ALINA
We stepped out of the door to find Marco already turning away. Hehesitated, looking at me like I was in the way. Luca caught it and waved him on. “Spit it out.”
Marco cleared his throat. “Someone left us a message. Out back.”
My stomach twisted. A message? I wanted to ask what kind, but something in Luca’s face told me I wouldn’t like the answer.
There was an edge to him now. Something sharper. Dangerous.
I knew then he'd been playing with me before. I pressed my eyes closed and sighed. I remembered the blood spilling down the man's face. I'd nearly vomited my breakfast then.
We followed Marco out to the back of the property.
The air was heavy, the kind that settles in your chest when something terrible is about to happen. I followed Luca, my heart pumping in my chest.
Thirty or so men were there, all armed. They shifted as Luca walked through, their silence saying everything I needed to know about his authority.
My breath caught when I saw the body.
Blood pooled around the man, staining the dirt a deep red. A note was pinned to his chest. I forced myself not to look too closely, not to focus on the lifeless eyes staring at nothing.
Only an hour with Luca and I had already seen two dead bodies. Was this how our marriage would be?
Even though my father had been evil, he had made sure to protect his family, until his death, I'd known barely nothing about the Costa Mafia.
Luca bent beside the dead man, his fingers brushing the note pinned to the man’s chest. He read over the words, and something shifted in him.
It wasn’t anger. Not exactly.
It was colder than that. An icy fire that made his back tense.
When he stood, his jaw was tight, his eyes dark. He looked like he belonged to another world entirely.
Dangerous. Unstoppable.
Gone was the man who had calmly poured himself a drink in his office. This Luca was cold, calm, and his eyes burned with quiet rage.
This was The Monster.
For the first time, I truly understood why they called him that.
Marco stood nearby, waiting for orders. Luca didn’t speak at first, and when he did, his voice was low. “Marco, take her inside.”
I shook my head quickly. “No.”
Luca turned to me, his dark eyes locking on mine. “Alina.”
“If I’m going to be your wife,” I said, forcing my voice not to shake, “then this is the sort of thing I’ll have to get used to. Isn’t it?”
Something passed over his face—approval, maybe? Or amusement. “You think you’re ready for this life?”
I nodded, even though my heart was racing.
He studied me, and for a second, I thought he’d argue. Instead, he sighed and muttered something under his breath. “Have it your way.”
He turned back to his men. “Fan out,” he ordered. “Check the entire property. No one leaves until we know who did this.”
The men moved, splitting into groups, guns in hand. They were efficient and strong.
And I? I felt utterly useless. I didn’t have a gun. I didn’t know how to fight. What was I supposed to do?
I stood there, my hands at my sides, trying not to flinch at the sight of so many weapons. This wasn’t my world. But it would be soon.
Luca ran ahead of the men. “Marcel and Rock, you two stay there with her.”
He was gone for five minutes while I shook in place. When he came back, his face was calm like someone, one of his rivals I was certain had not just sent him a dead body.
A dead body with a note was a death threat. And they had thrown it over his wall.
Luca’s hand brushed against mine, pulling me from my thoughts. “Come with me,” he said.
I followed him back into the house, unsteadily. His hand was warm around mine, firm but not rough, and despite everything, I closed my fingers around his.
We entered his office, and he let go of me to grab a bottle from a shelf. He poured two glasses of whisky, handing one to me.
“Whisky, drink,” he said.
I took a sip, and the burn hit me immediately. I coughed, my eyes tearing as I tried to force the drink down my throat.
Luca patted my back, his dark brows lifting. “Never had whisky before?”
“No,” I admitted, wiping at my eyes.
“Then why didn’t you say something?”
“Because…” I lifted my shoulders, refusing to look weak. “Whatever you throw at me, I plan to handle it. I plan to win.”
“You’ve thought this through,” he said.
“Yes.”
“And you think this will work? Marrying me?”
“Yes.”
He swirled the whisky in his glass, his eyes never leaving mine. “What do I get out of it?”
