Chapter 31ToriReaching the counter, I’m breathless as I ask, “When is the next flight to America?”The attendant frowns as she looks at her computer screen. “Where in America?”“I don’t care. Anywhere.”Her eyes dart over my face. “Are you okay?”I nod and squeeze the words out. “I lost…I lost my husband.”I lost Angelo.A heartbreaking cry threatens to rip free from my throat.He sounded so angry over the phone. I just know if he finds me, he’ll kill me.Oh God.Another wave of trauma, fear, and heartbreak shake me to my core.Compassion softens the attendant’s features. “I’m so sorry.” She quickly checks the screen again, then says, “There’s one boarding right now with Swiss Air. It’s destined for Minnesota. Will that be okay?”I nod frantically. “How much?”“One thousand six hundred euros.”I quickly take the envelope from my handbag and give her the cash and my passport. “I’ll take it.”My heart beats out of my chest, and I keep glancing around me while she processes the purchas
Chapter 32AngeloOne of the guards found the sedan, and after searching the vehicle, Vittoria’s luggage was retrieved from the backseat.The tracker’s signal disappeared ten minutes ago, meaning she’s probably on a fucking plane. It’s either that or the ring was destroyed, which I seriously doubt.“Find out what flight Vittoria is on!” I bark the order as I walk back to the SUV.“Where are we going?” Big Ricky asks while he grabs hold of the luggage to bring it along.“To the private jet. We need to be up in the air STAT.”“Call me as soon as you know which flight Mrs. Rizzo took,” Big Ricky shouts at Bruno, who’s already jogging toward the airport’s entrance.He waves a hand in the air to show he heard the order.Jesus, baby, stop running so I can get to you.We climb back into the SUV, and while Big Ricky drives to where the private jet is, I make a quick call to the pilot so they can refuel and get ready for take-off.Christ. The only thing I have counting in my favor is that she’
Chapter 33AngeloFeeling Vittoria’s body go limp over my shoulder, I hurry toward the SUV.Big Ricky has his weapon drawn to handle anyone who tries to intervene.“Hey! What are you doing with that girl?” A woman shouts. “Mind your own fucking business,” Big Ricky growls.The way Vittoria screamed still echoes through my mind, and it’s easily the most haunting thing I’ve ever heard.Lowering Vittoria from over my shoulder, I quickly pick her up bridal style and climb into the backseat of the SUV. “Let’s go!”Big Ricky slides behind the steering wheel, and within seconds, we’re speeding away from the traffic we caused.Vittoria’s body is limp in my hold, and as I look at her face, my heart breaks when I notice how pale she is.“Baby,” I whisper.She’s been through so much. Just thinking about the trauma she’s suffered has rage burning in my veins.“I’ve got you,” I murmur as I brush wild curls away from her face. I pull her closer to my chest and hold her tightly as Big Ricky drives t
Chapter 34ToriRunning down an empty stretch of road, shadows darken as they creep toward me.I open my mouth to scream, but there’s no sound.Pressure builds around me, and it feels like I’m being chased, but I can’t see anyone.Intense loneliness engulfs me, and suddenly, I’m wearing a wedding dress.Black ink slowly spreads up from the seam of the dress, and my body feels heavier and heavier as I try to walk.The ink reaches my neck, and I gasp for air as I stare up at the blacksky.Unable to open my mouth, my panic and fear become so intense it feelslike I’m being strangled.“Noooo!” I slam into something hard as I startle awake. My breaths are nothing more than gasps.“I’ve got you,” Angelo’s voice rumbles above my head.Oh, God. No!As I realize I slammed into Angelo’s chest, and I feel his arms around me, all the terror and trauma come rushing back.Maurizio telling me how my corpse will be eaten by worms. The struggle on the balcony before falling over the railing. Maurizio
