Michael POV"We needed to draw out the enemy outside the house." She replied, small tears slipping from her eyes."We? You aren't we. You are supposed to be in school. You will not go to another event. You will not take part in any of this..." I grunted, my hand releasing her arm, and grabbed my chest. I had her caged against the wall, but I was no threat."Michael, you should rest." Her hands came to my face, her touch so soft and gentle. "Rest?" I chuckled. "How can I rest when everyone around me has lost their minds?""I'm sorry. I was just trying to protect you." "Protect me? That's not how this works!""You can barely stand." She countered."Amy has already made it very clear that I'm weak. I don't need another lecture." I clenched my jaw, anger fading as I watched those eyes look over me. Concern, fear, maybe even love, staring at me."There's more power in my position than my body. You want to flush them out, then invite them in." I glared at her a moment, wanting to spew not
Michael POVI was pissed I woke alone but determined to get over this whole recovery process. Two more doctors met me in the morning, neither having the solutions I wanted. "Did you get what I needed?" I asked Vinnie the second he walked into my room. "Wouldn't disobey my Capo." He mocked and threw a bag at me. "Want to bend over and I stick it in you." He chuckled.Both doctors gave me a concerned look but they could go to hell. "They are the professionals and it can go in my arm, jackass." I pulled out the bottle and ordered one of the doctors to come to me."That's not advised." He warned."Wasn't asking." I handed him the steroids and they gave each other a look. "I'll eat plenty of protein, take all my vitamins, and chug nothing other than water, but that can't be all. I need to recover faster. Steroids, facet injections, cortisol, whatever there is, I'm filling my body to the brim with it over the next three weeks. After that, I should be good with my own exercise regime to he
Michael POV"Come in," I ordered."You needed me?" Paul walked in, looking unamused to be summoned."Take Lucy to school, and from now on, don't make a single order unless I approve it," I said, lying back down. A wave of exhaustion suddenly hit me."If that is what you think is best, boss." Paul had all attitude laced in his words. He was punk for a dinosaur."Do you have a problem with me becoming Capo, Paul? We can easily resolve it." I nodded to Vinnie who walked in behind him. He looked terrified and tried stepping back out the door. "Get in here!" I yelled at him.Lucy rushed out in an oversized shirt and baggy jeans. "What is happening?" She asked, looking at Paul and then Vinnie."Paul is going to take you to school and make sure you're safe. Right, Paul? You seem to like being attached to her side.""We have a meeting you called at 3:30." Paul clenched his jaw. "Unless you don't want your Second to attend. It would be a good way to make us look weak again.""Listen, Paul," V
Vivian’s POV"Work it, Tommy!" I shouted to my very sexy and about to be very naked boyfriend. He decided to intrude on my friend's bridal shower and is now being punished.The sly smile on his face shows me he is enjoying this a little too much though. My hazel eyes darkened as I bite my lip. Damn! He is so fucking hot and so fucking mine.Tommy is almost six feet tall and all muscles. Not overly large, but definitely toned with a nice six pack. With one pull of his hand, he ripped his shirt off his chest then twirled it in the air. "Like this baby?" He teased me as he continued his Magic Mike performance with three cops also stripping next to him."Hmm, needs some oil, baby." I threw a small penis shaped bottle at him and he chuckled."Really?" His eyes were filled with amusement at the shape of it. Then his eyes caught mine and it seemed as if everyone in the room disappeared.That's how it was with Tommy. Everything just stopped and no one existed when I was lost in his gorgeous bl
Vivian’s POVAs promised, Tommy snuck in my bed last night and made me orgasm so many times I lost count. He was so skillful with every part of his body. I often wonder how he learned everything he knew. Was there some class men can take somewhere? He would have aced every one of those lessons.I had one exam today that I knew I passed with flying colors and was now all giddy to meet Tommy for dinner. I needed some answers and last night we did everything but talk. When I woke in the morning he was gone, like most mornings.At first it was perfect. I didn't want any relationships and I loved that he didn't press any boundaries. I was here pursuing my medical degree, far from home and with no family or friends close by.My parents were both lawyers, but died when I was only ten in a car accident. I was in the back seat unable to do anything but watch them bleed out. I knew that was why I wanted to be a doctor. I never wanted to watch helplessly while someone I loved died.Of course, I n
Vivian’s POVI walked to the bathroom in a mess of emotions. I felt like I could just break down and cry which made no sense. I never cried! "What is happening?" I stared at my hazel eyes in the mirror. They were gorgeous and easily my best feature. My hair was light brown with natural streaks of red, which complimented my light brown eyes with hints of orange and green in them. Everyone thought I wore contacts. They were mostly my father's eyes with hazel and green but the hint of red/orange was from my mother. She had dark brown eyes that seemed to hide a small fire behind them. That was the most I could remember about them. Their soft loving voices and their eyes that looked at me like I was their everything. I missed having that feeling."You are very pretty." A large man with a thick Italian accent spoke behind me, bringing me back to a very scary reality. Before I could scream his hand was over my mouth. Why was he here in the lady's room?"I wouldn't try to fight me. I would e
