My father's home is filled with black-coat men who appraise Emma hanging on my arm and silent women who wish to be her. I watch with a clenched jaw and tick in my muscles as they look at her from head to toe with need or envy.I hate these men, hate that I have to work alongside them, but needs must, and I'd rather be breathing than dead in a ditch somewhere. And regarding the women, they should be jealous.I move my hold from Emma's hand to her waist, pulling her into my side as I attempt to stake a claim on her. But honestly, with the cartel, your wife never belongs to you, not really. This is one of the main reasons I'm choosing to have her lead. It'll be me in the firing line, so to speak, which is a vast improvement over potentially having her taken in an attempt to use her as leverage. My father's face flashes in the corner of the room illuminated by the many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and my mother held closely to him, much as I'm holding Emma. His eyes appraise us
“Very well, Franko. Perhaps you'll be my first enemy. How joyous," Emma laughs manically.So sexy..."You bitch, you haven't got that title yet. It belongs to Bianca; go lay down under your husband and stay in your place!""Enough," I growl unhappily. "Emma is the next Don Rossi. She'll be taking over in my name. All assets will pass between us, and we will rule with an iron fist over both cartels," I tell him, walking closer to where I grab his shoulder. Squeezing down, I have him turning into a bitch himself. "If I ever hear you talk to my wife like that again, you'llbe fertiliser formy plants.""Stop," Maria Densel, his mother, cried as I make him kneel at my feet."Do you understand, Franko?" I ask, ignoring her as I press hard on his clavicle."Yes," he spits through clenched teeth. "Very good, stay the fuck away from my wife and sister-in-law. And keep far, far away from me."Walking away, I note every damned person staring my way. They all look shocked that I'm letting the man
Emma"Luca—," I drag out as he slams me into our bedroom door carelessly. The night was a success, and I've officially agreed to work for his name much as I promised to remain by his side at our wedding, not that there was ever any cause for concern regarding protecting Luca's legacy. It's always been at the forefront of my mind; I've never needed convincing."Fuck you're so enticing, Bambina. Why did we fight for all those weeks?" He asks me as he kisses up the column of my neck beneath my chin, only to pull away and start on the opposite side of my neck from my clavicle to my ear. His beard ruffs against my skin, sending slight tingles through my neck."It was—fun," I admit shyly because, amid the heartbreak, I found some solace in connecting with Luca after so many years apart, even if it was unfavourably. "Oh, it was?" He asks, pulling back to stare at me with an incredulous look of confusion, but his hands never leave my waist, his fingers flexing as he says his following words.
Walking me to the bed, he places me down softly at the end of the mattress, leaning with me as he deposits me on my back. His arms lay on either side of my head as we kiss passionately, his tongue swiping against my own as we share the saliva living in our mouths. My hands find their way into his hair, fisting gently as a wave of pleasure flits through my lower stomach, making me attempt to close my legs finding that it's an impossibility with him between them. Luca takes that as his cue to laugh before pulling back, taking his lips and tongue to kiss down my throat, between my breasts. Overmy stomach."One day soon, this tummy will swell with our child, and I'll worship you at your feet for giving me my second reason to live," he whispers against the taught skin of my tummy."Your first?" I breathe."You, of course, Amore Mio.""Soon," I say with avid hope, jumping back to the thought of a child living within me. I think that's something we both want now, something I can be thankful
Luca"Why is Emma completing your jobs?" my father asks me as we speak over the phone. The pretence was about business landing this afternoon, but the longer we spoke, the more he worked to ask me something. The jobs have been slow since Emma took in the drugs, I think because my father realised my intentions, but I haven't complained. The less time we spend on jobs, the more time we have in the bedroom—or kitchen, perhaps even the gardens, as I take her after a slow walk and in-depth talk.Things have been improving between Emma and me, and I can't complain."Ah, you noticed that, did you?" I tease. Gripping a cigarette out of the drawer on my office desk, I bring it to my mouth and light it as my father remains quiet on the other end of the phone."Noticed?" He snaps. "Oh, I've noticed your slackness, Luca. It's the talk of the heirs. Word has it the future is changing at your hands, and everyone's for it.""Well, that's good; I don't need to work hard to get everyone to travel on
"I must go, Father, if that's all.""It isn't," he tells me fleetingly. "I have a job coming up. Densel has called a meeting; I'm not invited. I need eyes and ears for the meeting. I need someone inside.""When did that happen?""Just last night," he confirms. "I've had word that he's making movement. I'm unsure what his aim is, but we must get on top of this before word gets out." He frets."That's what you think this is about? Father, no one knows about Emma. I've ensured that. This has to be about Bianca. Franko was adamant Bianca belonged to him. Rossi must have struck a deal. I haven't discovered what was promised or if she was in exchange for something, but I will. Honestly, I think it weird he'd promise Bianca at all. She was to be the next Don; marrying her to someone low like Densel would have been my last choice.""We all have our preferences," my father cites. "Get me someone on the inside. Someone he wouldn't expect. He has to trust them.""I know a few people. Let me call
