Chapter 14GabriellaWhen the closing credits of Safe Haven roll over the screen, I smile at Mrs. Accardi.“I love the movie.”“I thought we’d watch it while Adia’s out with Damiano. He doesn’t allow anything with violence near her.”My curiosity gets the better of me. “May I ask why?”“Damiano’s father was a bastard,” she says, but before she can continue, Carlo comes into the sitting room.“Are you done with the movie, Ma?”“Yes.” Her gaze rests lovingly on her son. “Why?” “I want to spend some time with you.”She darts up from the armchair. “I’ll never say no to that.” Waving at me, she says, “Enjoy the rest of your night, cara.”“You too.”Once I’m alone in the sitting room, I walk to the shelf and grab the erotic book Mrs. Accardi made me read aloud last week when she played the prank on me.Sitting down on the armchair again, I curl my legs beneath me and open to chapter two.My eyes dart over the words, and as I read page after page, my heartbeat speeds up. When I get to a scen
Chapter 15DamianoIt’s been a week since I kissed Gabriella in the sunroom, and even though I’ve made up my mind, I haven’t been home since.Work has kept me fucking busy, and then Dario’s woman got kidnapped. It’s been one shit show after the other.I met Dario’s girlfriend at a ballet show earlier tonight and could see how much he already loves her. He’s fallen hard and fast, and if we don’t get her back, I have no idea what it will do to Dario.The drug dealers that grabbed Eden right from under our noses are either fucking stupid or brave. I don’t know Eden at all, but you don’t touch a capo’s woman and life to tell the tale.Angelo, Dario, and I are sitting in a helicopter while Carlo flies us toward a yacht where girls will be sold as sex slaves.Dario got the lead on the black market, and I can tell my friend is about to lose his shit. The only thing keeping him in line is the authority I have over him.When Carlo lands on the helipad of the supersized yacht, Angelo gets out f
Chapter 16GabriellaI’m going to lose my mind.I keep alternating between worrying and feeling angry because Damiano won’t tell me what he plans to do with me.I’ve been at the mansion for three weeks, and even though I love spending time with Mrs. Falco and Mrs. Accardi, the uncertainty is eating me alive.It doesn’t help that Damiano hasn’t been home for the past twelve days. The man laid a life-altering kiss on me, only to disappear.Earlier this week, it took all my courage to call him, but he was so abrupt over the phone I couldn’t get an answer from him.And I don’t have the guts to call him again.Suddenly, a hand settles on my shoulder, making me startle.“Sorry, cara,” Mrs. Accardi says. “You’ve been so quiet we wanted to check on you.”She helps Mrs. Falco take a seat on my balcony, where I’ve been sitting for hours contemplating my uncertain future.I straighten in my chair, releasing the hold I have on the blanket that’s wrapped around me.Instantly, the early winter chil
Chapter 17DamianoI only manage to sleep for three hours before I’m wide-a-fucking-wake.While I put on a pair of chinos and a sweater, my thoughts turn to the past week.Luckily, we were able to find Eden, and after seeing Dario lose his mind, it’s clear as fucking daylight the man loves her.I have to admit Eden managed to impress me, which is a rare feat. She killed a fucker with a high heel.I should be more careful around Gabriella and her five-inch heels.A chuckle escapes me, and the sound actually startles me.As I tuck my Glock in the back of the waistband of my pants, I leave my suite.I head downstairs, and when I near my mother’s sitting room, I hear Aunt Greta say, “I loved Queen Charlotte’s season most.”“Me too,” Mamma agrees.When I enter the room, Gabriella’s gaze darts to me. “Did you get any sleep?”“Three hours,” I mutter before I take hold of Mamma’s hand and help her to her feet.Glancing at Gabriella, I say, “Give me thirty minutes, and we’ll have that conversa
Chapter 18GabriellaI run straight to my room, and once I shut the door behind me, I suck in desperate breaths of air.Holy crap, that was intense.I press a hand to my stomach where it feels like a kaleidoscope of butterflies is out of control and fluttering like crazy.I can still feel the powerful tingles from when I unintentionally rubbed myself against Damiano’s bulge. My body just reacted to feeling him between my legs, and I pressed down on him.Worry trickles into my heart.No, Damiano said I did nothing wrong.He wanted me to leave before he lost control.Is that good or bad?I lift my other hand to my face, my fingers brushing over my swollen lips.He tasted like whiskey, wild and burning with passion as he claimedme.Dio. He’s too much man for me.My thoughts return to the conversation we had before he kissed me, andmy eyes lower to the ring on my finger.It’s a bit big but gorgeous, the design vintage, and the diamond large.Damiano thinks I’m strong, and that’s why he’
Chapter 19DamianoI managed to get another three hours sleep and feel a little more human. It’s early the morning when I walk toward Gabriella’s suite.Knocking, I wait for her reply before I push her bedroom door open.She’s sitting by her dressing table, and it’s the first time I see her without makeup.“Oh,” she gasps, quickly climbing to her feet.“We need to start with your training,” I say as I move closer to her, my eyes drinking in the sight of her natural beauty.Makeup or no makeup, my fiancée is breathtaking.“Training?” she asks.My gaze sweeps over the pantsuit she’s wearing. “Shooting lessons. Do you have casual clothes?” She nods. “I have leggings.”“Change into them.” When she remains standing, I add, “Now.” “Oh … okay.” She hurries into the closet.While I wait for her to change her clothes, I walk to the window and stare at the view of the lake.It doesn’t take long before Gabriella comes back into the bedroom. When my eyes land on the tight-as-fuck leggings and her
