“Who are you?” Aspen is the first to speak, and her tone is definitely interested.
King points a finger at his sister. “No.”
She ignores him, stepping past King to hold her hand out. “I’m Aspen.”
Rob gives her one of his bright smiles as he takes her hand. “I know. I’m Rob.”
“And I killed her last husband,” King adds. “At her request.”
Aspen lifts a shoulder, hand still in Rob’s. “It’s true.”
“Hot.” Rob’s smile doesn’t fade as he lifts Aspen’s hand to his mouth and kisses the back of it.
King steps forward. “No. Get the fuck out. This is family only.” He grabs Aspen’s arm and pulls it out of Rob’s grip.
I click my tongue. “Sorry, Robbie. You heard him—family only.”
Rob snorts. “Have a nice group hug later.” Then he turns his gaze to King’s sister. “Sweet dreams, Aspen.”
King crowds Rob back out through the door, slamming it behind him.
“You’re so ridiculous.” Aspen shakes her head.
“You two making eyes at each other is ridiculous.”
“Okay, grandpa.” She takes a sip of her wine.
“What’s in the bag?” Val asks, having made her way back to my side.
“Gifts.” I gesture with my open hand. “Ladies, if you will.” They all look at me a little funny, then finally, Savannah, Aspen, and Payton stand next to each other in front of me. “You, too,” I tell Val, and she joins the row.
I can already see Nero grinding his teeth, and I can’t wait to give his wife something worth more than a car.
“Hands out, please,” I request.
“There aren’t worms in there or something like that, right?” Payton asks.
“Worms?” Savannah makes a face. “Ew.”
“Not sure what your Christmases are usually like but…” I shake the bag, and the sound is faint, but clearly the items inside are hard. “Not worms.”
Valentine holds her hand out first, and the others follow.
“That’s my girl.” I wink at her, enjoying the way her cheeks turn pink.
I decide there’s no point in asking them to close their eyes, so I reach in and pull out the first of four identical items.
I lay the first diamond tennis bracelet in Savannah’s hand. Then in Aspen’s. Then in Payton’s. And last, I hold out the final bracelet for Valentine, gripping the open ends, and clasp it around her wrist.
“Dominic,” Val breathes, staring down at the glittering stones.
“Are those really real?” Nero is leaning over Payton’s shoulder, looking at the bracelet as his wife holds it up to catch the light.
My face scrunches. “Dude.”
“Just asking,” he says, like I’m the one in the wrong.
“What is this for?” Savannah asks as she touches the diamonds.
“It’s tradition,” I tell her as I pull Val back into my side. “All the women in my family have them. And now, through Val, you’re all part of my family.” I gesture to the four women.
My wife. Nero’s wife. King’s wife. King’s sister.
The women of The Alliance.
“Not sure how to feel about you buying my wife jewelry,” King mumbles, but Savannah thanks me before making him help her put it on.
Val steps over to help Aspen, and Nero looks ready to slit my throat while he fastens the bracelet on his wife’s wrist.
When Valentine turns back to me, and I see she’s blinking, I hold my arms out.
She walks into my body, wrapping her arms around me in a hug.
“Thanks, Big Guy. That was really nice.”
Hearing her use that name, I squeeze her tighter against me.
“You’re welcome, Shorty.” I rest my cheek against the top of her head.
Her hands grab hold of the back of my shirt. “I’m sorry about the ring.”
Her voice is quiet, so I match it. “What ring?” I know she’s still wearing the one my mom gave her. And even though I love seeing it on her, I kind of hate how it covers up one of the Dominics circling her finger.
She leans back so she can look up at me. “The one I, well, threw out the window.”
I smirk. “Oh, that one.”
Val grimaces and nods. “I’m not sure I’d do it differently, but it was really pretty. And I do feel a little bad.”
“There’s a reason I didn’t ask my mom for the family ring,” I tell her honestly.