Chapter 29ToriGlancing around the room, Aunt Gloria brought me to, I can’t keep from smiling.“You have such a beautiful home,” I compliment her as I walk out onto the balcony.The room is on the second floor, and it has a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea. I grin when I see a couple of sailboats bobbing on the blue water.The bedroom is situated on the side of the house, but we still have an amazing view. The breeze plays with my curls as I glance down to the rock garden below. Seeing how high up I am, I feel a slither of fear and lightheadedness.I turn around and walk back into the bedroom, but there’s no sign of Aunt Gloria.I didn’t hear her leave.The next moment, Uncle Maurizio comes into the room, and with a hostile expression, he tosses an envelope on the bed. “There’s five thousand euros. It’s more than you deserve.”Huh?His dark eyes lock with mine, and when I see the disgust on his face, my heart sinks to my stomach.Oh, no!He crosses his arms over his chest, t
Chapter 30AngeloWe’re five minutes away from the office building where I’m meeting with Sangrioti when my phone starts to vibrate.Pulling the device out of the breast pocket of my jacket, I frown when I see Aunt Gloria’s name flashing on the screen.“Zia Gloria?” I answer.She weeps uncontrollably, and it sends icy shivers down my spine. “He’s dead,” she gasps. “She killed him!”“What?” I pat Big Ricky’s shoulder, then order, “Turn around. We’re going back to the villa!” Focusing on my hysterical aunt, I snap, “Who’s dead?”“Your uncle. That snake you brought into our home killed him.”What the fuck?A dark frown forms on my forehead as all my emotions spiral into chaos. “Uncle Maurizio is dead?”“Y-yes,” she sobs. “Vittoria pushed him off the balcony.”No, she didn’t. She wouldn’t.“What. The. Fuck?” I growl before I shout, “Drive fucking faster!”I’m torn between the shock of Uncle Maurizio’s death and my aunt blaming Vittoria for it.Aunt Gloria weeps uncontrollably, and it has
Chapter 31ToriReaching the counter, I’m breathless as I ask, “When is the next flight to America?”The attendant frowns as she looks at her computer screen. “Where in America?”“I don’t care. Anywhere.”Her eyes dart over my face. “Are you okay?”I nod and squeeze the words out. “I lost…I lost my husband.”I lost Angelo.A heartbreaking cry threatens to rip free from my throat.He sounded so angry over the phone. I just know if he finds me, he’ll kill me.Oh God.Another wave of trauma, fear, and heartbreak shake me to my core.Compassion softens the attendant’s features. “I’m so sorry.” She quickly checks the screen again, then says, “There’s one boarding right now with Swiss Air. It’s destined for Minnesota. Will that be okay?”I nod frantically. “How much?”“One thousand six hundred euros.”I quickly take the envelope from my handbag and give her the cash and my passport. “I’ll take it.”My heart beats out of my chest, and I keep glancing around me while she processes the purchas
Chapter 32AngeloOne of the guards found the sedan, and after searching the vehicle, Vittoria’s luggage was retrieved from the backseat.The tracker’s signal disappeared ten minutes ago, meaning she’s probably on a fucking plane. It’s either that or the ring was destroyed, which I seriously doubt.“Find out what flight Vittoria is on!” I bark the order as I walk back to the SUV.“Where are we going?” Big Ricky asks while he grabs hold of the luggage to bring it along.“To the private jet. We need to be up in the air STAT.”“Call me as soon as you know which flight Mrs. Rizzo took,” Big Ricky shouts at Bruno, who’s already jogging toward the airport’s entrance.He waves a hand in the air to show he heard the order.Jesus, baby, stop running so I can get to you.We climb back into the SUV, and while Big Ricky drives to where the private jet is, I make a quick call to the pilot so they can refuel and get ready for take-off.Christ. The only thing I have counting in my favor is that she’
