~Valentino~ The dead didn’t give a damn how grand their funeral was. But the Romanos? We buried our kings like saints, then sent them to hell in style. Black silk suffocated the private chapel of Castello Romano, swallowing the walls, the windows, even the light. The air was heavy, thick enough to choke on, the cloying stench of lilies mixing with the sharper, metallic bite of gun oil. Outside, umbrellas leaned against the weeping sky, a sea of black, interrupted only by the shine of gold cufflinks and the occasional flash of a hidden weapon tucked beneath a jacket. Men in sharp black suits lined the pews, heads bowed low in a performance of respect, but the real emotion in the room was fouler. Greed, hunger, and silent joy. I stood at the front, knuckles bleached white where I gripped the edge of Padrino’s coffin. The wood was polished to a high shine, cold under my fingers. I glared at him, an unfamiliar ache blooming in my cold heart. He looked small now. Shrun
~Valentino~ “Careful, fratello [brother],” Lucchese sneered, raising both hands in a mocking surrender after he deliberately shoulder-checked me. His face, scarred and pockmarked from old fights, twisted into something between a grin and a snarl. His brown, rotting teeth flashed smugly at me, the stench of cheap cigars and cheaper whiskey rolling off him like a curse. “Scusa [Sorry],” he lied, the smirk never leaving his face. Rocco stiffened at my side, his hand flying toward the grip of his gun under his jacket, but I lifted a single finger, halting him without a glance. I held Lucchese’s gaze, letting the silence stretch until even his bravado flickered. Then, slowly like a weapon being drawn, I reached into my breast pocket and pulled out a silk handkerchief, pristine white and monogrammed. With disgust etched on my face, I dusted off my shoulder where he had touched me, as if scrubbing away filth. The handkerchief fluttered to the ground between us, a silent insul
~Alina~The rain had softened into a mist by the time we laid Nana to rest. We buried her in the backyard, in the little garden she loved so much, the one she spent her final days tending when her hands were still steady enough to hold a trowel. The grave was simple and humble, just the way she would have wanted.A few neighbors and some old family friends came to offer their condolences, their black clothes still damp from the earlier storm. Their murmured prayers floated weakly in the heavy, damp air.Guilia and I stood side by side, our hands clutching each other tightly, silent tears sliding down our cheeks. I could barely hear the priest’s final words over the sound of my own heart breaking.When it was done, we climbed into the back of the sleek black Maserati that Rocco had parked by the curb. We still shivered from the cold and grief as the car rumbled to life, pulling away from Nana’s house for the last time.Soon, we were back at Castello Romano, pulling into the stone drive
~Alina~ Guilia’s eyes widened in confusion, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked at me, as if trying to process the sudden shift in the air. Her hand instinctively reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against mine. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, her voice tight with concern. She scanned my face, searching for any hint of what had just crossed my mind, but I could see the same panic start to build in her own eyes. “How do we get to Toronto this week?” Guilia sat up straighter, determination lighting her tired face. “We have to return without alerting him. He must not know about this inheritance, Guilia.” My heart pounded in my chest as I remembered what he’d said two days ago—that my father owed him. If, by sheer chance, he learns about this inheritance, he’s taking everything. I can’t risk it. “What’s your husband’s schedule?” I flinched at the word. “Don’t call him my husband,” I snapped, the anger flashing before I could stop it. “Bu
~VALENTINO’S POV~ The door creaked open, and before I even looked up, that cloud of expensive perfume hit me straight in the face. Bianca Romano. She didn’t walk into the room. She stalked in like a queen, wrapped in red silk so tight it looked painted on, a slit up her thigh flashing every time she moved. Every step, every toss of her fake-blonde hair, every flash of lace between her legs, screaming look at me, pick me. Pathetic. I leaned back in my chair, slow and easy, dragging in a breath through my nose. Here we fucking go again. Bianca is Padrino’s niece. Twenty-six years old and spoiled straight through to the bone marrow. She grew up gnawing on resentment while the Padrino’s empire rose without her useless father’s name on it. Her bitter old father taught her young: if you couldn’t build power, seduce it. If you couldn’t win respect, weaponize your beauty until weak men begged for your scraps. She hopped up onto the edge of my desk like she belonged there, spreading
~VALENTINO’S POV~ I shook my head gently. “I can’t,” I said, voice steady. Or maybe, I don’t want to yet. I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes darkening. “Contract says six months. After that, she’s free to crawl back to whatever shithole she came from. But until then… she remains my lawfully wedded wife.” Bianca’s face darkened like a storm cloud. She slid off the desk and started toward me, hips swinging like she was auditioning for a cheap porno. She straddled the desk again, this time spreading her legs even wider, red silk falling open, flashing even more skin. I looked away. Disgusted. How can a woman be so shameless and desperate? She leaned in, her voice syrupy-sweet. “Or…” she purred, “you could have someone who actually understands you, Tino.” The room stank of her perfume, thick, sweet, and cho