I set my glass down, my hands steady even though I felt anything but. “You can sell your product in my family’s territory. No one else. Just you.”
His eyes darkened with greed. He wanted it. Everyone wanted it.
and I knew I had his attention.
“The Costa family controls the largest territory in New York,” I said. “It’s worth millions. You’d have exclusive access.”
“You think you can trust me with that much power?” he asked.
“No,” I said honestly. “But I don’t have a choice.”
His lips twitched again, but this time, it wasn’t almost a smile. It was the real thing. A small, sharp smile that made my stomach flip.
“You’re smarter than you look,” he said.
I didn’t take the bait. “So, do we have a deal?”
He didn’t answer right away. He drained the rest of his whisky, setting the glass down with a soft clink.
“I’ll think about it,” he said finally. “You’ll have my answer in three days.”
Then he opened the door and nodded for me to leave.
As I stepped out into the hallway, my heart was pounding, my mind racing. Three days. That’s all I had. Three days to secure the deal that could save my family—or destroy me.
ALINA“They’re waiting for you in the living room,” Pietro said.The Costa mansion was huge like a giant, bigger even than Luca’s home. Big and cold. It had always felt that way to me. More a place of power than a home. I walked up the steps with my father's right hand man, Pietro at my side.He was sixty years old. Strong and stocky. “I didn't ask to see them today.” I snapped, pressing a finger into my forehead. I had a headache “They didn't ask for your permission, Al.” Pietro had called me Al as long as I could remember. “They don't need your permission to visit their brother's house.”I had told him everything in the car. About the two dead men and my fear of Luca. He had told me my uncles were waiting inside the house. I nodded, my chest tightening. No, they didn't. The house was quiet as I hurried to the living room.I stepped into the living room and stopped to pull in a deep breathe. I needed patience for this. Either of these men could have killed my father. I suspecte
ALINAMy maid arranged the lace sleeves of my wedding gown for the third time. She put string of pearls around my neck, the coolness of the beads heavy against my skin. "You look beautiful, signorina," she whispered.I gave her a weak smile, my heart hammering too loudly to say thank you. My reflection in the mirror looked like someone else. The dress was beautiful, a classic white gown that tight around my waist and flared out at my hips.The door was pushed open and Valentina burst through the door. She looked stunning in her red dress, but her face was white with worry.She had tried to convince me to cancel the wedding for two days now. I had refused. “Out,” she said, waving a hand at the maid.The girl stopped, but I nodded, and she ran out. “Alina, are you serious about this?” Valentina grabbed my shoulders, shaking me lightly. “Do you know what you’re doing?”“I’m walking down that aisle and marrying Luca,” I said, though my heart was racing. Luca and I had settled on a dat
ALINA“I'm the one who packed your bags.” Mother said. My tears dried up at once. Why would she do that to me? “I didn't agree to move in with Luca, Mother.” She shook her head, smiling sadly. “In the Mafia, it doesn't matter, Alina. You will obey Luca. Whatever he says is the law to you.” “But I have so much to do here. I must organize my father's estate. The men are already feeling restless for some direction.” “The men will not listen to you, Alina. Not without Luca backing you. And Luca will not back you if you do not obey him. Don't you understand? He owns you now.” I backed away from my mother, lifted my wedding dress and ran away. Her words “he owns you now” went around and around my head. I hadn't thought this far ahead. I really hadn't expected any of this. My idea of it had been that with Luca’s name, no one would dare command me around. But now, it seemed Luca would be giving all the commands. I need to find Pietro. If I am moving into Luca’s mansion, then he is goin
