TwentyNiccolo CapaldiI dreamt about this.From the moment I had her for the first time when we were both teenagers, Daniela Berni was the only thing I wanted in this world that I could not have. Not fully. Daniela drove me to distraction. Now, there was a hit on her, and me, and the people we cared about. And we had just enough time to spare to rest and then try to get away. But we weren’t going to be doing any resting that night. Not in the traditional sense, anyway.I should have been more worried about the people coming for us. At that moment though, Daniela was on my bed, completely undressed, having started to take her clothes off in the hallway before we even got to my room. “You still on the pill?” I asked her. It wouldn’t have mattered if she wasn’t. At that point, there was nothing that could stop us. It had taken both of us years to get here, to realize there was no letting the other go. Now that she was all in, I’d make her mine whatever it took.Daniela nodded.
Twenty-oneDaniela Berni I had wanted this for so long. We’d had one night together the summer before we both graduated and everything went to hell. Now, Niccolo was stroking in between my legs, and I was already wet, whining with anticipation. The first time we’d been together, I’d only had a vague idea of what we were supposed to be doing because of reading romance novels. And from fooling around with him a little. I hadn’t been with too many people. But I was more experienced than I was when I was seventeen. I knew things now. As Niccolo played with my folds using one hand, he was sucking on my right nipple too. I found myself gripping the pillows as I cried out.Niccolo came up for a moment from what he was doing. “Can’t cum yet, sweetheart. I’m not inside you yet.”I clutched at my pillow as my toes curled while Niccolo was playing with me some more. I was wet in between my thighs. “Come on, come on,” I told him, “I want you, Niccolo. I’ve waited for this
Twenty-two:Niccolo Capaldi After the moment I had with Daniela on the couch, I couldn’t stop touching her. I didn’t want to. I had told her that we were going to take things slow though. Really, I just wanted to savor her. Giuseppe had been talking about me starting to take on more responsibility after graduation and I knew then, I wouldn’t get to be with Daniela. I also knew that I probably wouldn’t see Daniela again. I’d seen her looking through college brochures the previous year and I knew she was going to graduate top of our class. Money would be the only thing that she struggled with but I’d overheard Giuseppe talking with Augusta, saying he would help Dani if she wanted him to. “That girl is practically my family,” he said.I think he was holding out hope that we would get married. And the longer I spent with Daniela, the more that idea didn’t sound so terrible. If she were my wife, I could protect her. Of course, I had no idea what Daniela wanted. What I did know was that I
Twenty-three:Daniela Berni After that whole thing with Niccolo trying to make things up to me for my first date getting canceled, there was this weird shift between us. He didn’t totally hate me but he didn’t go out of his way to make my life miserable either. Niccolo lived in Beacon Hills, and I lived in Roxbury. It was good thirty minutes, give or take, depending on traffic. Before my mom died, most days, I took the bus to go to the fancy private school Giuseppe helped pay for. One morning, when mom had already left for work, I was walking myself to the bus when I heard the purr of a car engine. I glanced over and I saw Niccolo’s silver Ferrari pulled up to the side of the curb. The passenger side window rolled down, and Niccolo flashed me a smile. “Thought you could use a ride.” I hesitated. Niccolo Capaldi had never once driven me to school. Sometimes, Giuseppe would have his driver pick me up if he knew that my mom was going to ha
Twenty-fourNiccolo Capaldi The first time I remember I shot something, I was fifteen years-old. It was my birthday. My father let me and my brother skip school that day. Luca and me weren’t twins, but we were born a year apart. We’d started school at the same time because my mom hadn’t wanted Luca or me to be lonely. “Where are you taking us, Pop?” Luca asked. We were in the back of a black sedan. “Maybe we could catch a movie,” said Luca, “or go to that diner Mom used to take us to after church.” Giuseppe shook his head. “No. Today, you’re going to work with me. You know our family owns much of Boston. We’re trying to buy a particular borough of the city. There’s another family that would like to have that same part. We’re meeting to give them. I think you’re old enough to see what the family business is up close.” I glanced at my brother. Luca’s face fell. I knew he’d been hoping for a normal afternoon with Pop, but that wasn’t the k
Twenty-fiveDaniela Berni We were leaving. I woke up to the sound of Niccolo’s alarm on his phone. His arms were wrapped around me tightly. He let out a groan. “Fuck!”I sighed. “Time to go?”He pressed his forehead against mine, and he stroked my cheek. “My guess is that whoever is after us has probably arrived in Italy by now. It will be only a matter of time before they catch us. It’s not safe for us to be here.”“I know.”We got up, and I started to dress in the same clothes that I had worn before.“What are you doing?” he asked.“Getting dressed,” I said as a shrugged on them on.He shook his head, and smiled. “Come with me.”“Okay, but the more time that we waste, the more time that we are going to easily accessible for the scary people with guns to come after us.”He smiled. “I am a scary person with a gun.” He kissed the top of my head. I blushed, and he opened a door in his bedroom that I hadn’t noticed before.“Where’s this go to?” I asked.“It goes to the walk
