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Taken by the Mafia King Burn It Down
KillianAfter firing the bullet, Caterina had stood there for a moment, staring at her husband’s dead body, then dropped the gun with a metallic clatter. She’d clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the sob. For a chilling moment, I’d remembered her and Patrick’s exchange in the armory.“What if you regret it?”“I doubt it. If I do, I’ll know it is for a good cause.”I’d motioned for the guys to give us a moment. They nodded and slipped out.Alone, I’d began, “Ms. Morelli—”“I don’t regret it,” Caterina had blurted, whipping her head around to glare at me with eyes shining with tears. Then she’d turned away, hastily wiping blood and tears from her face. “I…I’m happy.”She’d laughed once derisively. “Need I remind you we’re living in the same world? I’m born and bred mafia, just like you, Killian. This bloody shit… It’s normalized. It’s normal. And we’re all better off without that monster.”Now, after our phone call to Sera, we were back at it, dealing with the aftermath. Caterina
Taken by the Mafia King A Bathtub Built for Two
SeraI managed to get Olivia and Penny awake enough to take them to the closest spare room. Still fully dressed, they were out like lights the moment I laid the thick quilt over them. I just hoped Michael slept through the rest of the night. The baby monitor crackled from the nightstand next to Penny’s head.Feeling like a ghost, I drifted down the halls lit with Christmas lights to our bathroom, where we stored plenty of medical supplies. I gathered an armful of everything I would need to patch up wounds and carried it to the kitchen. Then I padded to the foyer and sat in front of the tree where I would hear the garage door opening, humming Christmas tunes to keep me calm but awake.It didn’t work very well.The next thing I knew, I was jolted awake by the sound of a car door slamming shut. I blinked at the light streaming in from the overhead window—dawn.“Shit!”I scrambled, hungover as hell, to reach the door to the garage just as it opened—and Killian stood on the threshold.My
Taken by the Mafia King Christmas
SeraI remembered to look at the clock before collapsing into bed. When I jolted awake to a stream of shouting, only two hours had passed. I started to lurch out of bed, fearing another raid, but was held back by the cage of Killian’s arms around my torso. He wasn’t panicked.Then I remembered that it was Christmas morning and the shouting was Dustin, not caring that everyone had been up late mobstering when he was about to have his first Christmas with more than just a slightly expensive dinner.I collapsed back into Killian’s bare-chested embrace, nestling my face in the crook of his elbow. He smelled like lavender oil. “What a wakeup call,” I grumbled.Killian stirred, and I felt terrible that he had been woken up. Everyone deserved the next whole day to rest and recover. “Sleep is overrated,” he mumbled into my hair, his breath sending a shiver down my spine. I curled my toes and blushed into my pillow when his hand splayed across my bare stomach and skated upward to palm my breas
Taken by the Mafia King Make a Grown Man Cry
KillianI knew Caterina would gift Sera the wedding rings, but seeing them in the hands of the woman I loved still rocked me.She looked adorable in a thick red sweater she’d just opened, slipped over her robe. I wanted to carry her back to bed and keep her to myself.I leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “Boun Natale, mia amore. Those are beautiful.” I nodded at the rings in her hand.“Boun Natale, mio amore,” Sera whispered back. “Yes, they are.”“It’s perfect timing,” Caterina said, looking proud and wry at the significance of her gift, “that you’re here, Killian, because you and Sera are the last ones on Santa’s list.”“Ho ho ho,” Tommaso said from where he sat by the tree.I barked a laugh and sat on the floor against the couch between Sera’s legs. She rested her hand on my shoulder. “That’s a new sight.”Tommaso handed a box to Dustin, who gave it to Sera. “Merry Christmas, sis.”“Thanks, bro.” Sera ripped off the paper and pulled out a Barbie that was undoubtedly from the
Taken by the Mafia King Let's Throw a Party
SeraI only managed one or two words per thrust.“It was—nice—of you—to invite—your mom,” I panted as I lay under Killian a few days after Christmas. We were mildly hungover from the rum eggnog the adults shared after the kids went to bed.His words were growled through gritted teeth. “Wrong—not to.”“Was this—a great—Christmas?”“Best one—in a long—time.”I opened my mouth, but he silenced me with a deep kiss, and I quickly forgot whatever I was about to say. I lost myself to pleasure once again, a sudden gratitude pulsing inside of me. I was lucky. After being plagued by so much misfortune, I realized that things were finally leveling out. The shadow of my father dissipated. I had my true family returned to me, and Killian took care of them like they were his own family. I had a man who loved me and literally killed men to prove it.There was still uncertainty, yes, but we were equipped to handle anything.I was determined to continue taking control of my own future. That being sai
Taken by the Mafia King Daydreaming
KillianSera was right. Our relationship had to be more than sex. It needed to be about love, not lust.Retirement, Caterina had suggested coldly.These past few days… It was becoming more appealing by the hour.Waking up in a beachside house in the Caribbean, Sera naked beside me, nothing on our schedule but to enjoy the salty air.“Boss. Hey, boss, what’re you daydreaming about? I have a few quips at the ready.”I blinked the fantasy away to see Tommaso standing in front of my desk. When the fuck did I start daydreaming?Ignoring his question, I asked gruffly, “What do you have?”“Tylenol, if you need it.” He set a small stack of papers on the desk. “Or a stiff drink. Makeup, maybe, to cover up the bags under your eyes. You look like you got socked last night.”“Enough,” I growled despite being thankful for my friend’s attempt to cheer me up. Taking the paper, I added, “One drink wouldn’t hurt.”Tommaso nodded. “Coming right up. That’s a more organized list of Andre’s shit.”The num
Taken by the Mafia King A Whistle
Sera“My opinion,” Olivia said with joking loftiness, “is that we spend more of Mr. Ricci’s money.Joyce smacked her arm. “You’ve got quite a tongue lately, girl. The staff doesn’t get to decide what alcohol to purchase unless explicitly told to. It’s always been the family that chooses.”“They always buy from auctions,” Olivia protested, “and there are none coming up, as far as I’m aware—which is odd for the holidays—and Killian hasn’t bought anything in a while.”Joyce shook her head like a disappointed mother as she stuffed the last Christmas wreath in its box. “Then you go waggle that tongue in front of him.”Olivia’s smile put the devil’s to shame when she turned to me. “Why me when Sera can make a convincing argument? She can talk him into cutting off his own finger.”I glared at her from where I crouched in front of the box I was filling with fluffy fake snow. “That’s awfully crude, Olivia.”She raised her hands in innocence. “Sorry. It just slipped out.” She sighed and knelt t
Taken by the Mafia King Are You Sure?
KillianBy December 30, Sera and her cohorts had decked the mansion out in gold, black, and silver, much to my mother’s horror when she drifted down from her floor. Dina and I had to drag her back upstairs before she tried to burn the place down for making it look “goddamn tacky as all hell.”Adrian was still trying to follow leads on Mattia. Tommaso, Alonzo, Reggie, and Patrick were still sorting through Andre’s shit.Caterina was playing therapist to Roxy, who Sera still didn’t know existed.And, apparently, my family home was sprouting relationships like weeds.I tucked Sera against me in our bed, our bodies still damp from our late-night shower, and snorted near her ear. “Sprouting?” I repeated.“Yes! Adrian and Penny are going to be a thing eventually, once Penny’s mourning is over. Patrick is head-over-heels for Olivia, and you can’t tell them that I told you, but they’re going to have their first kiss on New Year’s! And no doubt Dustin is going to ask Callie out sooner or later
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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
