Zandro Bernardino POV I’d been smiling all day. I knew I couldn’t pull her after every class, but once and a while wouldn’t hurt. The kids were so invested in what they were doing they’d hardly notice her sneaking off with me after class occasionally. Pulling into the parking lot behind my apartment building, I shut off the engine and sighed. There would be dozens of papers for me to mark. I had the students keep them relatively short, just a few thousand words and my assistant helped go through the papers that I wouldn’t have time for. Generally, I read the ones who had the highest marks in my class and the lowest marks, my assistant would get the vast majority of the ones in the middle.Getting out of the car, I made my way into the building, which was securely locked, and to my floor. Grabbing my phone from my pocket, I pulled up Alessandra’s name. Zandro: Hey beautiful, how were your classes? There was a beep sound followed by a woman’s voice. “Why text me when you can just ask i
Alessandra Russo POV Zandro gave my hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance that made my heart swell. I had to be the luckiest girl on earth. I needed to tell him the full truth about my family. Our feelings for each other were growing by leaps and bounds each day and I was beginning to think that it wasn’t just lust, but that I was falling in love with him. So there had to be a point where I finally pulled the trigger and confessed, but the problem was that the longer I waited the harder it was going to be to confess everything. I just needed to ensure that he wasn’t going to bail the moment he found out who my family really was.“You know that I think you have a sharp and inquisitive mind. The sky is the limit for you here and I know that you’ll achieve anything you want regardless of what it is. And I’ll be there with you every step of the way. I promise. For as long as you’ll allow me to be.”My heart swelled. How could I have gotten so lucky as to have met him? That was one of the
Alessandra Russo POV I was on cloud nine as I stepped into my dorm room after midnight. The past couple of weeks with Zandro have been incredible. He was everything I’d dreamed a man to be. I just wished that we didn’t have to sneak around in order to see each other. I didn’t want us to be a secret, I wanted to be able to scream out to the world how happy I was. Each day, each date brought me closer to the big “L.” He didn’t play games, he wore his heart on his sleeve and I knew he was starting to get those feelings as well. You never knew what the future held, but at this moment it felt bright. I was expecting to see Editha sound asleep and snoring by now, but instead, she was sitting cross-legged on her bed reading from her psychology textbook. Guilt hit me, I kept canceling plans with her and that wasn’t fair. She’d been my first friend when I’d arrived and she’d stood by my side no matter how many times I blew her off. I’d have to make it a point to do something nice for her soon
Alessandra Russo POV His eyebrows rose so high when I told him about the double date that I was scared they would disappear up into his hairline. “You agreed to do what?”I put my hands up in front of me, giggling to myself over his overreaction. Maybe his office at lunchtime wasn’t the best time to tell him about this arranged date.“Just chill out. I had no choice. The girls had me backed into a corner and I had no choice but to agree to a double date.”Grabbing the edge of his desk, I perched myself up on the edge in front of him. Zandro leaned back in his chair his eyes drifting down the length of my body and then back up again. “I know what you’re doing, Miss Russo.”“What am I doing?” Kicking off my shoes, I placed my feet on either side of his hips on the chair and pulled the chair closer to me so he was between my legs.“You’re trying to distract me from this argument.”Jutting my lower lip out, I gave him my best pouty look. “We’re having an argument?” “You’re not getting ou
Alessandra Russo POV This whole date situation was making me feel extremely uncomfortable. It’s not like I was sneaking around, I’d been honest with Zandro and he understood why I had to go tonight, but it still didn’t sit well with me. “I can’t believe you’re wearing that to a date?” Editha gave me a disapproving look as her eyes scanned the outfit I had on. Looking down at my jeans, runners, and campus sweatshirt I had to admit I really hadn’t put any effort into my look. I spent more time each morning before class getting ready. But that was because I wanted to look nice for Zandro. In an instance like this, the less attractive I looked to whoever they had set me up with the happier I’d be. I planned on faking an illness after supper and getting the fuck out of there.Zandro was out with a friend of his tonight, which meant I had no one to run off to, but that was okay. I’d be more than happy to go home and study. Sadly, my relationship with Zandro, while great for the sociology c
Alessandra Russo POV It had sucked not spending the previous weekend with Zandro, but I’d done my due diligence and went out with the guy that the girls had chosen for me and even attended more house meetings. It seemed to be enough to satisfy them - for now. I didn’t like walking this tightrope over my relationship with Zandro, but it was almost over. After being nearly caught in his office and one of the sorority girls seeing me with a mystery man, we decided it would be a good idea to be more careful, so we were meeting for our date at a bar close to an hour’s drive away from the campus.This was the third time meeting here and this was becoming our normal meet-up point which would ultimately end up in his apartment and in his bed.Looking down at my phone I grimaced looking at the price of the ePickMeUp ride to the bar, I was going to have to swallow my pride and perhaps hit Cenon up for some money if I kept burning through it like I was. College was proving to be much more expen