~VALENTINO’S POV~The glass hurtled toward my head, spinning through the air with a dull whistle.I shifted my body a second before impact.The heavy tumbler smashed into the wall behind me with a vicious crack, shattering into a rain of glass shards.Whiskey splattered across my bare chest, cold and stinging, dripping down in slow, wet trails.“What the fuck!” Bianca shrieked like a scared cat and sprang off my lap, stumbling back toward the door, horror twisting her face.I just sat there, amused as fuck.Smiling slowly as I watched Alina, the little spitfire, stand there with her chest heaving, her eyes wild with rage, her fists balled like she wanted to throw something else.A slow, smug smile pulled at my mouth.Beautiful.She’s fucking beautiful.I dragged my fingers through the whiskey dripping down my chest, dusting it off lazily with my hand as I glared at her.I had not expected this reaction from her.And goddamn, I liked it.I liked that I could twist her up this much with
~VALENTINO’S POV~The sharp crack of my palm against her ass echoed through the room.Alina gasped, her body jerking forward against the glass, her fingers scrambling for purchase. The thin black silk of her mourning dress did nothing to hide the way her flesh jiggled under my hand, plush, heavy, and perfect.“Ahhh!” she shrieked, twisting in my grip.I chuckled darkly, dragging my fingers over the spot I had just struck, savoring the heat blooming under her skin.“Tell me the truth, moglie. Or should I make you count?”“Fuck you—”SMACK.This time, my hand came down harder, lower, right where her thigh met the sinful curve of her ass. She cried out, her hips bucking instinctively, her body betraying her even as she fought me.“One,” I purred, squeezing the punished flesh. “You have nine more to go unless you admit it.”Her breath came in ragged pants, her cheeks flushed crimson.“I hate you,” she hissed, but the way her thighs pressed together told a different story.SMACK. “Two.”SM
~ALINA’S POV~The heavy door shut behind him with a final, echoing thud.Toronto?We’re going back to Toronto?Why?He just became Don. Doesn’t he have a thousand things to do here? People to threaten? Power to claim? Why the sudden rush?I blinked, trying to piece it together, still tasting the salt of his sweat on my lips, my body humming from everything that just happened.I thought I’d have to convince him. Beg, maybe. I was already planning my argument, my excuses, but just like that, it’s happening. He’s going back.God must really be on my side.Once I get back, I need to meet with the lawyer immediately, claim the inheritance, and get back on my feet.A soft chuckle escaped my lips, finally.I pushed off the desk, only to wince as the cool air brushed over my skin. My dress slipped down, barely clinging to me. I looked down and gasped.Oh, my God.The once-elegant black mourning dress was now a shredded mess. My thighs still stung where his hand had smacked them. My lips were
~VALENTINO’S POV~The sharp crack of my palm against her ass echoed through the room.Alina gasped, her body jerking forward against the glass, her fingers scrambling for purchase. The thin black silk of her mourning dress did nothing to hide the way her flesh jiggled under my hand, plush, heavy, and perfect.“Ahhh!” she shrieked, twisting in my grip.I chuckled darkly, dragging my fingers over the spot I had just struck, savoring the heat blooming under her skin.“Tell me the truth, moglie. Or should I make you count?”“Fuck you—”SMACK.This time, my hand came down harder, lower, right where her thigh met the sinful curve of her ass. She cried out, her hips bucking instinctively, her body betraying her even as she fought me.“One,” I purred, squeezing the punished flesh. “You have nine more to go unless you admit it.”Her breath came in ragged pants, her cheeks flushed crimson.“I hate you,” she hissed, but the way her thighs pressed together told a different story.SMACK. “Two.”SM
~VALENTINO’S POV~The glass hurtled toward my head, spinning through the air with a dull whistle.I shifted my body a second before impact.The heavy tumbler smashed into the wall behind me with a vicious crack, shattering into a rain of glass shards.Whiskey splattered across my bare chest, cold and stinging, dripping down in slow, wet trails.“What the fuck!” Bianca shrieked like a scared cat and sprang off my lap, stumbling back toward the door, horror twisting her face.I just sat there, amused as fuck.Smiling slowly as I watched Alina, the little spitfire, stand there with her chest heaving, her eyes wild with rage, her fists balled like she wanted to throw something else.A slow, smug smile pulled at my mouth.Beautiful.She’s fucking beautiful.I dragged my fingers through the whiskey dripping down my chest, dusting it off lazily with my hand as I glared at her.I had not expected this reaction from her.And goddamn, I liked it.I liked that I could twist her up this much with
