Eleni“Fuck you too!” I yell at a taxi driver leaning on his horn in the center of Athens, yanking my handlebars so I just barely avoid slamming into his hood.This is what I get for taking a class that gets out at two. But this is the only time Professor Vasiliatos offers his thesis review. Tasia’s going to be furious.Still, by the time I make it far enough out of the city center to smell the ocean breeze, a little of my irritation has burned off. The start of a new semester is always like this. I always decide I never should’ve taken these classes or this major or decided for the umpteenth time that the feeling of freedom on a bike is more important to me than the ease of a driver. And as soon as I get used to the routine, it’ll feel as easy as breathing.Just like wheeling my bike up to the whitewashed house with the cobalt shutters towering over the restaurant—Gregorio’s, for Baba. I chain it to the post out back and dart inside.Warm cooking smells overwhelm me, along with the c
Tony“You’re supposed to stop the Q-Tip when you feel resistance, jackass,” I say into the phone. “When I say Tuesday, I mean fucking Tuesday, not next Thursday.”“Sorry, Mr. Bellini,” the importer on the other end of the line mutters. “I guess I heard you wrong. But I can’t—”“Can’t,” I repeat. “Last guy who used the word ‘can’t’ with me didn’t live long enough to regret it. So, my cars? On Tuesday?”“Tuesday, Mr. Bellini,” he says.I hang up and stretch. We gotta get a new space. I’ve been working on this basement underneath Lou’s Deli for the past two fucking years, and it still looks like a deli basement. Sure, the meat hooks give it a certain menacing energy, but the smell of cold cuts takes that right out. And I can hear Lou’s kid’s punk music through the part directly under their house sometimes, no matter how much soundproofing I put up. I shut my laptop.It’s seven, so I should be getting home. Federica—Freddie, she says—will be waiting for me to start dinner. Honest to God,
Beginning of Book 4TonyThe cold glass touches my lips as I sip from my whiskey, my eyes watching Estella over the rim. She’s dancing in front of a group of fucking loud guys who came here for a bachelor party. I’m in my usual booth at Aphrodite’s Lounge, and even though she’s a hell of a dancer, I can’t seem to keep my focus on her for more than a few seconds tonight.This is a clear sign that I’m losing interest in her, no matter how hot and good at sex she is. In all honesty, I’m getting bored of her. And it’s not like I should feel guilty about it since I know she only likes my money anyway—like all of them do. But as much as I like to have women keeping me company every once in a while–especially when I need to blow off some steam–Estella is not managing to entertain me any longer.I rub my temples, trying to make this fucking headache that’s been gwaning on me for the past three days go away. Estella’s gaze finds mine from across the club, and I fight the urge to look away. I
ChloeMemories of the past couple of years pass before my eyes as I stare into my now empty bedroom in our family home in Miami. When Dad decided to move out of New York and come here, I was upset to leave my old life behind, but the idea of starting anew, of getting away from all that craziness was somewhat exciting.Turns out so much has happened ever since that I still can’t decide if this was indeed a good idea or not. So much has changed. And now Dad is no longer here to protect us. To tell us what to do. To comfort me with words of wisdom and experience whenever I need to hear them.He’s gone. In a blink of an eye. One day he was here, and the next… pfft, gone.All that was left are the memories we created together.And some of them will remain behind as soon as we walk out the door and get back to New York."Chloe, sweetheart?" Mom’s sweet voice calls me from the door. I look over my shoulders, my eyes blurry with unshed tears. "Come on, baby. The car is waiting outside," sh
TonyIt’s a very cloudy day in New York this morning, suitable for a funeral. It’s as if God knows people are mourning the loss of a beloved member of their family. I'm not particularly grieving, but I can't help but feel sad. I know the reason behind it, but I choose to think it has everything to do with the fact that Carlo was one of us–and not because of his daughter.I park my car in front of the church and brace myself for what's to come. It's been a few days since I heard about his death, so it’s understandable why there are so many people here. Everyone had enough time to fly over to New York–the ones who don't live here at least.The church is surrounded by a crowd in black, chattering and waiting for the service to start. I take a deep breath and step out of my SUV, heading inside the church. I blend into a sea of black suits and crying women, greeting everyone I know on my way. I'm not surprised to see Carlo had a lot of friends in his life. Dante told me once that his fath
ChloeI thought I'd be strong enough to endure the funeral until the end, but I was wrong. I feel emotionally drained, physically exhausted, and also so damn confused after seeing Tony, even from afar. For a moment, I thought he was coming to greet me, to talk to me, but he never did.Which was a good thing. I don't know if I am ready to face him yet. I don't know if I'll ever be.Talking to everyone I haven't seen in a long time was also a bit stressful, with them offering their condolences, asking me how I have been, and trying to keep me updated on their lives. Halfway through it, I couldn't take it anymore, so I simply left to get some fresh air, and ended up walking home without even realizing it.My childhood home, a big brick house in a residential neighborhood in Staten Island, comes into view as I turn the corner, my heels echoing on the pavement beneath me. It looks the same as I remember it being when I was here the last time, always neat and well kept. My mother always ha
