The next chapter comes with a trigger warning - gentle knife play.
Giovanni refuses to let me clean up myself, instead he washes me and dried me off, replacing my ankle brace but he won’t allow me to get dressed. Instead, he takes me to bed and lays me down naked, while settling in between my legs. “I know we have a lot to talk about, but please let me show you how much I missed you, amore mio,” he says as he leans over me and captures my mouth in a kiss.His lips against mine feels like heaven, something I wasn’t sure if I’ll ever experience again. The way his tongue plays against mine, leading me to submission without needing to force me. This man has a hold on me and he knows just how to play it the right way.“Did you miss me, Lucia?” he asks as he works kisses down my neck towards my chest. I let out a moan as an answer to it, and he chuckles. “Use your words. I want to hear you say it.”“Yes,” I breathe. “My heart longed for you, Mio Re. I didn’t think I would ever see you again.”God, I’ve missed this man so much, just feeling him close to me
I’m slowly making my way downstairs with Giovanni’s help, when I spot a dark-haired woman sitting in the living room. She has her head downcast and appears to be writing in a journal or notebook while not even taking in her surroundings. “Nikki Baranova,” Giovanni says. “She’s Frankie’s fiancee.”Oh, she’s the Bratva Princess Dom spoke about, the timid and quiet one. Wow, now that I know Frankie better, I must admit that I don’t see how this will work out between them, since Frankie is the complete opposite of her.“You’ll meet Julia Devlin as well, but I must warn you about her. She’s a spitfire and speaks without thinking. Don’t take whatever she says at face value. She means well but has no fucking filter,” he says. “Just like her brother.”Ah, the one Dom is worried about. Well, I suppose we’ll see when we meet today.We reach the living room and Nikki finally looks up. Her mouth falls open when she sees Giovanni and me and she gets to her feet. “I am so sorry, I didn’t even hear
“She’ll be safe with you, yeah?” Dev asks as he grabs his helmet, then he turns to me with an expression devoid of his usual snark. “This is my little sister, G.”I place a hand on his shoulder and nod. “I promise you, on my life, that I will do my best to keep her safe here. Now please fuck off and get back to Dublin.”He shakes his head while chuckling. “See you on the blessed wedding day, bruv.” With that, he drives away and I walk back inside.I have to admit, it’s been a fucked up few hours. When Lucia fell asleep last night, I went down to my office and had a look at the files Kaz sent me. He told me to be prepared for what I was about to see, but that warning alone didn’t help.Alberto Moretti killed my father and took over the role of a snitch for the FBI, but he took over this role two years before he even went missing. He has listening devices planted in the homes of various mob bosses and this is the reason Andrei was helping him.He had some damning evidence on the Romania
What do the Bratva, Cosa Nostra, and Irish mob have in common? Three leaders who happen to be best friends and solidify their bonds through arranged marriages. It’s been three months since Nikki and Julia arrived in town, and right now I’m watching them as they say their vows to Dom and Frankie. Yes, it’s a double wedding, so it was double the problems.The wedding has been postponed twice now because Julia wasn’t happy with a few things, but it all died down after Devin came to have a talk with her. Everyone was getting antsy, Giovanni even more so, but she eventually settled on what she wanted.It was worth it, though; both of them look radiant and even though they never asked for this, they all look happy — even if it is put on and fake. Both Frankie and Dom are turning up the charms, which is odd to see.I scan the packed church again and the crowd still sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. There are a lot of powerful people here; people who wanted to witness this arrange
The second I made eye contact with Kaz, I knew something was up. His back was ramrod straight, his jaw clenched and those jarring heterochromia eyes of his were filled with anger. I glance at Lucia standing next to Nikki and Julia with five of my men surrounding her and get to my feet.Kaz cocks his head for me to follow him so we’re out of earshot and Dev joins us. As soon as we’re a distance away from everyone, Kaz takes my hand and puts something into it. “This again,” he says and I look at the object he’s placed in my hand.I knew what it was the second I felt it, but the intricate V inscription is what I widen my eyes at. “Where was this found?” I ask, holding up the bullet casing. “Was someone shot?”Kaz nods. “One of my men behind the building. Normally I wouldn’t be worried, but—”“One of my men was hit as well,” Dev says, clenching his fists. “Same bullet, same casin’.”I breathe out a sigh and inspect the casing, noting the same V placement as the one we found in the woods.