Twenty-six:Niccolo Capaldi There were some things that I could never tell Daniela. It was one of the many reasons that I had pushed her away in the beginning. I hated the idea of lying to her. We’d been in the thick of things though, and she showed no signs of running. I wouldn’t have blamed her. Of course, we were both in shock over seeing my father dead on the ground. Luca was missing. And Audrina had disappeared.I had a theory about that, but I wanted it to be wrong.Daniela had so few people that she could count on. I hated the idea that now, there was one person less in her circle. She would always have me but I wouldn’t blame her if this was the last straw. If once she got somewhere safe, that was when she decided to leave and get the hell out on her own. Plenty of people would do the same thing and never think twice about it. Daniela said she was ride or die for me, and I had to believe her.I never told her about what happened the day that we saw the man we’d thought was Da
Twenty-seven:Daniela Berni The summer I lost my virginity to Niccolo, we spent every day together. We didn’t always stay in Tropea either. One day, we had a picnic in the countryside. Niccolo had packed everything. There was a blanket, with a basket filled with cheese, grapes, and different meats. He’d also managed to nick wine from the basement without his father or my mother knowing. It was a hot summers day. Niccolo had the car turned on, playing oldies on the radio station. He was kissing me as I was laying down. “So, is this the day where you finally take my flower?” I asked with a smile. Niccolo smirked. “Take your flower?” “I mean, this is a little A Room with a View. Young, naïve girl gets seduced in the Italian countryside by a stranger that she barely knows. It would be the perfect setting.” He stroked my arm. “No. I’m going to enjoy you, Daniela. I told you that. And we’re taking this slow.” “You’re n
Nine Lauren Gallo Present I was able to stay. I anticipated him firing me. I anticipated him following me. I did not anticipate wanting him again. How could anyone go through what I went through with him and still want him? I couldn’t explain it. When I arrive at work the next day, I am humming. I also have his coffee ready for him that I pick up at our old favorite spot. I am there before him. I sit on his desk, and I place the coffee cup on it while I sip mine and smile. After a few minutes, the door opens, revealing him. “Coffee, boss?” He looks from the cup on the desk to me. I can feel his eyes travel up and down my body. I flush. I know I’m flushed. I can feel it from head to toe and I absolutely hate it and love it at the same time. I feel like a teenage girl all over again. His eyes settle on mine. “You greet all of your bosses like that?” I shrug. “Only the ones I like.” He raises an eyebrow. “Did you like my cousin?” I snort, and take a sip of my coffee before I get
EIGHT Domitus Capaldi PresentWhen I had Lauren, I felt like I had the answer to all of my problems. A sweet, little, submissive that did everything I wanted without question. After the accident when she left, at first, I didn’t want anyone. Then, I could no longer deny my urges. So, to keep them in check, I opened Labyrinth. My sex club. Patrons pay for rooms and inside them they can do whatever they want. Each one is paid to each of their specific tastes. And soundproof. All membership costs is a secret. And the absorbent yearly fee, of course. Manhattan real estate doesn’t come cheap, after all, and I have to keep the lights on somehow. I employ both men and women at the club. All kinds. You never know what someone might be into. And, of course, patrons are able to bring their own guests if they want to. What I should really do is throw Lauren over my shoulder, take her here, and have my way with her. But I can’t do that. I’m her boss and, in her mind, she barely knows me. Not
SEVEN Lauren Gallo Past I try not to think too hard about it when I find out from a text from my coach that Mitch was killed in a robbery. I have other things to worry about. Monday morning, my mom and I move my stuff into my dorm at the fancy private school that she’ll be working at and I’ll be going to. “Wow!” she says. “This place is huge.” I nod in agreement. Cagney Academy is on the Upper East Side. By being a student here, I’ll have access to their private ice rink, and Stephanie will be able to devote her time to training just me. Meaning I will have a better shot at the Olympics. As an added bonus, Ellie goes here too, and I’ll have Carla, Domitus’s cousin. The real problem is that I’ll have to deal with Domitus. And the rest of the Capaldi brothers. From stalking Domitus on social, I’ve learned that there are three other Capaldi brothers. Felix, Anthony, and Benedict. Benedict is a short, wirey, brunette kid that’s obsessed with the hockey team that plays at the stadiu
