I couldn’t stop the small smirk from forming on my lip as she stepped out—an army of black suits behind her.
She was so stunning; no one could look away from her, in their eyes lust, jealousy, respect, and fear. She walked into a room and commanded all of that with one glance. Her place was at my side, but instead of coming to me, she walked over and placed her arms on the shoulders of our son, sparing me not even a glance.
“Looks like we’re going to fight tonight,” I muttered to myself, my jaw tensing up. The two clowns beside me grinned.
“So—”
“Don’t make me hurt you,” I said to Declan. Strolling right up to her side, I wrapped my arm around her waist.
Her brown eyes focused on me, eyebrow raised, we’d been married for so long, I could tell what she was thinking “You’re really going to touch me when you know I’m pissed off at you?”
So I smiled and winked at her. Her nose flared because she knew what I meant. “Yes, I know what I’m doing. Get over it, sweetheart.”
“You’re not tired?” She ignored me and focused on Ethan as we walked to the car.
“Nope.” He yawned and leaned in closer to her.
“Okay big kid,” I replied.
“I’m really not tired.”
“I believe you,” she said ,shivering with the instant change in temperature. It was only March and yet it felt like November tonight.
“Boss,” Fedel nodded to her and opened the door for us. Ethan stepped in first, followed by Mel and then me.
The moment the doors closed, Ethan rested his head on her side.
“I’m not tired,” he muttered softly.
“I believe you,” she said softly, again kissing his forehead as his eyes closed. “Mio bel leoncino Significhi tutto per me.”
“And his father?” I asked her. “If he means everything to you, what happens to me?”
“Are you jealous of your son?” she asked, not bothering to look at me, her eyes only on him.
“Yes.”
Her head snapped to me like she wasn’t expecting me to admit it. Reaching up, I brushed her hair behind her ear, leaning in closer to whisper, “I love seeing you as a mother, you are stunning. But Sei il grande amore della mia vita. Il mio cuore è solo tuo Senza di te la vita non ha più senso. (You are the love of my life. My heart is yours. Without you, life has no meaning.) So never look away from me for too long.”
I kissed her cheek. She glared at me, but said nothing and leaned back in the seat.
I closed my eyes and tried to relax; however, only seconds later the car came to a stop and we were already at the gates of the mansion.
Over the years, we had expanded it to make room for the newest members of our family. Rule Five: One family. One Roof. Yes, even though we basically lived in a palace now, it still felt crowed some days.
“I got him,” I told her. I got out of the car and came around to the other side to lift him out of the seat.
His arms snaked around my neck. I couldn’t believe how big he was getting.
“Good evening, Sir, Ma’am,” our butler said to us when we stepped inside. “Madam Coraline has already put Wyatt and Donatella to bed, but they wanted to wait up for you.”
“I’ll go to them now,” Melody said and kissed Ethan’s cheek before walking up the steps.
“O’Phelan, anything worth noting happen in our absence?” I questioned.
“No, Sir. Between your mother and Madam Coraline, it was a casual evening. They baked cupcakes, spent some time outside before watching a movie in the theatre with popcorn. Most of them fell asleep after that.”
“Good work, that’s all for the night.”
“Of course, Sir. Goodnight.”