The melancholy sound of beeping machines almost sends me to sleep, but I fight the urge and take a sip of my canned espresso. Night shifts in the ER are no joke, but it was the first job I was offered out of nursing school so I took it. I took it because I’m determined to earn my freedom from the man who keeps me as his ward. Enzo DeLuca is a man my father worked for. He was Enzo’s second in command of the DeLuca mafia until my father betrayed Enzo to the rival mafia family, the Ronkas. Instead of killing me or selling me into sex slavery, Enzo took pity on me mainly because his son Nico advocated for me to be his father’s ward. Nico DeLuca is determined to make me his wife, and maybe there was a time I wanted that. However, I want my freedom more. Whatever plans Nico and his father have for me are purely for their gain only.
I don’t want their plans. I want my plans. I want to be free from the violent world the mafia is shrouded in. I want to help people, maybe even become a doctor or a midwife. I’m not even sure I want to get married. I’ve been controlled by men my entire life. First my father kept me on a tight leash as he was clearly grooming me to become a mafia wife. I’m not sure if my father meant for me to be Nico’s wife or Anthony Ronka's wife, but I was meant to be someone’s mafia wife. My father was apparently playing both Enzo DeLuca and Marco Ronka for years. Eventually, it caught up to him and got him killed. I was fourteen and I was terrified for my life because I was certain I would be killed by either Enzo or Marco. I wasn’t killed and instead made Enzo’s ward where he then controlled my life. If I marry Nico then I know I’d be giving him control over my life. I want to be in control of my own damn life.
Part of me hates that Nico stepped in for me because I hate that he cares about me, but I hate even more that I still care about him. It’s been five years since I saw him. The minute I turned eighteen I enrolled in nursing school. Surprisingly Nico and his father backed me. They paid for my entire education and even let me move out of the house and into an apartment. Of course, I’m suspicious as to why they let me go so easily. I’m sure their little spies keep tabs on me and report back to them. That’s the shittiest part of this whole thing. Even if I have my freedom I will always be looking over my shoulder wondering when the man I shouldn’t have feelings for will come crashing into my life. I’m not sure I want to date because if Nico comes back into my life and finds me with another man, that man is dead on the spot. Nico is jealous and possessive. There’s also the fact that he still holds my heart slightly captive. I’m not sure there is another man that could pull my attention like Nico does.
Pushing thoughts of my past and the man that haunts me, I focus on checking on the patients who are waiting for results or for the doctor to do their rounds. Most of them are asleep. It’s a quiet night in the ER which is rare especially for a city hospital. However, I work in a hospital that is in a nice part of the city. Most of the people that come through the doors are wealthy or famous, and can pay for every test under the sun. Still, most nights there is some flutter of activity. Then on occasion we get the rare quiet shift. On the nights it’s quiet no one will dare speak their thoughts out loud as we all know the minute someone says it’s quiet the shit storm is about to roll through the ER doors.
After all my patients are checked I head back to the nurses station. I decide to take my hour break because I need to eat and get some more caffeine. I thought I would be able to handle the night shift because I stayed up late studying while I was in school. I also worked a part time job at a coffee shop to earn some money that was mine.However, I sorely underestimated what night shift would be like. I wave to my fellow nurses who are manning the ER with me as I head toward the cafe that is inside the hospital. Thankfully, they are open twenty-four hours because the hospital cafe closes at eight. After eight the only place to get something to eat and drink is at the little coffee stand, which is conveniently a short walk from the ER.
I stand in line at the cafe waiting for my turn totally oblivious to everything around me because right now caffeine is all that matters. Seriously, I’ve been doing night shift for a little over a year and I’m still not adjusted. It’s like my body refuses to comply with being awake at night. It’s starting to irritate me.
“What’s a pretty girl like you doing in scrubs.” A suave voice says behind me. I turn on my heels to face the second most handsome man I’ve ever seen. He’s on the taller side, dark olive tone skin, short slicked back black hair, and warm brown eyes. Correction, there is apparently someone who can draw my attention from Nico, and somehow it’s not a bad thing.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?” I ask, realizing the man looks slightly familiar as I am not struck by his tempting features. Looking over at him properly as I’m no longer distracted. Judging by his nice navy blue suit he’s got money. The question is, is he mob rich or just another rich playboy?
“You may have seen me in pictures, but we’ve never met in person.” He answers.
“I’m not in that life anymore.” I firmly state realizing he’s mob rich and I need to stay away. Thankfully, it’s my turn in line. I give the barista my order eager to get back to the break room that is for staff only. However, when I go to pay the handsome mob man offers his black credit card to the barista as he comes to my side.
“Please, allow me to pay for your order, and…” he pauses looking at the barista’s name tag. “Molly, could you please add a large Americano and lemon blueberry scone.”