ChloeThe days that follow are busy but uneventful. After settling in and getting the house organized, most of my time is spent with Ellie while Mom does God knows what in the streets. She told me she's been catching up with the mob wives and finding out how we can be helpful, but with taking care of the house and Ellie, I can't find it in me to worry about that.In all truth, I don't know if I want to get involved.I know I have to if I want to be protected and considered part of the Saints. Just because Dad used to be one of them, doesn't mean they have to take care of us forever. Even if their moral code says so.I got my old bedroom to myself and had Mom's old office turned into Ellie's bedroom, since it is the closest to mine. The house looks the same as when we left it, but I told Mom I wanted to make some changes so we can feel less nostalgic and more at home. With Dad no longer being here with us and many things reminding us of him, I thought it might be nice to make a few cha
TonyI don't know what came over me to go after Chloe at her house when I had decided she was better off without me. But when I found out she had left the funeral, I got worried. I needed to check on her, to make sure she was all right. I could still use the 'I'm the Saints' boss' card and no one would suspect I had ulterior motives to see her.More than that, I needed to confirm if she was married. Sure, I wanted to know if she was feeling okay or if she needed help, not to mention to offer my sincere condolences for her loss, however, every fiber of my being was screaming at me to go and see it for myself.Nicky had just dropped a bomb on me about Chloe having a fucking daughter. I'd expect she had a husband to back her up and protect her, being so kind and gracious. But then, why would she need the Saints? Why didn't they stay in Miami where they probably had a more comfortable life? Unless her husband was a nobody with no particular power. It made me wonder why Nicky was so wor
*Cal*My ears pick up murmurs around me, but I can’t force myself to open my eyes. My entire body is sore, and the pain in my abdomen feels like someone is pressing and squeezing all of my organs together. It’s hard to breathe, but I force my lungs to receive as much air as I can inhale. My back hurts, so I try to adjust myself on what feels like a bed, or maybe a couch, but the smallest movement makes me grunt with pain.“Easy there, boss. You have a hole in your stomach,” someone warns, their voice distant but somewhat playful. I groan again, frustrated at not being able to move. My eyelids seem to weigh a ton, but I need to see what’s happening around me. I need to know where I am and why. Images of the confrontation in my bar come back to me in snippets. I don’t remember the details about what happened, especially how I got shot, but I do remember seeing Milo. I have no idea how much time has passed, and I also don’t know the outcome of the fight, so I need to make sure my men a
*Heidi*I step out of the shower and put on a set of comfortable sweats. The weather in New York City has been merciless lately, and even inside the apartment, I can still feel the cold wind blowing against the windows outside, seeping through cracks in the apartment I can’t see.I blow dry my hair in an attempt to warm myself, and that’s why I don’t hear my phone ringing the first two times. It’s only when I decide to order something to eat since I don’t feel like cooking anything that I notice I missed two calls.Before I grab the phone to check who it is that called me, I can’t stop myself from hoping it was Cal. But when I spot the unknown number, I roll my eyes. Of course he wouldn’t call me. I ended that. He made it pretty clear that he doesn’t intend to change his lifestyle, and since I’m not willing to give up on my principles either, I won’t hear from him again. I should make peace with that instead of keeping my hopes up.I’m about to put my phone down again, not really int
*Cal*Leaving the basement and making sure at least one of my men stays behind to watch the cartel assholes we have tied inside, I rush upstairs with Tony, Sam, and Hunter with the rest of my men on my tail.Even though the noises upstairs are muffed by closed doors and thick walls, I don’t like what I hear as I approach the bar. Frantic screams and intermittent gunfire can never be a good thing.“Fuck,” I hiss to myself. “They seem to be heavily armed,” I inform my men over my shoulder. “Are you guys loaded?”“I have a couple of guns with me. Armando is outside with my men,” Tony informs me. I don’t want to think about the possible scenarios we’re about to encounter. The rest of my men are also upstairs, but if they were caught off guard–even though I had them keeping a close eye out for any strange movement–things might be ugly.“I’ll grab a shotgun from the safe,” Hunter tells me. “Do you need me to get you anything, Boss?”“No, I have my pistol on me,” I reply through gritted tee
