AlexanderElena looks into my eyes, both her palms pressed to my chest, a blush coloring her beautiful face crimson.“Open them,” I say, placing her fingers over the buttons on my shirt. Elena bites down on her lip, a provocative look in her eyes. For a second I think she’ll disobey me, but then she does what I told her to.I watch her as more and more of my chest comes into view. Her breathing quickens and her hands move over my body eagerly, giving away the lust she feels. She hates how much she wants me, and I’m loving every second of it.My shirt falls open, and Elena gulps. I can’t help but grin. Everything about her is so genuine, her every reaction, every emotion displayed in her gaze.I lift her into my arms and she gasps, her arms finding their way around my neck. I carry her to my bed and place her down carefully.She looks up at me and grabs the sheets, covering herself up as best as she can. Her actions betray the nervousness behind her bravado, and I bite back a smile. I’
ElenaI walk into my mother’s new hospital room, if you can even call it that. I’m in shock as I look around. The room she’s in is huge and luxurious, resembling a hotel room instead of a hospital room, yet it has every bit of medical equipment my mother could need.I knew Alexander would take good care of her, but this is beyond my wildest expectations.“Hi, Mom,” I whisper, sitting down next to her. I glance around, my heart filling to the brim with gratefulness, happiness. She’s still here, she’s still alive. All thanks to my husband. It feels strange to even think of him that way, but that’s what he is now. My husband. I grab my mother’s hand and press a kiss to it. “I’ve missed you.”Part of me still expects her to one day smile and tell me she missed me too. It’s getting harder for me to remember the sound of her voice, the sound of her laughter.“There’s something that I’ve got to tell you,” I say carefully.Throughout the years I’ve always spoken to her the way I would if she w
ElenaI lie in bed by myself, unable to fall asleep. I don’t even know what time Alexander will be home tonight.Outside of the bedroom we don’t talk—there are no texts, no phone calls. I have no idea what his days even look like.Even now that I’m married, I fall asleep alone almost every night. My heart aches as I think of everything I wanted out of life. A happy family of my own that would be nothing like my own family. Children that would be loved beyond compare. A husband that adores me.I saved my mother’s life, but I gave up my own in return. I have no regrets. If given the choice, I’d do it all over again—but that doesn’t mean that I don’t mourn the dreams I’m giving up on. It doesn’t mean I don’t wonder what I might be missing out on.I turn around in bed, my eyes falling to Alexander’s pillow. How is it possible to experience heartbreak over something I’ve never had?The door opens and I sit up in surprise, the sheets falling to my waist. Alexander doesn’t even notice me as h
Elena“Let me see?” Sofia says.I hold my hand up excitedly, admiring my own nails.“They did a great job,” she says, and I nod. I can’t even remember the last time I was this pampered. Sofia arranged an entire spa day for the two of us. We got massages together, followed by hair and nail appointments. It’s been incredibly nice, but more than that, I’ve missed this feeling—the feeling of spending an entire day with a mother figure. There’s nothing like it.“Thank you,” I tell her.She smiles at me and shakes her head, her hand in mine. “Darling, you’re my daughter-in-law now. It’s my job to spoil you.”She brushes my hair behind my ear, a huge grin on her face. I’ve noticed that more often than not, she’s lost in thought at home, a sad expression on her face. But not today. She’s enjoyed today as much as I have.“Alec explained that you two will be staging your relationship for my father and the press? You know that won’t be easy, right?”I nod nervously. “I know,” I murmur. “But we do
AlexanderElena walks into the bar I asked her to meet me at and I sit back, watching her from afar. She’s wearing a red dress that at once looks fucking sexy on her, yet perfectly appropriate. Her eyes find mine, and she smiles, drawing attention to her red lips.I told Elena to meet me here so we can start getting the rumor mill going about us. I’m certain someone will attempt to take a photo of us, so I told her to dress up. I didn’t expect her to look this beautiful, though.We’ve been married for two weeks now, and we’ve gotten into a routine of sorts. I was worried that she’d be needy, that she’d promise me one thing and demand another, but that hasn’t been the case. She’s kept out of my way without me having to remind her of her promises, and she’s been keeping my mother company when I can’t be around. She’s been the perfect daughter-in-law, and she’s been an even more perfect wife, spreading those beautiful long legs for me without complaint, without any drama. She agreed to g
AlexanderI groan as I turn off my computer. This work day has taken far too long—it’s nearly 10pm. My phone buzzes just as I’m finally on my way home, and I unlock it with a sigh, assuming it’s more work waiting for me. Instead, I find a text message from the last person I expected to hear from.Jen:I think I made a mistake, Alec. I miss you so much. Please, can we talk?I stare at my phone in disbelief, my heart twisting painfully. How dare she text me after all this time? She’s engaged to fucking Matthew Rousseau. She’s marrying him on the day she was supposed to marryme. What the fuck does she meanshe misses me? I guess rumors about Elena and me reached her ears. I know what Jennifer is like—even if she doesn’t want me, she won’t want anyone else to have me either.I clench my phone in my hand, sorrow filling my heart. She fucking broke me, and now she has the gall to text me? The worst thing is that my first instinct is to text her back. To ask her if she’s okay. If something hap
