Chapter 8AngeloI throw down a Jack of Hearts and mutter, “One card.”Carlo, one of Damiano’s men, slides a card my way, and when he sees me frown at the Jack of Spades, he gives me an apologetic look.Tonight’s game is being hosted at Damiano’s house. We each take turns to host a game, and I had mine the last time we got together.“You have zero poker face,” Dario says with a mischievous grin while he slides another chip into the growing pile. “I raise you all another hundred thousand.”“Fuck off,” I grumble.I’m on a losing streak, and they’re all getting a kick out of it.Damiano’s also frowning, and when Renzo and Franco throw down their hands to bow out, Dario lets out a chuckle.Damiano narrows his eyes at Dario. “If I catch you cheating, you’re going to bleed.”“I never cheat.”“Right,” I mumble. Knowing I have a shit hand, I fold. “I need a drink.”Carlo moves to the bar and pours a round of bourbon while Damiano matches Dario’s bet.The two men stare at each other for a whil
Chapter 9AngeloWalking into the cathedral, I head down the aisle, barely taking notice of the empty pews.Father Parisi comes out of the confession booth, and the instant his eyes land on me, he hurries toward me. “Mr. Rizzo. This is unexpected.”I’m not a man of religion, and the walls of this building rarely see me, so I can understand why he’s surprised that I’m here.Wanting to get out of the cathedral as quickly as possible, I mutter, “Where can we talk in private?”“Are you here for confession?”I let out a chuckle, and shaking my head, I say, “I’m comfortable with the idea of going to hell.”Big Ricky stifles his laughter behind me with a fake cough.Father Parisi looks visibly disappointed with my comment. He gestures toward a door. “We can talk in my office.”I follow the holy man to the back of the cathedral and into his office. It’s so fucking stuffy in here it makes my skin itch.Glancing at Big Ricky, I order, “Wait outside.” “Yes, boss.”I shut the door before turning
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