Zandro Bernardino POV As much as Alessandra tried to sell to me that having to travel so far just to have a date where we wouldn’t be seen as adding suspense to our relationship, I wasn’t buying it and I knew for a fact she wasn’t buying it either. It was just tiring. I’d be happy and relieved when the semester was over. But it was a necessary evil to spend time with her and be able to fall asleep with her soft, warm body cuddled tightly to me. So, I’d continue to pay the price until we were able to finally date publicly. The feelings I was developing for her were becoming too deep to jump ship now. In fact, if things went well tonight it might just be the night I professed how I felt for her. My eyes glanced from my watch and to the front door. Alessandra was never late, but for whatever reason she was today. I was in the process of pulling my phone from my pocket to shoot her a message when someone sat down across from me at the small two-person table I’d secured in a dimly lit spo
Alessandra Russo POV “I’m sorry for… that,” I said as we closed the door of the suite that Alexander Russo had booked for us. Turning to face him, I looked up into his eyes praying he’d be open-minded about this. Alexander and Ashton both had rooms down the hallway, but as promised they’d booked us into the honeymoon suite. I was so damned upset over the whole invasion of our date that I could care less about the room. All I cared about were the thoughts that must be going through Zandro’s mind right now.“Alessandra, I don’t even know what that was!” There was anger in his tone as he glared down at me. “This makes no sense.” “I guess we should talk about it. And it will make sense then.”It was the last thing I wanted to do, but it was something that I needed to discuss with him that was way past due. Kicking off my shoes, I let my bare toes sink into the soft grey carpet. I’d almost forgotten what luxury living felt like after spending the past couple of months or so living in a m
Cassandra Russo Gallardo POV I never wanted a big wedding. Growing up, I wasn’t the type of girl who dreamed about flowing white dresses, enough flowers to open a florist shop, or exorbitantly expensive multi-tier cakes. I’m perfectly content with what I have—my family in attendance and my man standing proudly at the altar. We’re in a small chapel, tucked away in one of the quieter, more peaceful corners of the city. I’m dressed in the same wedding dress Mom wore when she married Dad, the very same veil on my head. There are no words to describe how honored I am to wear it. I hope one day, I get to pass it on to my own daughter to wear at her wedding, and perhaps even my granddaughter after her. Little things like these, full of sentiment and love, are how traditions are born. Dad and I stand just in front of the main entrance to the chapel. Everyone’s taken their seats, and the music is beginning to swell. I know he had his reservations when I first agreed to marry Thorton, but inst
Thorton Gallardo POV One Month Later Separately, the Russo and Gallardo Mafias are capable of incredible things. They both rule with iron fists and awe-inspiring efficiency. Where the Russo commands the respect of their peers, my brothers and I are tenaciously ambitious. Combined—we’re a force to be reckoned with. We’re only a month into our merger, but all of Italy works like a well-oiled machine. With the Russos’ connections and my transportation network, we’re virtually unstoppable. I don’t think the criminal underworld has ever seen a more impressive organization. With Leo running the numbers, Samuel enforcing our laws, Roman negotiating our deals, and Damien keeping his ear to the ground for any whispers of dissent, we have the entire city under our thumbs.But right now, the last thing I want to think about is work. Zandra, unfortunately, has other plans. “Remind me to ask Samuel to pay the Southern Administrative District a visit. A couple of businesses haven’t been paying ki
Zandra Russo POV I only have so much time. Before long, my baby bump will begin to show, and then the jig is up. I need to figure out how to break the news to Dad without sending him into full-on cardiac arrest. My decision is final, though, no matter what he or the rest of my family has to say. I’m keeping this baby, and I’m going to protect him or her with every fiber of my being. Do I think Dad might disown me when he learns the truth? Probably not. He’s always been a level-headed guy. I doubt he’d do anything so drastic… But that doesn’t stop me from coming up with a Plan B, C, and D—just in case. I’m just about to pull out my phone to look up some rudimentary information on what mothers should expect when I hear a strange sound coming from outside. The screech of car tires, angry shouting. My heart automatically leaps into my throat and lodges there. Oh, God. Are we under attack? All this excitement and paranoia can’t possibly be good for the baby. My little brother comes hobbli
