ALINAI shuddered. I'd never had my lips savaged like that. Luca lifted me into his arms like I was a doll, folding my legs around his waist. His hands cupped my ass, pushing his hardness right into the space between my legs. I moaned when he climbed onto the bed and laid me down carefully. His eyes were full of hunger when they ran over my body. “Damn it, Alina. You're too beautiful for your own good.” He unbuttoned his shirt and removed it, dropping it on the floor. I bit my lip, watching greedily as he stepped out of his pants too. His shorts was left hugging his thighs just right. He looked like an Adonis. A handsome Greek god. “Have you had your fill?” He murmured nastily.He had been watching me stare at him. I looked into his eyes. “I don't think I ever could. You look damned near perfect.” He climbed onto the bed and turned me onto my stomach. I felt his fingers around my waist, so large they almost encircled me completely. He untied the belt of my dress, dragging it
LUCAI sat in my chair, staring at the dark window of my office. I should have been focused on the meeting, but my mind didn't seem to want that.Alina was a virgin.I could barely believe it. And it shouldn’t have mattered. I should have been able to take my pleasure from my wife without caring about something so pointless. It wasn’t like I had ever been interested in a woman’s virginity before. In fact, I had always avoided it. I liked experienced women, women who knew what they were doing, who didn’t need soft words or careful hands.But with Alina…My jaw tightened. It did bother me, and that was the problem. It shouldn’t make a difference. And yet, the moment I’d realized what she was, I had pulled away from her like I’d been burned.I shook the thought away. I was in a bad mood, and I knew exactly who I was about to take it out on.Diavolo sat across from me, his lips twisted, his hands tied behind his back. He looked calm, too calm for a man in his position. But I knew fea
ALINAI turned the wine in my glass towards the light, barely listening to my sister, Valentina, as she talked. My mind was stuck on thoughts of Luca; of the way he kissed me, the way he touched me, the way he pulled back like I was something strange. “So,” Valentina said, sounding uninterested, but her eyes were searching mine. “Are you and Luca planning to have children soon?”I choked, coughing into my hand. Heat rushed to my face, burning so hot I felt like I might catch fire.Valentina smirked. “I’ll take that as a no?”I set my glass down and folded my hands in my lap, trying to look composed. “We… we haven’t talked about it.”Which was true. We hadn’t talked about anything because Luca refused to touch me. How could we make kids if we couldn't have sex?The thought twisted painfully in my stomach. How was I supposed to explain that to my sister? That my husband, a Mafia boss, the kind of man who should be obsessed with the idea of claiming his wife, didn’t want me because I
LUCAI took the bullet from Alina’s hand, turning it between my fingers. The name carved into the metal was smooth under my thumb. Hers.The meaning was clear. Someone had marked her for death.A bad omen.I nodded, barely looking up as I slid the bullet into my pocket. That person had another thing coming. “Where did this come from?”She crossed her arms, chin lifted. “It was delivered to me, wrapped in silk. With a note calling it an early wedding gift.”I should have expected that answer, but the rage still licked up my spine. Someone had the nerve to threaten my wife—my wife—and they thought I’d let it slide?Not fucking likely.I was handling three things at once. A shipment had just come in, my phone was vibrating with back-to-back calls, and now this. My men were moving around the warehouse, checking crates, counting bullets. And in the middle of it all, Alina stood there, almost glowing.The fire in her eyes, the set of her shoulders. She wasn’t afraid. She looked alive.It d
ALINAThe morning of the ceremony was loud.I felt like some doll, being dressed for display. Mother kept touching my hair, trying to make sure everything was perfect. Valentina argued with the maids about my dress, and Sofia, Luca’s sister, sat beside me, watching everything with wide eyes. Sofia looked like an angel. She has blonde hair styled in large waves, beautiful blue eyes, a voice so gentle it barely became louder than the noise in the room. It was hard to believe she came from a Mafia family.She leaned in slightly as she stared around the room. “Is it always like this?”I smiled. She had arrived last night, and I liked her already. “You mean the madness? Yes. Get used to it.”She laughed, the sound light and sweet. “I forgot how loud Italian families are. It’s much quieter in London.”I looked at her. “You like it there?”She nodded. “I do. Luca sent me there when I was sixteen. I studied, made friends, but I missed my home, and my brother,” Her fingers tightened around
LUCAMen who had killed, built empires, and torn them down sat in a circle, watching us. The Costa and Marino families were two of the biggest names in the city. Their rivals, allies, business partners, and enemies were all here, packed into my father-in-law’s estate, waiting for the ceremony to end.I sat on the floor beside Alina.She had her hands on her lap to hide the way they were shaking. I had no idea why she was nervous, she had refused to say anything more in the car after I'd asked why I would let her go. She was my wife. In the mafia, a marriage was forever. I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “None of your uncles came.”She didn’t turn to look at me. “You know why, Luca.”I did. Roberto must have told Alberto about Luca’s threat. There was no way they would show up here. Alina blinked. “They hate me now.”I tilted my head, studying her face. Her voice was light, almost careless, but I could tell she wasn't comfortable with it from the way her fingers were still shak
