Ana
Packing up most of my life was easier than I expected it to be. Since I’ll be sharing a room with my husband now, I don’t need my bed or any of my big furniture. Most of my boxes are stuffed with clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and bits of memorabilia from my mum that I didn’t want to part with.
Her personal collection of paintings have been mostly auctioned off. She wouldn’t want me to have them around collecting dust when I don’t have the eye to appreciate them like a true art lover would. I kept a few of my favorites, even setting two aside for Dante and Jade. An Italian countryside, Renaissance-style piece for the man I call Dad, and a floral painting that I found covered with sage for Jade. Sage is the name Dad gave to her twin she never got to know, and I think she’ll really love the sentiment.
Though I’ve spent most of my life in between New York and London, I don’t think I’m going to miss it much. Plus, Cassio has already promised me that we’ll return to the city at least twice a month to visit Killian, and Agnes, and to volunteer at St. Mary’s. So I’ll never be deprived of the parts of the city that I love now that we’re leaving it.
He also put me in contact with a woman who runs a local orphanage twenty minutes from the Moretti mansion. They have a smaller staff, but a good facility and will take any help I’m willing to offer. I’ve already started planning a fundraiser for them, focused on earning enough money to give the children an incredible Christmas this year.
As the car comes to a stop, I squeeze Cassio’s hand and unbuckle my seatbelt. Jumping out of my seat, I tip my head back to look at the clear blue sky. The air already feels cleaner as I inhale, breathing in the familiar scenery.
“You’re here!”
A soft, slim body slams into mine, pushing me back against the car with the force of it. My face is buried in Jade’s hair in a whoosh as she clings to me.
“Don’t break my wife,” Cassio gripes, standing with our eldest brother.
Apollo came to New York to help us move, apparently wanting to go over some business discussions with Killian too. The Kings and The Outfit now have an official alliance. I’m not sure what it consists of, but I’m content to know that the two sides of my family—though Killian is the only Knight left standing—are on friendly terms for good.
Jade ignores Cassio entirely, pulling back to look at my face with gleaming blue eyes. “I’m so excited! I’ve been waiting for you all day. I’m pretty sure I’ve been stressing Dmitri and Ivan out with all of my pacing and window watching.”
“Did you have sweets for breakfast?” I chuckle. “You’ve got energy pouring out of you, babe.”
“Martha made raspberry strudel, I may have over indulged,” she confesses, grinning. “Come in, come in, I can’t wait for you to see your room. It’s huge!”
From what Jade has told me over the phone, Cassio and I are going to be on the same floor as Nico, but not in his old room. We’ll have a suite like Jade’s, all to ourselves. A fresh start for both of us, and somewhere to call our own.
“I’m here as well,” Cassio points out before she can drag me off. “You know, me, your loving brother?”
“Unload the boxes, loving brother,” she shoots back. “You have manual labor to attend to. I’ll keep Ana company, don’t worry.”
Cassio turns to Apollo. “Has she gotten sassier, or is that just for me?”
“She’s been living with Matteo for nearly two years now, what do you think?” he deadpans. “Speaking of Matteo, tell him to get his ass out here to help with these boxes.”
“Will do,” Jade chirps, wrapping her fingers around my wrist and pulling me toward the large house. Once we step over the threshold, she cups her hands around her mouth. “Matteo, Apollo demands you help unload the truck!”
“Yeah?” Matteo calls back. “Well, I demand he fucks off.”
“They need the biggest, strongest Moretti to assist them.”
Finding us, Matteo crosses his arms, giving Jade a doubtful stare. “Don’t try that flattery shit on me, little sister.”
“Oh, go help,” Jade chides, smothering a laugh.
“Hello, Matteo,” I greet, smiling. “There aren’t that many boxes, if it helps.”
Sighing dramatically, the youngest Moretti boy relents. “Fine, I’ll help. But I’m only helping since it’s for Ana, not because Apollo summoned me.”
“Such a good brother,” Jade coos approvingly, patting his cheek as she maneuvers around him. “Come on, I have to show you the cutest thing.”
Strolling into the family sitting room, we find Dmitri holding their daughter and Ivan on the ground with Cesar, watching the boy intently as he does his tummy time.
“Isobella,” my best friend says gently, approaching her husband’s side. “Who am I?”
Giving her mother a gummy grin, the baby girl’s brows knit, like she’s thinking of the answer to Jade’s question.
“Ma… Ma,” she babbles, spitting out the word.
“Mama!” Cesar screeches, prompted by his sister.
My heart swells and I jump in excitement. “Oh my gosh! When did they start that?”
“Just a couple weeks ago,” Jade tells me, eyes sparkling. “They say Dada too, it melts my heart.”
Like he wants to prove his mother’s claim, Cesar shouts, “Dada!”
“Oh my goodness.” My hands cover my heart, and I resist the urge to scoop him up and hug him for the accomplishment.
I know from working with countless babies at St. Mary’s that all children develop at their own pace, but six to nine months for basic words is quite common. The twins are seven-months-old now, their birthday coming up in August, so they are marvelously on track.
“They’re growing so much,” Jade marvels, caressing Isobella’s little face. “I feel like they were in my stomach yesterday.”
“Did you show her the room yet, Krasotka?” Dmitri asks, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m about to take her up,” Jade replies, blushing.
“Ana, I’m kidnapping your dog,” Matteo declares, sauntering into the room with Sirius in tow.
“Good luck with that,” Armani drawls, walking in behind him, boxes in hand. “He’s loyal to her, no matter how many runs you take him on or how many treats you sneak him.”
Matteo shrugs, petting Sirius’ head. “We’ll see about that, won’t we, boy?”
“Take him outside,” Cassio instructs as he passes by.
“I’m going, I’m going.”