Chapter 20GabriellaLying in bed, I struggle to fall asleep, my mind filled with the past two days' events.I saw another side of Damiano today. When he held me on his lap, I actually felt safe.I felt more than safe.Whenever I’m near him, there’s a constant fluttering in my stomach and my heart beats a mile a minute.I’m becoming more and more aware of how attractive he is. The way he moves. The domineering air he carries himself with. The brisk way he talks.Even the silence.It feels like he says so much without him saying anything at all.He held me tight, which means he does have a caring side. He hasn’t hurt me since the incident where he slammed me down on the floor.He pressed kisses to my hair like he does with Aunt Aida, and it felt indescribably good.For the first time in my life, a man has shown me kindness. I never in a million years expected it to be Damiano Falco.My eyes start to burn with tears because now that I’ve felt some form of affection, it shines a glaring
Chapter 21DamianoSlowly, the trembling eases in Gabriella’s body.My mother’s had so many panic attacks I’ve lost count over the years. In the beginning, they were bad, to the point where she’d pass out. But not once has my mother fought me while she had an attack.I had to restrain Gabriella before I was able to calm her down.Even during a panic attack, she still fights.I press another kiss to the top of her head.A nightmare about me giving my permission for Stefano to marry her had her hiding in a fucking closet.“What did Stefano do to you?” I ask my tone too rough from the anger skirting around the edges of my mind.Not wanting her to misunderstand and think I’m talking about the nightmare, I add, “Before I brought you to New York.”“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”Anger pours into my chest, and I clench my jaw as I snap, “Tell me!”Gabriella jerks in my hold, and when she climbs off my lap, I don’t stopher.“He just hit me a few times.” She pauses for annoyingly long secondsbe
Twenty-two years later…)EpilogueDamianoWalking out onto the veranda, I glance at the lake before my eyes drift over my guests.Everyone’s at the mansion for a cookout to celebrate Mamma’s eightieth birthday.She didn’t want anything formal, so I only invited the other heads and their families over to spend the day with us.I head toward where the men are sitting and take a seat.Dario points to where the kids are standing in groups, and he lets out a chuckle. “Rosie is following Enzo around. He can’t shake her.”I watch as Dario’s sixteen-year-old daughter sticks to my second-oldest son like glue. When Enzo stops and wraps his arm around her shoulder, the poor girl almost melts into his side.Fuck.I better have a talk with Enzo, who’s just turned twenty. I don’t want him getting any ideas until Rosie’s eighteen.Thankfully, he gives her a brotherly hug before letting go of her.My gaze follows Enzo as he walks to where his brother, Christiano, is talking to Angelo’s sons.When my
Chapter 45DamianoAmelio arranged a Mercedes van and a Porsche Cayenne for the vacation in Cape Town. As we’re driven to the hotel, my eyes are on Gabriella, who’s grinning as she stares at the landscape.“It’s so green, and the mountain is stunning,” she tells Mamma.She was surprised when I allowed us all to travel in the same vehicle, and I had to explain the risk of an attack isn’t as high on vacation as it is in New York.“The roads aren’t as busy as in Manhattan,” Gabriella mentions. “It’s nice.”I give her hand a squeeze and lean into her. “Are you happy, amore mia?”She smiles at me, excitement making the green flecks in her eyes brighter. “Yes. Thank you for arranging all of this for us.”“Emilio did all the work,” I mutter.“You’re welcome, boss,” the fucker says from the driver's seat. “Don’t make me throw you out of the car,” I grumble.When we pull up to The One & Only that’s situated near the waterfront, I slide the door open and climb out.My muscles are stiff from all
Chapter 44GabriellaEven though I didn’t have much of an appetite, I made Coda alla vaccinarafor Mamma, knowing she loves oxtail.I hope Stefano suffers a lot.It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we arrived home after attending the funeral.I can’t believe Aunt Greta’s gone.I glance at Mamma, where she’s sitting in an armchair with her eyes closed.“How are you doing, Mamma?” I murmur.Slowly, she opens her eyes and lets out a heavy sigh. “I keep listening for Greta. It’s so quiet without her.I know.“Should I switch on the TV?” I ask.She shakes her head. “I’m actually tired, cara. I think I’ll go to bed.” “Let me walk with you to your room.”I get up from the chair and help Mamma to her feet.As we walk to her bedroom, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and give her a sideways hug, then say, “Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make you feel better.”We stop near her door, and she gently pats my cheek. “You’re already helping, mia figlia.”Hearing her call me