Alexander“Are you ready?” I ask, glancing over Elena’s outfit. She’s wearing a formal classy dress today, looking like an executive of some sort—like a Kennedy. “You look perfect.”Elena smiles at me, but the way she keeps touching her dress betrays her nerves. She follows me to my Aston Martin, her brows rising.“Didn’t you say we were going to your grandpa’s?” she asks, looking around. “I thought all Kennedys live on the same estate.”I smile and open the door for her. “We do, but the Kennedy estate is massive. This is just my mother’s mansion,” I say, tipping my head towards our house. It’s imposing all on its own.“My grandfather had his estate built so that each of his siblings and all of their kids would have their own space. It’s essentially an entire private neighborhood, so while this is all still private property, it takes about eight minutes to drive to my grandfather’s house. There’s no way we’re walking that far.”She looks around in awe and shakes her head. I forget tha
ElenaI wake up with my head on Alexander’s bare chest and snuggle closer. He’s got one arm wrapped around me, and I bury my nose against his neck.I smile at the memory of last night. He came to bed late last night, waking me up with countless kisses on my skin. The way touched me… he’s both rough and tender with me at the same time.Most days he’s gone by the time I wake up, but every once in a while, I wake up in his arms. I love those moments right before he wakes up, those moments when he’ll hold me close, when he makes me feel cherished. Those moments make our marriage more bearable—they help me forget that what we have isn’t real.“Your hair tickles.”I freeze in his arms, my entire body tense. I push away from him, but he won’t let me go. Instead, he pulls me closer. I blink, turning my head just a little. He’s got his phone in his hand, scrolling through his emails leisurely, his other hand on my waist.“Let’s go on a dinner date tonight. I think it’s time we start making fron
DARIOOne Month LaterIrise to my feet, clapping my hands so hard they almost hurt. Beside me, my mother and father join in on the standing ovation. On the other side, Giulia and Rosa are also clapping, though Rosa can’t stand yet. However, she has far more energy than just a month ago. The small theater is filled with admiration for the play’s first production, and I know that most of it is because of my woman’s performance.“Wasn’t she amazing?” I beam, turning to my mother and father.My father, who’s noticeably less grumpy now that his land grab is complete, is smiling from ear to ear. “Fantastic, son!” he yells over the clamor.“Wasn’t she great?” I grin, turning to Giulia.Elena’s friend smiles at me, nodding. “She always has been, but that was next level!”The curtains close, and the actors walk onto the stage to take their final bow. Elena looks gorgeous in her fifties-style dress,her hair styled as if she just stepped out of an old-timey magazine advert. She nailed the whole
ELENA“Where are you taking me?” I say, sitting in the passenger seat of his sleek sedan as he glides through the city.It’s been roughly two weeks since the standoff with Salvatore in the dining room. Since then, Dario and I have spent so much time together: lying in bed, talking about the future, making love, watching movies—trashyandclassy. We all even had a meal together. Dario, Salvatore, Maria, Rosa, Giulia, and I sat at the same dining room table as we shared stories and jokes and bonded, something I could never have believed was possible.“It’s a surprise,” he says.“Don’t you think we’ve had enough of those?”He glances at me with a smirk. Since all the roadblocks to our love have come crashing down, Dario has seemed so happy-go-lucky, as if he’s been waiting his whole life to let go of the mafioso darkness. I know it’s still in him. I know that if anybody ever threatens the Family or me, he’ll go full savage again. Yet, it’s so sweet to see how happy he is now.“This is agoo
DARIO“I know you didn’t approve at first, Miss Santoro,” I say, sitting beside Rosa’s bed.Over the past week, her health has taken a definite upward trajectory. No recovery will ever be miraculous, but watching my woman become more optimistic has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Just last night, when we were lying sweaty and content in bed, she said,“She’s becoming her old self. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but…”We both share that sentiment, not getting our hopes up, but we can’t help it. Our hopes are flying.“Maybe you still don’t,” I say when the frail woman watches me silently. “I wouldn’t blame you. Elena has told me about the fire. I hope that’s okay.”“It was always hers to tell,” she says, “and you can call me Rosa.”I count that as a victory. “Rosa,” I say, “I need you to know I would never hurt your niece. Just the idea of causing her pain makes me sick. I can’t imagine it. All I want is for her to behappy. When this started, I was a cold, miserable bastard, b
“Please, listen, Salvie,” Maria says. “I can tell you’re thinking about what Dario has said. I can tell it’s affected you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even still be sitting here.”“I’m sitting here because I love you, Maria, and you look like you may cry if I leave.”“I may cry because the two people I love most are behaving like they hate each other,” she says in a shaky voice.“I don’t hate my son,” Salvatore snaps.“Thenlisten.”“Fine, I’m listening.”Dario looks at me, his eyes filled with emotion. I saw the demon in him before, the savage, but this is something else. I’m peering through the layers of mafiosi bravado at the little boy beneath. I touch his forearm, letting him know I’m here for support. Ialwayswill be.“Your concern about Elena having a career comes from your desire to make the Family look strong, correct?”“It’s more complicated than that.”“If we keep with tradition, if we keep our women in line, it’s a testament to how much control we have. Don’t lie to me, Father.
