My phone buzzes and I tug it from my little black clutch. It’s a text from Nathan saying he’s right outside.“He’s here.” I lean into him and kiss his warm cheek. “Have fun tonight, Dad.”“Send me your location when you get there.”I nod, although that’s the last thing I plan to do. He’d probably end up ditching the event and wait outside wherever we go.Nathan s Superleggera is parked in front of the entrance, but I can’t see him until I slip inside, because the windows are so heavily tinted.When I do, my breath catches. Damn, he’s handsome as sin. Dressed casually in gray slacks and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, his thick hair with that effortless finger-brushed messy style, he looks anything but casual. He’s a devastating devil.But it’s the way he takes me in that really has me breathless. The desire in his eyes as they rove over my body is so palpable, he might as well be touching me.“You’re not wearing what I asked you to,” he says.Glancing
“Am I your gift or your meal?” I ask in breathless anticipation.“Both. I warned you that you’d be dinner tonight. You still came, so I’m going to assume you’re all right with being eaten?”Dear Lord, I’m going to go up in flames.I clear my throat. “Where are you taking me, by the way ?”“Being that my dining room table is in my home, that’s where I’m taking you.”Nathan lives on the upper floor of a ten-story building in Jersey City. It’s one of those places that has served as everything from an office building to a factory and has now been converted into a swanky loft that maintains that industrial character.I’m informed that while there is a reception area where most of the residents come through, Nathan ’s place has its own entrance. An elevator accessible through his private portion of the garage leads directly to his loft.The elevator bell chimes and we step inside the open space.“Wow,” I say, taking it all in—the brick walls, thick exposed beams, large windows that give you
Nodding, he turns to me. “Why do you paint rain?”“I don’t. You’re the one who sees rain.”Moving so fast I can’t react, he whirls around and pins me to the counter. His gaze just as scrutinizing.I bite my lower lip, then let it go very slowly when his eyes drop to the movement and darken.“You’re doing it again,” I say breathlessly.“What?”“Looking at me like I’m a painting and you’re trying to figure me out.”“You are definitely a piece of art, Natalia . Especially in that dress. And Iamtrying to figure you out. Can you say you’re not doing the same thing to me?” He brushes his lips featherlight over mine.I shut my lids and enjoy the press of his hard body against me and the gentle caress of his mouth. “I am. I want to know who you are.”“Same.”Giggling when he moves to my neck and inhales, I say, “I’m not as interesting. There’s no big mystery. But you…” What was I saying? My mind goes blank when he licks me there, sending shivers of pleasure over my skin.“I beg to differ,” he
“Let’s fix that.” When he pulls from me and I stand upright, his hot essence flows from my opening, down the inside of my thighs.“What are you doing?” I cover my crotch after he turns me and drops to his knees and begins to push my dress back up to my waist. “Your cum is still dripping from me.”With his face level with my core, he peers up at me, his eyes darker than I’ve seen before. Taking my hands, he moves them away and holds them and the dress tightly against my lower back. “I will lickmycum from your cunt, your lips, and even your ass, Natalia. Because it’s mine, just like every one of your holes I fuck. Never stop me again, is that clear?”I nod and watch with carnal fascination as he presses his mouth to my pussy. His tongue slides through the folds straight to my clit. He circles it, applies pressure, touches the tip lightly, and sucks onBut it’s when he moans, as if the taste of him mixed with mine is an exotic wine, that my knees nearly buckle. For a moment, I’m envious
Now she’s sleeping soundly, hands tucked beneath her head, long brown lashes resting on freckled cheeks. Rosy nipples peeking through the blanket of her hair.Sweetness intermixed with decadent sin. My innocent pervert.I’m transfixed on her, seeing her as she is now, my gaze touching every part of her exposed body as I recall touching it all night. The idea of doing it all over again makes my dick twitch. I fucked her again and again, and still, it moves, and I’m afraid that I may not get enough of her before the time comes when I take my revenge and break her. Because there’s very little doubt in my mind that Harry killed my father.Then she opens her eyes. The blue is so electric and brilliant, I’m suddenly staring at the little girl in the photo John gave me. She’s happy and kind. Untouched by the things done around her.But it’s the instant smile, genuine and warm enough to heat me in an entirely different way than the sight of her body did, that robs me of breath. Like she’s tru
“I wasn’t.” She shakes her head vehemently. “Maybe you misheard.”After our morning fuck, she fell asleep again. I wanted to stay in her warmth, but I’m meeting with my capos and soldiers to make the official announcement that the Robertson are now under my control.Then I had a call with Justin. He was finally able to break through the firewall of Harry Shaw’s home security. But there was a problem. The footage had been tampered with and all he could get were fuzzy images that he was still trying to clean up.Even with all that, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her to go.I left her on the bed and went into my large walk-in shower. Five minutes in, I heard the scream. It was the type of blood-curdling scream I’ve grown accustomed to hearing, one full of loss and sorrow and terror.With suds in my hair, I flew out of the bathroom, nearly slipping on the tile floor. Natalia was mumbling, writhing, the sheets fisted in her hands. She screamed again, her face contorting in agony and, for a