Chapter 35ToriAngelo is so careful with me that it makes me feel even more emotional.When he’s done washing every inch of my body, he turns off the faucets and helps me out of the shower. My eyes drift over him while he uses a towel to pat my skin dry.Even though I’m still reeling from all the trauma, incredible love fills my heart for this man.He places an arm beneath my back and another beneath my legs, then lifts me to his chest and carries me back to the bed.After setting me down, he rushes to the walk-in closet for a clean shirt and gently pulls the fabric over my head.“I need to brush my teeth,” I say, my eyes constantly locked on him. “Okay.”When he moves to pick me up again, I shake my head. “I can walk.”“I know.” He lifts me into his arms and heads back into the bathroom with me.Once I’m on my feet and I’m brushing my teeth, Angelo cleans the floor.Seeing this badass mafia leader wipe up the mess I made only makes me love him more.He quickly washes his hands, and
Chapter 36AngeloIt’s been a long day, and I feel so fucking agitated I could kill someone.I’m staring blankly at the TV screen, not really watching the movie as I sip on a tumbler of whiskey. Suddenly, my phone starts to vibrate, and letting out a sigh, I pull the device out of my pocket.“Rizzo,” I mutter.“It’s Eddie. I thought I’d let you know Giorgio’s running another tab in the casino. It’s already sitting at eighty thousand. Do you want me to cut him off?”Unreasonable anger flares through my chest as I growl, “I’ll handle it.” “He’s also been harassing the strippers and bragging about being yourbrother-in-law,” Eddie adds fuel to the fire.I should’ve killed the fucker already.Ending the call, I down the rest of the whiskey before I get up and walk to the bedroom so I can change out of the sweatpants.The fucker seriously has a death wish, and I’m done playing with him.When I’ve changed into a suit, I tuck my gun into the waistband of my pants as I head back to the living
Chapter 37ToriAfter convincing Angelo I was really okay, he finally agreed that I was allowed to leave the house before the one week was up.I’m sitting in the Cathedral on a Saturday, which is out of the norm forme.Tiny sits beside me, playing a racing game on his phone while my eyesare locked on the confession booth.I didn’t lie to Angelo about being okay, but I still need to talk to Father Parisi.As time crawls by, I glance around the Cathedral while thinking about how much my life has changed.It feels like an entire lifetime has passed since I married Angelo.Besides the incident in Sicily, everything has been perfect.I lower my head as a smile curves my lips.Angelo might be a devil when it comes to other people, but with me, he’s an angel. I’ve never felt so loved before.I hear movement, and lifting my head, I see a parishioner leave the confession booth.“I’ll be right back,” I say to Tiny as I get up.“Wait,” he murmurs as he puts his phone away and climbs to his fee
Chapter 38AngeloI’m sitting on the couch when I hear Vittoria’s heels clicking on the stairs.Getting up, I walk to the foot of the stairs, and I glance up at her.My woman looks breathtaking in the blue silk gown, and with the makeup accentuating her beautiful features, she’s a fucking wet dream.I step closer and hold my hand out to her. A smile lights up her face as her fingers wrap around mine, and when she stops on the last step, her eyes are filled with love.I tug her against my chest and wrap my other arm around her lower back to pin her to me. Lowering my head to her ear, I take a deep breath of her floral scent.My words are a low growl filled with desire for my wife. “You take my breath away, mia piccola tentatrice.”Lifting her hands to my clean-shaven jaw, she looks at me as if I’m her entire world, and I’ve never felt more powerful.She presses a soft kiss to my lips, then whispers, “I love you, il mio diavolo.”I grin against her mouth when I hear her call me her devi
Chapter 20SamanthaAfter I cried my heart out, I made myself a cup of coffee, which I’m sipping on while I sit next to my mystery man on the couch.He has his arm wrapped around my shoulder, and it makes me feel safe. “I had a bad day at the office,” I whisper over the rim of my cup.That’s the understatement of the century.“Want to talk about it?” he asks, his tone gentle and caring.Not wanting to put him in any danger by telling him about Mr. Vitale being a mafia boss, I shake my head. “I can’t.”I can’t tell anyone about what happened.It’s something I’ll have to stay quiet about until the day I die.Feeling exhausted and emotionally drained, I let out a miserable sigh and mutter, “I need to do something that will take my mind off what happened today.”My mystery man pulls his arm away from my shoulders and says, “I’ll be back in a few seconds.”He gets up and walks into the restroom.I rise to my feet and take the cup to the kitchen. Placing my hands on the side of the sink, I