Chapter 33AngeloFeeling Vittoria’s body go limp over my shoulder, I hurry toward the SUV.Big Ricky has his weapon drawn to handle anyone who tries to intervene.“Hey! What are you doing with that girl?” A woman shouts. “Mind your own fucking business,” Big Ricky growls.The way Vittoria screamed still echoes through my mind, and it’s easily the most haunting thing I’ve ever heard.Lowering Vittoria from over my shoulder, I quickly pick her up bridal style and climb into the backseat of the SUV. “Let’s go!”Big Ricky slides behind the steering wheel, and within seconds, we’re speeding away from the traffic we caused.Vittoria’s body is limp in my hold, and as I look at her face, my heart breaks when I notice how pale she is.“Baby,” I whisper.She’s been through so much. Just thinking about the trauma she’s suffered has rage burning in my veins.“I’ve got you,” I murmur as I brush wild curls away from her face. I pull her closer to my chest and hold her tightly as Big Ricky drives t
Chapter 34ToriRunning down an empty stretch of road, shadows darken as they creep toward me.I open my mouth to scream, but there’s no sound.Pressure builds around me, and it feels like I’m being chased, but I can’t see anyone.Intense loneliness engulfs me, and suddenly, I’m wearing a wedding dress.Black ink slowly spreads up from the seam of the dress, and my body feels heavier and heavier as I try to walk.The ink reaches my neck, and I gasp for air as I stare up at the blacksky.Unable to open my mouth, my panic and fear become so intense it feelslike I’m being strangled.“Noooo!” I slam into something hard as I startle awake. My breaths are nothing more than gasps.“I’ve got you,” Angelo’s voice rumbles above my head.Oh, God. No!As I realize I slammed into Angelo’s chest, and I feel his arms around me, all the terror and trauma come rushing back.Maurizio telling me how my corpse will be eaten by worms. The struggle on the balcony before falling over the railing. Maurizio
Chapter 35ToriAngelo is so careful with me that it makes me feel even more emotional.When he’s done washing every inch of my body, he turns off the faucets and helps me out of the shower. My eyes drift over him while he uses a towel to pat my skin dry.Even though I’m still reeling from all the trauma, incredible love fills my heart for this man.He places an arm beneath my back and another beneath my legs, then lifts me to his chest and carries me back to the bed.After setting me down, he rushes to the walk-in closet for a clean shirt and gently pulls the fabric over my head.“I need to brush my teeth,” I say, my eyes constantly locked on him. “Okay.”When he moves to pick me up again, I shake my head. “I can walk.”“I know.” He lifts me into his arms and heads back into the bathroom with me.Once I’m on my feet and I’m brushing my teeth, Angelo cleans the floor.Seeing this badass mafia leader wipe up the mess I made only makes me love him more.He quickly washes his hands, and
Chapter 36AngeloIt’s been a long day, and I feel so fucking agitated I could kill someone.I’m staring blankly at the TV screen, not really watching the movie as I sip on a tumbler of whiskey. Suddenly, my phone starts to vibrate, and letting out a sigh, I pull the device out of my pocket.“Rizzo,” I mutter.“It’s Eddie. I thought I’d let you know Giorgio’s running another tab in the casino. It’s already sitting at eighty thousand. Do you want me to cut him off?”Unreasonable anger flares through my chest as I growl, “I’ll handle it.” “He’s also been harassing the strippers and bragging about being yourbrother-in-law,” Eddie adds fuel to the fire.I should’ve killed the fucker already.Ending the call, I down the rest of the whiskey before I get up and walk to the bedroom so I can change out of the sweatpants.The fucker seriously has a death wish, and I’m done playing with him.When I’ve changed into a suit, I tuck my gun into the waistband of my pants as I head back to the living
Chapter 30GabriellaWith the wedding date scheduled for next Saturday, we’ve been super busy.Mrs. Accardi’s been an enormous help. Honestly, she’s done most of the work.I got to spend some time with Damiano, but tonight, the other heads of the Cosa Nostra and their partners are coming over, and I’m nervous as hell. I’ve just put on the sheer body suit and high heels when Damiano comes into my walk-in closet. His eyes land on me, and he stops dead in his tracks. “No,” he growls as he slowly starts to shake his head, his expression darkening by the second. “There is no fucking way you’re wearing that infront of the other men.”“Hold on before you burst a vein,” I mutter.I grab the cream jacket out of my closet and put it on. When I fasten the belt, and the fabric spreads out like a short skirt, I say, “See. Everything’s covered.”He stares at me for a while before he says, “Fine. But the fucking jacket stays on at all times.”I walk closer to him, and wrapping my fingers behind his