ALINAThe moment the woman stepped between us, I knew something was wrong.I wasn’t sure who she was, but from the way she touched Luca, the way her fingers pressed against his chest like she had every right to be there, I knew this wasn’t just some business associate or family friend.Luca’s face gave nothing away, but he didn’t push the woman off either.I tried to step back, but Luca’s fingers on my arm held me still. He wasn’t letting me go.The men around us were watching. Their eyes rushed between Luca, me, and the woman standing so comfortably close to him, waiting to see what would happen next.I lifted my head. I wasn’t about to make a scene, especially not in front of all these people, but I felt cold.Luca finally spoke, his eyes on the woman like I didn’t even exist. “Give me a moment, Alina.”A moment.That was all it took.He left my hand, walking away without a look back at me.The woman whispered something to him, her lips close to his ear, then giggled softly before t
ALINAI was still a little breathless from dancing. I didn’t know what to say for a moment.I shook my head, wanting to step out of his arms. “I won’t need those services.”"You’re really certain?" he asked, tilting his head."I have Luca."Ethan’s lips twisted. "And will he obey without question like I will?"Something in his tone made me stop and think."Or," he continued, “will he fight you every step of the way? Will he remind you that he is in control, that you belong to him?"The words sent an uncomfortable chill down my spine.I thought of Luca, the way he had looked at me earlier, the way he had walked away with Victoria like it was nothing, like I was nothing.And I thought of his words, the ones he had thrown at me before we left for the ceremony.I own you.Maybe he would fight me. Maybe he’d refuse to listen.I lifted my chin. "What exactly are you offering?"Ethan leaned in slightly, his breath hot against my ear. I wished he would back away. “I handle problems. Dirty bus
LUCAI barely made it out of the room.My breath was ragged, my eyes blurry with lust, my cock so hard it hurt. I had to force myself to walk, my legs stiff, every muscle in my body rejecting my decision to leave.I should have made love to her.I should have buried myself deep, should have ripped off those tight little pants and taken what she had been so ready to give.Instead, I walked away.Why?My fingers were shaking at my sides as I stepped into the hall. I couldn’t even fucking think straight.Her taste, the sound of her moans, the way she had looked up at me with her lips stretched around my cock; it was burned into my skull, running in my mind, driving me mad.Pietro was still standing outside the door. He straightened when he saw me.I barely looked at him as I grunted, “Give her a few minutes. Then bring her to the car.”He nodded, but I caught the look of unease on his face.It was enough to finish what little patience I had. I was so angry at myself that I needed someone
ALINAI was shaking hard, my ass barely able to stay on the table.Luca pulled a chair closer to the table and sat. He pulled his pants down his legs, and his hard cock jumped free of his pants.He wrapped his hand around his cock, stroking himself as he watched me. His voice was rough when he spoke. “Get off the table and touch me.”I swallowed. My pulse pounded at my throat.I had never done this before. Not really. The only time I had ever seen a man naked had been years ago, in school, when I was drunk and reckless.The fumbling, the clumsy hands, the slippery kisses—it had turned me off completely.But this was different.Luca was different.Luca, who was looking at me like I was water and he was thirsty.Luca, who looked like he wanted to bite me as he fucked me into tomorrow.I dropped off the table and knelt in front of him. I reached out gently, my fingers brushing over the thickness of his hard cock.He was hot, smooth, pulsing under my fingers. My breath hitched. He was big
ALINAI was so mad I could barely see straight. My head felt like it would explode, my teeth chattered from the force of my anger, and my hands were shaking at my sides.“What the fuck was that, Luca?” The words were heavy. I had never been so angry in my life. If I had, I didn't remember.Luca just stood there, watching me with a small smile on his face. He smirked. Like this was a joke.Like I was a joke.I stepped forward, stabbing a finger into his chest. “I had it covered. You didn’t need to swoop in and take over my meeting.”He had made me feel weak for a moment. I had been feeling so proud of myself for subduing Roberto, and he had come in at the last moment and made it about Luca, The Monster.Now all the men would remember, was how Luca had saved the day. I barely stopped myself from slapping his stupidly broad chest.His lips were shaking, his beautiful eyes dark with the laughter he didn't allow to slip past his lips. “Swoop in?”“Yes! Swoop in,” I snapped. “I told you to