Emma"Amore Mio?" Luca calls me as I stand on the balcony, watching Bianca train with Niko and our men. Some of my father's men have started filtering over, the ones without wives and children, that is. And as they stand amongst Luca's men, I see our future taking shape. But Bianca and Niko are the main subjects of my gaze in the now, so I push aside the future to concentrate on the present. It seems the pair of them need to let off some steam, and sparring the shit out of each other is helping them. They spar easily, Bianca having trained with my father and me for some years, and I already know Niko has good capabilities that he's probably grown up with. "Yes, Luca?""Whatcha doing?" he asks as his hands slide around my waist. He steps up to me, kissing my neck. Tipping my head, I allow him more access while keeping my eyes on my sister. Tracking her movements, I sigh deeply. A strange pull makes me want to join them. But the stubbornness inside me has me closing my eyes to break th
It has me thinking. Forgiveness is not warranted, but me holding onto my malice is just hurting me. Luca was right, though I don't forgive my sister. Allowing myself to move past her upsetting actions will release me from the hold I've found myself drowning in.Bianca's guilt is another thing she'll have to live with despite my forgiveness."I forgive you," I mutter breathlessly as I hold her in a headlock."What?" She shouts."I forgive you, Bianca.""Why?" She asks."It's simple: I forgive you because I can. I won't be held prisoner by the upset and anger your actions caused."Letting go of her, she moves away, taking her stance once again before me. We regard each other with hooded eyes, and I see the confusion melting through her. What she doesn't realise is that perhaps forgiving herself would unleash her from the guilt prison she has herself in. But I'm not about to make her see the light. She deserves to stay imprisoned.Suddenly, she kicks out at my stomach, winding me as pain
Continued:Sven turns back to rejoin Bianca and me by the bed, and as I stand, I peep out the small window to my right. My heart races as my eyes dart across the street below, searching frantically for a way to get Bianca down and into another building safely, away from the danger lurking just beyond that door. Each hotel looks inviting, but just as with this one, its buildings are tall and overtly open."Not going to answer the door, Niko?" Densel's voice booms, dripping with mockery. I can almost envision the twisted grin on his face as he twirls his gun, the metallic glint reflecting the darkness of his intentions. The threat is unmistakable, hanging in the air like a storm cloud, and I brace myself for what comes next.Laying on the floor, hoping to crawl out of sight to the balcony door, I move precariously. Climbing the wall, with my back flat against it, I extend my hand toward the door, carefully unlatching it to avoid making a sound that might alert anyone nearby. As the door
Niko A profound sense of connection envelops us, and a look of mutual respect passes between our eyes. We've worked together long enough to know how each other thinks, which can only be helpful for the pair of us.In the background, I hear Bianca let out a soft sigh, drawing my attention back to her. She remains frozen in place, her expression a mix of tension and confusion. What is troubling her so profoundly that she feels compelled to stay anchored there, motionless?"I need a favour," I whisper."What is it?""I need you to go down to the Western to collect whatever Luca has just sent over." I showed him the phone, and a one-word message from Luca remarked, 'Done.'"You owe me," Sven chuckles dryly before picking his weapons out of the bag, ensuring they are full before he turns to the door, his hands on the chain, it hanging open between him and the door when suddenly, a sharp knock echoes through the room, jolting Bianca out of her reverie. She springs up, darting to my s
Continued: "Do you have money?" Sven barrages me with questions. "Yes," I nod, but in the same instance, I frown. It's all fucking digital, every last penny. "What?" they both mirror my horror. "Applepay, it's traceable," I mumble. "May I?" Bianca asks for my main phone, and I pass it to her without question. Only a second later, she turns it back to my face. She's downloading a banking app, and I'm not sure where she's going with this. "Use that," she stipulates with indifference as I glance down at the phone, reading her father's name on the card now residing in my wallet. I nod, but I'm not sure I will use it. There has to be another way; I think to myself as we walk in unison to the counter, Sven standing on our six until I ask him to step closer. "Do you have any cash at all?" I request eagerly. "No," he shakes his head. Swearing softly to myself, a profound sense of unease settles in as I contemplate the idea of using Bianca's father's money. The truth is, it feels li