“Sure, can I have a name for the order?” Molly the barista with her ginger hair pulled back in a tight ponytail says with a smile stretching the freckles that speckle her face. How the hell is she this chipper and I’m over dragging like a slug? .
“Anthony.” The handsome mob man answers, and my world stops.
What are the chances that he’s Anthony Ronka? Here I was expecting Nico to be the one to ruin my what I like to call my fake freedom. I never thought Anthony fucking Ronka would be the one to shatter my blissful bubble. The fact that he’s here means he wants something, and he wants something from me. My mind can’t help but race with questions, but there is one that sticks out the most. What the hell did my father promise him and is here to collect?
Violetta Calla stands next to me as we wait for our order. She’s on edge as she nervously plays with the black stethoscope around her neck. Her celine blue scrubs hide her coca cola shape figure as well as her nice sized breasts. I’ve been watching Violetta from an affair for years. Her father said she was to be my wife, and I want her to be my wife. I wanted to claim her when her father died but the DeLuca’s claimed her first. War isn’t something I wanted to start. Besides, she was only fourteen at the time and I was already eighteen. I figured it was best to let her be with them until I could reclaim her as mine. Violetta going off on her own was a good thing. However, it was clear she was on a mission to separate herself from the mafia underworld. Nico gave her that space so I decided to respect it as well. I’ve been waiting for the right chance to approach and now it’s time to make my move. “You can relax, Violetta . I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk.” I inform her.
Sitting at my desk in my large office in the back of the casino looking over the books as I drink a very expensive bottle of Merlot while puffing on an expensive Italian cigar. It’s about four am. I’ll be leaving soon to go rest in the penthouse suite of the hotel that the casino is located in. That’s where I’ve been living since Violetta went off to do her own thing. I didn’t like the idea of her breaking free on her own, but I needed to let her spread her wings or my little dove would be a sad little caged bird. So, I let my little dove spread her wings and fly knowing one day I’d have her as my wife. I’m about to turn twenty-seven and I plan to bring my little dove back home for my birthday which is in exactly three months from today. There’s a huge party planned at the casino. All the guests will get to play on the house. It’s going to be a night to remember because that is the night I also plan to put a ring on my little dove’s finger. I have everything set in motion, and I’m an
I’m thrilled when my shift ends at seven am. I waste no time going to my locker, grabbing my things and hightailing it out the door. I take the bus to my little one-bedroom apartment in an average part of town. I try to avoid the wealthy part of the city and the not so wealthy part of the city. I find the average parts of the city are where I prefer to hideout. I have a cozy standard one-bedroom apartment with a bedroom, kitchen, full bath, and a living room. There’s also a small dining area that I have set up with a small table and one chair. My little apartment is my safe place. My mind is spinning, so I need my safe space so I can come down from the adrenaline pumping in my veins from tonight's shift.. Once I enter my apartment, I lock my door and drop my backpack by the front door before I kick my black sneakers off. I make my way to my bedroom and grab my cotton cream nightgown and a pair of fresh panties before I head to my bathroom. I pop on my shower, lay my clothes and fresh
I’m running on four hours of sleep, but I don’t care. I’m going to Violetta’s apartment. I hate where she lives, but of course she would pick some cheap, basic ass apartment complex to live in. Violetta has always been a stubborn dove. She would defy her father at every turn. Her mom died when she was young in some mafia involved violence, well, that’s what Mario claims. My theory is that Mario killed his wife because after Violetta was born, her mom started fooling around with one of the men under Mario. I don’t know all the details, and to ask my father about it now, I doubt I would get the truth. My father used to tell me everything. I was in on all his plans and secrets. Two years ago my father started to become paranoid that everyone was trying to kill him, even me, which at the time I thought was crazy. Over time, it’s gotten worse. I think he’s losing his mind from years of doing terrible deeds. My father has done some serious fucked up things that I never agreed with. My fath
My heart beats hard as paranoia begins to fuel my adrenaline. The first thing I do is grab the burner phone from my side dresser. Then I grab a pair of my skinny jeans with a red rose colored t-shirt before I grab a cotton black bra and pantie set. I dash to the bathroom and make sure I lock the door. My hands fumble with the phone. It’s a black flip phone that brings me back to being a teenager for a moment before the panic of my reality takes back over. I flip the phone open and text Anthony. 911! Nico just showed up in my apartment while I was sleeping. He’s forcing me to leave with him. What should I do? I hit send and set the phone on the counter and begin changing my clothes while I wait for Anthony to text me. Why am I texting Anthony? I have no fucking clue, but I feel like a stray dog who just got caught by animal control. As I finish dressing, the phone lightly vibrates. I snatch the phone up desperate for a way out. Of course he fucking did He’s impulsive when it comes to
