PUNISH YOU ~~~

VINCENZO POV

I heard the bedroom door open and my body went on alert. I didn’t want to admit it, but I had been listening for any sound of her back there.

Eager, like a schoolboy. I shook my head, disgusted with myself. Even if I weren’t too old for her, she was engaged to my son. I needed to pull my head out of my ass.

All my men turned to watch as she picked her way to an empty seat, her tits bouncing with each step. Long legs and shapely hips, with waves of blond hair that reached down her back, and a face that could make angels weep. DIO, SHE WAS HOT.

When I looked away, I found Marco smirking at me. Had he read me so easily? When my father died and I became the CAPO ten years ago, I appointed my cousin my right-hand.

In fact, there was no one I trusted more. We’d grown up together, killed together, and risen through the ’ndrina ranks together. But that didn’t mean he had the right to smirk at me.

“You have something to say to your capo?” I asked him. He didn’t appear chastised in the least. “Are you going to shoot me if I say it?”

“Probably, once we are on the ground.” Marco held up his hands and remained silent.

I went back to my phone, to the emails and notes I was reviewing. These were for the legal businesses, the ones I used as a public front for my family’s wealth. My cousin, Toni, handled most of the Morreti corporation for me, but I kept involved. After all, I had to provide answers if the Finance officers paid me a visit.

Earlier, I texted Dimitri to ensure he remained home tonight. I wanted him to meet Valentina as soon as we arrived.

The sooner the two of them met, the sooner she would accept the marriage. In the meantime, Dimitri could look after her well being, acclimate her to the life in Siderno. Though my son was only eighteen, but I needed him settled and married.

The time had come for Dimitri to fulfil his role as my heir, which meant producing heirs of his own. I was an only child, as was my son. Therefore, until I had grandsons, the future of the Morreti ’ndrina would remain at risk.

That brought my thoughts back to Valentina , who was staring out the window at the night sky. Was she on the pill? I’d need to inform Dimitri about her former boyfriend and the possibility she might be carrying another man’s child. Best to wait until she bleeds before the wedding.

Her gaze met mine in the window’s reflection but she did not cower. I liked that about her. Most women feared me, or at least my reputation. Valentina didn’t seem to have that problem. In fact, she showed more spirit than most had dared in the last ten years. Would she show that same spirit in bed?

I had to stop. These thoughts weren’t productive and I could not afford the distraction. Besides, even if she weren’t marrying my son, she was too young. I had a mistress already, one who gave me no hassle whatsoever, and I wasn’t interested in replacing her.

Resolved to ignore Valentina , I returned to my phone. For the rest of the flight, Marco and I talked business, going over all that needed my attention after this trip.

The meeting in San Luca was coming up in two months, where all the leaders gathered every year to discuss our operations. Even the Toronto capos, like Romano, would attend. This meant that profits needed to be up, all our debts collected. We would need to pull some men off other jobs to clean up the ’ndrina books.

I rubbed the back of my neck, exhaustion pulling at me. I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t relax on planes or in hotels. It was why I rarely left the castle in Siderno. At least there I was safe.

“You should sleep in the back,” Marco said. “Now that she is awake.”

“We are close. I’ll wait until I’m home.”

“Too bad. I bet the sheets smell like her.”

“FUCK YOU.”

Marco chuckled. “You think Dimitri can handle her?” I cracked one eye. “Are you saying he is soft?”

“No, but he’s not like you. He doesn’t have them eating out of the palm of his hand. Never seen a meaner bastard get more pussy than you.”

I had a temper, for sure. Dimitri was more even tempered, like his mother. “She will come around,” I said about Valentina .

The pilot announced our landing. A silent Valentina put on her seatbelt as I secured my own. Her quiet demeanour bothered me. Shouldn’t she be yelling and panicking right now? Throwing something at my head?

Trying to overpower the pilot? The instinct that had kept me alive for nearly thirty nine years screamed inside me, telling me to be on my toes around her. She was up to something.

I smothered a grin. Whatever she planned, I would be ready. She didn’t stand a chance. Minutes later, we touched down. As I descended the steps to the ground, I made sure Valentina was directly behind me with Marco on her tail. My car was waiting, so I clasped her arm to pull her toward it and felt a sharp pain in my hand.

“CAZZO!” I hissed. She’d stabbed me with a pen, the point now embedded in my flesh. I snarled and ripped the thing out of my skin, tossing it to the ground. That stranzo.

Valentina darted off the second she had the chance but she was no match for Marco, who still jogged daily. I hadn’t even finished cleaning up the blood on my hand before she was dragged back to my car.

“Help!” she shouted to the crew I employed at the private air strip.

“Help! I’m being kidnapped.” My men snickered. No one in a fifty-mile radius would aid a person complaining of a kidnapping here. They all knew better. I jerked open the rear door of the car.

“GET THE FUCK INSIDE, VALENTINA .”

I walked around to the other side, fury boiling inside me until I nearly choked on it. She had embarrassed me in front of my men. Drawn my blood and made me look weak.

She would pay for this when we arrived home. She fought Marco, but it was in vain. Soon she was pushed inside next to me and the car sped off. “I won’t apologise,” she said, like a petulant child.

For once, I didn’t try to appear civilised. Instead, I let her see the darkness I normally kept hidden.

“GOOD, BECAUSE I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO PUNISH YOU.”