After a relatively calm few hours, I am riled up with stress and anxiety. It’s seven pm and Kaius Tulvan is on his way to meet us. We’re in one of the upper-tier clubs, seated in one of the back offices, and drinking alcohol. There’s been nothing but silence from our so-called assassin, but that doesn’t mean we’ll let our guard down.I’ve even gone as far as starting plans to build a hospital wing on the property so Lucia can give birth here safely. I’ve shared that it’s the best way, and she hasn’t fought me on it, even though I can see she’s dying to ask me what’s going on.There have been a few occasions where I have caught her stopping herself from asking me something. As much as I want to share details with her, it’s the wrong call; you don’t share your work with your woman.Unwritten laws are there for a reason, and this one is right at the top.“Do we know what to expect from this fucker?” Kaz says, pouring himself a glass of vodka. “I’ve never wanted to deal with the Romanian
My heart is beating in my chest as Giovanni holds my hand. This is our first appointment together, the first one where he could actually join me. Of course, we’re flanked by different men, and Giovanni insisted I stay at his side, but I’ve gotten used to it.“Are you okay, Amoruccio?” Giovanni asks as we walk inside the private clinic. I turn my head to look up at him and smile. “Your palms are all sweaty.”“I’m just nervous,” I admit. “We’re finding out the sex of the baby today and I don’t know what to expect. What if they find something? What if Lucky suddenly developed an abnormality and what if it—”He silences my worry by placing a finger on my lips. “Everything is fine, amore, your worries are valid, but we both know he isn’t called Lucky for nothing.”“Or she,” I say with a smile, and he chuckles.“Or she. Now, let’s go and see our little miracle.” As we walked hand in hand down the hallway of the obstetrician's office, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursed through my v
The evening sun bathed our home in a warm golden glow as I bustled around the kitchen, preparing supper for the family. The savory aromas filled the air, creating an ambiance of comfort and anticipation. With each chop of vegetables and stir of simmering sauce, I reveled in the joyous task.This always made me so happy, just cooking and getting lost in everything. But tonight I have Nikki here with me. “Frankie doesn’t seem to be interested in me at all,” she remarks again. “He’s almost never home, and we actually sleep in separate rooms.”I frown at this and look at the glass of wine in her hand. “Were you supposed to tell me that?” I ask, chuckling, and she waves the glass around.“I don’t care anymore. I’m thinking of doing what Frankie does and just going out to find myself someone on the side. It would make the long nights bearable—”“Nikki!” I exclaim, looking around and hoping no one hears her. “Let’s keep that conversation for when we’re alone, okay?”She takes a sip of her g
Every little girl dreams about her wedding day, but only a few live to see the day. Girls born into mafia families don’t have the luxury of choosing who they spend the rest of their lives with. We’re traded like livestock to ensure we kept alliances, and some don’t even live to see it past five years. I suppose I can be lucky; well, it depends on how you look at it I guess. “Getting married in all black and red. Yeah, you’re definitely still Amaretto under that baby bump.” I roll my eyes when I hear Gio behind me and I turn around to face him. “I’m a Vittori; I’ll die if I’m not dramatic,” I say and twirl around in my wedding dress. “So, what do you think?” I had this dress specially made for me since I’m nearly ready to pop. It’s a stunning crimson silk dress with a black lace lining and off the shoulder neckline. My heels are custom-made black Louboutin pumps with a black lace design over the red bottom and the stilettos are made to look like silver daggers. Our wedding is small
The dreaded day has fucking arrived.As Emilia lead me into the dimly lit club, I can feel the buzz of excitement in the air. Tonight is my 34th birthday, and in usual Emilia fashion, she went all out.She rented out the entire venue just for this, and just told me to get dressed in this suit that I’m in right now. The scent of fresh flowers and candlelight ambiance filled the room, setting the stage for what could be an unforgettable evening.“Did you have to do all this for me, Angel? I would have been perfectly fine spending an evening alone with you,” I say as we get out of the SUV and she scoffs.“Don’t be silly, this is something to celebrate!” she says and places a hand on her hips. “It’s not every day a mob boss turns 34 years old.”I roll my eyes but still marvel at her beauty. Being pregnant really looks good on her; the more her belly grows, the more radiant she looks. “Fine, anything for my woman,” I say, and she chuckles as she slips her arm into mine. One of my men ope
“What about this one?”“It’s cute,”“And this one?” I ask, holding up nothing at all.“Yes, that’s adorable, Angel.”I place my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrow as I watch Kaius scroll through his phone and not look at me at all. We’re currently out baby and maternity clothes shopping as well as buying some things for the nursery. Yes, he may be a big, bad mob boss but that doesn’t mean he gets off easy when it comes to shopping for these things. “Kaius,” I say his name but all he does is say ‘hmm?’ without looking up from his cell phone. When I don’t respond to this and keep quiet, he eventually looks up at me with a frown. “Seriously?!”“What?” he asks, looking genuinely confused. “I answered you, didn’t I?”I breathe out a sigh and push the shopping cart away. “You know what, fuck this,” I say and walk away from him. My patience is already paper thin with everything that’s been going on, and now he can’t even help me with this.“Wait, Emilia,” he calls after me, but I ignore
