LOGINLena's POVSalvatore's gaze calmly moved from my face to my chest, then to my legs. I felt the blood rush to my body, my face and neck burning, and my nipples, under his gaze, hardened. I could feel my panties soaking wet."Look at you, bitch," he said calmly. "You're so fucking wet even after being humiliated. Your body is a slutty bitch, just waiting to be fucked, right?"The shame washed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, but I couldn't argue with him."Tell me, Lena," he said, "Do you remember the first time we met?""Salvatore, please don't—""Answer me.""I do," I whispered, my legs no longer able to support me. "Nico was at the engagement party.""That's right. You wore a navy dress that night. A conservative neckline, the right length." He said, his fingers suddenly exploring my breasts.I jumped."You had your hair in a simple bun, talking to the other wives about Renaissance art, looking so intellectual."I found myself sinking deeper
Lena's POVThe silence that followed Giuseppe's death was deafening. I stood frozen against the wall, my mind struggling to process what I'd just witnessed. The metallic smell of blood hung heavy in the air.This wasn't like the movies. There was no dramatic music, no artistic camera angles to soften the reality. Just a young man's life snuffed out in seconds.My legs felt like water. The room tilted slightly, and I realized I was hyperventilating. I'd married into a mafia family, but I'd never truly understood what that meant until this moment. The violence I'd heard whispered about in hushed conversations, the rumors that circulated at family gatherings, had suddenly become horrifically real."I need to leave," I whispered, pushing myself away from the wall. "I need air."I took two steps toward the door before Marco's voice stopped me cold."Mrs. Venturi."It wasn't a request. I turned to see him positioned directly in my path, his expression politely apologetic but his stance unmi
Lena's POVI'd never seen Salvatore this angry before. His grip on me was iron-hard, his breathing harsh against my back, and when I tried to speak, the single look he gave me silenced any protest.I couldn't name what exactly terrified me. Was it the violence I'd witnessed in his eyes when he'd found me with Ruggero? The possessive way he'd claimed me as "his"?By the time we reached the hotel, my legs were shaking. Salvatore set me down in the suite's foyer. He moved to the bar cart and poured himself three fingers of whiskey, downing it in one swallow before turning to face me."Explain."I wrapped my arms around myself, suddenly conscious of how disheveled I must look, my dress still wrinkled from Ruggero's hands."I didn't... it wasn't what it looked like.""Wasn't it? Because what it looked like was you throwing yourself at another man, sharing family business with an outsider, betraying every term of our contract.""I didn't tell him anything! I don't know how he knew about Nic
Salvatore's POVThe scent of blood still clung to my clothes as I climbed the hotel stairs at six in the morning. Ten hours of negotiations in abandoned warehouses had left their mark, not just the metallic stains on my shirt, but the bone-deep exhaustion.I needed alcohol and sleep.But as I slid the key card into the suite's lock, something made me pause. The door opened to reveal small changes that shouldn't have mattered but somehow did.Fresh flowers in a crystal vase on the dining table, white orchids that complemented the room's marble accents. A small ceramic bowl filled with lemons from the local market. Cloth napkins folded with careful precision beside my usual breakfast setting.These weren't the work of hotel staff. They were Lena's touches, subtle domesticity that softened the sterile luxury of the suite.I stood in the doorway, studying these details with an intensity that should have troubled me. Why did the sight of her careful arrangements ease the tension in my shou
Ruggero's POVI watched Lena's face carefully as my words sank in."I could help you conceive the child you need," I said gently, keeping my voice low and intimate. "It would be my honor to provide what Salvatore cannot or will not give you.""No." The word came out sharp and immediate. "Absolutely not."I had expected this initial refusal. Women like Lena always needed to maintain their dignity before considering practical solutions."I understand your reluctance, but consider the logic—""There's nothing to consider." She straightened in her chair, some of her composure returning. "I don't know what twisted game you're playing, but I'm not pregnant because I already am pregnant. With my husband's child."Admirable persistence, but her hands were trembling as she reached for her coffee cup. The small tell betrayed her despite her steady voice."Of course," I said smoothly. "How foolish of me to suggest otherwise."I let silence settle between us for a moment, watching her fidget with
Lena's POVI stared down at Ruggero kneeling on the ancient cobblestones, the diamond ring glittering in his outstretched hand."I... what?""Marry me, Lena," he repeated. "I know it seems sudden, but I believe in seizing opportunities when they present themselves.""Ruggero, I can't... I'm already married.""To a man who can no longer be a husband to you," he said gently, rising to his feet but keeping the ring box open between us. "Nico Venturi lies in a hospital bed in New York, kept alive by machines. He cannot provide for you, cannot protect you, cannot give you the life you deserve."The blood drained from my face. "How do you know about Nico?" "Cara mia, nothing happens in Sicily without my knowledge. And the Venturi family's tragedies are particularly well-documented among those who pay attention to such things.""I don't understand. How could you possibly know about his condition? About what happened to him?""Information is a currency in my business, just like weapons or lo


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