I sorely underestimated how quickly Nico would react to me visiting Violetta. He’s desperate to marry her, but why now? I think it has something with him getting Don from his father. It makes the most sense. It’s not ideal that my violet is back with Nico. At least, she had the good sense to text me on the burner phone. She might not trust me, but she did reach out to me in desperation. So, I’ll take it. Nico acted impulsively, which means he must be feeling desperate. I might be able to use that to my advantage. The hard part is going to be getting Violette away from him. I know he is going to keep her under lock and key. I might have a chance to steal her back at Nico's grand birthday party, but that’s months away. Even then it might be hard. He clearly knows I’m in pursuit of Violetta. The feud between the three families has been going on for decades. The three Italian families have been fighting for control over the Italian parts of the city for far too long. The Russian, Japan
Against my better judgment I let Nico take me out to dinner instead of getting the food to go. I realized that would mean going home sooner with Nico, and I prevented that for as long as I could. However, now we are home, well, Nico’s home. Nico has four homes. One, a condo in the best part of the city. It’s his private place and that is where he has has taken me thankfully. The Second home, is also in the city, but it’s the Ronka home where his parents reside. Nico is an only child which is partly why I think he liked having me around when we were kids. I'm an only child as well, so I guess in some way we bonded over having no siblings . The third, is the Ronka’s family manor in the country. It’s beautiful. The fourth is the Ronka family villa in Italy. Nico takes my backpack and begins making his way to his bedroom. I know the lay out of this condo well. Part of me thinks Nico intends this to be our place. When he bought it he made sure I liked it. He has brought me here every chan
I’m in my study nursing some vodka on the rocks while I flip the burner phone in my hand contemplating what to do with it. The truth is, I know I need to talk with Anthony. There’s a lot at stake right now and I’m not talking about me getting passed Don by my father. There’s enemies lurking waiting to take down the top dogs. Unfortunately, Mario’s greed and poor choices continues to effect us. He gave the other underground families the key to wedging themselves in our operations. The Russians and Irish have always primarily been gun and other illegal weapons. They fight over weapon territory and distribution. The Mexicans obviously have their drugs that they use as their main operations. The Italians stick to illegal gambling, brothels, and those types of scenes. Of course, there are other underworld families like the Japanese that prefer to keep to themselves and do their own thing. Mario wanted to be the top dog, the top family, the top everything. His goal was to be the only ruler
The wedding ceremony was sweet. I’m happy Nico and Violetta wanted me up there with them. I didn’t really want to sit in the audience, but I also didn’t want to impose on them knowing they already have a special bond. Standing up there with them truly made me truly feel accepted by the two of them. I must confess there are moments where I feel I’m a third wheel, but today being next to Nico at the altar made me truly feel like in some weird way all three of us got married. In many ways we are married, especially in the eyes of the underworld. We don’t necessarily need a certificate from the government that says we are married. The underworld has it’s own government and its own laws. Contrary to popular belief the underworld is not a free fall of anarchy. The three of us finally arrive at the hotel ballroom where the wedding reception is being held. We went more intimate with the ceremony and all out with the reception. The reception is the important part. It’s where Nico officially a
Today I finally get to marry my Little Dove. I never pictured I’d be sharing her with someone let alone the man I should consider my enemy. However, Anthony has proven he is far more valuable as an asset. I have no problem admitting I like Anthony and I like our alliance. Anthony is more than just an ally, he is someone I’m going to be sharing the rest of my life with as well as Violetta. Anthony and I might not have sexual relationships due to us both being straight, but we connect on a social and emotional level. The three of us have come together to form our own love alliance so to speak, and it’s going to shake the underworld a bit. That’s okay I’m all about making jaws drop for the right reasons, and this is one hell of a reason. Anthony, Jullian, Lorenzo, and I are in a room inside the church getting ready with final touches to our suits and such. Violetta is with Erica, Dedra, and Sofia. Violetta wanted Dedra at the wedding and reception. They are forming a bond, and I’m happy
Rehearsal dinners, an annoying tradition in my opinion. It makes no sense why couples have to practice getting married. It’s not that hard. Bride walks down the aisle, the bride and groom get married, they kiss, and that's it. We aren’t doing a crazy long or intricate ceremony, but Nico insisted the rehearsal dinner was necessary. Who am I to argue with my warden or dom? Besides, Nico promises he and Anthony are going to show me something that will help me get back into the medical field. I guess they took my hint that I missed it. It wasn’t actually intentional at first. I was bored as I’m used to having a schedule and errands to run. Sure I’m busy with the wedding, but that by no means takes up my entire daily schedule. Turns out I have a limit of how much reality TV I can watch in one sitting. So, I switched it up with medical dramas to give me a taste of what I was missing even if they aren’t totally accurate. I sometimes make fun of how inaccurate they are. I think it’s cute tha