Vivian’s POVI didn't know the exact time but I knew it had been almost 24 hours. Not one person came to see me. I didn't move much and my stomach was in too many knots to care about the hunger there. All I could do was pray tonight I didn't get tossed around between these men. The silence was driving me crazy. I could hear a pin drop down here. I didn't want any of those men to come back down, but I also didn't want to stay here forever.Then it started. First a few gunshots, then the screaming. I don't know how long it went on for until the basement door burst open. I could still hear fighting upstairs, but my eyes were glued on Tommy. He was covered in blood, cursing at the sight of me. He was speaking to me but nothing was registering. Why was he here? Did he come looking for me? How did he find me?"Baby, are you ok?" He asked, cupping my cheek. I nodded my head with tears streaming down my face. I couldn't find the ability to speak a word. Tommy's phone began ringing and he an
Niko’s POV"Get her the fuck up!" I ordered with nothing but pure rage for this woman. She laid in a ball covered in blood and a ripped red dress. A fucking coward hiding in the closet while my family was being murdered to save her.My mind flashed with Tommy's words. "I know I fucked up. Promise me you will protect her. I need to know she will be ok. Vow to me brother!" He grabbed my shirt as blood shot out of his mouth in a violent cough. My fucking little cousin, raised like a brother to me, was dying in my arms and all he cared about was that whore that ruined our family."Tommy don't worry about the girl. She is what brought us this fight. Save your breath and hold on for me." My forehead reached his and I held back my tears. I wasn't a man that cried, but watching the only person I cared about in this world die was gutting my insides."It wasn't her fault. Even it was, she was worth it. Vow to me, Niko!" He ordered again. This little shit was going to make me protect her."I vow
Michael POV"Come in," I ordered."You needed me?" Paul walked in, looking unamused to be summoned."Take Lucy to school, and from now on, don't make a single order unless I approve it," I said, lying back down. A wave of exhaustion suddenly hit me."If that is what you think is best, boss." Paul had all attitude laced in his words. He was punk for a dinosaur."Do you have a problem with me becoming Capo, Paul? We can easily resolve it." I nodded to Vinnie who walked in behind him. He looked terrified and tried stepping back out the door. "Get in here!" I yelled at him.Lucy rushed out in an oversized shirt and baggy jeans. "What is happening?" She asked, looking at Paul and then Vinnie."Paul is going to take you to school and make sure you're safe. Right, Paul? You seem to like being attached to her side.""We have a meeting you called at 3:30." Paul clenched his jaw. "Unless you don't want your Second to attend. It would be a good way to make us look weak again.""Listen, Paul," V
Michael POVI was pissed I woke alone but determined to get over this whole recovery process. Two more doctors met me in the morning, neither having the solutions I wanted. "Did you get what I needed?" I asked Vinnie the second he walked into my room. "Wouldn't disobey my Capo." He mocked and threw a bag at me. "Want to bend over and I stick it in you." He chuckled.Both doctors gave me a concerned look but they could go to hell. "They are the professionals and it can go in my arm, jackass." I pulled out the bottle and ordered one of the doctors to come to me."That's not advised." He warned."Wasn't asking." I handed him the steroids and they gave each other a look. "I'll eat plenty of protein, take all my vitamins, and chug nothing other than water, but that can't be all. I need to recover faster. Steroids, facet injections, cortisol, whatever there is, I'm filling my body to the brim with it over the next three weeks. After that, I should be good with my own exercise regime to he
Michael POV"We needed to draw out the enemy outside the house." She replied, small tears slipping from her eyes."We? You aren't we. You are supposed to be in school. You will not go to another event. You will not take part in any of this..." I grunted, my hand releasing her arm, and grabbed my chest. I had her caged against the wall, but I was no threat."Michael, you should rest." Her hands came to my face, her touch so soft and gentle. "Rest?" I chuckled. "How can I rest when everyone around me has lost their minds?""I'm sorry. I was just trying to protect you." "Protect me? That's not how this works!""You can barely stand." She countered."Amy has already made it very clear that I'm weak. I don't need another lecture." I clenched my jaw, anger fading as I watched those eyes look over me. Concern, fear, maybe even love, staring at me."There's more power in my position than my body. You want to flush them out, then invite them in." I glared at her a moment, wanting to spew not