LUCAThe room was dead silent.Roberto brought the gun down, but it didn’t matter. He’d already made the mistake.And I never let mistakes slide. If I did, they repeated themselves—like this one.I moved before anyone could say a word. I reached Roberto and lifted my hand to take the gun. He saw my hand coming and tried to fight, shoving back, holding the gun tighter.I almost slapped him, but I didn't bother. He was weak and desperate.I barely put in any effort. One twist, a strong pull, and the gun was in my hands.Roberto staggered. His chest rose and fell. The men at the table murmured at how easily I had disarmed him.Weak.I tested the weight of the gun in my palm, unimpressed. Then, without warning, I rammed it hard against Roberto’s head.The sound was sickening. A dull, heavy crack as it hit his skull.Roberto fell back, hands flying up too late. Blood ran down the side of his face, sliding past his ear, dripping onto his white shirt.His face twisted with rage as he screame
ALINAI had never seen Pietro lose his cool. I had never heard him raise his voice. Not once in my life.Now, he shouted the word at Roberto, his words like a blade that made the tension wound tighter.“Lower the gun, Roberto, or I’ll blow your brains out.” He snarled at Roberto.I turned my head slowly, my breath tight in my chest. Pietro stood with his gun raised, his hands steady, his legs spread firmly on the floor.The room had changed.More guns were out now. Each man pointed at another, waiting for the first shot to be fired.My fingers brushed the table, just to remind myself that this was reality.This was dangerous. One wrong move and the whole room would turn into a bloodbath.I had no gun.I swallowed, forcing myself to look at Roberto. His hand was still tight around his gun, his lips pressed into a thin line.“Sit down,” I told him. I didn't expect him to sit, but I would make him.He didn’t move.My heart pounded, but I refused to let it show.“You can sit,” I continued
ALINA I stepped out of the car, smoothing my hands down the front of my blazer.The mansion in front of me was quiet, its tall gates locked, the windows dark.From the outside, it looked like just another expensive house built away from the center of the city, but I knew better.It was a safe house, one of my father’s best-kept secrets, owned under an offshore company in his lawyer’s name.Only a handful of people knew it existed, and those people were waiting for me inside.My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to stay calm. I wasn’t here to be the nervous daughter of Emilio Costa.I was here to be the woman taking his place.Beside me, Pietro watched me closely.“How do I look?” I asked, steady even though my heart was knocking against my chest too fast.He gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Perfect, Al.”I nodded, ignoring the tightness in my chest as I turned toward the doors.Inside, the air was fragrant with the smell of expensive cigars and whiskey. The moment I stepped int
LUCAI barely managed to catch Victoria’s wrists before her nails scratched across my face.She was strong, made rougher by whatever emotions were fighting their way out of her, but I was stronger.I held her firmly, pushing her back just enough to keep her at arm’s length.“Victoria, stop.” I snapped at her. I could feel the eyes on us, the curious stares from other diners, but Victoria didn’t seem to care.She twisted in my hold, her chest rising and falling quickly. She looked crazy for a second. “I love you, Luca,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’ve always loved you.”I clenched my jaw. Was that why she had tried to scratch my eyes out? “Don’t do this.”Tears ran down her cheeks as she shook her head. “You promised me.”I felt something cold settle in my stomach. What the fuck was she talking about? “I never promised you anything.”“Yes, you did!” Her voice rose, drawing even more attention. “You told me I was yours. That we would be together. That you would marry me.”I felt my
LUCAThe warehouse smelled like cement and metal, oil and sweat. I stood near the loading dock, arms crossed, watching the men unload crates from the truck.Everything was running smoothly so far. No delays, no mistakes. Just how I wanted it. The men knew better than to make silly mistakes, especially when I was watching.Marco stood beside me, hands in his pockets, watching the scene like he was waiting for something to go wrong.He was always like that, never trusting anything to go as planned. I didn’t blame him. These goods in particular were very illegal and very expensive.Guns like these came into the market once in a blue moon. I expected I'd make a hundred million just from this batch."Make sure they get everything sorted fast," I said. "The businesses that already paid, get theirs first."Marco nodded, giving a sharp whistle. The men moved faster. They didn’t need to be told twice.I shifted my feet, lowering my voice. "My father’s back."Marco turned his head sharply, his
ALINALuca was dressed when I woke up. The sound of his belt buckling pulled me from the edge of sleep.I heard him moving around the room, heard the clink of metal as he fastened his watch. I pushed myself up on one elbow, blinking the sleep from my eyes. He was already wearing his signature dark pants. “Where are you going?”His hands paused for half a second before he went back to what he was doing. “Since when do you ask me that?”I shifted, the sheets cool against my skin. Since he officially became my husband, since I found out he was hiding a mistress from me, since he had gone back to his mistress when we came home together. I pretended none of that mattered. “Since I arranged a meeting with Pietro.”That got his attention. He stopped dragging the jacket over his broad shoulders “With my father’s men,” I added. Just so we were clear. Luca turned fully, his face impossible to read. “I should be there.”I sat up, dragging the sheet with me, not because I cared but because