NikoThis morning, an unsettling instinct crept into my mind—a gut feeling or perhaps a sixth sense—that today was poised to take a dark turn. With this foreboding hovering over me, I pulled Sven aside before Bianca even woke up. The weight of unpreparedness settled heavily on my shoulders. I had nothing that I usually had at my fingertips, and I couldn't shake the echo of Alexandra's words: living without permission but forever at the forefront of my thoughts.When I arrived on this isolated island, I came armed with the weapons that had adorned me on my wedding day—two knives and two guns with only one round in each, reminders of a day when I was meant to be the groom, not the protector. It wasn't until just a few days ago that I finally reclaimed my phone, another lifeline to reality.A wave of unease washed over me as I stepped off the boat. It felt as if I was walking into my impending fate. I turned to Sven, my voice low and steady, asking him to gather everything we needed to e
Continued: As I sat there, my mind wandered to Alexandra. Would she be joining us on the flight home? The mere idea of enduring her incessant chatter for an entire journey left me feeling uneasy. I could already imagine her animated and unrelenting voice filling the cabin as we soared through the clouds, unable to escape one another.My thoughts then drifted to Niko and how the familiarity of home might alter our dynamic. Would the ease we shared during this honeymoon transform back into the more complex opposition we had previously experienced? It would be disingenuous to say these questions didn't preoccupy me. However, Niko kept his silence, and I found myself caught in the web of my own musings, choosing not to voice my uncertainties. The air around us was thick with unspoken words, and I remained wrapped in quiet contemplation as we readied ourselves with Sven on his boat.The journey to the mainland was tumultuous, with the ocean raging against the boat's sides as we travelled
BiancaI hate to admit the days pass with blinding speed, but we fit as much sex and physical touch into them as we possibly can, and in the times between, we do a lot of talking, exploring one another and our future and how that might look upon leaving this island. We fuck in the hot tub, on the kitchen counter, with hushed giggles at the thrill of potentially being caught, fucking against the window I can't help but stare out of when I'm standing in the bedroom. Soft sensual sex in bed, hard fucking from behind when I tease him about something, and he just can't keep his hands off of me. That has got to be my favourite, but I've not voiced that to him.My sexual appetite has doubled, if not tripled, in such little time that I wonder where my need has arisen from. But similarly, our need to explore what one another wants to uncover itself.As our conversations flowed seamlessly from one topic to the next, we found ourselves wrapped in a captivating exchange that lasted two days. It
Continued:My previous thoughts of not forcing this on her and making her happy in our forced marriage chose this exact time to crop up, my teeth grinding in annoyance as I looked at her thoughtfully."Niko," she breathes my name, making me move to sit up further. Our chests come together as I reach to kiss her neck.I reach around her waist and pluck the bottoms bows just as she had the tops so they float off in the water as the bubbling swirl that's them under their wings."You're beautiful," I murmur against the skin of her neck."Please," she begs. Fuck the beg is almost my undoing; in fact, my cock pulsates at that one word, and yet I find myself exercising complete control to elongate this as far as I can.Instead, I kiss along her collarbone before moving down her breast, sucking her nipple into my mouth to pebble it. I rhythmically lavish it with attention before I release it with a pop so I can move on to its twin."Bianca." I grin when I pop the second one from my mouth. Her
NikoThe morning unfolds with unexpected tranquillity, the sun streaming through the windows and casting warm golden rays across the room that was yesterday shrouded in intense darkness. This ease, however, only amplifies my thoughts, drawing me into a spiral of self-doubt and guilt, haunted by the reality that Bianca faced danger because of my actions.As evening descends, the sky blushes with hues of pink and orange, and we find ourselves ensconced in the soothing embrace of the hot tub. The gentle warmth of the water contrasts with the cool air, wrapping us in a cocoon of serenity while Sven eagerly busies himself, constructing a makeshift bedroom for his stay. The humid air carries the faint scent of cedar and the distant sounds of nature, creating a false sense of security.Our trio had engaged in deep discussions about Sven's plans as we ate breakfast, each idea shared like a lifeline, reinforcing the belief that having another person around would heighten our chances of safety.
Contained: "Sure," Niko nods, touching his mug on the counter with a soft clink. "We'll try," I agree, though the truth looms heavily in my mind: a bond can only deepen with time, and it feels like we've had too little of it. I keep this to myself, reluctant to acknowledge that a part of me senses a wedge still exists between us. However, once we're back home with Luca and Emma, I'm confident we won't get close enough to others for them to attempt to pull us apart anytime soon. "I'll walk you out," Niko offers, trailing after Lucia as she strides towards the front door. The moment she reaches it, her men snap to attention, bowing their heads in unison—an unspoken testament to the respect she commands. Stepping outside onto the already warm, sun-kissed sand, I cast my gaze toward the water and see her boats bobbing gently in the surf. A few small vessels equipped with retractable engines lurk close to shore, while a larger yacht lies further out, seemingly calling for Lucia to ret