"She's my sister, Luca," I argue."No sister is worth the title when they take you to your death—.""I don't want to argue, Luca—" I dejectedly sigh. "Then let's not argue; agree with me. What does it matter what my father does to Bianca? She deserves it anyway," he grinds out."What about our men? The children...who's going to take over their care?""You," he shrugs, kissing down the side of my neck. He's aiming at distraction, and I'm not opposed to it. I didn't want to argue, and it feels like that's exactly what we're doing, even though it's less heated than I'm used to."Luca," I stammer as my legs go weak. He kisses that place—in the crevice of my neck, that has my body falling weak with the need for him to continue. "Do you trust them? Are they loyal? Bringing them here could help our numbers, and they know you. You know them; that will aid you in ruling us," he suggests between kisses against my skin."I haven't agreed to that yet, Luca""We need you, Emma," he whispers in m
Luca Emma eventually falls asleep out of pure exhaustion after we fuck multiple times. I hate that she went down and sought comfort with Niko, but I can't complain that she returned to bed to me when she could have stayed with him. I guess I've grown some since the other day. The old me would have marched down there to stake my claim. Instead, I stood on the balcony looking down at them, hating that his bad influence had made her take the drugs I'd been struggling to give up. She's right; of course, I shouldn't be smoking, especially considering that at some point in the future, there will be a child who needs me—all of me. I leave Emma in bed when my phone rudely awakens me. I take a long last look at her as she lies peacefully. She's been struggling; it hasn't slipped my notice that she can't sleep. And she's constantly frowning her anxiety as she overthinks. My phone stops me from admiring her, and the buzz makes me grind my teeth as I leave the bedroom to head to my office t
I can almost see the grin on his face, the emotion carrying through his voice. He's been holding onto that little ticket since allowing his father to live. Not that I'm sure Niko won't go and kill the man just to get out of this request. "Fine, Father, but I won't force him. Neither will Emma." "This has nothing to do with Emma. It's best to keep her out of these situations. And he has no choice; the decision has been made. I'll tell him when we deliver the men to your compound. The wedding will be set for a few weeks; I'll have word spread tonight. Everyone will know come sunrise." "That soon?" I point out. And keeping Emma out of such decisions won't bode well once she takes over from me: I wonder how he will feel when I reveal it won't be me taking over from him. I know Emma hasn't technically agreed just yet, but once her men are here and she sees how they follow her command, I'm sure her hand will be tipped concerning her agreeing to my proposal. I'm banking on her agreeing.
"What's she doing here?" I ask, looking briefly at Bianca. "She will be returning with you; I've agreed to pay for her wedding as long as she keeps it traditional and plans it promptly." "She doesn't deserve—." "I've agreed," my father cuts me off. "Fine, but Niko and Emma are clueless. She stays with you until we collect their men." "Very well," my father nods. Pushing Bianca back inside the car. "See you there, Luca." Setting off again, we follow my father's cars to Rossi's second home. It's a grand house set on the hillside with acres of land surrounding it. Emma instantly perks up upon seeing it, and funnily enough, her men allow us entry as soon as she talks through the tannoy at the front gates. Driving down the long, winding driveway, Emma perks up even more. She obviously feels at home being here amongst her home and men. This makes me wonder how often she spent time here over the last six years, not a stone's throw away from my home. Has she been that close on more
EmmaHaving my father's men bend to their knees in a show of respect is the most anxiety-inducing moment of my life. Here are seventy-three men claiming me above my sister when, in all fairness, it's her that's deserving of such titles as the Don. The decision was unanimous, and part of me gladly accepts the challenge of taking the title from Bianca as she stands by watching her future be flushed down a proverbial drain.In cases like this, when the firstborn daughter is married off, it's usually a matter of the second to set things in motion and for the men to choose their next leader. And right here and now, they've chosen me.The walk around my father's home is sobering. The men and women here have been in limbo for the last few days with no contact from my father or sister, making them uncomfortable and anxious. They all seem exuberant to have me here as I speak with the women, play with the children, and hold the babies.Everyone seems reassured by my presence, and that makes me
"So you then?" I note."He didn't like me kneeling at your feet," Luca sighs. "I haven't told him about my proposal just yet. He believes a man like me owes no one respect.""He's not going to go for it, you know?" I point out with a frown as we walk side by side, hand in hand. Bianca notes us then, bristling into the moody counterpart of my sister, whom I met only a few days ago. I would ask her what her problem is. Usually, I would try to fix it, but she's far from in my good books. And her insignificant mood seems to be the last thing I need to tend to. But even so, a strange part of me still thinks of her as my innocent little sister who needs protection from our harsh world."Let's get back in the car; we have much to plan and figure out. My father's coming home with us; we'll set the plan in motion and get things rolling. It's best to deal with this in a timely manner, Bambina. Leaving it too long to reveal your father's death will only cause more problems in the long run.""I k