“We don’t have to do this, you know,” Kaius says as we approach Gio’s home, and I shake my head. “I haven’t seen my brothers in months and the only one who I have a problem with is Frankie anyway,” I say, shrugging. “Dom is the youngest and I’ve always doted on him, we used to be close once.” Until he started getting secretive for no reason. Kaius sighs as he takes my hand and kisses it. “As long as you’re okay, Angel,” he says. It still warms my heart with how much he cares for me, and always makes sure I’m comfortable above all else. “I promise,” I say, then I lean over the center console to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” “You don’t ever have to thank me for looking after you, it’s my job,” he says, before capturing my mouth is a kiss that makes me wish we were alone. The gates open for us yet again, but I don’t see Gio waiting for us this time. When we get out, one of the guards escorts us inside and towards the dining room where everyone is waiting. I used to love having dinn
God, I am so nervous.We’re on the jet right now, on our way to meet up with Gio, and I don’t know what to feel. The last time I saw him I vowed that I’d never forgive him for trading me to Kaius. Now I kind of have to thank him for it. I look down at my tiny swollen belly and wonder how the heck I didn’t notice it before I got a test. Now that I know I’m pregnant, it’s like every other symptom decided to make itself known. Morning sickness feels like pure death, and don’t even get me started on my moodiness.Poor Kaius gets the brunt of it, but I usually make it up to him in a way he appreciates.“Are you still nervous?” he squeezes my hand as he asks me and I nod.“I never wanted to see him again and now we’re going to tell him about us,” I say with a nervous chuckle. “He’ll probably call it Stockholm Syndrome.”No, that’s not even a probability. He will definitely say that.“Well, I suppose we’ll find out in the next few minutes,” Kaius says, and the pilot lets us know we’re about
Emilia has been odd the entire day, and now that I’ve offered to take her out to dinner for the first time, she seems even more anxious. It’s been nearly three months since we eliminated Ivan and his threat and I have slowly started integrating Emilia into the daily life of a Romanian crime boss. She’s taken to it with surprisingly good ease and my men seem to love her spunky attitude.So why is she being so odd right now?“You look fine, Angel,” I say and take her hand over the center console. “Stop fidgeting with your dress, you look beautiful.”She finally offers me a smile and nods. “Thank you.”Okay, wait, something is definitely wrong. She would normally give me more attitude than that, but now she’s just…docile and Emilia is everything but not docile.When we reach the restaurant, I get out and open the door for her. She looks beautiful no matter what she does. Even stepping out of a car makes her seem regal; my woman, and I feel proud to say it out loud.The soft glow of the
I help Kaius get into a pair of black boxers and sweatpants, while I get into a tank top and shorts. His hair is hanging loose in damp threads and the smell of his smoky cologne is tingling my lady bits just a little bit.This man is a wall of rippling muscle, and just looking at him feels like I’m staring at a work of art. The way he’s built wasn’t just honed by hours in a gym, he’s been in active combat and it shows by the scars littering his body.The tattoos on his tanned skin just add to the allure of the man who has just professed his feelings for me. I knew I was starting to fall in love with Kaius, but I never expected him to feel that way about me so soon.We’re in the early stages, so this feels immense right now. Not only is he in love with me, but he wants me to rule alongside him in the Brigăzi. He doesn’t just want me as a trophy wife, as normal mafia men do.He doesn’t realize it, but he’s just handed me the keys to the proverbial gilded cage mafia princesses are locked
The intel Alexius sent through to me when Emilia was getting ready, put everything into perspective. I now know why Ivan got close to me, and it’s not just because he’s working for someone else.He’s a disgraced Bratva heir who altered his appearance, and his sister just so happens to be a woman who cared too much for me…. Or rather, the woman who grew to have an obsession with me and what we never had.Now Emilia is heading up here, guns blazing, thinking I’ve lied to her about something. She’s going to be a wolf with a sore tooth when she comes in here, so I have to be honest about everything.I hear the faint ding of the elevator and breathe out a sigh when the clicking of her heels draws nearer. Removing the headset, I throw it to the side and close the laptop while bracing myself for a confrontation I didn’t want to even deal with.Not because I’m a coward, but because it’s not even anything Emilia needs to be worried about.The bedroom door opens and she saunters inside, strippi
“They’re close to the parking garage; if you want to give them the element of surprise now is a good fucking time,” Kaius’ voice comes through my earpiece just as I get to the elevator, and Alexius nods silently.“Ready to dance, Emilia?” he asks as we get inside and I chuckle.“I was born covered in someone else’s blood and will leave this world covered in it as well,” I say, recalling how my mother said I literally tore her in two when she gave birth to me. Alexius chuckles and shakes his head. “Fuck, you’re the perfect woman for him,” he murmurs and the elevator doors open without a sound.The parking garage is dimly lit, its concrete walls casting long shadows that danced in the flickering overhead lights. Kaius' other men are here, sounding off their positions through the earpiece and setting me at ease. The tension in the air was palpable as Alexius and I positioned ourselves behind a row of expensive cars, preparing to face off against Ivan and his bunch of fuckers.I pull out