SIX Domitus Capaldi Past The next time I see Lauren Gallo, it’s a week after our little date. The family business and school keeps me away from the rink. But my father is meeting with the stadium manager to talk about getting new sponsors for our sports equipment. He’s also supposed to meet with Mrs. Gallo, Lauren’s Mom, and talk with her about securing her a teaching position at the school that I go to. Cagney Academy, a private school on the Upper East Side. As a teacher, Mrs. Gallo would get free admission for her family and since Lauren is her family, she would be able to go. Meaning I could see her all of the time whenever I want. At the moment, my father is talking with Laurens mom. She has sandy blonde hair, and brown eyes, and seems warry of my father. Smart woman. Most people are charmed by his wealth and good looks. I wonder if she’s dealt with his type before. Lauren says she doesn’t know who her father is, so maybe Mrs. Gallo’s husband was a made man. Or maybe she ju
FIVE Lauren Gallo Present My first thought when I see my ex-boyfriend is that he got taller. And hotter. And I’m fucked. I won’t be able to handle this. I managed to escape Domitus Capaldi once, by faking amnesia and moving half way across the country. But then my high school stalker came back and I was back home, in the city, working for the first man I had run away from. The second one, Michael Russo, had popped up in Los Angeles a few months ago. And I had no idea where he was. But I knew it would only be a matter of time before he popped back up again. He always found me. At least if I was in Domitus’s grasp, I had one monster to scare off another. I thought my cover was blown when Felix saw me. Felix had been my sounding board when I dated Domitus. In fact, I had had a little crush on him for a while but Felix and me had never done anything because we knew that Domitus would kill him if we did. Carla, to her credit, had done her research and knew about my ‘memory lo
FOUR Domitus Capaldi Present “Hey, you’re late.” This comes from my younger brother Felix, which is a surprise to me. Felix normally doesn’t care about anything. He’s twenty-three, a year younger than me, and barely shows up to work half of the time. The title he has is mostly for looks anyway. Felix is almost as tall as me, with black hair that’s slicked back with too much gel, and as many tattoos as I have. In reality, Felix runs most of the family clubs. And by run, I mean, frequents them on a regular basis and pretends to be doing work. “Why do you care?” I ask. “I’m never late. The only reason I was late this morning was because of the traffic.” “Um, well…” “Well, what?” “Well, your new secretary has been hired.” “Good. Shelia’s on bed rest now and it’s been hell using temps. Who did HR hire?” Felix made a face. I sigh. “Just tell me, Felix. I don’t want to play games. If it’s someone I hate, I can just fire them. Remember, I am the head of the New York branch o
THREE Lauren Gallo Past His hand was in between my legs. He touched my pussy. I hadn’t even been kissed yet, but Domitus Capaldi had touched my pussy. I was wearing tights, but I could still feel it, and the wetness in between my legs that came when he touched me there. I had no idea why he had become fixated on me but I didn’t think that he was going to give up on this anytime soon, judging from the hungry look on his face as he watched me while we ate. He has already talked about fucking me. He says that he wants to do it on the table of the restaurant, but that he’ll take me on a bed instead. He is a rich kid who has probably never heard the word no in his life. Meaning he won’t take no from me. Worse, his father owns the place where I practice my skating. The rink that has been the one constant in my life. And the Capaldi family is known for, along with owning half of New York City, shady business deals that involve clubs, drugs, and gambling amongst other things. I’ve neve
TWO Domitus Capaldi Past The first time I saw Lauren Gallo, she was wearing a blue velvet skating outfit, trimmed with fur. With each spin and jump, her little skirt went up, revealing her perfect, pale legs. I imagined my head in between those thighs, devouring her pussy, and making her scream my name and my cock goes hard at the thought. Dad had invested in the old ice-skating rink since my brother’s loved hockey, and he thought he could turn a profit from it. Me, I had never really been interested in sports. I worked out in the gym, and boxed for self-defense, but that was it. I was the heir to the New York branch of Capaldi Industries. My father wanted me to take over for him when he died. I didn’t have time to do anything outside of work for my father. I did everything my father asked of me. Never asking anything for myself. But when I saw Lauren Gallo, I wanted her. She had brown hair, and brown eyes, and a round face with full lips. She was tiny, and her breasts were
ONE Lauren Gallo Past There is someone watching me as I practice. The ice rink is my safe space. As I practice my routine for the millionth time, I can’t focus on anything but the eyes on me. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. As my routine comes to an end, I straighten up and look for the person watching me. There’s a teenage boy leaning up against the wall of the skating rink. He’s tall, with broad shoulders, jet black hair, and reminds me of a dark prince out of a fantasy novel with high cheek bones and full lips. His hands are tattooed and the long, black, jacket that he wears I imagine hides full sleeves on either arm. An older man comes and talks to him. He looks like him, but with slightly grey hair, in his mid-forties. The older man’s gaze goes from me to the boy and he smirks. The boy rolls his eyes but the dark, heated gaze that he has remains on me. It makes heat go through my legs in a way that I have never felt before. Competitive skating doesn’t leave