LUCALuca stepped into the room, tearing his suit off. He couldn't remember the last time he had worn one. He snapped a finger at Demetrius, one of his men. “Pour me a drink. Make it a strong one.” Marco waved Demetrius away, and poured the drink himself. He squeezed half a lemon inside the gin, and brought it over. “Don't get drunk. You still have to bed your wife.” Luca grunted and gulped down half of the drink. He grunted, faking a groan. Marco laughed, tipping back half his drink too. “To your marriage. May it give us healthy sons and daughters. Sons especially.”Luca closed his eyes, remembering Alina's wide eyes as she stared up at him, her teeth biting into her lower lip. Oh definitely, they would make children. Lots of them if she kept staring at him like that. “She's going to be a wild one.” Marco said, sitting across from Luca. They had a meeting in three minutes. Someone had thrown a body over his wall, Luca wanted to find out who it was. He was at his small house. A s
ALINAI felt my heart climb up my stomach and into my chest. I ran over to Luca, throwing my arms around his shoulder. He winced, and I jerked my hands away.They were stained with blood.Oh God.I had Luca’s blood on my hands. The thought made me stumble as my heart started racing. “What happened?” I hurried to the bed and pulled the sheets off, throwing them on the floor. Luca sat on the edge of the bed.He grunted, gritting his teeth as he looked up at me with angry eyes. “Someone shot at me and Marco.”I inhaled and exhaled. Luca was the King of the Mafia. The Monster. This was normal to him, probably. I wouldn’t lose my cool.I knelt in front of him and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Damn it, Luca. This is our wedding night. The least you could have done was return to me in one piece.”He groaned when I peeled the bloody shirt off his shoulders. “I fucking tried. What do you think I was doing? Waiting there for them to shoot at me like a living target?”I could tell he was in p
LUCAMy hands were shaking, all the blood rushing from my head down to my cock. I could feel how hard it was pressing against my pants.Alina’s eyes were closed tight, her chest rising and falling hard.I growled. “Go on.”She opened her eyes. “Marco is outside the door.”I rolled my eyes. “To hell with Marco.”As if he had heard my words, Marco banged on the door again. For fuck’s sake!I closed my eyes and forced my hands to stay steady. I took a large step away from Alina. “Stay in bed. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”I stepped into her and kissed her long and hard. She was too shocked to kiss me back, but I liked her soft lips against mine.I pulled her gently from the door, stepped outside, and closed it. Marco was covered in blood too.He also looked very sorry, which didn’t make me feel any better. “Marco. You could have given me a few minutes before banging on my door like that.”Marco grinned. “Did I interrupt something?”I walked by him, fists at my side, begging my cock to
ALINAI opened my eyes, moaning softly as the light coming from the window stabbed my eyes.It was morning already. I closed my eyes again, deciding I really had signed up for more than I could take.I remembered Luca standing in front of that man, his cock falling to the floor like it had never been attached to a human body.“Alina?”I opened my eyes again. Luca was sitting beside my bed. I watched him silently for a second. How could someone so handsome be so devious?Luca was dressed in a black shirt that stretched tight across his shoulders and highlighted his hard stomach.His thighs were thick in his black pants.His thick hair fell over his eyes like he had been running his hand through it all night.I looked away, swallowing hard to clear my throat. My mouth felt too thick, same as my throat. “Did you really cut off his…”Luca stood and came to the bed. He took my hand in his. “Yes, Alina. Sometimes, we have to be evil to stay alive. They almost killed me.”I swallowed again,
ALINAI took a shower, dressed, and left my room in less than ten minutes.Pietro was standing outside my door. "He's in the living room."I nodded, dragging my hair into a ponytail. "Does Luca know he's here?""No. I believe he left for his meeting before your uncle arrived. Would you like me to inform him of the guest in his house?"I shook my head. I could deal with my uncle myself. He wasn't the kind of enemy I needed Luca's help with.When I reached the dining room, I found Uncle Roberto seated at the table, eating the breakfast one of the housekeepers had prepared for him. He took small, precise bites, like he was a gentleman, and not someone who had blood on his hands.I inhaled deeply. The last time I had spoken to him, he had slapped me.He wouldn't dare today. I knew that, but my heart still beat too fast.And it wasn’t with the excitement I had felt earlier this morning when Luca’s head was between my breasts."Uncle Roberto," I greeted, bending to kiss both his cheeks.He
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