“Dad made sure that part of the yard was fenced in for him to get some fresh air and space to himself,” Jade tells me. “Dmitri and I brought the twins to see Emilio and Melani recently. We wanted to make sure they weren’t allergic to dogs, and they have two Doberman guard dogs just like yours. We’re all clear on that front.”
My brows rise up. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“What are sisters for?” She grins. “God, I’ve been waiting to call you that for ages. It feels amazing, doesn’t it? You try it.”
“You’re the best sister a girl could ask for, Jade,” I tell her seriously.
“Stop, I’m going to cry,” she croaks. Shaking off the emotion, she threads our hands together. “Room tour, first. We can cry another time.”
I quickly agree and allow her to sweep me away.
The room she brings me to is, in fact, huge. It’s mostly bare bones, aside from a large king bed, frame, vanity, and dressers, all matching in design. The floors are dark hardwood, and the walls are a warm gray.
The walk-in closet and the bathroom are both oversized too. I’m definitely thinking of all the lovely things Cassio can do to me in the deep soaker tub, and the rain shower looks immaculate as well.
Several Moretti brothers come in and out, dropping off boxes as their sister chatters on, showing me the place.
“You can paint or change anything you want,” Jade finishes, flopping down onto the unmade bed.
“I can’t believe we get to live together,” I say excitedly, dropping down by her side. “And this house… It’s a bit magical, isn’t it?”
“Definitely. I adore it here,” she agrees, biting her bottom lip. “Though, Dmitri and I are talking about building our own place. It would be on the same property, of course. Just a short walk in the back.”
Surprised, my brows lift. “Really?”
Nodding shyly, she explains, “We’re going to want more kids, and even though this place is huge, it might start to feel crowded in a year or so.”
“Wedding planning and house construction,” I comment, grinning wide. “Look at you, Ms. Domestic.”
Jade shrugs, grinning. “Guilty as charged.”
A throat clears and we look down the bed, finding way more boxes than before. Cassio and Apollo are watching us, a fond smile on my husband’s face.
“Having fun?” he asks.
“Loads,” I answer, smiling playfully.
“That’s the last one,” Apollo reports, setting it down and nodding. “I’ll see you all at dinner.”
“Thank you for the help.” I’m barely able to get the polite words out before he leaves. Turning to Jade with a huff, I ask, “Is he always so…”
“Prickly and aloof?” she guesses. “Yeah, that’s our Apollo. You’ll come to love it, and learn how to force bonding time with him. He’s not mean, just a little impersonal and distant sometimes.”
Understandable. I’m not exactly warm and fuzzy all the time either.
“I need a shower,” Cassio says suddenly, dipping his head down to kiss the side of my neck. “Join me?”
“Fat chance!” Jade exclaims, scoffing. “She’s mine now, bucko. You’ve had her for months.”
I giggle, looking up at him. “I think she just told you to piss off, Husband.”
“How utterly impolite,” he sulks.
“You’ll get over it,” Jade says matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. “Be gone, dear brother of mine. We have catching up to do.”
“Gossip to share, you mean?”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”
Leaving Cassio to shower in our new ensuite, Jade and I head back downstairs and start chatting about anything and everything.
I fill her in on all that went down with Bron. She tells me Cesar and Isobella are eating some soft foods now, but they both hate pea purée. We talk about the orphanage, and getting Leo to Leon and Cleo. She asks about Sirius and how things are with Cassio.
She also tells me that she started texting Anya, Dmitri’s little sister. Nothing overly friendly, as the teen seems shy. But she sends her pictures of Cesar and Isobel, and has started to talk about wedding planning with her. She really wants Anya to come, and she’s hopeful that she will.
Since Dmitri and Jade are planning to host on Empire Academy’s campus, and Anya’s family will all be there, it should feel safe and inviting enough for her. I completely agree and hope she’ll come. She’s a part of Jade’s family, and I know it would mean so much to Dmitri and Ivan. They hardly get to see her anymore.
My jaw hurts by the time our chattering begins to slow. It’s almost overwhelming how nice it has been to just sit back and have a conversation with her. We get on so well, and I feel like we could prattle on for hours.
Cassio finds us having a snack sometime later, greeting me with a kiss to the temple before his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“You know, this is the second time I’ve dried off from a shower and found your hair literally wrapped around my balls, Wife.”
A girlish laugh bubbles from my chest. “Oh?”
“You think that’s funny, do you?” He chuckles, eyes sparkling at the joy on my face. “I suppose I should get used to it. I don’t think there’s a washer in the world that can keep up with how much you shed from that pretty little head of yours.”
Giving him a coy grin, I shrug. “It’s just another reminder of who you belong to.”
“Ugh, you guys are so cute!” Jade squeals.
My face heats, and I don’t think I stop blushing for the next several hours. Not while unpacking, or while every member of the family comes to check in on us. It’s a wonderful feeling to be flooded with so much hospitality. They truly see me as a member of the family.
All thanks to Cassio.
At dinner, the table is piled with delicious food, and surrounded by friendly faces. Cassio’s hand is wrapped around the back of my neck while we eat, his thumb lazily dragging up and down the side of my throat. I’m tempted to ask him to stop, because as amazing as it feels, the affectionate petting is starting to stir something up inside of me. And we aren’t alone.
Being alone in a house this full already feels impossible, but I find that I love it. Whether it’s babies screaming, brothers squabbling, dishes banging, or cozy conversation, the Moretti home is lively.
Yes, I can tell that there will be moments where I could scream for some alone time with my husband, but mostly I know this experience is going to be incredible. And besides, I know I can count on Cassio to sweep me away from the chaos to lay me down for a nap… or lay me on my back.
I don’t think it’s possible to be any happier than I am right now.