Chapter 43DamianoArriving at the warehouse, I get out of the SUV and head to the side entrance.“Carlo, go torture Stefano,” I say. “Just don’t kill him yet.”He nods, and I stop by the room where Mrs. di Bella is being held. “Are you going in?” Emilio asks.“Yes. Go keep an eye on Carlo.”When I’m alone, I think about everything Gabriella told me.As ice flows through my veins, I open the door and step inside. I glance at Bobby, who’s been guarding her, and nod to the door.After he leaves, my gaze settles on Mrs. di Bella, who’s tied to a chair. “Comfortable?” I ask.Her breaths explode over her lips, her skin pale with sorrow. Fear darkens her eyes as she stares at me.“Gabriella told me what you did to her,” I murmur, my tone dark with anger. “What you allowed to be done to her.”“It’s all lies,” she cries.I dart forward, and grabbing hold of her neck, I force her and the chair backward until she slams into the concrete floor.I pull out my gun from behind my back and press the
Chapter 42DamianoAfter leaving Gabriella in Mamma and Vito’s care, Emilio drives Carlo and me to the warehouse.Yesterday was a quiet day for us. Once we all got some sleep, Emilio ordered food for everyone. There wasn’t much talking being done, because we were all processing the shitstorm we just went through.But as I’m on my way to the warehouse, my thoughts are focused on what lies ahead.Vengeance burns in my chest, an incessant inferno that can only be extinguished with blood.A fuck ton of blood.Today, everyone who’s hurt me and mine will die. Everyone but Stefano. He will suffer a million times more than Gabriella did before he meets his gruesome end.After the SUV pulls up to the warehouse, I shove the door open and climb out.Dressed in a suit, I adjust my jacket before I walk to the side entrance while pulling my phone out to call Tommy.“Yes, boss?” he answers on the second ring. “Bring them.”“Be there in ten minutes.”When I enter the building, I head to the room wher
Chapter 41DamianoI got little to no sleep with my cock buried deep inside Gabriella. Not fucking her is impossibly hard, but she needs the rest, so I power through.I deserve a fucking gold medal for the sweet torture I’m forced to endure.Then she fucking stirs against my chest, and her pebbled nipples brush over my skin.Christ.When her inner muscles clamp around my cock, I let out a harsh breath, sweat beading at the back of my neck.Before I can ask if she’s awake, Gabriella slowly starts to swivel her hips.I let out a groan, my fingers digging into her ass cheeks. “You’re killing me.”“Hmm…”She rubs her clit against me, the movements quickly pushing me toward an orgasm.“Amore mia,” I grunt. “You’re going to make me come.”“That’s the plan,” she moans before starting to press kisses to my pecs. “You feel so good.” Her teeth tug at my nipple. “You taste even better.”I don’t stand a chance against my wife, and I thrust up once before shooting my release into her wet warmth.M
Chapter 40GabriellaI was allowed a very quick shower before a nurse tended to my wounds.I sit on the side of the hospital bed, and clench my jaw while I watch as Damiano talks with a doctor.I just want to be alone with my husband.Somehow, I manage to keep my expression neutral as I struggle to keep all my emotions from spiraling out of control.Finally, the nurse leaves, and I slip off the bed. Even though my feet are raw and ache from running barefoot through the damn woods, I walk to the window and pull the blinds shut.“I’ll take her home first thing tomorrow morning,” I hear Damiano tell the doctor while I gingerly move back to the bed.I brace my right hand on the white sheets and suck in a desperate breath of air.I hear the door shut, and I glance at Damiano to make sure we’re alone.I suck in another breath of air, then all the trauma I’ve been forced to endure shudders through my body.Damiano moves closer to me, and when his fingers wrap around the back of my neck, I ca
Chapter 39DamianoDirt shoots into the air as we come to a screeching stop in the lot at the front of the property. The house is medium-sized and looks like it hasn’t been painted in the last decade.There are a dozen armed men scattered around the property, and they open fire on the SUVS while they try to find cover against the sides of the house.I shove the door open and order, “Launch the fucking grenades!”Tommy sends a grenade flying into the side of the house where a group of men are taking cover, and bodies fly into the air.Using the door as a shield, I open fire on the fuckers that are shooting from inside the house, and I have to reload the magazine before I’m able to move away from the SUV. With the submachine gun held in position, I run toward the house while shooting every fucking man I lay eyes on.My vision tunnels on the front door, and I riddle it with bullets before my body slams into the wood. It gives way easily, and I keep going, taking out target after target u
Chapter 38DamianoWith Mamma and the other women and children safe, we all focus on getting everything ready for the attack.Impatient as fuck, I glance at Dario, who hasn’t stopped working since I gave the order. “Do you know where Stefano is?”“His phone signal is bouncing off three towers. I have the area but not a precise location.”“Where?” I bark.“Somewhere near Manorville. Just over an hour away by car.”My phone buzzes, and I rip the device out of my pocket. Unlocking the screen there are more messages from Stefano.I haven’t tried to call him, because then I’d be playing straight into his hands.They’ve had Gabriella for twenty-four hours now, and I try to brace for the worst as I open the text.You’re quiet, cousin. I hope you don’t think you have any other option than to step down.I suck in a deep breath before pressing play on the attached video. It shows Gabriella still hanging from the ceiling by a rope.She must be in so much fucking pain.“Let’s get started,” the sa