*Heidi*Going after Cal was a mistake. I knew it would be, but I still did it anyway.What was I thinking? What was I even expecting to happen? That if I came and asked him to drop his entire life and career for me and he’d do it?Ha! What a joke.Even if I mean as much to him as he says I do, giving up something you’ve been building your whole life is hard. I should know better than that. I wouldn’t give up on my life and dreams either if he asked me to. So, why am I feeling so heartbroken? Why do I feel so sad, so left out?I storm out of his office with tears blurring my vision. His scent is all over me, and my lips are still tingling from our kisses. No matter how much I want to turn back and run into his arms, I know I can’t do it. This is it. This was the last straw, the confirmation I needed that we’re indeed over.For good.“Miss Heidi, is everything okay?” someone asked from behind me as I walked out of the bar. It was rude on my part to ignore whoever it was, but I couldn’
*Cal*Tony takes a little longer than I’d like with the cartel bastards the Saints captured. By the time his men haul in two guys who are, I’d say, unrecognizable, I’m basically digging a hole in the floor with all my anticipation and agitation, having spent the last hour pacing.The guy I cuffed in the basement looks up from his spot in the corner, and his eyes widen when he sees two more of his people have also been taken by us. He doesn’t have any strength in him to say anything, but he’s been pretty quiet anyway compared to some of the smart-mouthed assholes I’ve beaten the shit out before.“Hey,” Tony greets me, walking behind his guys who are now restraining the newly kidnapped men to chairs, away from the first one. “Brought you a little present.”I grunt. “After the day I just had, you have no idea how glad I am to see them,” I tell him, darting a deathly glance to the newcomers and cracking my knuckles.“I owe you already. I’m glad I could return the favor for once,” Tony say
*Cal*I consider going after Heidi. Following her upstairs, grabbing her by the arm, turning her to me and crashing my lips into hers, hoping she can feel how much I love her and how much I’m willing to fight for us.But that’d be a lie.And also unfair to her.Because if I truly was willing to do anything for her, I’d accept turning my back on the mafia and the Irish Kings without a question. I wouldn’t hesitate. I wouldn’t consider anything other than having her by my side.But I can’t.I can’t give her what she wants. I can’t promise her something I’m not ready to do. Therefore, I’d rather she hates me now, while she still has any feelings for me, then watch her fall out of love with me while we are together. That’d hurt me more than anything.Realization begins to sink in. We’re truly over now. There’s no turning back, no saving this relationship that’s barely even started. I try to convince myself that this is for the best. Heidi will finally be safe away from me. She can return
*Cal*“What does this mean?” I want to know. I need to know. “What did you come here to talk to me about?”Heidi stares at me for a bit until she inhales sharply and turns her gaze to the ceiling. She is clearly uncomfortable with my questions, but I can’t move on not knowing what’s going through her mind.Does the fact that she came here to have sex with me in my office mean that she forgives me? That she’s willing to put everything behind us and start anew? That she belongs to me completely, no questions asked?Knowing her, I doubt that's what it means.But I need to hear her say it. I need to understand what she’s thinking. Otherwise, I might misinterpret all of it and ruin everything–again.“Heidi?” I call softly when she doesn’t answer me.She looks at me again, her beautiful, big eyes watching me intently. I push her hair out of her face, and lean forward to kiss her lips. It’s a soft kiss, but I try to convey all of my feelings for her through it.“I don’t know what this means,
*Cal*I spent most of the night and the morning trying to get something out of the cartel’s man I found lurking outside Heidi’s building. Anything useful at all that will help me put an end to all of this nonsense. The interrogation took several hours, and I was so fucking mad that I didn’t let any of my men deal with him even though I was exhausted. It was ugly, to say the least, and I split my knuckles multiple times as I tried to force some words out of his mouth. But in the end, I didn’t get much. The guy eventually murmured some addresses to me, but so far, my men only hit dead ends with the investigation on the De La Cruz cartel.At some point during the night, Tony showed up and helped me a little bit with the interrogation, and then he left, saying he would ask his men to start investigating as well.So far, I haven’t heard from him.The sun was rising in the sky by the time I came to my office. I sat down in my chair to clear my mind, hoping I could think about what I heard
*Heidi*“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you to talk to this guy?” my grandfather offers for the millionth time in the past hour. “I’m positive I can convince him to sell me the shop at half the price he’s demanding.”I chuckle, shaking my head.“I’m good, Grandpa. If he doesn’t accept my offer, I’m sure I can find another great place somewhere else. As much as I love this one, I’m not willing to pay more than it is worth.”Grandpa nods, finally conceding.“Well, I have to get going,” I say, getting up from the chair. “You guys have to get ready for dinner, and I stayed for too long already. I don’t want them to forbid me to come visit you next time.”“They wouldn’t dare,” Grandma murmurs, standing and pulling me into a tight hug. It instantly makes me feel like I can fight the entire world. Her embrace charges my battery, and I feel renewed. Determined. Ready for whatever the world throws my way.“Thanks, Granny. I love you,” I tell her. Then I pull away from her to hug m