Zandra Valderrama POVI didn’t realize how tired I was until I sat down on the bed, and since Thor was going to be another hour, I figured a quick snooze would help me pass the time. My mind is refreshed and alert which is why I instantly notice the strong arms wrapped around me and the rich scent of Thorton’s cologne filling my nose. Tilting my chin up, I peer at his sleeping face and quietly marvel.Thorton is strikingly handsome. I already knew this, of course, but especially so now that his ever-present scowl has smoothed out. Where once I thought he was made of stone, now I see he’s just like me—human and fallible. I study the sharp line of his nose and dare to run my fingers over his jaw, savoring the roughness of his stubble on my skin.A warm, fuzzy sensation ripples through my body. I know I should go, but I can’t find the strength to leave the comfort of his arms. For the life of me, I can’t remember when someone last held me this tenderly. The realization in and of itself s
Thorton Gallardo POVThe golden light of sunrise filters in through the crack in the curtains, filling the hotel room with warmth and the promise of a new day. Beside me, Zandra’s red locks have curled slightly in her sleep, spilling out like tendrils of copper. I spend a little too long drinking in the sight, her beauty unmatched in all things worldly or otherwise. I silently pray for time to stop. I want to capture this moment for all eternity and bask in it, breathing in the scent of vanilla and admiring her pretty face.But my phone goes off, vibrating angrily on the bedside table. She stirs, eyes fluttering open. When she realizes where she is, Zandra sits up quickly with a gasp.“Oh my God, I need to go,” she says, hurriedly throwing the covers off to climb out of bed. There’s no time to appreciate the love bites I’ve left all over her body. There’s no doubt in my mind my own back looks like a warzone.“What’s the hurry?” I ask her, reaching for my phone.“My guards are waiting
Thorton Gallardo POVRome, ItalyThe city is built on a river, a mosaic of the old and the new. The centuries-old cobblestone streets are lined with modern lamp posts, and the exterior walls of buildings are painted in an array of muted beiges and pastels. On the surface, it’s a quaint riverside city. A perfect vacation spot for those who don’t mind the year-round cold.But I know the truth. Just below the surface, the capital city of Rome has a swarming, thriving criminal underbelly. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look.“They’re late,” Samuel grumbles. He cracks his knuckles, then his neck, then his back, the loud popping similar to squeezing a fistful of bubble wrap. It’s one of his biggest tells when he’s nervous. If there’s a joint he can crack, he will.“Have a little patience,” I remind him as I fiddle with my lighter. “They’ll be here.”“What if it’s some kind of trap?”The possibility this meeting might be a set-up did dawn on me, but we’re not in a good enough posit
Zandra Valderrama POVI need to see you. It’s urgent. I stare at my phone, mildly confused. Isn’t Thor out of town?Is something wrong? Can’t tell you over text, our usual spot at the Crown Hotel. Tomorrow morning by nine.A strange, sinking feeling grows in the pit of my stomach. Call it intuition. A sixth sense. If this is Thorton, then whatever he has to tell me is clearly something big and sensitive in nature.I’ll be there.“Sweetie?”I look up to find my mother stepping into the kitchen. She wears a soft smile, bundled up in one of Dad’s sweaters. It’s surprisingly drafty in the house today, and I frankly don’t blame her for stealing one of Dad’s comfiest cashmere knits.“Is something wrong? You look troubled.”I shove my phone into the back pocket of my jeans. “It’s nothing. Just… work.”Mom joins me by the counter, reaching for a mug to make herself a cup of tea. “How are you handling things? I know it must be such a huge responsibility.”“Nothing I can’t handle. I’m getting u
Thorton Gallardo POV“What the fuck is going on?” Samuel roars after me as we rush into the taxi depot.It’s a lot closer than driving all the way to my place for an emergency meeting. Besides, if the Valderrama decides to come after us in retaliation, we have no shortage of taxis to use as escape vehicles.“You drove us right into the middle of an ambush!” Leo grumbles. “What the hell were you thinking?”Damien remains calm and collected. “Let’s just take a minute to breathe, okay? Is anyone hurt?”“No,” Samuel growls as he cracks his knuckles. “But someone’s about to be if I don’t get some fucking answers!”“They’re going to come down on us after that,” Roman points out. “We managed to strike a balance with them. A temporary truce. Now that’s gone out the window!” My brothers shout at each other. At me. It’s damn near impossible to think.“What the hell happened out there, Thorton?” Damien asks. “You should have told us if you were planning to go to war with the Valderrama Mafia.
Cassandra Valderrama POV“What were you thinking?” Dad asks me. He doesn’t shout, doesn’t raise his voice. In fact, his tone is perfectly calm and level, like this is just any other run-of-the-mill conversation.And that’s how I know he’s pissed.I sit across from him on the living room couch, rubbing my hands together. They’re stained red with my brother’s blood. Somewhere upstairs, I can hear him groaning and wailing in pain. Aunt Natalya is with him, tending to his injuries. Nothing too serious, she told us. All he needs is a couple of stitches, some antibiotics, and some rest. The bullets had gone through and had hit nothing vital. But her prognosis does little to settle my fried nerves.“Did you see the shooter?” Uncle Craig asks me. “Can you give us a description?”I nod numbly. “He was an older guy. Thinning white hair. A mustache, very bushy brows. His eyes were blue, I think.”“Did he say anything?” Uncle Montero presses on.My response sits on the tip of my tongue, but I hes
Thorton Gallardo POVWe’re holding our own. As a matter of fact, we’re doing phenomenally on the war front. No major losses, and my brothers and I have even managed to gain traction in the east, driving back Valderrama's presence long enough to swoop in to claim their abandoned territory. I should be over the moon about this…I’m nothing but bitter, angry, and anxious.My attempts to track down Rossi have been fruitless. I’ve turned over every stone, checked every dark corner—nothing. The man vanished like the wind and is probably hiding for his life.Which is smart, considering I’m going to kill him.The Valderrama Mafia have gone into hiding, too. Not the entire Mafia, but the core family. My network of informants can’t seem to locate Manfred Valderrama, any of his relatives, or Zandra. They’re operating from the shadows—a distinct advantage where they’re concerned—but in a strange way, I’m almost glad. I can breathe a little easier knowing Zandra is far from the violence.But soone
Zandra Valderrama POVAt the Valderrama Mafia Meeting Greggy slams his fists against the table, his grim expression made much more bitter by the harsh light overhead.“I lost an eighth of my men last night to those Gallardo dogs!” he seethes. “And they’re disrupting my businesses. I’ve seen an almost fifty percent decrease in profit since this war you started.”I let the old man finish, frankly too irritated to trust myself with a responsible follow-up. The family heads and I am gathered today in the private backroom of one of my family’s restaurants—a front for smuggling weapons in and out using the clever disguise of food crates—for an emergency meeting. My uncles and even Dad are here to sit in on the meeting, a testament to how serious things are getting. We’re all flabbergasted at the amount of progress Thorton has made in such a short amount of time, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.“This is your fault,” Greggy continues, the vein in his temple popping as he point