Chapter 29DamianoEven though I want to spend the entire day in bed with Gabriella, I don’t. The women have been cooped up in the mansion for over a month, and it would be selfish of me not to take them out.Especially now that Miguel’s been dealt with.When I walk into the dining room with Gabriella beside me, Aunt Greta grins at us.Carlo’s sitting where Gabriella used to sit, so she can take the chair to my left.I pull out the chair and wait for her to take a seat before I press a kiss to the top of her head. Walking around the table, I place my hand on Mamma’s shoulder then kiss the scar on her temple.“Morning, everyone,” I murmur as I take my seat.When we’re all done greeting each other, I announce, “We’re going out after breakfast.”Carlo lets out a groan. “Where?”“Wherever the women want to go,” I mutter.“Shopping?” Mamma asks, excitement in her tone. “Christmas is only two weeks away.”Fuck. I forgot about the festive season. “Shopping it is,” I agree.“Forget breakfast,
Chapter 29DamianoEven though I want to spend the entire day in bed with Gabriella, I don’t. The women have been cooped up in the mansion for over a month, and it would be selfish of me not to take them out.Especially now that Miguel’s been dealt with.When I walk into the dining room with Gabriella beside me, Aunt Greta grins at us.Carlo’s sitting where Gabriella used to sit, so she can take the chair to my left.I pull out the chair and wait for her to take a seat before I press a kiss to the top of her head. Walking around the table, I place my hand on Mamma’s shoulder then kiss the scar on her temple.“Morning, everyone,” I murmur as I take my seat.When we’re all done greeting each other, I announce, “We’re going out after breakfast.”Carlo lets out a groan. “Where?”“Wherever the women want to go,” I mutter.“Shopping?” Mamma asks, excitement in her tone. “Christmas is only two weeks away.”Fuck. I forgot about the festive season. “Shopping it is,” I agree.“Forget breakfast,
Chapter 28GabriellaWhen Damiano pulls out of me, I flinch, and it has his eyes snapping to mine.“You okay?”I nod quickly. “Yes. Just sensitive.”He lies down on his back, and when I climb off the bed, his gaze follows me to the bathroom.I quickly clean myself before wetting a washcloth. When I walk back into the room and crawl onto the bed, he takes the washcloth from my hand and throws it on the floor.My eyebrows draw together, then he says, “I don’t want to clean you off me yet.”His possessive tone makes my stomach flutter.Damiano pulls me closer, and when I lie down beside him, his arms wrap around me, and he buries his face in the crook of my neck.Just like earlier, I throw my leg over his and hold him tightly to my body.My fingers trail up and down his back, and I press a kiss to his temple. He lets out a heavy sigh and melts into me.I keep caressing his back, and not even minutes later, his breaths even out as he falls asleep.He smells like rough sex and danger, and
Chapter 27GabriellaI startle awake when I’m picked up off the bed.Grabbing hold of broad shoulders, it takes me a few seconds before I realize Damiano’s carrying me out of my room.“You’re home,” I say, my voice hoarse with sleep. “Hmm…” he grumbles.He stalks into his suite and places me on the bed before he goes to shut the door. The room is dark, but I can see as he comes back to bed.He lies down beside me, then orders, “Turn on your side. Back to me.”I do as I’m told, and when his arms wrap around me, and I feel his face press against the back of my neck, a wide smile spreads over my mouth.I hear him take a deep breath before he lets it out slowly, then his body shudders. An intense energy pours from him, filling the air with tension.“Are you okay?”Not saying anything, he only nods.Needing to hold him, I turn around, and wrapping my arms around his neck, I nudge him to tuck his face beneath my chin.Brushing my hand over his hair, I press a kiss to his temple. His arms ti