Thorton Gallardo POV Half of Italy belongs to the Gallardo Mafia. I should be over the moon. I’m anything but. “We’re seeing staggering profits,” Leo tells me from the other side of my desk. One of his detailed spreadsheets is pulled up on his tablet.“We’ve had next to no resistance from the remaining Russo in the area. They’ve all but fled to the north of the city. The raid left them scrambled, but I don’t think now is the time to keep pushing. There’s still a heavy police presence in the area.” “Sure,” I mumble. I’m only half listening, partially because I know Leo’s got everything under control, and partially because I can’t bring myself to care. It’s almost cruel how we have everything we want, yet I have nothing I need. “The taxi business practically runs itself at this point,” Leo goes on. “Since Detective Rossi, uh, passed, there’s been no reason for the police to keep sniffing around. He was the only one who could link us to our criminal interests, and it doesn’t look like
Zandra Russo POV I’m bedridden for what feels like an eternity. Aunt Natalya keeps telling me it’s frankly a miracle I survived. Very few can take a bullet through the chest and live to tell the tale. It’s nothing short of divine intervention. But even if I did have the energy to get out of bed, I wouldn’t. A heavy fog clouds my mind, and it has nothing to do with the pain meds I’m on. I can’t stop thinking about Thorton. I can barely even think of his name without pins and needles stinging my eyes. No matter what I do, no matter how much time has passed, I can’t bring myself to accept he’s dead. The lives we lead are dangerous ones. Death and injury is an accepted workplace hazard. I just didn’t think it would actually happen.“Come on, Zandy,” Alessandra whispers at my bedside. There’s a bowl of chicken noodle soup on her lap. It’s all I’ve been able to stomach lately. Everything else makes me feel barfy. “You should eat something,” Mom adds softly. She’s seated on the other side o
Thorton Gallardo POV If obsession is a disease, then I’m sick and suffering. My waking thoughts bounce back and forth between Zandra and Rossi, trapping me in a never-ending cycle of cause and effect. I can’t stop thinking about her, about how cold and small she was in my arms as the lights faded from her eyes. My chest tightens at the realization that I’ll never get to kiss her again or speak to her again. Rossi has to pay—he has to. Tracking the man down this time is a whole lot easier. He’s paraded around like a damn war hero, showing up for interviews and public award ceremonies. I lie in wait, watching from the back of the crowd, dressed in an unassuming pair of jeans, a black sweatshirt, and a baseball cap. The hood’s drawn over to obscure my face. A whole line of TV cameras is here, along with nosy reporters and a handful of uniformed cops. I can’t just approach him. I may want vengeance, but I’m not suicidal. This place is too public, too many witnesses. I need to bide my tim
Thorton Gallardo POV Pulling up to the Russo’s private residence is practically begging for immediate execution, but I have no other options. I need to see Zandra, need to know she’s okay—even if it kills me. The place is swarming with armed guards, all of them training their weapons on us as the car screeches to a halt in front of the house.The moment I jump out, at least four of them barrel toward me. I came fully prepared for the beating of my life, but what happens next is so much worse.“Stand down!” Manfred Russo shouts at his men. They do so, snapping to attention as he trudges down the front path, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles are white. I see so much of Zandra in him. And that’s why I don’t react when he winds back and punches me in the jaw. I stumble to the ground, my ear ringing and my face throbbing. I deserved it. I deserve all of it. I will accept it. I see no point in fighting back. Even if I wanted to, Manfred Russo is almost three times my age. There’s no
Zandra Russo POV I awake with a start. There’s a blinding, throbbing pain in my chest, just below my left shoulder. I can’t make sense of my surroundings. Everything’s too loud, too bright. Confusion makes the room spin and fear makes my blood run cold. What just happened? How did I get here?“Easy, Zandy,” Aunt Natalya says as she hooks me up to a blood bag. O-positive, according to the sticker slapped on the front. “It was a high caliber round, so the bullet went right through you. You lost a lot of blood, but you’re lucky it missed all your important organs. Four inches lower and it would have pierced your heart.” Aunt Natalya is speaking perfectly clearly, but I don’t understand a word coming out of her mouth. Is it because of the shock? The pain? Probably both. I groan.“What happened?” “Relax, sweetheart,” Dad says. He’s at my bedside, his brows steepled together in grave concern. My uncles are here. So are Mom Amara, Alessandra, and Jovito. It’s a miracle my room is big enoug
Thorton Gallardo POV I don’t need to be an expert in reading body language to know tensions are running high. This is a public meeting—as is the tradition—hosted in a restaurant that’s been completely booked out. The lighting is dim. Armed men are everywhere. They don’t just belong to the Russo, but to the other families I’ve managed to piss off, as well. Why couldn’t we have done this in the back of some dingy room? Because this is a show of good faith, of honor, an unspoken code of conduct. There is nowhere to hide here, no secrets to be kept…which is exactly how I know everyone in this room hates my guts and they’re itching to reach for their guns and show it. Zandra—gorgeous, beautiful, fierce Zandra—sits at the head of the table. Her father and her uncles stand behind her like silent stone sentries. Around the table, the other Mafia heads sit. Some faces are familiar. Others are not. They all have one thing in common, though, and it’s the way they all stare daggers at me and my