Because Of Love

Rafe walked into his home feeling very pleased with himself. His revenge was finally complete, and soon the Rossi and DeLuca names would be nothing. They would disappear like an unfounded rumor. And then he’d rebuild the DeLuca name clean of all his father’s evil.

He patted Angelo on the back. “Come cugino, let’s celebrate!”

Angelo shook his head. “Rafe, there is nothing to celebrate-”

Rafe raised his hand and cut him off as he walked towards the bar sitting at the far end of the living room. “Not now, Angelo. You can be my conscious tomorrow morning after I’ve drunk my scotch, kissed my sons, and made passionate love to my wife.”

“I can see the first two happening, but I’m not sure about the last.”

Rafe turned to his wife’s voice with a smile. She looked lovely leaning against the doorway with a radiant smile on her face. He couldn’t believe the same woman had almost died two months ago.

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He beckoned her with two fingers and she strutted towards him. When she was a foot away, he grabbed and pulled her into his embrace where he trapped her with his arms. “Why do you not think so mia moglie?”

She sighed closing her eyes. “I love it when you say that the way you say it.”

He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers and whispered huskily, “How is that, mia moglie?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Like you are about to make mad passionate love to me.”

“Ah, then you are very right,” and with that, he took her lips in a fierce kiss, feeling the rest of his body awaken with desire.

He’d been forced to restrain himself for the past two weeks. He’d wanted to take her countless times, surrendering to his basest desires, but he understood. The twins exhausted her the entire day and he exhausted her when he came home. Talia never complained, willing to give her time to him even though it was just to have a conversation. She was an angel.

She pulled away with a giggle. “Down boy, we have an audience.”

Rafe nuzzled his face in her neck, pressing her hips into his to rub his arousal against her. “The audience may leave at any time if they feel uncomfortable.”

Talia pulled away and he whined. She laughed. “Yes, but we have something to discuss.” She took his hand and pulled him to the couch.

“Here we go,” Carrie whispered to Angelo, pulling him to sit on the couch across from them.

Rafe looked at Carrie and Talia as they looked at each other and he had a bad feeling. “What is it?” he demanded more forcefully than he intended.

Talia climbed to sit on his lap. “Don’t be mad,” she started.

Rafe groaned. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

She shook her head. “Your mother and Renaldo are in the guest house.”

“What?” He tried to lift Talia off him, but she wound her arms around his neck, quickly straddled him, and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Talia…”

“Before you storm the guest house in a murderous rage and kick your mother and brother to the curb hear me out.”

Rafe dropped his hands to the side, refusing to touch her as she continued to speak.

“They told me what you are doing. Rafe, other people who aren’t your father and Rossi are getting hurt. Did you think of the countless people your revenge is robbing of their livelihood?”

Rafe refused to answer her. Of course he knew there were people who didn’t deserve his wrath. But his rage had blinded him, refusing to listen to what Angelo, and his own conscious were telling him.

“Your mother has left your father. She brought Renaldo here so you could help him be the man you are, minus the ill temper.”

Rafe snorted at her attempt at humor.

“Rafe, you need to stop what you are doing. You need to forgive before you turn into your father.”

“I can’t forgive what they did. They have to pay for what they’ve done to my family!” he snarled, punching the cushions.

“As much as you don’t want to admit it, they are your family too. And if you look at it, everything that was done was done to me, my body-”

“My sons-” She cut off his protest by pressing a finger to his lips.

“My body, they just had the misfortune of being inside me at the time. I’ve forgiven your brother, why can’t you? He needs your help to become a better man. Think of him as your practice dummy for when the boys grow up.”

Rafe begrudgingly accepted that she was right but his pride wasn’t going to let him admit it out loud, so he stayed silent.

She chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “I’m glad you agree.” Then she climbed off him and strode out of the living room.

“Where are you going?” he called out.

“To get your mother and brother.”

Carrie chuckled shaking her head. “Man, you are so whipped!”

Rafe crossed his arms over his chest. “Damn woman! Gets me to do things I don’t want to!” he grumbled.

“So this means the revenge is over?” Angelo asked hopefully.

Rafe groaned. “Not yet. We’ll keep at it until we can buy them both out. You’ll take over Rossi and rename it DeLuca then we’ll merge and give everyone affected their jobs back.”

“Bene! I knew you would make the right decision!”

Carrie snorted a laugh. “Did you miss the last five minutes? He didn’t make any decision, Talia did. I always knew she wore the pants in this family, as much as she would like everyone to think Rafe does.”

Rafe narrowed his eyes at her. “At least I’m not the only DeLuca controlled by a woman.” He looked pointedly at Angelo.

Angelo shook his head. “Non, cugino, I’m the man in this relationship.”

Carrie cooed, pinching Angelo’s cheek. “Aren’t you cute to think so?”

Rafe laughed outright at Angelo’s confused expression. He hadn’t noticed it yet but Rafe had. Why else had Angelo been living in his guestroom with Carrie since Talia had been released from hospital?

Angelo and Carrie turned to face the approaching footsteps and Rafe knew reckoning had arrived.

He stood up and turned to face his mother and brother. Of course Renaldo was standing behind their mother, still using her as a shield. Rafe snorted, shaking his head.

Talia who had already moved to stand next to him, walked to the duo to pull Renaldo forward, away from their mother. Renaldo blushed for a moment before he stood up straighter, like he was in an army line awaiting inspection by his superior.

Talia came to stand next to Rafe, wrapping her arm around his waist and whispered, “Go easy on him.”

“Why should I give either of you a chance?” Rafe demanded in a harsh tone.

Renaldo moved a step forward. “I know I’ve wronged both of you and I’m ready to earn your forgiveness. Whatever it takes.”

Rafe raise his brow at Renaldo’s assertive tone. He’d never heard it before. It was a wonderful surprise. Despite being a mess, he truly loved his brother and he suddenly wished he’d been there for him more while they grew up. He was four years older than Renaldo, yet they were practically raised separately-Renaldo behind their mother’s skirts and Rafe under their father’s cold directive.

“Va bene, but I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for mia moglie.”

“But why?” His mother spoke for the first time, stepping forward to stand beside Renaldo. “Earlier she wasn’t sure she could convince you to even speak to us.”

Why indeed?

Rafe looked down at Talia. The love in her eyes made his heart want to explode. God he loved this woman and he would readily do as she asked! Hell, he’d already sent his mother-in-law an airline ticket.

He hugged her tighter against his side. “Because Talia loved me enough not to give up on us. She followed me here, interrupted my wedding, and forced me to acknowledge not only her but also our sons as vital needs in my life.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his free hand, catching a stray tear with his thumb. “Because she’s forgiven my family for the harm they have caused her, despite the terror she still faces in her nightmares. Because she’s forgiven me for the harm I caused her when I was made to believe she had betrayed me, when I failed to protect her. Because she is my heart, my soul and my life.”

He pulled Talia to stand in front of him and he pressed his forehead to hers as he held her tightly in his embrace. “Because I love her.”