Michael POVThe second my eyes opened again I grabbed Vinnie's phone to text him. It hadn't even been 48 hours since I woke up in this alternate universe and I was already stir crazy. I was not surviving months of bed rest.'Send me my doctor.' I texted.'It's almost midnight.' He replied.'Don't care. I need some steroids.' I tossed the phone to the side.It dinged again but I ignored his dumb comments about not needing any more rage in my blood.'Where's Lucy?' I texted back. She should be home, hopefully, this home and not her actual home. 'Safe and sound. I know how much she means to you.' He added a wink at the end and I wasn't sure if he meant because I was somehow obsessed with her, or because of the fake pregnancy.I got up, needing some fuel before I passed out again. The doctor was about to knock as I opened my door though. I stared him down like I wanted to eat his heart out. "You called for me, Capo." He said with a shaky voice. He was old, like really old. "Can you eve
Lucy POV"This is unbelievable." I shoved Vinnie off me. He was practically sitting in my lap in the back seat of the car."Michael told me to keep my eyes on you all night." His gaze swept over me, lingering at the slit down my chest like a creep."Michael will rip your eyes out if you keep looking at me like that." I clenched my fists in my lap."He'd never kill me," Vinnie shot back, smug.Paul sighed, clearly over it. "Removing your eyes wouldn't kill you. Enough games, Vinnie. We need to focus.""He should stay in the car," I snapped, shooting Paul a look that begged for backup. I hated Vinnie's childish, flirty attitude."Michael just woke up. Let's not piss him off yet," Paul muttered, flipping a page in the book he'd been pretending to read. He was tired of this charade too, but not enough to go against Viv's orders."What's the big deal anyway?" Vinnie asked. "It's a charity gala, not a war zone.""Michael has enemies. It's better to be ready than dead." Paul's tone stayed fl
Michael POVAfter Viv left, I collapsed back into bed, needing just a little more time. The painkillers dulled the ache, but in return, they numbed everything else. I could sleep for days, maybe weeks.In the quiet, I made a mental checklist: who needed to be found, who needed to be killed. I needed my computer. Sitting up slowly, I scanned the room. Where the hell was my computer? My phone? I dragged myself over to the desk and flipped the wall display on. Static.I stared at the screens, the white noise crackling in front of me. "I'm supposed to believe this is legit?" I muttered. "Feels more like a prison.""You don't look too bad." The moment Amy's voice reached me, I couldn't help but smile. I'd been pushing it out of my mind, but the fear that they'd hurt her was gnawing at me."Nothing I can't handle," I shot back with a cocky grin, turning to her standing in my doorway. Her gaze fell to the bandage peeking from my buttoned shirt, exposing part of the scar."Yeah, well, you lo
Lucy POVI held a pair of diamond earrings up to my face, then switched to blue sapphires. It was surreal: me, in this dress, preparing for an event like I belonged here. The halter neckline dipped low from the waist, revealing just enough to feel bold without being inappropriate. The fabric flowed to my ankles with two high slits, the perfect blend of sensuality and sophistication. But it wasn't me."Gorgeous, Miss," Marie said, stepping in with a blue butterfly pin for my updo of curls.Vivian always wore a butterfly or flower in her hair for evening events. And now, so did I.I was expected to take her place seamlessly, despite the fact that I wasn't married to the Capo, and I was much younger than she had been when she stepped into this role."Thank you," I murmured shyly, finally choosing the sapphire earrings to match the deep blue fabric of the dress. My reflection looked flawless with porcelain skin and polished makeup. I had wondered what kind of magic was in the foundation t
Michael POVIt took me twenty minutes just to get out of bed and pull on a damn shirt. I couldn't even button it fully. I felt like absolute hell, like death warmed over."Why are you up?" V walked in, wearing that familiar look of motherly irritation. "Lucy said you were in a mood.""A mood? I've been shot," I snapped, gripping the edge of the mattress as pain radiated from my chest. A thick bandage ran between my pecs and down my stomach."And you had open-heart surgery. You need months of rest to fully heal... months you don't have." V moved beside me, her fingers tugging my shirt together as she finished buttoning me up.I didn't argue. The silence between us stretched until I asked the question that had been burning in my chest."Who was behind this?"She stilled. "We aren't sure. Maybe Declan or..." She paused, hands gripping the chair beside the bed as she lowered herself into it.I helped her down, careful of her heavily pregnant belly. "Or who?""Maybe Vito."I looked at her,
Amy POV"Where was he last seen?" I asked Dylan, pressing my gun to his head the second he walked through the door."I thought we were building some trust here." He gave me a dry look.I shoved the muzzle harder against his forehead. "Where?""Declan's moving his men to Brooklyn. He's pulled together about a hundred from both sides.""Fuck." I lowered the gun, I wasn't really going to shot him."Fuck is right. You need a damn Xanax, Amy.""I need to find Declan. I need to end his life. He killed my uncle, and he's going to pay.""Okay, you got five families behind you with that. Just... take a breath, will you? You're going to get yourself killed.""I'm not that easy to take down. Get me locations and safe houses." I ordered."Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for graduation, little girl?" Vinnie strolled in with that cocky smile of his. He irritated the shit out of me. I had no idea how my brother could stand him."I'm done with high school. I'm done with games. Did you hack th