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An Evening Swim
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Taken by the Mafia King Pieces of His Soul
SeraI felt somewhat lightheaded as I tore through the mansion under the cover of night with Killian by my side. My heart thundered in my chest while we took a hidden staircase to the second floor. Wrapped in nothing but a robe, and still wet from the pool, the silken fabric clung to my chilled skin, and my bare feet slid on the marble floor, but Killian had a firm grip on my arm. He wasn’t going to let me fall.He took me through an unfamiliar door on the second story. A lush, well decorated parlor opened up to me, dark against the faint silver light drifting through the windows. Killian shut the door behind us and turned on the overhead light, adjusting the dimmer to reveal only shapes and forms with no detail.“Where are we?”“My private rooms.” He looked at me over his shoulder before he stepped deeper into the room, absently running his hand over a long, deep burgundy leather couch.Compared to the rest of his home, this room was surprisingly casual. One entire wall was lined wit
Taken by the Mafia King Secrets
KillianSnow fell in earnest beyond the windows, gray light spilling through the curtains. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, taking stock of the time. It wasn’t even six yet. Sera slept snuggled in my arms, her cheek resting on my chest. I ran my knuckles down her arm over and over, lost in random, fleeting thoughts until my fingers grazed her bandage. I stilled my hand.Why was I doing this to her? Better yet, to myself? I knew it was wrong to string her along, acting like whatever we’d built between us could last and turn into something more.I’d never let the thought of getting married and starting a family cross my mind. I’d never allowed myself to fall in love. I’d never been in love against my will.But here I was.Love. Sometimes it felt worse than death, if I was being honest. The crushing anxiety that came along with it felt like a sharpened blade in my side as I tried to go along with my business on any given day. Every decision I made would affect her. Every step
Taken by the Mafia King Peace, Finally?
SeraHe shut the bathroom door. I heard the faint click of the lock, but the sound echoed through the room like a death knell.I slid out of bed and fumbled for my discarded robe, pulling it over my arms. Why was he like this? One moment he set me on fire, and the next, it felt like I’d been dunked in ice water, that flame abruptly staunched. The better question I should be asking was: Why was I like this? Killian had proven time and time again what I could expect from him, and I was the one who kept tricking myself into thinking things might change.I’d have to get used to it. Maybe one day there wouldn’t be this rift full of secrets between us. But what was I supposed to do in the meantime? Just allow us to be pushed farther and farther apart?I tied my robe, my fingers lingering on the silk as I looked around the quiet room. He’d left his phone out in the open, and I wondered if it had been meant to be a test. “I don’t want to look in your phone anyway,” I grumbled, stalking out of
Taken by the Mafia King Is Tommaso Dead?
Killian“There’s been an accident.” Patrick’s pale face washed with frantic exasperation as he repeated the words. I sat completely and utterly still, unable to process the words a second time.The room spun and the house tilted and trembled on its axis like a spin-top toy.I snapped back to reality with a force that nearly stopped my heart. None of my other men had gone out on any missions last night. All of the soldiers and capos were either tucked up in their designated rooms in my house, my safehouses, or home with their families.All of them except Tommaso.“No,” I said, and it was all I could think to say as I pulled myself to standing.Patrick opened his mouth and shut it again, sweat prickling along his brow as he looked from me to Sera. His tongue flicked out to moisten his lips, but he didn’t speak.“No,” I repeated, clenching my fists. I felt Sera’s panic at the tone of my voice. Her chair squeaked as she stood. Our quiet, cozy morning had shattered in an instant.I wasn’t
Taken by the Mafia King A Vision in Red
SeraI should have been more shocked that Killian didn’t protest at all to my going, but I was too overcome with panic to dwell on it. Following two blacked-out SUVs to a rural, private airport just outside of town, I sat beside Killian in the front seat of one of his cars, this one a modest Rolls Royce.I could have rolled my eyes at the thought that I’d consider a Rolls Royce modest, but compared to his other flashy sports cars, this one felt like it belonged to a much older man who made his millions in finance or media.Killian put on a suit before we got into the car. His hair no longer ruffled, now swept back away from his face. Clean shaven with eyes ice-cold eyes, he was a sight to behold, that was for damn sure. And me?Olivia had quickly helped me dress in a muted red pantsuit, which still hugged my figure, and red-bottomed heels that made me nearly six inches taller than I my natural height. I looked, and felt, like the mafia wives I remembered from when I was young, drippin
Taken by the Mafia King Tommaso's Gone
Sera“Sera, it’s me,” Tommaso replied, his voice hoarse and strained. I almost sank to my knees in relief. “Where’s Killian?”“We’re at the airport, Tommaso. Where the hell are you?”“The hospital. The airport crew who reached the plane first insisted, and the ambulance showed up and I was in no shape to protest.”“Are you hurt?”“Broken nose, a concussion, nothing serious. Where is Killian?” he repeated, as if my initial response wasn’t specific enough.“He’s been trying to call you!”“My phone is still in the plane.” Frustration punctuated every word.I turned to where Killian was talking to several officers. “Killian!”He either didn’t hear me or just ignored me.“Killian!” I shouted, and he and several others turned, likely noticing me for the first time. “It’s your business associate,” I said, deciding screaming Tommaso’s name probably wasn’t the best idea. “He would like to speak to you.”Killian’s expression morphed through a series of emotions ranging from ice-cold seriousness