"You must be wondering why I've called you all in here," Dimitri says solemnly, his gaze penetrating each of us as he looks around the room. Clasping his hand before him, he smirks when his gaze lands on Niko, who's not paying attention as he chews gum in the corner of the room. "It seems I now have secrets that need to remain hidden, a promise that I have recently realised I have no intention of keeping. Emma," he talks loudly for us all to hear. His tone is demanding and powerful. Our gazes meet as I turn my attention to him as he calls my name."Yes?""You'll need to keep your men in line and ensure they keep the blood pact your father and I had a secret. It's imperative to your relationship that you do this.""Blood pact? Okay—" I frown."Bianca," he turns to her ignoring my question, calling her name with malice. "You, dear child, must also keep those secrets silent. You'll be answering to me from now on. So you see, that's why I need to keep you in my organisation. I cannot trus
Luca Emma walks unsteadily out of my office as I stay back with Bianca, who is quite frankly growing to be a thorn dug deep in my side. I can't believe she'll be living here after all. And I cannot fathom Niko's upset at being demanded to marry her. He does owe my father, though, and when you owe a debt, it can be cashed in at any given moment, like a pendulum swinging above your head, slowly dropping until one day, it falls like a guillotine ready to end your life. Niko begged for his father's life, and much as my father has allowed Bianca to live, he allowed Costa to live. But in return, Niko swore to silence and knew he owed my father. I'm sure he thought that he'd never have to repay that token—yet the day has come, and his words bind him from years ago. He'll argue, I know he will, but in the end, he will do as asked because that's the future he chose. And I can do nothing about it, even if I wanted to help Niko. "Up," I spit at Bianca, walking towards her with my hand out,
It has me thinking. Forgiveness is not warranted, but me holding onto my malice is just hurting me. Luca was right, though I don't forgive my sister. Allowing myself to move past her upsetting actions will release me from the hold I've found myself drowning in.Bianca's guilt is another thing she'll have to live with despite my forgiveness."I forgive you," I mutter breathlessly as I hold her in a headlock."What?" She shouts."I forgive you, Bianca.""Why?" She asks."It's simple: I forgive you because I can. I won't be held prisoner by the upset and anger your actions caused."Letting go of her, she moves away, taking her stance once again before me. We regard each other with hooded eyes, and I see the confusion melting through her. What she doesn't realise is that perhaps forgiving herself would unleash her from the guilt prison she has herself in. But I'm not about to make her see the light. She deserves to stay imprisoned.Suddenly, she kicks out at my stomach, winding me as pain
Emma"Amore Mio?" Luca calls me as I stand on the balcony, watching Bianca train with Niko and our men. Some of my father's men have started filtering over, the ones without wives and children, that is. And as they stand amongst Luca's men, I see our future taking shape. But Bianca and Niko are the main subjects of my gaze in the now, so I push aside the future to concentrate on the present. It seems the pair of them need to let off some steam, and sparring the shit out of each other is helping them. They spar easily, Bianca having trained with my father and me for some years, and I already know Niko has good capabilities that he's probably grown up with. "Yes, Luca?""Whatcha doing?" he asks as his hands slide around my waist. He steps up to me, kissing my neck. Tipping my head, I allow him more access while keeping my eyes on my sister. Tracking her movements, I sigh deeply. A strange pull makes me want to join them. But the stubbornness inside me has me closing my eyes to break th
"I must go, Father, if that's all.""It isn't," he tells me fleetingly. "I have a job coming up. Densel has called a meeting; I'm not invited. I need eyes and ears for the meeting. I need someone inside.""When did that happen?""Just last night," he confirms. "I've had word that he's making movement. I'm unsure what his aim is, but we must get on top of this before word gets out." He frets."That's what you think this is about? Father, no one knows about Emma. I've ensured that. This has to be about Bianca. Franko was adamant Bianca belonged to him. Rossi must have struck a deal. I haven't discovered what was promised or if she was in exchange for something, but I will. Honestly, I think it weird he'd promise Bianca at all. She was to be the next Don; marrying her to someone low like Densel would have been my last choice.""We all have our preferences," my father cites. "Get me someone on the inside. Someone he wouldn't expect. He has to trust them.""I know a few people. Let me call