Chapter 19SamanthaWith a fresh wave of fear flooding my veins, I yank away from Mr. Vitale.Our eyes lock, and suddenly, I see his ruthless nature written all over his face.One of the five heads. The other men.Oh God. I was surrounded by the leaders of the Sicilian mafia.It feels like I’m having an out-of-body experience, and what has been a pretty mundane reality until today, warps into something unrecognizable.Spinning around, I rush out of the restroom and into the foyer. Spotting the front door, I make a beeline for it.Suddenly, Mr. Vitale darts in front of me, and obstructing my escape, he says, “You can’t leave until we’ve talked about everything.”“The hell I can’t,” I shriek, my voice shrill from all the shocks I’ve had. I move away from him, and feeling bewildered, I say, “I work for a mafia boss. Great.” My hands fly to my hair and grip fistfuls. “Oh God. I won’t survive going to prison.”“You’re not going to prison,” he snaps.Hearing his annoyed tone, I spin around
Chapter 18FrancoIt’s been ten minutes since I pressed the panic button on my wristwatch.Renzo and the others have received my exact location and will be here soon.I grab hold of Samantha’s bicep and haul her to her feet before pulling her toward the stairs.I’m fucking worried about Milo and Lorenzo. With men getting past them so quickly, it means we’re being attacked by half an army.As we cautiously take the stairs up to the sixth floor, my phone starts to vibrate. I quickly dig the device out of my pocket, and seeing Milo’s name flashing on the screen, I answer, “Where are you?”“Third floor. You?”“In the stairwell. We’re heading to the sixth floor.” “I’m coming.”I end the call and put the phone back in my pocket, then glance at Samantha’s pale face.“How are you holding up?” I ask. She shakes her head. “I’m not.” “It will be over soon.”When we reach the door to the sixth floor, I gesture with my finger in front of my lips for her to keep quiet.Holding the submachine gun I
Chapter 17SamanthaGod, I can’t wait for next week. I need a vacation, even if it’s only a week.As I leave the subway and walk toward work, my phone starts to ring, and seeing it’s Mom, I smile as I answer, “Hey, Mom.”“Hi, sweetie. I can’t wait to pick you up at the airport on Saturday. I was thinking we could start your vacation with a spa day. What do you think?”My smile widens at the thought of getting a full body massage. “Yes!I’d love that.”“Great. I’ll make an appointment for us,” Mom says.“Thanks, Mom.” At the end of the block, I turn right and move closer to the buildings to avoid the other pedestrians before I admit, “I can’t wait to see you and Dad.”“We miss you too, sweetie. Unfortunately Matt won’t be here. He’s so busy with the new account he landed.”“Aww, that’s a pity,” I mutter. I haven’t seen my brother since Christmas and make a mental note to give him a call.When I reach the office, I say, “I have to go, Mom.” “Okay. Have a good day, sweetie.”“You too.”E
Chapter 16FrancoAfter having dinner with Renzo and Dario, I stop at Paradiso to check on things.Once I’ve changed into my uniform, I take a moment to send Samantha a message.MMM: How are you?While I wait for her reply, my thoughts go back to the panic attack she had. It was fucking bad, and it’s clear our meetings haven’t helped as much as I thought.My phone vibrates in my hand, and I quickly read the message.Samantha: Honestly? MMM: Yes.Samantha: Not so good.MMM: Do you want me to come over?Needing to be there for her, I whisper, “Please say yes.”Samantha: Please. I’d really appreciate it.“Thank fuck.”MMM: I’m on my way. Open the window.I’m up and out of my office at the speed of light, and as I rush through the back entrance to the club, Milo and Lorenzo kill their cigarettes and give me a worried look.“What’s wrong?” Milo asks.“Nothing. I’m going to Samantha’s place,” I say as I open the back door of the G-Wagon.My men pile into the vehicle, and when we’re on our w
