Chapter 28SamanthaAs the shock keeps rippling through me, I cover my mouth with my hand.My eyes are glued to Mr. Vitale’s face, and it takes a moment before I can process his expression. His features are torn with worry.It’s weird seeing him like this. Even when we were attacked, he kept his cool.He’s always come across as broody, rude, and overly arrogant.This isn’t my mystery man who’s only shown me patience and affection.I shake my head again, unable to believe I’ve been so stupid.In my defense, why would a billion-dollar CEO also run a taboo sex club? During the day, he’s always abrupt while barking orders at me, and at night, he’s gentle.It didn’t even cross my mind the two men might be one and the same person, because they were worlds apart.Sure, at times, it felt like there was something familiar about him, but it never stuck.“This was not a game to me,” Mr. Vitale says with a pleading look. “When I had to step in because your partner fucked up, I took over because y
Chapter 29FrancoI didn’t close an eye last night.I kept replaying everything in my mind, wondering if there was a better way to handle the situation.As the elevator doors slide open, my heart pounds in my chest. I don’t know what I’ll do if Samantha’s not here.I walk down the hallway, and as her desk comes into view, I let out a sigh of relief.Thank fuck.“Morning, Samantha,” I say, my tone soft.She doesn’t stop typing and keeps her eyes locked on the screen. “Morning, Mr. Vitale.”Her features are tight, and from the dark circles beneath her eyes, it’s clear she didn’t get any rest last night either.“Can you come to my office?”She doesn’t stop working. “Is that a question or order, sir?” “It’s a question.”“Then the answer is no.”I have to suppress the urge to drag her to my office and instead ask, “How are you holding up?”“I’m fine, Mr. Vitale.”The printer starts working, and Samantha gets up from her chair. Instead of giving me a wide berth, she pushes me out of the way
Chapter 30SamanthaPulling away from Mr. Vitale, I switch off my computer.When I grab my handbag from the bottom drawer, he asks, “Where are you going?”“Home,” I mutter. “It’s only ten-thirty.”I let out a sigh as I look at him. “I’m going home so I can think about everything you said. Unless you want me to stay at work. In which case, you’ll wait longer to find out whether I’m sending you to hell or giving you a chance.”He moves out of the way. “You can go home.” “Thank you,” I mumble as I walk past him.Honestly, I need to process the freaking hot kiss he laid on me. I can’t focus on work while my lips still tingle.Leaving the building, I head to the subway, and when I reach my apartment, I can still feel Mr. Vitale’s lips on mine.Then, a realization hits me. I didn’t have a panic attack when Mr. Vitale kissed me.That’s a win, right?My phone begins to ring, and I almost ignore it but change my mind because it might be my parents.Looking at the screen, I see Jenny’s name. “H
Chapter 31SamanthaWalking into my apartment, I glance at the window and let out a sigh when I see another bouquet of flowers.My freaking place looks like a flower store!Yanking my phone out of my handbag, I press dial on Mr. Vitale’s number.Not even a second passes when he answers, “What’s wrong?”“I can’t move around in my apartment,” I complain. “Stop with the flowers, Mr. Vitale.”I glance around at all the colorful arrangements and shake my head. It looks like a unicorn puked everywhere.“I’ll stop on one condition,” he murmurs. “I’m not ready to talk about us,” I warn him.It’s been over two weeks, and I still can’t bring myself to make a decision. One moment, I’m willing to give things a try between us, and the next, I shut it down because Mr. Vitale is, and always will be, a mafia boss.“I want you to call me Franco,” he murmurs.“Oh.” I narrow my eyes. “Is that it? Will you stop leaving flowers at my window?”“Yes.”“Fine,” I sigh as I drop my handbag on the couch and wal
Chapter 32FrancoI know I’ve said I’ll force Samantha if I have to, but it’s the last thing I want to do. Especially after what that fucker did to her.At least she hasn’t told me to leave her alone.Where I think quick on my feet, Samantha is an overthinker. I’ll just have to be patient with her.“I’m hungry,” Renzo complains as we walk toward the back of Angelo’s club, Fallen Angels, for a quick meeting.“Grab something to eat while we're here,” I mention while I ignore the half-naked women entertaining the customers.Big Ricky, Angelo’s personal guard, gives us a chin lift and steps aside so we can get to the office.Renzo stops to shake Big Ricky’s hand, then asks, “Can you get one of the servers to bring me a plate of hot spicy wings?”“Sure,” Big Ricky replies. “Anything else?”“Curly fries smothered in bacon and cheese,” Renzo adds.Big Ricky glances at me, and it has me saying, “Nothing for me.”We continue down the hallway, and walking into Angelo’s office, it’s to see Damia
Chapter 33Franco“He was last seen in Seattle,” Paulie informs me.An icy sensation ripples through my body, and I turn to Marcello and order, “Get men to Samantha’s apartment. I want her watched twenty-four- seven!”“On it, boss,” he says before hurrying out of the living room. I turn my attention back to Paulie. “Anything else?”He shakes his head. “I have men watching all the main airports.” Letting out an angry huff, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dialSamantha’s number. When she doesn’t answer, and the call goes to voicemail, I say, “I’m coming over.”Just as I walk to the sliding doors, the doorbell starts ringing incessantly.“Jesus Christ,” I mutter before I bark, “Will someone get the fucking door!”“I’ll check who it is.” Milo walks out of the living room, and seconds later, I hear him shout, “Boss! Come quickly!”I rush to the foyer and see Samantha falling into my house. She scrambles to her feet and moves away from Milo and the guards stationed at the door.Her eye
Chapter 34SamanthaRight now, I don’t care about the decision I have to make about Franco and me. I just can’t bear to be alone.He’s the only person I feel safe with.My nerves are frayed, and I’m so tired I can’t deal with anything else. “How do you want to do this?” Franco asks me.My eyes drift over his features that look like they’re carved from stone.I can see he’s struggling to keep his anger at bay so he doesn’t upset me.God. Todd tried to kill me.As the realization hits me again, my stomach churns, and I feel ill.Franco tilts his head, and his eyes are filled with concern as he murmurs, “Baby?”Right. He asked me a question.I glance at the shower before looking at him again. “I don’t know.” My chin starts to tremble. “I can’t think straight.”Franco wraps his arms around me and presses a kiss to my temple. “I’m going to shower with you. It’s nothing sexual. Okay? I just want to clean you up so you can climb into bed and get some rest.”My mind is filled with the trauma
Chapter 35FrancoMaking my woman orgasm creates an inferno of need in me.When Samantha recovers from the pleasure, I smirk with pride.“Jesus,” she breathes, her hand brushing over my shoulder and down my bicep. “That’s new.”“You’ve never orgasmed from having your breasts played with?” A smile curves her lips. “I didn’t know it was a possibility.”“Now you know,” I chuckle as I reach for her panties and pull them down her legs. “Move further up the bed, baby.”She does as she’s told while my eyes feast on every inch of her. I’ve seen works of art but nothing compares to Samantha.I hook my thumbs into the waistband of my boxers, and as I tug the fabric down, her eyes lock on my painfully hard cock.When I crawl over Samantha, she wraps her fingers around my cock and swipes her thumb over the precum.“You’re big,” she murmurs before stroking me.It feels so fucking good having her fist around my cock that I groan, “Christ.”“Move higher,” she orders. “I want to taste you.”The corne
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