LORENZO RUSSO“Capo, I'm truly sorry, I didn't mean—” Stefano began, jerking up from the couch as soon as I descended the stairs. “Not now!” My voice was calm. Dangerously calm. “Where's Dario?” I poured myself a glass of vodka, chugging it down at once. The burn blended smoothly with the anger of wanting to lose.“He's in his room,”“Keep him there,” I'd deal with Dario later. Since he'd hit puberty he was completely intolerable and had been difficult even before that. And now his induction as a Made Man was in a few weeks, and the kid was acting up. He was fifteen, he should have been inducted at thirteen when he had his first kill, but Savio and I knew he hadn’t been ready. I couldn't keep pushing his induction any further. He was a Russo, and it was time he grew up and started acting like it. Maybe I sheltered him too much from the cruel realities of our world. He wasn't like Savio and me. And if he kept on acting like a child, even being a Russo would not save him. “And Savio?”
LORENZO RUSSO “Came to watch me shower?” I flicked my attention to her as I turned.It was a question. But she only let her gaze travel through every inch of my tattooed skin until it rested on my cock. I was fucking hard just seeing her in my shirt. Her breasts tightened under the fabric, her nipples hardening under my attention. The shirt was barely covering enough, and with the lustful way she was looking at me, nothing was stopping me from pulling her into the shower and fucking her against the glass. But I held back.“What happened?” Her eyes were no longer on my pulsing dick. They were now on the crimson fluid that washed from my body to my feet.I didn't reply.She tried again. “Did you kill him? The other guy dragged into the truck?”I still didn't reply. Eager to see where she was heading with this.“So you did,”“Disappointed?” I raised a brow. She had no idea how focusing my rage on that fucker saved the streets of Vegas.She gave me an incredulous look. “He tried to kill
TIFFANY WESTIt really hurts like hell. The pain only grew worse after some days. But luckily, the medication the doctor had me on sometimes relieved me of the pain. Elena stayed with me for the last few days before she returned to New York with Dimitri. Hopefully, they'll be back soon. Without someone to talk to, I was slowly losing my mind.I shifted on Lorenzo's bed. I hadn't returned to the inner room yet. Strangely, I was getting comfortable on his bed and his clothes. They made me feel safer. Warner and even calmer.“Yeah? Come in,” A knock drew me from my thoughts. And soon the youngest Russo stalked into my room.He glanced around before his gaze fell on me. He looked somewhat lost in the middle of the room.“How are you doing?” He took some steps closer, his eyes on my shoulder.“Bored to death, but it's better than being dead honestly,” I joked.The kid chuckled. “I have a few books and ice cream for you,” He held out four books and a bowl filled with ice cream. He walked cl
TIFFANY WESTThe mornings bled into the nights, and days went by even faster. A few days ago, I emailed JK media, letting them know I was taking my long overdue leave from work, though my boss, Norman, didn't mind, not with everything that was happening with the company. It was going under and there were talks about it being sold. I could have sworn after selling me off, Mum would have found a way to keep the company, but instead, Mother Dearest was selling it.I loved my job as a reporter. But one of the reasons I had ventured into that path was because of Dad. He loved the company. He loved what he did. But Seline and her husband had destroyed it. I have been avoiding Seline's and Francis' calls since my chat with my lawyer about the foundation. It has been my share of inheritance from Dad, and as such, Mum couldn't do as she deemed fit with it.Every morning since I'd lived here, I discovered a few things about Lorenzo. He was a workaholic who spent his good hours in the office wh
Lorenzo's blue gaze burned, with a pool of darkness licking off the edges of his eyes. He only watched me with a dry, half-lidded stare as I joined him under the shower. The cold water gliding down my skin did little to cool down the burning sensation within me.His eyes narrowed as I took a few more steps closer until the tip of my breasts brushed against his chest.He groaned, his hands instinctively gripping my waist. “What the fuck are you doing?”My heart pattered to an awkward beat. “What does it seem like I'm doing?” The words came out breathless.“Tiffany—”“Don't pretend you don't want this. There's no point denying ourselves something we're both dying to have. At least something good should come out of this marriage, shouldn't it? And if you ask me, good sex would surely suffice,” I pressed my body against his, gasping at the wild sensation that burst through me.“You're playing with fire, Tiffany,” His voice was black velvet, set out to freeze.I secretly loved it when he c
TIFFANY WESTHaving sex again with your supposed mortal enemy was exhausting. Weight pulled on my muscles as I chatted with Elena. I couldn't possibly hide anything from her. I spilled the beans and worse, told her how much I loved it. How much fucking Lorenzo Russo again made me feel more alive than ever.Luckily, I didn't have one of those breakdowns that usually came after my sexual sessions. It had happened the first time I was with him when I'd looked him in the eyes, opening the gates of those nightmares that haunted me. There had definitely been something in his eyes that triggered me the last time. I'd learned my mistake. I'd barely glanced his way. As often as I had sex, I'd never slept with the same man more than twice but it was strange I wanted Lorenzo again. I wasn't sure what was happening to me.Usually, the idea of any kind of commitment embodied a fist wrapped around my lungs and squeezed, but surprisingly, the idea of being married to Lorenzo didn't leave any feelin