“Didn’t think you’d come in person,” I say to him. Then it hits me. “You think Kroos will attack the moment I announce my position formally.”He shrugs. “It’s important we show unity.”I nod. Unity is exactly what we need now. A show of strength against anyone who would challenge us.With that in mind, I walk into the study where my uncle formed the Robertson crime family. Mata stands to my right and Lincoln to my left as I inform these deadly and dangerous men that, from this moment on, they are under my order.“If you have a problem with it, tell me now. Don’t wait to do it behind my back or you’ll be seen as a traitor and killed as one.” I scan the faces of everyone present, searching for any form of dissent. There is none.One by one, the men give me their oath of allegiance. Swearing their lives to me and to the family. In return, I give them my promise to make us powerful once again. To thrive and let the world know the Robertson are a force to be reckoned with.Over their heads
“You said you have a lead. It’s been months. You’re king now and have all the power. I want revenge, Nathan !” Katy demands when I find her in the study.She’s sitting in the chair that once belonged to her brother, and it strikes me how much like a mafia princess she looks. Not only does she dress the part, always in Versace from head to toe, but there’s an underlying ruthlessness in her dark eyes she usually keeps well hidden.Not today. Her brown eyes blaze as she stares at me, and there’s a barely noticeable tic in her jaw I take the seat opposite her and look at her from across the desk. “I’m on it.”“Who is it, dammit? Tell me.” She wipes a tear that’s rolled down her cheek, then averts her gaze. “I need to know closure is just around the corner.”“His name is Harry Kane .”Her face whips back to me “Why haven’t you killed him yet?”“Because I don’t kill anyone on a mere suspicion. I need proof. You better than anyone should know the importance of that.”Tilting her chin up, sh
“You’re here!” I say, heading toward it but stop when it’s Katy who appears.“You!” she hisses. “I knew something was off. He didn’t kill you!”Before I can answer, she’s on me like a rabid cat. She claws at me, slapping every part of me she can make contact with.Startled, I raise my hands protectively over my face, afraid to hit her back and severely hurt her. As it is, Nathan already hates me for any part I might have played in the death of his father.The woman may be older and weaker, but her strikes are impactful. She shoves against me, slapping her palms against my shoulders and chest, driving me toward the rear of the deck. It all happens so fast that I don’t realize I’m so close to the glass rail until it hits my lower back.“You have to calm down!” I plead.“Why did he have to want you? You look nothing like me! But Leo always liked them younger. Tell me, did you like how he fucked you?”“What? You think I slept with your husb—” Another whack, this time right across the chin
But he saved my life. He risked himself to keep me alive. And fuck it all, I love him! I can’t just sit back and let him die.A chair is pushed and the sound of footsteps come my way. Before they reach the doors, I bolt out the entrance and am already across the street when I hear, “Natalia !”But I don’t stop. Don’t look back. My mission now is to save Nathan Natalia Irun like the Devil is at my heels, not bothering to glance back over my shoulder, because even that simple action could cost me precious seconds.For blocks, I maintain that speed, my lungs burning and the stitch on my side threatening to bring me down.When I’m far enough that I feel anyone following would have lost sight of me, I tuck myself into an alley and wait. After several minutes, I tug my cell phone out and dial Nathan , but it goes straight to voicemail.“Pick up, dammit!” I dial again, but like before, it goes to his mail.“Nathan . You have to leave your house. A man named Steven Kroos is coming. He’s bri
“The hell it is. Do you have any idea the worry you put me through? No calls or texts the last couple of—” His eyes bulge from his skull as he takes in the blood on my shirt. “You’re hurt.” “No, Dad. It’s not my blood. I’m not hurt.” He digs his fingertips into the corners of his eyes as if he’s trying to keep from crying. “I thought I would lose my mind when I found out exactly who you were with. His name isn’t Nathan Manguire . It’s Nathan Carlos .” I rear back in shock that he knows. “What?” “My gut was right, Em. He’s a fucking criminal. The worst kind.” “How do you know that?” From the study, the handsome man who visited the gallery to meet with Dad steps out. Steven Kroos . His icy-blue stare roves over me, and he smiles. “I’m glad to see you’re home safe. Especially after being in the Robertson den.” “Mr. Kroos is the one who tracked down information on Carlos . Nathan is their new godfather.” His eyes narrow on me. “But you already knew that, didn’t you?” Looking betwee
He tilts his head, his eyes raking over my face, searching. “What makes you think that?” “It was in the way he looked at me,” I say. “It’s the same wayyoulook at me. I know you said he loved your stepmother, but I swear it’s true.” “I saidsheloved him. I never said he loved her back.” He glances out the windshield, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “Is that why you killed him? You didn’t appreciate his attentions?” “He came to the house when my father wasn’t there. I’m not even sure how he got in. But he followed me from room to room and begged me to give him a chance. I asked him to leave, told him that he was scaring me. He decided to grab me and try to kiss me. “I got out of his hold and ran to the desk drawer my father keeps his Glock in and threatened him. He still refused to leave. The moment he took a step toward me, I shot. It was meant to scare him, nothing more. I could never kill anyone. The bullet grazed his arm, but he was alive.” “You didn’t follow him out?
