MAVERICKEight months later, Southampton I had a teary-eyed earlier as Cooper carried the precious angel I’d never thought I could love beyond anything in this world. He was five months old today and became the center of our universe. He was our ringbearer, and everyone, oh and ah, as he put on a cute little suit, while Nana and Beatreigh had been giggling since I walked down the aisle with my father, Gaetano.Like what he promised to my husband when Lake asked for the blessings he would be here, my friends and family, everyone I loved, including Terzo and Celestina. Lake did his luck inviting my mother. Surprisingly, she was here alone.“What’s in your head, baby?” the most handsome groom I’d ever seen smiled. He still took my breath away when he did that.After all these years of finding my perfect one, he came to me at the right time, even for the wrong reason.Then, our whole universe, Atlas Sawyer Bates Winston, came into our world, adding more colors to our lives. Sawyer was my
MAVERICKI smiled as we finally had time for each other. Atlas just fell asleep.Lake cupped my face and traced my lips with his thumb. “Thank you for making me complete, the happiest man on this planet, and for being my wife.”My heart exploded with his words with so much joy. “Ditto. Now, no more talking. Just get rid of your clothes.”He held his laugh, shaking his head as we began taking our clothes off. There was nothing much to strip off. I was in my sexy red lingerie, and he was in his pants.To be honest, our only problem was our time for both of us— most of the time while we were naked in bed, Atlas began waking up and started to cry.“I love you, baby.”I parted my lips as I watched the desire flicker in his eyes. He then dipped down, tagging my bottom lip between his teeth. He groaned as he pressed his hard cock against my lower belly and then cupped my ass as he finally captured my mouth in a passionate kiss, gliding his tongue inside, dominating me.Moaning, I instantly w
TERZOThe thick wooden doubled-door swung open to my father’s office. It was one of the biggest rooms in the house where business was discussed and where the most secured safe and panic room were situated, where he kept his most valuables.I was assaulted by the scents of cedar wood and expensive cigars hung thick in the air.I let go of a shuddering breath as I stepped inside. Gaetano Siciliano, the patriarch of the family, the Don— one of the most powerful and feared heads of the mafias in Italian history— my father was sitting in his chair before his massive desk. His thick brows knitted together, hanging low over his dark caramel eyes and gray hair cut stylishly. In his sixties, he was still fit, strong, and could beat me in the ring if he desired to, but he always humbly said his prime was over.“Figlio.”“Come va, papa?”Papa nodded in acknowledgment. “Come in. How’s your sister?”Standing in the left corner that caught my eye was Celestina, my other beautiful sister who had bee
MAVERICKFor a woman who had lived through the worst, been to hell, and come back, I couldn’t believe I made it through another day.“You look exhausted. Take a day off,” my boss, Rocco, said as a greeting. He was also my friend and owned the Bazz Village Bar in downtown New York.I looked over at him as I put on the apron. “No thanks. I need money.”“We all need money, Maverick, but you can use a rest.” He was almost glaring, but tonight was Saturday, and the tip would be good.“You want me to be out of your hair and off your couch? Then I need money to rent an apartment.” I shut my locker harshly. When my ex broke up with me and kicked me out of the apartment, Rocco let me crash at his place upstairs. That was three weeks ago.My ex was a dirtbag and a cheat. I couldn’t believe I was so blind and didn’t figure out sooner that he had been cheating on me. The same day he broke up with me, he brought his girlfriend to the apartment we shared.I couldn’t stomach the thought they were ba
LAKEI grabbed my phone, facing down the desk, when it vibrated. I had only received a few calls from my personal phone, and I had a feeling it was my father.Wallace Winston, a billionaire tycoon, was a good man for most people who didn’t know him personally. It was because of the generous donations he gave to the charity organizations he supported, but behind closed doors, he was a fucking son of a bitch.The moment he and my mother divorced, he changed. So, I grew up with a backbone and eventually became callous. I built walls around my emotions, my feelings, and my heart.My jaw clenched to see the caller ID. I answered it quickly. “Dad, what can I do for you on this fine night?”“Save your sarcasm, Lake. I’m tired of waiting. It’s been five months since I gave you the offer. Are you interested in the position or not?”I was only interested in the position because it was my birthright, and I worked hard to forge a new path and be better than him. Moreover, I wanted to show him tha
MAVERICKI was furious to find my things outside the apartment building. The garbage truck could have collected them if I were only five minutes late. That douchebag was testing my patience, and that left me no choice but to take the room Genesis offered to me. It was out of my price range, but that’s the only apartment cheaper than anywhere.Genesis helped me remove some of the boxes left by the previous tenant before she left for work.My stomach churned when the alarm on my phone went off. It was a reminder of an appointment on my calendar. While the bills kept piling, I had zero balance left on my savings with a max credit card, and my grandmother was due for another checkup.“Shit.” I went to my bag and fished out my phone.My mind was telling me not to do it, but on the other hand, my pride couldn’t pay the bills, and deep inside, I wanted to get revenge against my ex. Maybe I was leaning more towards revenge.I dialed the number, and it picked up right away.“Boone.”I cleared
LAKEDamn. She’s fucking gorgeous. The picture in her background profile did not do any justice. She even looked younger than her age.The shock on her face and those beautiful, expressive olive-green fox eyes were prominent. She even paled. By then, she realized she would not marry my father but me. She thought she was about to sell her soul to the devil by being Wallace’s wife.I felt the desperation in her voice when she called Owen. I was there listening, and she had a confident and determined voice as she asked for money— not so much right now.I took my time skimming at her heart-shaped face. Those eyes widened even more.She put some makeup on her beautiful face and light lipstick on her pouty lips. Her nose was cute in celestial shape. Maverick was not that tall compared to the woman I slept with, but she seemed to be the most authentic among them.“Maverick,” I called her name while patiently waiting for her reply.“You tricked me.” Her face went white, cringing, realizing h
LAKE Still, I felt every softness, suppleness, and wetness of her lips and the tiny gasp escaping from her, just enough for me to float away to make me forget that I barely met her five minutes ago.I’d kissed many women, but I certainly did not feel the enthusiasm, excitement, or eagerness for another kiss until Owen and Huxley interrupted us with loud applause and a flashing camera that pulled us apart.“Congratulations, Mr. And Mrs. Winston,” said Owen, grinning like an idiot as he gave the bouquet back to Maverick. “Just one last pose.”I wanted to roll my eyes, but we had an audience, and this was my wedding day, after all, so I put my hand on her waist, pulled her closer, and smiled while Owen and Huxley were taking pictures of us.“Okay. That’s enough. We can do it outside. Another couple is waiting to be wed.” It was me, excusing myself. My heart still pumped so hard even though the kiss was over minutes ago.As we walked outside the city hall, Maverick went silent and tensed