Niko POV"Come in." I grunted to the knocking at my door."Good Afternoon, Capo. You wanted to see me?" Vanessa walked in standing at the side of my desk."Yes, now that we have this mess settled, I wanted to speak to you about our arrangement." I didn't even look up from my papers as I spoke. The last thing I needed was to pretend I wanted this woman in front of me. "Of course. I have everything arranged and there is nothing you need to do. In a little over two months, we will be married." She slithered her way behind my chair, lightly sliding her fingers to my shoulders. "You have been so stressed Nikola. Let me help relieve all this pressure." She kneaded my shoulders and it actually felt really good. I have been stressed a lot lately."Hmm, I could use a good release." I closed my eyes allowing her fingers to dig deep into my muscles. "You have so much responsibility Capo. I can help.""You have helped Vanessa. I know many ways you've stood by my side. I even noticed how you choo
Vivian POVHe walked into the dining room in a black suit that was half a mess. Sleeves rolled up, top buttons undone, and hair ruffled. His muscles were throbbing, probably from all the tension in his body and it made my eyes walk over every inch of his skin. I don't know how and I don't know when, but something inside me just snapped into place about Niko. Maybe it was his vow, or how he looked at me like a mystical creature too far above him to even touch, or maybe it was his devotion to give me anything I ask of. All I knew was that somehow a brick wall came crashing down and now everything inside me flooded with emotions. Mostly, I just wanted to curl into his arms and hear his rough voice tell me it was all ok. I hadn't decided what it all meant though. I still wasn't sure if I could live this life or abide by their rules. I saw it all as barbaric and unfair. A few families with all this power. Niko killed Joseph, who was my half-brother, in his basement. He attacked Jonathan a
Niko POVI woke remembering the best dream where Viv was in my arms to find it was not a dream at all. She was really here. I put her to bed in her room despite wanting to carry her to my bed. Then in the middle of the night she came to me. "Good morning, beautiful." My voice was a bit raspy from sleep. I felt her body squirming awake and couldn't help but watch her body next to mine. "Good morning, beast." Her lips pulled a small smile, making everything inside me erupt in butterflies. "Did something happen or could you not resist me?" I teased. I was actually concerned something bad scared her. I can't imagine her leaving Amy's side if there was a threat though."I was just missing you and decided to crawl in your bed. Do you not want me here?""I always want you here." "I like being here with you." We didn't say anything else. I was afraid she would tell me she was still leaving and I couldn't handle that right now. We stayed in bed for at least an hour just cuddling each other
Vivian POVI walked downstairs with a smile on my face. I was nervous to go to his room last night, but now I was glad I did. He held me all night, spoke honestly, and he was even playful. Niko was my beast yet I've only seen him kneel to my ever demand since I returned. I knew in my heart I wanted to stay. My mind was still at odds with this decision though. I slowly opened my heart to him before and he ripped it wide open then stomped on it. Could he really change this much in such a short time? Could we make a real future together? I wasn't even sure what I wanted in my future anymore. Other than Amy, nothing in my life felt whole.The table was full of life at breakfast this morning. Everyone was chatting and joking around. I found myself tearing a few times watching all my friends laughing as I did too. This felt right. Niko didn't engage in much conversation, but he listened and he wasn't bruting. "Are you ready boss?" Paul asked as we finished eating. We sat there for over an
Niko POVRandy, Paul, and I arrived in Vegas by the late afternoon and I couldn't wait to get this over with. I had a long plan to cut off every one of his fingers, then peel his skin off his arms, then finally, leave him tied up as he bled out. Now I just wanted to walk in and put a bullet in his head so I could get back to Vivian. That fucking body was calling me every second of the day. I think I have a chance of taking it and I was here with this bullshit. I had to be the one to end him though. The families needed to understand that I was the Capo and I didn't take any orders or demands. Well, unless it was Viv giving them. Then I'll happily fulfill her every request. Especially in bed. Would she want me to take her to bed? "Capo!" Paul spoke my name in anger. My eyes stoned to pure evil as I faced him. "Sorry, boss. You were just standing there. The car is here." Paul coward down to my cold glare."Let's get this over with." Was all I could say as I got in the car. Fuck, I real
Vivian POVAfter we texted in the afternoon, I couldn't stop thinking about him. He wanted me in a skimpy lingerie and for some reason I wanted to please him. I had hoped he would be home before morning so, I got dressed in a little black night set, that was really just straps holding all my best features in the perfect position. When he began texting me at night, I had no idea it would turn into phone sex. I never let myself go so wild with anyone before, but the need for him was overwhelming. Once everything inside me burst over my fingers I was filled with so many emotions.He practically begged for me to stay, but I couldn't say it. I wanted him, but I couldn't say I would be his again. How could I need his embrace, yet pull away at the same time?I woke to a text from my beast saying good morning, beautiful. I stared at my phone for a long time. I could wake every morning to his husky voice, sometimes his large tongue. Would I really be able to just pack up and leave him? I ate