Chapter 26DamianoMy phone starts to ring, and seeing Dario’s name on the screen, I answer, “You better have good news for me. My men killed the fucking uncle.”“Miguel’s in Miami.” I can hear the relief in his voice, and it finds an echo in my chest.“Wheels up in thirty minutes,” I order. “Let the others know we’re meeting at the airfield.”“On it.”Ending the call, I lock eyes with Carlo. “Dario found Miguel. The fucker’s in Miami.”Climbing to his feet, he says, “Let’s go.”As I walk out of the lounge, I signal for Vito and Emilio to join us.When they catch up to us, I mutter, “Get a group of men to meet us at the airfield. I want them heavily armed. We’re attacking Miguel.”“Got it, boss,” Emilio says, immediately pulling out his phone to make the call.We hurry out of the club, and once we’re all in the SUV, Carlo starts the engine. “Fucking finally.”“You can say that again,” I mutter, more than ready to put an end to Miguel.I haven’t been home in two weeks, and I’m exhauste
Chapter 25GabriellaWith my lips parted, I watch as bag after bag of clothes is carried into the foyer.Holy crap.“Did we really order so much?” I ask.“I added a couple of items I thought you might like,” Mrs. Accardi says.Caro Dio.“Should I take the clothes to your suite, Miss di Bella?” Martha asks. “Or do you want me to wash them first?”“They’ve already been dry cleaned,” Savannah, Mrs. Accardi’s personal shopper, informs us. “My team can pack the clothes in your closet. Just show them the way.”Martha leads the team up the stairs, and all I can do is shake my head.“Damiano is going to lose his shit when he sees how many clothes I got,” I whisper under my breath.“No, he won’t,” Aunt Aida says. “As his fiancée, you always have to look your best.”Still.My thoughts turn to Damiano, who hasn’t been home in over a week. “I’ll be right back,” I say before I head up the stairs.Walking into my bedroom, I hear the staff work in the closet. I grab my phone and quickly leave so I d
Chapter 24DamianoDressed in black cargo pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a coat, and boots, I tuck my Glock behind my back as I leave my suite.As I take the stairs down to the first floor, my phone starts to buzz like crazy.I dig the device out of my pocket, and a dark frown forms on my forehead as I answer, “What?”“The hotel is on fire!” Emilio shouts, sirens blaring in the background. Anger explodes in my chest, my fingers tightening around the phone. “Fuck,” I mutter. “I’m on my way.”“Carlo!” My voice thunders through the foyer.He comes running out of my mother’s sitting room. “What?”“The hotel is on fucking fire,” I relay the message to him as I stalk toward the French doors. When I step out onto the veranda, I mutter, “You’ll have to fly.”“On it.” He runs ahead of me to start the helicopter.When I climb inside, I glance at the house and see Gabriella standing on her balcony. She’s only wearing a bathrobe, and it’s freezing outside.I yank my phone out, but not remembering t
Chapter 23GabriellaWhen I wake up, it takes a moment to make sense of my surroundings.I become aware of Damiano’s arms wrapped tightly around me, my back pressed to his chest. He’s holding me the same way I hold my pillow when I sleep.With his face pressed to the back of my neck, his breaths warm my skin. One of his legs is thrown over mine, and his manhood is hard and big against my butt.I had sex with Damiano.After the first memory hits, they all pour into my mind. The shooting lessons.Damiano hugging me.The nightmare, and him comforting me. Experiencing my first orgasm.My thoughts stop on the memory, and my lips curve up.When Damiano kept rubbing his cock against me, it made me feel so much pleasure it was overwhelming.I remember everything when he took my virginity. The look on his face. The way his body moved. The pain as he kept thrusting until he found his own pleasure in my body.Even though it hurt a lot, I’d do it a million times to see that hot look on his face a