Taken by the Mafia King An Old Enemy
Killian“What the fuck can we do about this?” I spat, my car’s Bluetooth speaker filled with the shifting and murmuring of the two men now stuck on a call with me, and I was seething.Archie Welshman, who used to be my lawyer before he became the district judge, spoke first. His voice filled the car as I sped toward the police station. “PPD has nothing on Tommaso Conti. This arrest was wholly unjustified.”“These are your guys, Roger.” I growled Roger Edward’s name, the Chief of Police himself. “What the hell is going on?”I paid both men well to look the other way, especially Roger. I should’ve reminded him that his daughter’s tuition to Yale and the new pool house he built this summer wouldn’t have happened if not for my generous contributions to his pocketbook. I hadn’t been able to get in touch with my current lawyer yet, so these two would have to do.Roger cleared his throat, obviously on edge. “Whatever happened wasn’t run by me first, Ricci. I don’t know who ordered his releas
Taken by the Mafia King The Doting Wife, the Loving Mother
SeraKillian didn’t allow me to follow him into the holding area. He quickly walked me out to the car, which he’d parked along the curb right in front of the police station. I watched him disappear back into the station, watching through the tinted windows as cops and other people dressed in business casual clothing smoked cigarettes and huddled in small groups against the cold.As odd as it sounded, Killian getting arrested had never once crossed my mind. Having grown up in this strange world that ran parallel to the real world, I knew well that most cops were paid off to turn the other direction, especially when it came to bosses and capos. Well, some capos took a fall for a boss. My own father had turned over one of his capos to avoid jail time, and that man was still in jail, almost twenty years later.That hadn’t been the first time my family had had a brush with the law. I hadn’t thought about it in years, but the memory of my mother softly shaking me awake one night when I was
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Taken by the Mafia King Epilogue
PaigeI stood in the vestibule outside of the chapel, clutching my flowers, my heart hammering in my chest. Organ music belted through the doors, and I was just waiting for my cue.We all were. My two bridesmaids, in simple maroon dresses, stood ahead of me. Like she could feel my eyes, Lauren turned back and winked. I smiled. The dress looked spectacular on her, and I’d promised up and down that Tom would invite enough handsome men for her to go home with a date. This, of course, had been complicated by Tom choosing Killian and Stan as his two groomsmen. While I liked the older man, and he kept Lauren laughing, I didn’t exactly see the two of them as a couple.Mom stepped up next to me with a smile. Her mother-of-the-bride dress, a deep burgundy gown with gold accents, caught the light and sent it dancing. “Are you excited?”I inhaled sharply. “I kind of can’t stop thinking about the seating chart for the reception. Who have I become?”She laughed. “Your father.”Tears beaded in my e
Taken by the Mafia King Old Time's Sake
KillianI sat behind my desk and looked out over my men. Tommaso took his usual seat. Adrian hovered in the corner like he wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself yet, just like he had at the beginning. Patrick was still laughing about spilling his wine. Just like old times. I stood and started pouring everyone drinks.“So,” I said, “do you have an update on the warehouses, Adrian?”He started toward my desk, then paused. An odd moment passed. It wasn’t really my desk anymore. I’d left the hunk of wood behind because I had no need for it on the island, and he’d loaded it down with computers in my absence. Despite that, I’d never seen anyone sit behind it but my father besides me.I offered Adrian a drink. “Sit.”He nodded. “Didn’t want to step on your toes. The situation is pretty simple, all told, but I can tell there’s a certain amount of grace I’m supposed to be handling this foreman with, and I don’t—”Tommaso joined me at the bar to pour. “Do you remember that foreman in the so
Taken by the Mafia King Big News
PaigeI tucked my arm through Tom’s and straightened my long, floral romper. He kissed me on the cheek, then knocked on the door. Joyce swung it open.“Hello!” She welcomed us both in with hugs. “Mr. and Mrs. Ricci are in the drawing room. Please, come in.”We let ourselves be bustled through the door, the wine we’d brought carried off to the kitchen, and our coats taken to some closet somewhere in the mansion. Adrian used it as a base of operations when Killian and Sera weren’t home, so I’d been here a few times since the wedding, but I’d never felt comfortable here. Finally, we were led to the closed doors of the drawing room, and Tom opened them with a smile.Inside, we found not only “Mr. and Mrs. Ricci,” but also Olivia and Patrick, Adrian and Penny—who still wouldn’t even talk about their dance at the wedding—and Sera’s mother and brother, as well as Lauren. Sera leapt up to greet us, and Killian followed a few paces behind. I threw myself into the hug just as much as Sera did—I
Taken by the Mafia King Checking Up
