Bloodlines: A Bad Boy Secret Baby Romance (The Snake Eyes Series Book 4)

It’s autumn in Italy and the air has just begun to turn cold. Other children playing in the streets outside of our car wear long trousers and jackets but for me and my big brother, it feels like any other summer day.

We come from Russia.

My mother grips my shirt and straightens the collar once more. “Yuri, Luka — you are representing the Lutrova family here today,” she says, giving her voice a hard edge. “Be nice to the Zappia boys and
Luka…
” She points a thin, but stern, finger in my face. “For Heaven’s sake, boy, don’t start any fights.”

I open my mouth to speak but my brother talks over me. “I’ll watch him, Ma. He won’t start any trouble.”

“That goes for
both of you
,” our father says. “The truce created today will last for generations, meaning that someday, the two of you will inherit this from me and the Zappia boys will inherit it from their father. The sooner we all get along, the better off it’ll be. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” we say.

Our driver stops the car and I look outside the window. My eyes instantly blink with delight, amazed by the colors surrounding me. In Russia, you see white, you see black, and — as a member of the Lutrova crime family — various shades of red, but you rarely ever see colors like these. The grass is bright green and the sky is a vivid blue. Flowers line the driveway in pinks and purples and oranges. I smile, wanting so badly to touch them but then I remember my mother’s words of warning to keep my hands in my pockets.

The front door opens as we step out of the car and the Zappia family lines up in front of us; father, mother, and the three boys.

“Nikolai!” the man greets, throwing up his hand in welcome.

“Antony,” my father says, stepping closer to take his hug. I flinch as the man kisses my father’s cheek but my mother pinches my ear. “Thank you for welcoming us to your home.”

“I believe it’s long overdue,” Antony says. “The foolish pride of our fathers impeded much progress between our families…”

“I could not have said it better myself.” My father shifts on his heel and sighs at the woman’s face. “And this must be the beautiful Beatrix.”

She lowers her head and says nothing.

Antony waves a finger. “Careful now, Nikolai. A Zappia woman may not engage in conversation with a man that is not her family.”

My father steps back. “My sincerest apologies, Antony.”

Antony grins and waves a hand. “It’s all right. You had no idea. Our traditions run deep but they are not unforgiving… to an extent.”

My mother steps forward. “I don’t suppose there’s a rule against her talking to
me
because I must know more about this wonderful landscape. I’d guess she’d be the one to talk to about that.”

Antony blinks. Obviously, our family doesn’t have rules against talkative women and I can’t imagine my mother being okay with being told who she can or can’t speak to. “Of course not, Madam Lutrova. I’m sure Beatrix would be happy to give you a tour of the grounds.”

My father clears his throat at my mother. “Antony, my wife, Nina.”

My mother shakes Antony’s hand and her quick, strong jerk nearly knocks him off his feet. I struggle to hold back my laugh but Yuri nudges my ribs.

I look to the Zappia boys and my smile drops. Each one of them stares at my mother with disgust and my hands roll into fists in my pockets.

Beatrix silently leads my mother inside but I hear her familiar voice from the other side of the door, purposefully loud and confident.

Antony gestures to his sons. “And these are my boys: Lorenzo, Giovani, and Martino.”

I stare at them, each one trying desperately to emulate their father’s stiff posture. Italian features stand out on their faces; thick, brown hair, brown eyes, and that hard upper lip. Lorenzo, the oldest, looks to be about twelve, the same age as my older brother. Giovani is my age, maybe a little younger than nine. And Marty’s small, possibly about five.

My father beams at them and fires off a few compliments about how strong they look but I can tell what he’s really thinking because I’m thinking the same thing.

What a bunch of wimps.

He turns to us, still grinning. “And these are
my
sons: Yuri and Luka.”

Antony regards us with the same respect he gives my father but if I knew him better, then I’m sure I’d see that same, disdainful twinkle in his eyes. The feud between the Zappias and the Lutrovas goes back generations and ingrained beliefs aren’t going to go away after a few handshakes.

“Boys, how about you and the Lutrovas run off and play?” Antony says. “Nikolai and I have much to discuss.”

Other books

Elizabeth's Daughter by Thea Thomas

Drumbeats by Kevin J. Anderson, Neil Peart

What the (Bleep) Just Happened? by Monica Crowley

Boys in the Trees: A Memoir by Carly Simon

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

Good, Clean Murder by Hilton, Traci Tyne

Ultimate Surrender by Lydia Rowan

Forbidden Drink by Nicola Claire

Running With Argentine by William Lee Gordon

Journey Into the Flame by T. R. Williams