Vivian POVI walked Niko to my garden and he looked almost disappointed. I know he really just wanted me naked in his bed, but I needed to know if he would choose me forever, or if this was just a game to get me under him again. I made my choice, now he needed to make his. "Wow! Did you have all my guards working out here? It hasn't even been 48 hours since I left." Niko looked around my garden filled with purple and white flowers for Amy, red roses for me, white lilies for my aunt, and the rest a rainbow of colors mixed with grass covering or ferns. "I did put them to work, but they happily agreed." I smiled at him. He looked at me for a moment and his eyes got big. He was realizing what this meant now."You are staying! This is your home!" For the first time since he walked through the front door, he lowered his walls. His harsh demanding voice faded away and his cold stare warmed to my eyes."I want to stay, but I want it all Niko. I'm a strong, loud mouth, independent woman. I ca
Niko POVAfter making love to my soon to be wife I watched her until I became hard inside her again. It didn't take long and I planned on owning this body all night.She was fucking perfect and now I had her. She was no longer trapped under me. She willingly laid at my mercy, wanting every part of my soul. Being by her side wasn't enough for her and I wasn't sure what to feel about her proposal. She wanted my devotion to her. She wanted me as her husband. I didn't understand how she could love me, but I also didn't care. I would take everything she offered because I needed her as mine.I leaned down, kissing her lips softly and circling my hips. "I love you. I need you." I said between kisses. "Right now, I need to own your body. Can you handle my beast?" I lightly nibbled on her lips, praying that answer was yes. I began thrusting hard into her as she hummed back to me and I lost my willpower to restrain myself. Then her body popped up like she was in pain. I quickly slid out of her
Michael POVSomething wasn't right. Something so far off that I knew it would change everything. Yet, I couldn't move, and I didn't want to. For hours, I lay on the hardwood floor, arm half-asleep, body heated to a thousand degrees from both the thick comforter and the small body wrapped around me. I should have been uncomfortable, irritated even, but I wasn't. Not when every shift of her body pressed her curves closer to mine.Lucy snored softly against my chest, her breath warm over my skin. Every time she did, I had to bite back a laugh, not wanting to wake her. She slept like a damn menace, a knee wedged between my legs, arm draped over my stomach, clinging to me like I was her lifeline.I always woke early, but Lucy? She was barely alive at 8 a.m. How the hell did she even function? How did she ever get to class on time?My phone buzzed with another message from Vinnie. I sighed knowing we had to leave. But Lucy just hummed in her sleep and snuggled closer, her leg sliding highe
Lucy POV"Tell me no, and I'll stop."Michael, this dangerously arrogant, sinfully gorgeous man, was on his knees in front of me, waiting. Begging. His blue eyes were dark with hunger. He could have taken whatever he wanted, he was stronger, faster, deadlier. But instead, he gave me all the power.And God, I loved it. He had no idea how badly I needed to have this control, his submission to me... although it was Michael. The man that knew things before anyone else. Maybe he knew this was exactly what I needed to quiet the fears that lived inside me. "I want you," I admitted, my pulse hammering. "I do."His lips curved into a knowing smirk as his large hands slid up my thighs. He helped push my jeans down, his fingers grazing my skin like he was savoring every inch."I want everything," I whispered, my heart pounding. "But...""I just want a taste, baby girl." His voice was low and thick, warm breath between my thighs, urging me to let him have me.I should have stopped this, but the
Michael POVLucy sucked in a sharp breath as I slowly slid the zipper down, my fingers dipping inside just enough to tease her through the fabric of her underwear.Fuck. She was already soaked."I..." she tried to form words, but her body betrayed her, instantly melting, trembling, arching against me."This... good... mmm," her voice was so sweet, a little afraid but wanting more, just as I did. Her words cut off as she moaned, loud enough to make me groan in response. It was the hottest fucking thing I'd ever heard.I slipped my fingers beneath her panties, brushing over her clit before sliding one finger deep inside her.Her whole body tensed, then immediately gave out. My finger went to work, slowly, and her hips rocked back into me, hands pressing harder against the wall, breath ragged and desperate. Her stomach sucked in, moans dancing in her throat. She just needed to relax a minute, take a beat to let me show her everything I can help her with."This feels good, doesn't it?" I