“This is a private area—” One of them started but stopped as his eyes moved to something behind me. “Stefano,” He said with a hint of confusion.“She belongs to the boss, Greg. She's his wife, Tiffany West,” Stefano offered in a cold tone.Both men stared at me then stepped back respectfully. “We didn't know she was coming tonight. The boss didn't say anything,” Greg said.Stefano grimaced but didn't say anything as he led Leona and me inside, past the cloakroom tinged in bluish light and a bar area. Behind it the doors open to a dark dance floor. Blue and white light flashed, and hip-hop beats blasted toward us. Leona tugged at my hand wanting to go in that direction.“We should go to Lorenzo first,” Stefano said.“He's here?” I asked, surprised.Stefano nodded. “The club has several back rooms and a basement where we handle some business,”“Why don't you go tell him I'm here while Leona and I hit the dancefloor,”Stefano gave me a look. “No chance in hell,”“That's your problem then
TIFFANY WESTAwareness connected me to the door across the hall like a line of static electricity. He was just over there, probably talking Russian on the phone, or maybe torturing someone, or worse, fucking someone.Somehow the last thought made my hand pause on the doorknob. I'd just realize that the mere thought of Lorenzo fucking another woman that wasn't me made me nauseous.I couldn't understand what was wrong with me. Why the fuck did I care even if Lorenzo was fucking another woman. Whatever was just happening between us was just good sex before it ended as quickly as it began.Instead of knocking, I twisted the door knob and stepped inside, locking the door from inside. Lorenzo was standing close to the glass windows, his gaze was stuck on his phone with his back to me.I walked closer to where he stood. Still, he didn't look up.But he knew I was here.“Stalking me, Cuore mio?” He chuckled. It was a deep sound, like the first rays of warmth after a long winter. I liked it.I
ELENA DUVAL“Align your sights,” Dimitri instructed once again, his hands on my bare shoulders and his hot breath burning my skin. He was close. Dangerously too close.I could feel every part of his body against mine, burning through my skin.I swallowed hard, trying to pull all my focus to the paper target ahead of me.I fired another shot and yet again it landed anywhere else but on the paper target. I have been at this for some time now after Dimitri had me dissemble and assemble the gun several times until I could do it in my fucking sleep.“Breathe, Elena. You aren't focusing. Something's distracting you, what is it?” You.I wanted to say it so badly, but the words got stuck somewhere in my throat.“Nothing's distracting me,” I responded, tightening my hold on the gun and adjusting my finger.I fired another failed shot.“Alright. Take a five Elena,” He took the gun from my hand, and I lowered the protective headphones covering my ears.The sun was already up, its warmth seepin
Immediately, I jerked on the bed with my heart in my throat as I reached for the lamp on the bedside table.I flipped it on, and quickly its light illuminated the whole room, and my gaze fell on the figure leaning against the bed.“Jesus! Dimitri, you almost gave me a heart attack. What on earth are you doing here?” I placed a hand on my chest, leaning against the headrest.“Exactly what I would like to know, Elena, what the fuck are you doing here?” His voice was harsh and cold with a smooth blend of anger.“Sleeping, obviously,” I bit out with rage of my own.He didn't move a muscle nor an inch from where he stood. “Don't use that damn tone on me, this isn't where you sleep—”“You don't get to decide that —”“Trust me, Elena, I get to decide that and many more. You're going to be sleeping—”I cut him off. “In your bedroom? Sorry, I thought the workers made some mistake because obviously, you don't expect me to sleep in the same bed where you've fucked many of your whores to the poin
ELENA DUVALThe touch had been innocent. Dimitri's hands were braced beside me on the countertop, grazing my own, yet the warmth that flooded me felt like the letting of sunlight into a dusty dark room.The deep drawl that accompanied every word of his ran down my spine as he stood behind me, his body trapping mine against the island with his hand on my waist, his touch making me feel all the things I shouldn't. But now, as I watched him and his whore through the glass of the kitchen window, all I felt was a murderous rage.“Elena, been looking for you,” I heard James' voice before I felt his presence behind me.Without removing my eyes from the seemingly lovely couple heading towards the building opposite the penthouse, I tilted my head slightly to James. “Who's she?”“Alessandra Udinov,” He said, slipping into one of the chairs.I sent James a lazy stare, rolling my eyes. “I know that much. I mean who's she really? She's almost everywhere,”An annoying smile played on both sides of