“You cut yourself,” I say. “It wouldn’t have been believable otherwise.” “Why did you do it, Nathan ? Why did you spare my life?” He pulls over several blocks from my house. We sit there in silence for what seems like forever, the only sound the pitter-patter of scattered rain against the windshield. “Why did you save me?” I repeat the question that’s been burning in my mind. “Your mother wants me dead, but you saved me.” Without turning to me, he replies, “Iwanted you dead.” His response is another blow to my already battered heart. But he deserves the truth. “I didn’t kill your father, Nathan . It wasn’t me.” Now he does turn to me and I almost wish he hadn’t. The shadows I’ve wondered about from the start have emerged and they’re darker and more terrifying than I could have imagined. They’re blackened with Nathan ’s fury, hate, grief, and confusion. They tear at my chest, splaying it open. Raw pain fills me at the sight of those beautiful golden eyes looking so tortured, spa
My gaze flicks from her to the elevator and to the rooftop access door, wondering if I could somehow reach either of them. And if I did, are they unlocked? As if from out of thin air, Nathan produces a piece of rope. When he tries to take one of my wrists, I make to get up again, but I’m slammed into the damned chair again. It doesn’t matter how much I fight, he easily pulls my hands behind me and ties them. “You wanted her, there she is,” he says to her, and I notice with at least a bit of satisfaction that he’s panting. I guess I wasn’t that easy to subdue. Nathan ’s stepmother comes toward me, her hips swaying. She sips her wine as she studies me. “You killed my husband.” I don’t bother to respond to her comment. She doesn’t care what I have to say. If she did, she would have asked me if I did it. And if so, why. All she cares about is revenge. The who, what, and why of it doesn’t matter to her. Turning to Nathan , I realize he’s not once asked me either. They’re the same. Part
“Mmm. Is it that or that you have Natalia Kane in your bed?”I stiffen, feeling my heart leap into my throat. She knows my name?“Who I have in my bed is none of your concern,” Nathan says.“It is when that whore killed your father! That’s right,” she adds, “I know it was her.”My heart isn’t just in my throat anymore. It seems to have stopped. Suddenly, my blood pressure drops and every pore in my body releases sweat.“John ” I hear Nathan murmur just as I pull away.There’s walking, the sound of heels clacking against the wood floors. “John was loyal to Gustavo and Leo . Of course he would be loyal to me as well.”“Then he’s useless to me,” he says.“You’ve known it was her for days and have done nothing about it!” she shouts.“It is at my discretion to decide what and when I will do something, Katy .”“The godfather only has power so long as the men respect him. How do you think they will react when they find out that instead of killing her, you’ve been fucking her?”My mind racin
Or maybe I’ll just fuck you until we both die.” Her eyes fly open, and for a moment, there are no walls between us. The pain, betrayal, and lust are bared fully. “Then fuck me,” she finally says. “And maybe we’ll die together.” My mouth is on hers then. I slide my fingers from her cunt and we both work savagely at getting rid of my clothes. All the while, we kiss with a passion that only the dying know. The instant I’m naked, I’m inside her, thrusting, burying my dick all the way to the balls, pulling back out, and slamming home again. Natalia is wrapped around me, arms and legs holding me tightly against her as she lifts her hips up, meeting each of my thrusts. We fuck like we’re drowning and these are our last gasping breaths. Deep and desperate. She fits me like a fucking glove, her pussy tight around my dick, her body molding to mine perfectly. The way she tastes, smells, feels… It all fits me like no one else ever has, and for the briefest of moments, I almost wish I’d neve
I flip it open and freeze, focused intensely on the drawing of a pair of eyes.Myeyes. Only, they’re not the way I’m accustomed to seeing them. They have the same shape, same dark spots on the irises. There’s a deep crease between them. But in the drawing, they’re slightly upturned and crinkled at the edges, and there’s a slight gleam to them, as if I’m smiling.Because I was.Several times, she called my name, grinning so widely when I looked at her that I couldn’t help but smile. She captured those moments.Does light penetrate shadows, or do the shadows drown out the light?I asked that question not long ago. The answer is both. She’s managed to light up my eyes while I’ve filled hers with darkness.Blowing out a breath full of exhaustion, I set the sketch aside. Tired, I shut my lids and must drift off instantly, because a bolt of lightning that rumbles even through the sound barriers I’ve erected around the loft wakes me. Instantly, I glance at the door.Though she has access to w