EROS My left arm itched. Every spot that the tattoo gun had touched burned like hell, but I just smiled through it. Many wondered, even I did, why I was doing this, why I wanted to get entangled in a world that wasn’t really mine. Since Amara’s death, I had tried to find a different purpose than b
“Which is why leaving him breathing is a problem. With everything going on, Adonis can’t have that.” “And what about that pimp? James or Jim or whatever his name is.” Dom let out a tired gasp. “Adonis should’ve killed him. But he thinks having a fresh addition from the outside world could be good,
I caught notice of a small box on my bed, the sky-blue gift wrapper contrasting with the dark blue sheets. God, I fucking hated gift wrappers because they reminded me of the box Elias had gifted Adonis on the day of his crowning. The content, my sister’s sex tape—the one that had ruined her in the w
MARIELLA I tiptoed through the hallway to Eros’s room, the door wide open, giving a complete view of the dark interiors. There was no sign of him. The bed wasn’t ruffled, his clothes weren’t lying on the ground and his towel wasn’t hanging on the chaise sofa in one corner of the room. Six days sin
“I’m pleased,” he grinned, and walked into the kitchen to the refrigerator. My eyes followed him, unable to look away from that smile of his. He looked so much better with it. His gaze snapped toward me and I quickly averted my eyes to the fridge, pretending that it wasn’t him I was seeing. “What
I couldn’t look away, not when he was holding my gaze with the sheer force of his own. Without moving his eyes, he pulled his trousers down, leaving him in nothing but his dark blue boxer briefs. It was hard to think that he was doing this on purpose—vexing me with these acts—after what had happene
EROS My hands slipped under her thin top that highlighted her peaked nipples as I breathed into her ears. “You’re mine, Ella.” She moaned and the slightest sound of it made me want to drive myself into her, just to hear more of it. I would make her say my name and beg for more. She would want me.
Luciano De Luca was notoriously sneaky, and that was a problem I wasn’t ready to deal with. Everyone had expected him to make a rush and break the alliance between ‘Ndrangheta and Cosa Nostra. But he hadn’t done that. It had to mean something. Matteo Rossi was sure Luciano had come to terms with Ado
I walked toward Ella’s bed and sat down beside her. She pulled herself up with much difficulty and looked down at our daughter. “She’s so small,” I said, my eyes filling with tears. The wait, the pain and everything were worth this—this joy and the deep love I felt in my heart. I met Ella’s gaze a
[FOUR YEARS LATER] EROS I was panicking more than Ella was. But I couldn’t take her screams, let alone look at her. She was covered in sweat from head to toe and her entire body was shuddering. This was partially my fault, I could say. She buried her head back on the pillow and let out another lo
Even in my absence, I had been sure that Mariella was okay. She was upset, which was understandable, but she was safe. Adonis had ensured it. I hurried into my wing and up to my room, unable to control the burdening feeling in my chest. I needed to let out all that I had been holding inside, to tel
Both Mom and Adonis scanned the room. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t have a good feeling about this. Ella was running away. Or perhaps hiding something from me. I sincerely wished it was the prior. Adonis took a deep breath and spoke. “Ma, I need to speak to Eros.” I was dumbfounded. I widened my
EROS With all the men guarding me, I felt like a child being carried to the principal’s office. Every fucking one of them had a brooding look on their face. And I had been seeing them every day for the past two months. No more. I was finally returning home. To my family. To my wife. I wondered ho
As I pushed the door, I noticed the girl sitting on the ground, holding a grey shirt to her chest. Eros’s shirt. Had she been holding onto him in this manner? Crying herself to sleep holding that one shirt? Consoling herself that he was alright? “Mariella?” Her eyes widened and snapped toward me.
ADONIS I couldn’t stand the sight of people who pretended as though my world hadn’t completely changed. Many people greeted me as I walked out to the main wing. Danilo, his wife and younger daughter. Terenzio and Fabiola. Niana Galasso and the idiot who got Danilo’s daughter pregnant. My wife and
“My sister has a habit of meddling in other people’s matters. I’m sorry for that.” She probably didn’t know who I was, either. Her expressions suddenly fell, and she said with an apologetic look on her face, “I’m sorry if I sound rude, but my coming here wasn’t really a coincidence.” I frowned. “I h
Eros leaned down and whispered something into his niece’s ears that made Alessia smile bigger. Letting go of his hands, she motioned toward her father. Eros, the matchmaker, was back in the room. He wanted nothing more than what I did and that was to see this little family of ours be happy and one