DIMITRI CASTELLOWarm liquid of red splatter around, as the gunshot echoed in the air. A dull thunk sounded as the chair went sideways and the bloody bastard hit the ground, dead.I shifted the end of the barrel to the other bloody idiot confined to the chair. Rage and Impatience leaking off me. Rage because these damned bastards were ruining a perfectly good day for me and Impatience because we'd been interrogating these fucking cunts for the last fifteen minutes and still I hadn't gotten a word from them.Two days ago, I'd returned abruptly from my business trip because of the update I had received regarding the traitor Ricky, Elena's previous bodyguard who had been with her and responsible for her accident. He had suddenly vanished after the accident and had managed to remain hidden until a few days ago when my men found him, unfortunately, dead.From the state of his lifeless body, he had been dead for a few days. Murdered by whoever he had been working for.I sighed, clenching my
ELENA DUVAL“But he did agree to help me out,” I told Tiffany and heard her squeal but I didn't tell her the details. I trusted Tiffany, but for her sake, I didn't think it was necessary to pull her deeper into any of this. She was doing way too much for me already.“I'm coming over now,” I told her.“I'm not home. I'm out working,” She said and I told her about my sudden trip with Dimitri and I'd be away for some weeks.We chatted for a while before disconnecting. By seven, Chris was already parked outside the mansion waiting for me and once we had settled in, he drove to the airport.I found Dimitri waiting for me there near one of his private Jets. Even in the darkness, he was still a sight to behold. He wasn't in his suit from this morning, instead, he was in black jeans, a v-neck tee shirt, and a leather jacket. I was sure there wasn't a single piece of clothing that he didn't look good in.He was on a call, but his gaze coasted over to me as I approached him, and my single suitc
His gaze swept through me, making me consciously aware of the workout pants and sports bra I was wearing. He passed a couple of feet away to the fridge taking out a bottle of water.I stood there, watching him. His brandy-colored hair was mussed, brushing his collar, and I grew warm remembering I had my hand around it just last night.As if sensing my stare, he flicked his eyes towards me, raising a questioning brow.I swallowed. “Hungry?” I asked as the timer of the stove went off and I pulled out the casserole.“I'm good, I have a breakfast meeting,” He said, striding closer to me. Now I could feel the tingles that erupted as his presence brushed me.He leaned against the counter, arms crossed and the attention of his stare on me. “There's a phone on my desk, it's yours. It has my number in it already so don't call me with random numbers,’’I don't know why, but something took flight in my stomach. It was sweet and warm.“Thanks,” My response was quiet as I filled my plate and heavi
ELENA DUVALImmediately I got my hands working. I opened the first aid box and started disinfecting the wound and slowly dressing it.I looked up at him once I had successfully bandaged the wounded area and had trashed the tissues but I remained trapped between his legs.I took out a cotton wool ball, leaning forward, and slowly my hand reached for the small cut a few inches from his black thick brow. I took a deep breath, ignoring the heat of his stare that had never for once blinked away.I inhaled again, my breath becoming ragged with each inhale. The air itself was him and our closeness was not doing me any good. I gasped lightly as a spark rocked through me as I lifted my hand to his neck. It was wild, sending aftershocks through my body. My eyes lifted to meet his. The black of his eyes had pooled into the gray ones, leaving them utterly dark.The ache in my stomach blossomed and filled every available space in my body. I could feel the heat of his gaze on me everywhere, and he
ELENA DUVAL Dimitri's eyes hardened as my hand gripped the hard muscles of his sides and the other went up to cover my mouth as I felt the instant urge to throw up.“Fuck!” I could hear the irritation that stained his voice, and in one swift pull, he had me against his body, pulling me to the right and through the door that held a female sign pinned to it.My wobbly legs moved hastily on my heels, and I collapsed against one of the toilets, throwing up everything in my stomach.I groaned in relief as soon as I was done, somehow I felt lighter and a little less drunk. I flushed the toilet, moving to the sink, when I froze at the sight of Dimitri, leaning against the wall inside the female restroom. I thought he had left, or maybe waited outside like any normal male would.The sight of him was a punch of fire to the stomach. Some kind of visceral, animal reaction to the mere attractiveness of the man.“Are you done staring?” His voice, this time, dripped with his usual anger.I rolled
“What do you have in mind?” I had asked but she didn't respond to my question not even when we went back to her place to dress up and soon we were walking into one of New York's biggest and most talked about clubs. Club Sapphire.“So this was your big plan all along?” I asked as we were led to the VIP lounge. As expected Tiffany was a regular here.“Yup, what other way to get your man home?” She half yelled over the loud music.“Right. What better way than to get myself drunk and dance the night away,” I said with a fake smile.“See, now you get it—”“I was being sarcastic, Tiff,” I voiced as we made our way to the bar.She laughed. “I know. But seriously trust me on this your Mr Castello will come fetch you once he finds out you are here. So just loosen up and have some fun. I mean when was the last time you came to one of these?”I sighed, relaxing. She was right. It felt like it was another lifetime I was in a place like this.“Hey lovelies, what can I get you?” The barman asked as