Michael POVTo say I was pissed was a massive understatement. There were Irish lackeys lurking in my hideout. Very few people knew about this place, and the fact that Ariel had been grinning like she was in on a joke the rest of us weren't, made my blood boil.The moment Lucy got up to go to the bathroom I wanted to follow her. Ariel called me out about it too. They could all see how my fingers itched to move, to keep her in my sight every second. It was unnecessary, but now I knew it didn't matter. I can't let her be alone.If I had hesitated a minute longer, Lucy could have been dragged out that back door, and I might not have found her in time. The idea that I almost lost her... I didn't like it. Vinnie tried to clam me down, knowing by the way I completely shutdown and roughly dragged her from the restaurant that I was seconds from losing my shit. The last thing we needed was a mass homicide with a hundred witnesses to put me in jail. My focus was much bigger than some low level
Lucy POVWe rolled into Roanoke just as dusk was settling over the city. We pulled into a parking lot behind an unassuming brick building. It didn't exactly scream fortress of security, but I'd given up expecting things to make sense."This is the safe house?" I asked as I climbed out of the SUV, glancing at the worn sign above the restaurant.Michael shut his door with a thud. "Food first. Safe house second."Thank god, I was starving, my stomach growling angrily from the lack of food during the drive. As we piled out of the car, I kept close to Michael. I didn't completely trust him, but he was at least predictable in his protectiveness. I wasn't sure if it was because of the baby I wasn't carrying or something else. But either way, I knew he would keep me safe.The warmth of roasted garlic and seared meat hit me the second we stepped inside. My stomach growled in response, loud enough that Ariel snorted from behind me. She was really getting under my skin.The place was surprisingl
Lucy POVWe'd been driving for what felt like hours, the monotony of the road stretching ahead of us as the SUV hummed along. I stared out the window for a while, the gnawing hunger in my stomach becoming harder to ignore, but I didn't dare complain. The tension in the car was thick, and while everyone else was busy typing away on their laptops, I didn't exactly feel like adding to the stress by whining about food.Occasionally, Michael and Vinnie would share some bit of information they found on the Irish mob, or, more often, some random, ridiculous fact that had nothing to do with anything. The back-and-forth between them was oddly comforting though."I'm telling you, if you're going to hack into an offshore account, you don't mess with Swiss banks. It's like trying to rob a fortress with a butter knife," Michael muttered, his eyes glued to his laptop screen."Yeah, but butter knives can still cut if you sharpen them," Vinnie quipped, not missing a beat.Michael snorted. "Or you cou
Amy POVA deep hum vibrated beneath me, rattling in my bones.My skin was warm, my body sore in ways that made me shiver. Last night flashed through my mind, Killian's hands, his weight, the way he owned every inch of my body.I inhaled sharply, blinking awake. My vision cleared and face twisted. Clouds? What the fuck? My stomach dropped and pulse lurched. I was in the air. I was on a fucking plane. I sat up too fast, gripping the armrests. The cabin was dimly lit, sleek leather seats and polished wood lining the space. A private jet.And across from me, Killian sat, calm as ever, sleeves rolled up, scrolling through his laptop like this was any other day for him."Where are we?" My voice was hoarse, my heart still pounding.He didn't look up. "Not your concern. Eat." My hands curled into fists. "Excuse me?"This time, he did look up. Slow. Measured. Unbothered."Eat, Amy. Don't make me repeat myself."I was thousands of feet in the air. On a fucking plane.Panic rose in my throat.
Michael POV"You ready?" Vinnie asked. Everyone was waiting next to an oversized SUV. I looked over the car and regretted my decision for us all to travel together. My main focus had to be on getting Amy back, then killing every Irishman, then killing my Uncles, and lastly, taking down my greatest enemy: Niko. But we had a lot of land to cross over, and time to waste in a large car. It could be spent in a more pleasurable way."Michael!" Vinnie tapped my shoulder when I didn't respond. My head was definitely not in the game. I needed to change that."Yeah, almost. Lucy is changing." I opened the door and began setting up my laptop. Ariel plopped down beside me and I shook my head at her. That girl didn't know when to quit, but it would probably be better having her next to me than Lucy. Whenever her body was touching mine, I just wanted to feel her. This fucked up crush, or whatever I had with her, was becoming too much of a distraction."Are we really taking her to Texas? She's go
Lucy POVWhispered arguments filled my ears as I moaned into the pillow. My body was heavy with exhaustion, but I felt... peaceful. That was weird."The so-called innocent Scarlet is awake," Ariel sneered.I stiffened at the sound of her voice. The second we met, she made it clear she hated me."Don't test me," Michael snapped, his voice edged with warning.Ariel rolled her eyes, slamming her laptop shut. "Oh, relax. I'm just saying...""What is everyone doing?" I cut her off, stretching under the covers. My muscles ached, but it was nothing compared to the mental exhaustion of last night."Waiting for the princess to wake up so we can actually get shit done," Ariel muttered, stuffing her laptop into her bag.Michael shot her a look, the kind that could shut down a grown man. "Ariel," he warned.Her smirk widened, but she backed off.I yawned and tossed the blanket off me, only to freeze when I saw what I was wearing. A silky pair of shorts and a loose button-up shirt. Not my clothes.