~VALENTINO’S POV~ I shook my head gently. “I can’t,” I said, voice steady. Or maybe, I don’t want to yet. I ran a hand through my hair, my eyes darkening. “Contract says six months. After that, she’s free to crawl back to whatever shithole she came from. But until then… she remains my lawfully wedded wife.” Bianca’s face darkened like a storm cloud. She slid off the desk and started toward me, hips swinging like she was auditioning for a cheap porno. She straddled the desk again, this time spreading her legs even wider, red silk falling open, flashing even more skin. I looked away. Disgusted. How can a woman be so shameless and desperate? She leaned in, her voice syrupy-sweet. “Or…” she purred, “you could have someone who actually understands you, Tino.” The room stank of her perfume, thick, sweet, and cho
~VALENTINO’S POV~ The door creaked open, and before I even looked up, that cloud of expensive perfume hit me straight in the face. Bianca Romano. She didn’t walk into the room. She stalked in like a queen, wrapped in red silk so tight it looked painted on, a slit up her thigh flashing every time she moved. Every step, every toss of her fake-blonde hair, every flash of lace between her legs, screaming look at me, pick me. Pathetic. I leaned back in my chair, slow and easy, dragging in a breath through my nose. Here we fucking go again. Bianca is Padrino’s niece. Twenty-six years old and spoiled straight through to the bone marrow. She grew up gnawing on resentment while the Padrino’s empire rose without her useless father’s name on it. Her bitter old father taught her young: if you couldn’t build power, seduce it. If you couldn’t win respect, weaponize your beauty until weak men begged for your scraps. She hopped up onto the edge of my desk like she belonged there, spreading
~Alina~ Guilia’s eyes widened in confusion, her breath catching in her throat. She blinked at me, as if trying to process the sudden shift in the air. Her hand instinctively reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against mine. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, her voice tight with concern. She scanned my face, searching for any hint of what had just crossed my mind, but I could see the same panic start to build in her own eyes. “How do we get to Toronto this week?” Guilia sat up straighter, determination lighting her tired face. “We have to return without alerting him. He must not know about this inheritance, Guilia.” My heart pounded in my chest as I remembered what he’d said two days ago—that my father owed him. If, by sheer chance, he learns about this inheritance, he’s taking everything. I can’t risk it. “What’s your husband’s schedule?” I flinched at the word. “Don’t call him my husband,” I snapped, the anger flashing before I could stop it. “Bu
~Alina~The rain had softened into a mist by the time we laid Nana to rest. We buried her in the backyard, in the little garden she loved so much, the one she spent her final days tending when her hands were still steady enough to hold a trowel. The grave was simple and humble, just the way she would have wanted.A few neighbors and some old family friends came to offer their condolences, their black clothes still damp from the earlier storm. Their murmured prayers floated weakly in the heavy, damp air.Guilia and I stood side by side, our hands clutching each other tightly, silent tears sliding down our cheeks. I could barely hear the priest’s final words over the sound of my own heart breaking.When it was done, we climbed into the back of the sleek black Maserati that Rocco had parked by the curb. We still shivered from the cold and grief as the car rumbled to life, pulling away from Nana’s house for the last time.Soon, we were back at Castello Romano, pulling into the stone drive
~Valentino~ “Careful, fratello [brother],” Lucchese sneered, raising both hands in a mocking surrender after he deliberately shoulder-checked me. His face, scarred and pockmarked from old fights, twisted into something between a grin and a snarl. His brown, rotting teeth flashed smugly at me, the stench of cheap cigars and cheaper whiskey rolling off him like a curse. “Scusa [Sorry],” he lied, the smirk never leaving his face. Rocco stiffened at my side, his hand flying toward the grip of his gun under his jacket, but I lifted a single finger, halting him without a glance. I held Lucchese’s gaze, letting the silence stretch until even his bravado flickered. Then, slowly like a weapon being drawn, I reached into my breast pocket and pulled out a silk handkerchief, pristine white and monogrammed. With disgust etched on my face, I dusted off my shoulder where he had touched me, as if scrubbing away filth. The handkerchief fluttered to the ground between us, a silent insul
~Valentino~ The dead didn’t give a damn how grand their funeral was. But the Romanos? We buried our kings like saints, then sent them to hell in style. Black silk suffocated the private chapel of Castello Romano, swallowing the walls, the windows, even the light. The air was heavy, thick enough to choke on, the cloying stench of lilies mixing with the sharper, metallic bite of gun oil. Outside, umbrellas leaned against the weeping sky, a sea of black, interrupted only by the shine of gold cufflinks and the occasional flash of a hidden weapon tucked beneath a jacket. Men in sharp black suits lined the pews, heads bowed low in a performance of respect, but the real emotion in the room was fouler. Greed, hunger, and silent joy. I stood at the front, knuckles bleached white where I gripped the edge of Padrino’s coffin. The wood was polished to a high shine, cold under my fingers. I glared at him, an unfamiliar ache blooming in my cold heart. He looked small now. Shrun