Amara Villafuerte POV Manfred wasn’t wrong when he said we would be trying harder. I’ve been sleeping in this room for four days now and every day he has come to me more than once. Tonight is his third time visiting me today, and as he pulls out of me and positions another cushion under my hips, he lays down beside me and catches his breath. “Have you thought about what’s going to happen when this baby gets here?” I ask, talking as if one already exists. I spend a lot of time by myself these days and it’s given me the opportunity to think about all this. My father is not a forgiving man. If he finds out where I am, he will not allow Manfred to keep me, or my child. Manfred doesn’t answer my question, he just sighs as he stares at the ceiling with his hands behind his head. I like that he doesn’t rush off after fucking me, anymore. The time we spend like this may be short but I enjoy it, even if it is always silent. “My father will eventually find out where I am, and when he does he w
Manfred Valderrama POV I left her sleeping, with her hair feathered out over the pillow like an angel, and her pussy full of my cum. I’ve never fallen asleep beside a woman before, let alone with my cock still inside one. I liked how it felt, and I’ve come to the realization that with her, I’ve been allowing myself far too many pleasures. Tonight, I need to remind myself of who I am. And I know just how to do it, effectively. My leather-gloved hand grips tight around the steering wheel as I stare across the street into Dennis Gregorio’s mansion. The knots twist my stomach when I think about him and her, together. Amara is young, she has a whole life ahead of her and her father can’t possibly love her if he was thinking of marrying her off to this rotting corpse of a man. Power would have been his only motive. Dennis Gregorio plans to run for senator next year, and having a man like him in your pocket would be beneficial to Steven Villafuerte. It’s taken me three hours to drive here,
Amara Villafuerte POV I wake up, shocked to find Manfred beside me. His arms are wrapped tightly around my body, clutching to me as if he’s worried I’ll run away. The scary thing about all this is the fact I know I won’t. I slowly untangle myself and get out of bed so I can use the toilet and when I open the curtains I notice a black bag on the floor behind them. Taking a peek inside I see what looks like a balled-up suit, and a pair of black leather gloves. I have no idea why they are here but I leave them where I found them so I can head to the bathroom. I brush my teeth before I go back to him, and when I step through the door his eyes are open and staring at me like I’m in trouble. “What did I do?” I shrug my shoulders. “Nothing. I’m allowed to look at you, aren’t I?” He raises his eyebrows as I slowly move towards him and climb back onto the bed. “I don’t know, you make the rules. Are you?” I tease, straddling his body with mine. When he reaches his hand up to frame my cheek
Manfred Valderrama POVI text Daniel and tell him I’m taking the day off. I can’t remember the last time I did it, but after Amara made her confession to me this morning, I want to stay close to her. We fall back to sleep for a few hours, then we wake up and go downstairs for a mid-morning breakfast, hand in hand, like a real couple. My best friend has a very disturbed look on his face when he sees us. “Manfred, I must talk with you.” He follows us into the dining room and watches as I pull out Amara’s chair for her. The way his eyes flick over her barely-covered body makes me decide that from now on she needs to start wearing much more than what I provide her with when she is downstairs. I don’t want the others looking at what's mine. “Manfred.” He speaks up again like I didn’t hear him the first time. “Then talk.” I take Amara’s plate and start to load it with the things I want her to eat. Then smile at her as I place it back in front of her. “Well, come on, what is so important
Amara Villafuerte PO “Amara, it’s time to come home. I’m getting worried. Dennis is dead. He was murdered.” My father scolds me, like a child, down the phone while Manfred lies beside me, drawing circles around my tummy button and listening intently. “I saw it on the news,” I admit. Dennis’ murder has been headline news, and my biggest concern being that Manfred gets found out, has made me realize how twisted I’ve become. “Enough is enough now, Amara! You can’t expect me to be okay with you disappearing. It's been almost two months. I demand you tell me where you are!” He sounds beyond angry and yet, I don’t fear him anymore. I draw strength from Manfred and the way he looks so proud of me. “I’m not expecting you to be okay with it. But I also won’t be obeying your commands, anymore. I’m not a little girl, and I’m not a bargaining tool. I’m pleased Dennis is dead.” “Amara!” Father sounds as angry, as he is horrified. “I need to go, I called because I didn’t want you worrying
Amara Villafuerte POV It’s late morning when I wake up, and as the sun creeps through the window and warms my face, I smile to myself. I can’t pinpoint when everything changed, but what I do know is that nothing can ever go back to being normal. Is it wrong that I don’t miss my father? That the only person I want to be around is Manfred? Even if it is, I don’t think I care. I like the idea of the life he has planned for us. The door knocks and when I call whoever it is in, Daniel smiles at me politely, as he places a tray of food on the bed. “So, you’re my servant, as well as my protector, now?” I sit up, making sure I’m covered by the blanket as I examine what's been sent up for me. “Manfred figured you might want to stay in bed today, he’s had to leave town. He will be back tomorrow evening.” “He never told me.” I frown when I realize how much that hurts. “You will learn that Manfred can be spontaneous.” He widens his eyes and prepares to leave. “Wait.” I stop him. “What else c
Manfred Valderrama POV “Do you have work to do, today?” she asks, getting up from her seat at the breakfast table and sitting on the table in front of me. I can tell she’s still mad at me for leaving without saying goodbye, but some things require urgency, and what I had to do couldn’t be avoided. “There is always work to do.” I smile, taking her hand and licking the syrup from her fingers. “Did you have something in mind?” “A walk around the gardens, maybe a drive into the local town. I don’t even know where that is.” Amara plays with the cuff of my shirt and tries being all cutesy, maybe her little act might work if I hadn’t woken up with her lips wrapped around my cock. I swear the girl is developing some kind of syndrome, you hear about people falling in love with their captors as a coping mechanism. I don’t want to be Amara's coping mechanism. I’ve learned over the past few weeks that I want to be the start, and end, of her world. “It is not safe for us to go into town, not
Amara Villafuerte POV “You look pretty today.” Manfred stares at me as he does up the cuffs of his shirt. It’s amazing what a compliment from him can do. It puts an instant smile on my face and makes my stomach flip, especially when he sits on the mattress next to where I’m laid and rests his hand on the other side of my body. “Your period is due,” he whispers, leaning over my body, so his breath tickles my ear. “How do you…?” I give up asking. I would say I’m surprised but nothing about this man shocks me, anymore. “I have an app on my phone.” Manfred kisses my cheek before standing back up and lifting his suit jacket from the end of the bed. “You shouldn’t get your hopes up. Women are late on their periods all the time. I’ve never really kept track of mine.” I shrug, starting to feel a little pressured. I know how disappointed Manfred was last month when I came on my period, he didn’t speak, touch or look at me for five days. I don’t know how I’ll cope if he does that to me, agai
Cassandra Valderrama Gallardo POVI 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
Thorton Gallardo POVOne Month LaterSeparately, the Valderrama and Gallardo Mafias are capable of incredible things. They both rule with iron fists and awe-inspiring efficiency. Where the Valderrama 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 Valderramas’ 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
Zandra Valderrama POVI 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 ho
Thorton Gallardo POVHalf 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 Valderrama 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 l
Zandra Valderrama POVI’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 si
Thorton Gallardo POVIf 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 time
Thorton Gallardo POVPulling up to the Valderrama’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 Valderrama 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 Valderrama is almost three times my ag
Zandra Valderrama POVI 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 en
Thorton Gallardo POVI 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 Valderrama, 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