Chapter 10ToriWe’re taken through a set of glass doors at the back of the mansion, and stepping onto a veranda, my gaze keeps flitting over all the beauty, which I can’t help but notice.The backyard is very big, and the lawn looks freshly cut. There are lounge chairs situated on either side of a rectangular pool, and the water looks as blue as the sky.Potted flowers add color to the garden, and there are four large ones at every corner of the pool.I see Father Parisi standing by Tiny, but there are no other guests.Are we early?Without saying a word, Angelo continues to walk to the side of the house until he stops beneath the tree I saw when I was in the living room.Everyone follows him, and when he turns to face me, a shiver creeps down my spine.I’m not going to lie, I feel super uncomfortable being the only woman here.Two of Angelo’s men come to stand on either side of Giorgio, and a hollowness settles in my stomach.For a moment, the thought that they’re going to kill us f
Chapter 11ToriAfter Angelo tells everyone to leave, even Tiny and Big Ricky, I find myself alone in the living room with my new husband.God, this is not what I meant when I said I’d do anything if you’d help me out of the impossible situation with Giorgio.Angelo removes his tuxedo jacket and drapes it over the back of a couch. “Sit down, Vittoria.”I walk to the other side of the coffee table, so it’s between us, and cautiously take a seat on one of the black couches.The tree’s branches throw ominous shadows through the glass ceiling, and it makes a shiver creep up my spine.What do I do? How do I even begin to process this nightmare?Panic keeps flaring hot in my chest, and with every passing second, my dread grows.Angelo doesn’t join me immediately, but instead, he walks to a side table where a bottle of whiskey stands. He pours the brown liquid into two tumblers, and picking them up, he brings a glass to me.“Drink every drop. It will help settle your emotions.”Like he cares
Chapter 12AngeloI have one thing to take care of before I start my married life with Vittoria.Big Ricky stops the car in front of the club, and when I get out, he follows me inside.The place is buzzing with life, and music beats in the air as I head to the back.I shove the office door open and find Giorgio on his knees in the middle of the room while Eddie sits on a chair by my desk with his gun in his hand. “Mr. Rizzo,” he says with urgency, tightening his words. “I don’t have aproblem with you marrying my sister.”“Stepsister,” I correct him as I unbutton the cuffs of my dress shirt. I roll the sleeves up, then say, “This is about you beating Vittoria.”“What?” he gasps. “I don’t know what she told you, but she lied. I have never–”I lunge forward, and my fist connects so hard with his jaw that spittle flies into the air.Continuing to roll up my sleeves, I say, “I fucking memorized the vows for Vittoria because I know how important the church is to her.” My eyes flick to the
Chapter 13ToriI move as quickly as possible to change out of the dress and into Angelo’s T-shirt.I can smell his woodsy scent on the fabric, and it makes butterflies erupt in my stomach.Not being allowed to wear any underwear makes me feel even more nervous.So far, Angelo has been understanding, and I try to focus on that instead of the dangerous man everyone knows him to be.Men like him are used to taking what they want and not caring about other people's feelings, but at least he’s trying. I’m very grateful for that.He’s even hugged me, and I have to admit it helped calm my nerves a little.But my anxiety is spiking again because as soon as he comes out of the bathroom, we’ll probably have sex.Holy crap.I press my hand over my stomach, that’s in knots, and glance at the bed covered in pristine white sheets.How does he keep it so clean?God, Tori. You’re about to lose your virginity, and you’re thinking about sheets.Tonight, I’ll be naked in front of a man. For the first t
Chapter 14ToriAngelo lies down on top of me, and his weight pushes me deeper into the mattress. A groan rumbles from him as his breath coasts down my throat before he presses a kiss to my shoulder.“Fuck, your innocence is intoxicating,” he murmurs, then his teeth scrape over my skin as his mouth moves down to my breast. “I want to devour you.”A sense of fear ghosts through me, and I swallow hard on the nervous ball in my throat.His right hand skims down my side before it slips between my legs. I squeeze my eyes shut, and my face goes up in flames.Being touched for the first time, I’m unable to focus on how it feels. My emotions are too chaotic.As he parts my folds and the pad of his thumb rubs my clit, he murmurs, “Open your eyes.”When I do as I’m told, I find all his attention is focused on my face.His thumb strokes the tiny bundle of nerves between my legs, causing anticipation to build in my abdomen.A wolfish smirk tugs at his mouth, then he moves down my body until his b
Chapter 15AngeloVittoria kissing my cheek makes something shift in my chest, but the one to my neck has my control dangerously slipping.“Thank you for giving me so much attention.” I hear her take a deep breath. “Take my virginity, Angelo. I’m ready.”I used every ounce of strength I possessed to take things slow with her, but her permission shoves me over the edge.I push my left hand beneath her head, and as my fingers wrap around the back of her neck, my right hand shoots down between us.My mind is clouded with desire as I position my cock at her soaked entrance, and with untamed need, I enter her with a brutal thrust.Her pussy wraps fucking tight around me before I’m forcefully stopped by her narrow walls.I’m only a quarter of the way in, and unable to think clearly because of the intense pleasure, I pull back before forcing my cock to the hilt inside her.A satisfied groan is ripped from my chest, and my body shudders from how good she feels.Christ, nothing has ever felt t
Chapter 16ToriAngelo switches off the light before moving me onto my side and lying down behind me. He pushes an arm beneath my pillow, and the other he wraps around me, resting his forearm between my breasts.His fingers caress my throat, and I feel as he presses a kiss to my hair. In the darkness, the position feels intimate.My thoughts are overrun with everything that’s happened tonight. My emotions are all over the place, and I can’t focus on anything long enough to process it.Now that the afterglow of sex has faded, my fear and confusion have returned full force. Just because he made me feel pleasure doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a different person.Angelo is still one of the bosses of the Cosa Nostra. He’s still ruthless and violent.He’s still a stranger.The sounds in and around the mansion aren’t familiar, and I feel totally out of place lying on the expensive sheets.Even the pillow feels weird beneath my head.Angelo lets out a sigh, then his voice rumbles behind me. “What
Chapter 17ToriAfter taking a long bath and getting dressed in a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and a light cardigan, I creep out of the main bedroom.It feels like I’m trespassing.I glance over the wrought iron banister, and not seeing anyone, I sneak from bedroom to bedroom, taking a look around the mansion that’s now my home.Cautiously, I head down the stairs while my eyes flit around. The décor is modern, and everything feels expensive.When I step into the living room, I see Tiny sitting on one of the couches.His eyes snap to me, then a crooked grin forms on his face. “Morning, Mrs. Rizzo.”“Morning,” I whisper. I swallow on the dryness in my throat before asking, “Where’s the kitchen?”He points to the left. “Through there.” “Thank you.”When I step into a state-of-the-art kitchen, there’s a woman who seems to be in her late fifties or early sixties. I suck at guessing someone’s age.Her eyes flit to me, and for a very uncomfortable moment, she looks me up and down.“Morning,” I
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