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 37ToriAfter convincing Angelo I was really okay, he finally agreed that I was allowed to leave the house before the one week was up.I’m sitting in the Cathedral on a Saturday, which is out of the norm forme.Tiny sits beside me, playing a racing game on his phone while my eyesare locked on the confession booth.I didn’t lie to Angelo about being okay, but I still need to talk to Father Parisi.As time crawls by, I glance around the Cathedral while thinking about how much my life has changed.It feels like an entire lifetime has passed since I married Angelo.Besides the incident in Sicily, everything has been perfect.I lower my head as a smile curves my lips.Angelo might be a devil when it comes to other people, but with me, he’s an angel. I’ve never felt so loved before.I hear movement, and lifting my head, I see a parishioner leave the confession booth.“I’ll be right back,” I say to Tiny as I get up.“Wait,” he murmurs as he puts his phone away and climbs to his fee
Chapter 38AngeloI’m sitting on the couch when I hear Vittoria’s heels clicking on the stairs.Getting up, I walk to the foot of the stairs, and I glance up at her.My woman looks breathtaking in the blue silk gown, and with the makeup accentuating her beautiful features, she’s a fucking wet dream.I step closer and hold my hand out to her. A smile lights up her face as her fingers wrap around mine, and when she stops on the last step, her eyes are filled with love.I tug her against my chest and wrap my other arm around her lower back to pin her to me. Lowering my head to her ear, I take a deep breath of her floral scent.My words are a low growl filled with desire for my wife. “You take my breath away, mia piccola tentatrice.”Lifting her hands to my clean-shaven jaw, she looks at me as if I’m her entire world, and I’ve never felt more powerful.She presses a soft kiss to my lips, then whispers, “I love you, il mio diavolo.”I grin against her mouth when I hear her call me her devi
EpilogueTori(Two years later…)While Adriano plays on the kitchen floor, I put the finishing touches on the special dinner I prepared for tonight.Leaving the food to rest in the oven, I turn around and look at my son, who’s the spitting image of his father.I check the time and let out a sigh. “Your daddy is late.”“Daddy,” Adriano chuckles while playing with his blocks.It’s already past five thirty. Angelo should’ve been home already.Crouching down, I pick up Adriano and walk to the living room, where I left my cell phone.Tiny glances at me, then smiles at Adriano. “Hey, buddy. Are you done helping Mommy cook?”I let out a chuckle. “I wish. Do you know what’s keeping Angelo?” He shakes his head. “Want me to make a call?”“Please.” I put Adriano in his playpen and watch as Tiny calls someone.Probably Big Ricky.“Hey, Tori wants to know why Angelo is late,” Tiny says. He listens for a moment, then mutters, “I’ll tell her.” When he ends the call, he looks at me. “There’s a meetin
SynopsisAt the office, Samantha is mouthy AF and hellbent on testing my patience. So you can imagine my surprise when my new personal assistant walks into my club with a very specific fantasy.When the man Samantha’s paired with doesn’t stick to the rules, I step in to take his place. Wearing a mask protects my identity, and soon the little wildcat from the office is telling me all her darkest secrets and fantasies.During the day, she gives me hell, but at night, she becomes my wounded kitten.I know I’m playing a dangerous game.She doesn’t know I’m one of the heads of the Cosa Nostra.She doesn’t know her boss and her nightly visitor is the same person.With my enemy on the attack and her past coming to haunt her, our secrets come out in the most explosive way possible, threatening to rip Samantha away from me.But my wildcat has another thing coming if she thinks I’ll ever let go.Chapter 1SamanthaFranco Vitale; 35. Samantha Blakely; 26.I’ve only been Mr. Vitale’s personal ass
Chapter 2FrancoAfter ending the call with Salvador Castro, my contact for medical supplies, I get up from behind my desk. I grab my jacket, and while shrugging it on, I head to the door.When I step out of my office, it’s to hear my PA’s stomach rumble.“You can go home,” I mutter, and without another word, I stalk toward the elevators.I hear her mumble something under her breath, and it has me stopping dead in my tracks. Glancing at the woman who’s been testing my patience for the past two weeks, I raise an eyebrow at her.“Do you have something to say, Miss Blakely?”She grabs her handbag and walks toward me with an unhappy expression tightening her features. “Next time you expect me to work until nine p.m. the least you could do is provide dinner.”My gaze sharpens on her, and my tone is grim as I say, “I wasn’t aware you didn’t know how to order food.”Her eyebrows draw together. “Of course, I know how to order food.” “Then it’s no one’s fault but your own for not eating today.
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