Luca"Why is Emma completing your jobs?" my father asks me as we speak over the phone. The pretence was about business landing this afternoon, but the longer we spoke, the more he worked to ask me something. The jobs have been slow since Emma took in the drugs, I think because my father realised my intentions, but I haven't complained. The less time we spend on jobs, the more time we have in the bedroom—or kitchen, perhaps even the gardens, as I take her after a slow walk and in-depth talk.Things have been improving between Emma and me, and I can't complain."Ah, you noticed that, did you?" I tease. Gripping a cigarette out of the drawer on my office desk, I bring it to my mouth and light it as my father remains quiet on the other end of the phone."Noticed?" He snaps. "Oh, I've noticed your slackness, Luca. It's the talk of the heirs. Word has it the future is changing at your hands, and everyone's for it.""Well, that's good; I don't need to work hard to get everyone to travel on
Walking me to the bed, he places me down softly at the end of the mattress, leaning with me as he deposits me on my back. His arms lay on either side of my head as we kiss passionately, his tongue swiping against my own as we share the saliva living in our mouths. My hands find their way into his hair, fisting gently as a wave of pleasure flits through my lower stomach, making me attempt to close my legs finding that it's an impossibility with him between them. Luca takes that as his cue to laugh before pulling back, taking his lips and tongue to kiss down my throat, between my breasts. Overmy stomach."One day soon, this tummy will swell with our child, and I'll worship you at your feet for giving me my second reason to live," he whispers against the taught skin of my tummy."Your first?" I breathe."You, of course, Amore Mio.""Soon," I say with avid hope, jumping back to the thought of a child living within me. I think that's something we both want now, something I can be thankful
Emma"Luca—," I drag out as he slams me into our bedroom door carelessly. The night was a success, and I've officially agreed to work for his name much as I promised to remain by his side at our wedding, not that there was ever any cause for concern regarding protecting Luca's legacy. It's always been at the forefront of my mind; I've never needed convincing."Fuck you're so enticing, Bambina. Why did we fight for all those weeks?" He asks me as he kisses up the column of my neck beneath my chin, only to pull away and start on the opposite side of my neck from my clavicle to my ear. His beard ruffs against my skin, sending slight tingles through my neck."It was—fun," I admit shyly because, amid the heartbreak, I found some solace in connecting with Luca after so many years apart, even if it was unfavourably. "Oh, it was?" He asks, pulling back to stare at me with an incredulous look of confusion, but his hands never leave my waist, his fingers flexing as he says his following words.
“Very well, Franko. Perhaps you'll be my first enemy. How joyous," Emma laughs manically.So sexy..."You bitch, you haven't got that title yet. It belongs to Bianca; go lay down under your husband and stay in your place!""Enough," I growl unhappily. "Emma is the next Don Rossi. She'll be taking over in my name. All assets will pass between us, and we will rule with an iron fist over both cartels," I tell him, walking closer to where I grab his shoulder. Squeezing down, I have him turning into a bitch himself. "If I ever hear you talk to my wife like that again, you'llbe fertiliser formy plants.""Stop," Maria Densel, his mother, cried as I make him kneel at my feet."Do you understand, Franko?" I ask, ignoring her as I press hard on his clavicle."Yes," he spits through clenched teeth. "Very good, stay the fuck away from my wife and sister-in-law. And keep far, far away from me."Walking away, I note every damned person staring my way. They all look shocked that I'm letting the man
My father's home is filled with black-coat men who appraise Emma hanging on my arm and silent women who wish to be her. I watch with a clenched jaw and tick in my muscles as they look at her from head to toe with need or envy.I hate these men, hate that I have to work alongside them, but needs must, and I'd rather be breathing than dead in a ditch somewhere. And regarding the women, they should be jealous.I move my hold from Emma's hand to her waist, pulling her into my side as I attempt to stake a claim on her. But honestly, with the cartel, your wife never belongs to you, not really. This is one of the main reasons I'm choosing to have her lead. It'll be me in the firing line, so to speak, which is a vast improvement over potentially having her taken in an attempt to use her as leverage. My father's face flashes in the corner of the room illuminated by the many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and my mother held closely to him, much as I'm holding Emma. His eyes appraise us
Luca"You look—ravishing," I whisper against the side of Emma's throat as I kiss my way down the column of her neck. She's freshly showered and tastes sweet like her body wash, which still resided in my bathroom cabinet even all these years later. It's sweet, like marshmallows, and reminds me of the old Emma. The one that smelt delicious out in the breeze. Nowadays, she uses a more floral body wash when she isn't stealing mine. She's wearing a full-length gown in deep emerald green. It splits up her right leg, opening at the thigh whenever she moves. A silent invitation if I've ever seen one. It makes me want to strip her and do unspeakable things until we fall asleep. But she's needed downstairs, and I'll be damned if she misses this ceremony for the second time in a row. We're at my parents' home, and she's in my childhood bedroom. The decor is the same, and my things remain untouched. A photo of us as teenagers stuck by her sits in the mirror before us. I stare back at us, admiri