ELENAWe’ve come full circle. The four of us—Salvatore, Maria, Dario, and I—sit in the same dining room where we shared our first meal. Memories return to me as Clara brings in tea and coffee, the etiquette I completely messed up, the nerves that made me ache like I was going to break down.Once Maria pours the drinks, I say, “Thank you, Maria.” I don’t let myself give a single frick about the look Salvatore gives Dario. Since we’re going nuclear, I don’t have to worry about being too nice to the staff.Salvatore’s sharp eyes flit between Maria and Dario. “You wanted to see me?” he says after a long pause.Dario rests his elbows on the table, almost like a challenge, declaring that he’s finished with his old uptight ways. He looks dashing and capable in his pale blue shirt, sleeves rolled up, his taut forearms taking me back to last night. My body aches in the best way, my inner thighs throbbing as if demanding more. I never dreamed it would be so effortless.“I hired Elena to pretend
“I can feel your virgin pussy getting close. I can feel you throbbing for me. I can feel you wanting to spill more wetness all over my dick. I can feelyou, Elena. All. Of. You.”I pound into her body, making the mattress whine with each thrust, bringing our future closer to the present with each movement of pure, unbridled lust. Maybe she doesn’t want me to promise and thinks I’m not serious, but I know now that I am. I’ve never been more confident about anything.“You’re fucking creaming up for me,” I groan.“It sounds so hot,” she moans with that same tempting fascination.“You’re right … Oh, fuck, look at you. You’re not acting now.”“Nuh-nuh-no …”She bites down, her cheeks turning entirely red as she wraps her hands around my neck and pulls me in for a hot kiss. But the explosion of her release is too overwhelming for us to maintain a kiss. Instead, she opens her mouth, moaning right into mymouth, like she’s desperate for me to share this moment with her.Her entrance pulses arou
DARIOWhen I lay her down on the bed, she sits up on her elbows, her hair falling beautifully onto the bed, her breath coming quick and making her chest rise and fall, highlighting the sumptuous curves of her breasts. She’s wearing loose-fitting PJs and no bra. Her perky-as-fuck nipples poke through the fabric.“Is the door locked?” she whispers.“It’s like I told you in the limo,” I groan. “Nobody gets to see you like this. Only me.”“Like what?” She sits up. “Naked, you mean?”“Oh. My. God.”My voice wavers as she stands up, pulling her shirt over her head. She bites her lip as if anxiety is warring with her, but then she grabs her shorts and wriggles out of them. She stands in front of me naked, her wet haven glistening, her thick thighs tempting me.“Your turn,” she says, her old sass back with full force.My hungry flesh couldn’t be harder. I tear my shirt off, buttons popping, then grab my pants and yank them down. My lust springs up, precome flinging from the head, making her g
“I never said that.”“You didn’t have to.”“What if I do?” I snap. “Is there a problem with that? Are you going to hate me for it? Judge me?”“It was never about him,” she murmurs. “I was trying to exorcise my demons. You’re old enough to make your own decisions. Even before that was the case, you’ve always been mature enough. I can’t stand in your way,” she chuckles miserably. “I can’t even stand.”“Yet,” I say forcefully. “All of that’s going to change soon.”“So you don’t hate me?”“I could never hate you, but this is. So. Messed. Up.”She lets her head fall back on the pillow. “I know. I wish I didn’t have to tell you, but it’s been long enough. I should’ve told you a long, long time ago.”“Yes,” I say firmly. “You should have.”“Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”Yes. I know I will. I could never hold a grudge against the person who’s cared for me for more than half my life. “I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe. Possibly.”“That’s more than I deserve.”“Will you sit with
ELENAI sit next to Aunt Rosa, holding her hands as she sleeps more peacefully than I’ve seen in weeks. We’re in the suburbs in the most prominent house in the neighborhood, with tall walls surrounding us and what feels like an army of Mafia men patrolling the grounds. Aunt Rosa has her doctor and her nurse here, too. For once, Giulia is getting some rest.I talk quietly as she sleeps, mostly to distract my mind from what Dario might currently be going through. I’ve asked Maria, who came to the safe house with us, to tell me if there are any updates. So far, there’s nothing. I guess he’s still handling things in the city, or …Not letting myself think about theor, I whisper, “He said that he loved me, Aunt Rosa. I don’t think he even realized he said it. It’s like it just came out, but maybe that means it’s more likely to be true, right? It’s as if he just said it without thinking, like a reflex. If you were awake, you’d hate me talking like this. You’d say something about him being w