Chapter 15SamanthaGod, I feel like death warmed over.Mr. Vitale has been relentless this morning. You’d swear he’s the one who didn’t get any sleep.Asshole.Just as the thought crosses my mind, an incoming call comes through from his office.Answering it, I try to sound upbeat as I say, “Yes, sir?” “My office. Now!”God, I hate him.“I’m coming.” He doesn’t hear my reply, because he’s already hung up.I let out a whining sound as I get up from my chair and have to resist the urge to stomp my feet like a two-year-old.Opening the door to the chamber of wrath, I go inside.“Cancel all my appointments for the next two days,” he barks. “And fix all the mistakes on this contract.”Papers fly across his desk, and I dart forward to catch them. Before I can stop myself, I snap, “Do you have to be such an asshole?”When he raises an eyebrow at me, my words register in my tired brain.I did not just say that to him!I start blinking at him, and then an apology falls over my lips, “Oh my God
Chapter 14SamanthaSitting in my living room, instead of sleeping, I stare at my phone.This really could’ve waited until tomorrow, and he’ll return your call tomorrow. Go. To. Sleep!When a message comes through, I grab the device and quickly open it.You asked me to call. Is everything okay?“Shit,” I mutter.I type my reply and press send.I’m sorry for bothering you like this. We can talk tomorrow. I don’t want to keep you up.While I program the number under MMM, another text comes through.MMM: You’re not keeping me up. What’s wrong? Samantha: I just wanted to ask you something.MMM: What?I hesitate for a moment before I type out the question.Samantha: Do you do house calls? MMM: Why?Samantha: I’m worried the club is giving me a false sense of security, and while I think I’m getting better, I’m actually making no progress at all. I want to test the theory.Feeling like I’m asking too much, I quickly add another text.Samantha: Don’t feel obligated in any way. I’ll understand
Chapter 13SamanthaWhen I climb into the passenger seat of the BMW, I feel a little apprehensive.I’m taking a huge risk by getting into a car with a man I barely know.Barely…ha! I don’t even know his freaking name.When my mystery man settles behind the steering wheel, I watch as he adjusts the seat.My eyebrow pops up. “Isn’t this your car?” “No, it’s a friend’s.”He starts the engine, and realizing he’s going to drive through Manhattan with a balaklava on, I let out a snort. “You look like a bank robber. The cops are going to pull us over.”“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” he mutters as he reverses the BMW out of the parking bay. “Where do you live?”Knowing he can find my address on my membership form, I don’t bother lying and tell him where to go.We drive in silence for a minute or so before my nerves get the better of me, and I blurt out, “This isn’t nerve-racking at all.”Turning left at a set of traffic lights, he says, “It’s the same as being in a room with me. Try not to
Chapter 12FrancoTonight is a fuck-ton more difficult than I expected it would be.After spending time away from the office so I didn’t have to interact with Samantha, I knew tonight might be uncomfortable.But it’s not uncomfortable. It’s brutal.All I want to do is hold her. The fucking urge is driving me insane.I link my fingers again and rest my hands on my lap while I tell her about my parents.When Dad had the stroke, I had no choice but to take over as the leader of the Vitale family.Christ, I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. People looked to me to run the business even though I had no fucking idea what I was doing.“Were you close with your dad?” Samantha asks.“Not really. I was seventeen and at a stage in my life where I didn’t agree with anything my father said or did. Looking back now, I wish I had listened to him.”“Don’t we all,” she chuckles. “I argued with my mom about everything when I was a teenager.”Wanting to keep the conversation flowing, I ask, “Wha