We are in the final days before the wedding. Anthony has successfully recorded my father’s approval video for the wedding reception. I’m honestly relieved Anthony was able to get the video and I don’t want to know the details of how he got it. I do know my father is dead and we will burry him in the family plot in the cemetery outside the city. He doesn't get a funeral or anything along those lines. Maybe that seems disrespectful but it is his wishes and that I will honor mainly because it makes my life a hell of a lot easier. I’ve been focused on the Angle Clinic and our not so legal Angle Death Clinic. We are getting ready to open and we are preparing to take Voiletta to the clinic and show her then night of the rehearsal dinner. She is still obsessively watching her medical dramas as much as she can when she isn’t occupied with wedding stuff. It’s possible she really enjoys them, but I’m skeptical because I know her and her deep love for reality TV. However, it is possible she now
Excitement brims in me as we head down the stairs into the brothel. Tonight is what I’ve been waiting for and I finally feel a bit prepared. I have to accept that on some level the guys will simply always have a bit more experience with sex than me. However, the important thing Dedria has taught me is that it’s not about what came before our partnership, it’s the relationship the three of us build from here on out that matters. There is a level of training that I will go through with the guys as I learn to be their submissive in the bedroom. Honestly, the whole submissive thing should piss me off given how verbal I am about making sure I have a place helping them lead the family businesses, however, I don’t like to have control when it comes to sex. I also think I’m so comfortable being a submissive to Nico and Anthony because I know they actually give a damn about me. I can never deny how much those two care and love me. So, giving them control is easy because I trust them. Even if
The wedding is five days away. While I know our wedding cake is going to be a cannoli cake with cream cheese frosting and pretty chocolate designs that will be dusted in gold. I might know what our wedding cake looks like, but trying to confirm what topper to go on the cake is a whole other story. The three of us agreed to come out in a poly relationship at the reception. So, I want the cake topper to resemble that. I find it ridiculous that I can’t decide on a damn cake topper from the catalog in front of me. “Can I weigh in?” A sweet voice from my side draws my attention from thoughts. Sofia tagged along with me today, and I’m happy to have her with me. She’s a sweet girl who is so naive. Sofia lives in a bubble and she believes in a fairytale that I want to tell her is real. However, she’s young. Freshly eighteen and totally clueless about the real world. Sofia is another example of the women in the mafia world. Sofia is surprisingly thrilled to have a baby, but she also believes
I’m not surprised that Nico’s father is being difficult. He is still refusing to give Nico Don. At the point, Nico has to make the choice to end his father’s life. I know that it is hard for Nico to make that call. I can tell he still has respect for his father. I don’t sense a love between them much like there wasn’t love between my father and I. Something I plan to do differently with children. I want the three of us to be present parents, but I will not force it on Nico and Violetta if they aren’t overly fond of the idea. Somehow I have a feeling they will be on board with it and want to be present too. The three of us are striving to do better than our parents. To do that we have to weed out the bad apples. We have a week until the wedding. Nico and I are using Violetta’s sexual goddess lessons. I think it’s adorable she needs help embracing her sexual side. Dedria is right when she calls Violetta a unicorn. It’s not Violetta’s fault either. The men in her life made sure she was
Dedria is making things so much easier for me. I’ve only met with her twice and both times we simply talked. It feels good to have someone validate my feelings about sex. I’m nervous. I know I shouldn’t be, but I am. I’m intimidated by Nico and Anthony with a lot of things. It’s not just with sex, it’s life in the underworld. They have power, influence, and men to back them. I hate feeling powerless because that’s exactly how my father made me feel. I appreciate that they are trying to be better than my father. Anthony and Nico aren’t my dad and they aren’t their father’s either. They are trying to do better, and I want to be at their side helping them. I’m going to my third session with Dedria. We meet late at night while Anthony and Nico are off conducting dirty business that I’m positive I want nothing to know about. I will confess there are parts of this life I definitely don’t want to know about. I like that they are giving me the option to pick and choose what I want to be a pa
While Violetta is getting her sex lessons from Dedria, Anthony and I are off to meet someone a little unexpected. I’ve conducted plenty of business in the burlesque with my dad, but never with him being the party I’m negotiating with. Anthony found what I needed to confirm suspicions that something wasn’t right with my dad. His health has declined, and for good reason. The asshole has colon cancer. He’s hiding his cancer treatments that aren’t working. The doctors even told him not to bother with treatments because the chances of it working are slim. However, my father moved forward with the treatments. “Before we go up against my father, you are positive of the information you have. It’s not that I don’t trust you Anthony, I just don’t want to give my father a reason to poke holes in our alliance because he will. He will be furious with our union, but he’s ill and we can give him what I know he craves most; a peaceful death.” I know my father fears death, but even more he fears a pai