SeraI folded a T-shirt and put it into Killian’s suitcase. “Are you sure we need to leave so soon?”He chuckled and took the T-shirt back out, then replaced it with a suit shirt. “Very, unfortunately. Adrian is in the middle of a difficult situation with one of the warehouses, and he needs a steady hand to guide him through.”My stomach churned at the thought of leaving the villa. We’d only been here for a couple of months, and we’d promised everyone we’d return, but dammit, I wasn’t ready yet. Lazing around the villa and having sex whenever the mood took us was way too fun to stop after only a few months.“But we’ll be back soon, right?” I asked like I didn’t already know.“Cara mia.” Killian took my hands. “What is happening in that head of yours?”I sighed. “I don’t know. The thought of leaving just make me kind of sick. We just got away from all that. I don’t want to be scared again.”He studied me for a long moment. “You do look a little pale. How sick is this making you exactly
Taken by the Mafia King Humdrum Excitement
PaigeI squeezed Tom’s hand in the car on the way to the airport.“Sad to be leaving?” he asked.I smiled. “Always. It’s so magical here.”He laughed. “Not just saying that because we’ve spent most of the vacation in bed?”I ran my free hand up his leg. “No, we have weekends for that at home.”“Fair enough.” He kissed the back of my hand. “I do like going on these little vacations, though. It’s a nice escape for a few days.”I nodded. I really was going to miss Paris, but I wouldn’t have wanted to stay much longer anyway. Lauren had been texting me updates about the shelter, especially the new one as women settled in. I kept thinking about how much I was missing, how much they needed me there. And I knew Tom was feeling the same. Apparently, Lyle had his sights set on someone new, and Tom was itching to pull the trigger. Anybody else would probably think we were freaks, desperate to leave a luxury vacation to get back to our grueling jobs. But those people didn’t realize just how much
Taken by the Mafia King Perfect Fit
TommasoWhen I told Paige I’d set everything up for another two days in Paris, she’d immediately insisted we spend a day shopping. I put up a cursory front of complaints, but in truth, I was perfectly happy following her from store to store and carrying her bags. Even better, she loved it when I made jokes about some of the worst, frilliest, most French things we came across. She laughed and joined in. For years, I’d heard men complaining about shopping with their girlfriends—fiancées—saying it was the most boring thing in the world, but even if we weren’t laughing up a storm as we paid our way through the most expensive boutiques in Paris, I still would’ve been having a ball. The sun was shining, she kept looking at the ring I’d put on her finger with a soft wonderment I’d never seen in her eyes anymore, and my face hurt from smiling. Paige and I could’ve made a hell of an afternoon out of reading the phone book.“Stop!” she said.I froze, my free hand twitching toward the gun I’d hi
Taken by the Mafia King Beginning of Forever
PaigeI didn’t know how long Tom and I lay there, listening to the fireworks and seeing the very top of their arcs through the sliver of windows accessible from the floor. I pillowed my head on his chest and enjoyed the steady beat of his heart. Engaged. The last time I was here, I’d been on the cusp of recovery, just starting to make strides toward the person I was today. Now, I wasn’t done—I didn’t know if there was a done for traumatized people or people in general—but I was so much better, stronger, happier than I had been.The last time Tom and I were in Paris, I’d thrown myself at him and chickened out. As much as I could stay at a private view of the Eiffel Tower, I wanted to show him just how much had changed. Just how much I meant the “yes” that had fallen so easily from my lips. I rolled on top of him.“What do you say we take this back to that hotel room you picked out?”Tom grinned and pulled me down for a kiss. I pressed myself against him, feeling every line of his body.
Taken by the Mafia King The Only Ones
PaigeI sat across from Tom in an empty, stunning restaurant in the middle of the Eiffel Tower with my head spinning like the three sips of wine I’d had with the appetizer were enough to make me drunk. He’d really rented out the Eiffel Tower. And not one floor, the whole thing. We’d ridden an empty elevator, the two-Michelin-star chef kept coming out to tell us why he’d selected particular dishes based on the information Tom had given him about our preferences, and I couldn’t hear anything but the soft classical music over the speakers. It felt like a dream.Tom took my hand. “So?”“So what?” I asked.“Was the surprise worth it?” He grinned.I looked over his suit, a forest green that brought out his eyes, worn without a tie. His dark curls tumbled into his face. I’d never seen him look so perfectly put together and so casual. He looked…well, he looked exactly like the man I’d fallen in love with. Nothing like the one who’d scared me so badly all those months ago in Cairo.“I get the
Taken by the Mafia King Peace Time
TommasoDespite how much I wanted Paige to keep that little black dress on, we had a few hours before the Tower officially emptied out for our use. I talked her into putting on something a little more walkable and keeping the lingerie on. As if to punish me for my restraint, she picked a pair of tiny, wide-legged shorts that showed the tops of the garters attached to her stockings every time she moved and a fitted blouse. I changed and somehow convinced myself to leave the hotel room instead of stripping everything off her and spending the hours in bed.She took my hand as we stepped into the lobby. “I should’ve known. When you plan a surprise, it’s never just one thing. Where are we off to first?”“So nosy.” I smiled.“You’re right, I’ll stop asking.” She slid the room key out of her pocket and fiddled with it for a second, then dropped it. With a small smile, she bent at the waist to pick it up, exposing those garter straps again.I grabbed her waist and hurried her the final few st
