Author Note: The beginning of Submitting To The Devil prefaces the end of the previous book, His Pretty Little Liar. Niko and Bianca's story begins in Luca's office, where Dimitri reveals that the pair must marry. This means there will be a slight overlap in storylines at the beginning of the book. Niko The drive home has been somewhat quiet. We've just left Rossi's home, where Emma made her claim on her father's men. I wasn't too pleased to know she did that with the intent of leading, but even Luca knelt on bended knee to show his respect for her. Luca's behaviour of late has been erratic. He's not the man I once thought he was, but then again, I see a new him paving his way outside of his mind, and I'm unsure whether to worship the changes he's making for my sister or hate him for being less of the person I learned to fight alongside. Exiting the cars in silence, Emma climbs the steps towards the house. But Dimitri calls for her, demanding she take him to Luca's office.
Continued: "No. The deal with the Densels is off. You'll marry Niko here. The pair of you match well and Luca can keep an eye on you. But—" A sound somewhere between life and death leaves my throat, and he cuts off my attempt to decline him. "You will not have a second chance," he addresses Bianca. "I am giving you the chance to live. Fucking take it without complaints. Do as you are told; keep my and your sister's secrets silent. Work alongside my son to enable the pair of them to take over as planned, and I'll have no reason to kill you. But step out of line and know I give no mercy." His tone is menacing, and he's stepped five steps closer to emphasise his control. Even for me, it's nerve-wracking, but I never agreed to this. “I'm not marrying her," I finally interrupt him as he stands close to Bianca. Standing, I fist my hands to prevent myself from grabbing my blade and swinging it at Bianca's back. Looking to Luca and then Emma, I try to assess whether they knew this was t
Continued: I watch him enter his car, his driver instantly starting it up and turning in the drive. Watching him disappear with my sanity, I light the joint in my left pocket, dumping the ordinary cigarette back in my right. The drug's high is short-lived, though, because I find Bianca hurtling into my body at speed. Luca throws her quite literally at me, and I decide not to help her stop, her head bouncing off my sternum as I hold my arms wide in a stance that screams get off me. "I need to care for my wife..." Luca tells me viciously. It's obvious he's making a point to show his dislike for this situation, yet he was the only one with a forewarning, so surely he's had time to get used to her coming back after only leaving a few days ago. It's also a power play, Luca's way of staking a claim that she is not his problem, that she falls down to me. "Keep her under control and stay away from my wing. If you don't, there will be consequences," he tells us, but I know that's s
Bianca I storm through the kitchen into the hall and down to Niko's room, teetering on the edge of the boundary line his office door poses. I don't want to go inside, but I also don't want to go and find one of Luca's men to ask if there's a spare room in this godforsaken house for me to take respite in. He angered me so much with his words but even more so because his nostril flared with need whilst his eyes looked between my legs with that look of sexual frustration that nearly enough every man I've encountered since I turned thirteen and sprouted breasts for them to fantasise over has given me. It's sickening, and what's worse is my father condoned their sexual desire. Why does he have to look to me with sexual need like that? Why can't we just be friends? Friends with a mutual desire to get out of the nasty situation we have found ourselves in. I'm not stupid; I know he's a victim of Don Dimitri, too. I might be young, but I see things for what they are and that every
Niko I stay away from my bedroom for as long as possible, but duty calls and my laptop is in my office. So I entered quietly, hoping by some grace of God that Bianca had fallen asleep after our sexually charged encounter in the kitchen. Not that I told her to go to my room, but there's nowhere else for her to sleep here. Her smell was enticing, and I hadn't forgotten what it felt like to sleep beside her warmth in my bed. The emotions are conflicting, yet I'm still leaning towards being annoyed for having her—particularly as my wife. Luckily for me, though she probably wasn't asleep, she shut the bedroom door, leaving me to roam my office as needed without her knowledge. There are a few shipments due for arrival, and I must make the calls to see whether they've arrived at their destination. These are shipments of girls and drugs, just a wonderful part of my unwanted fucking job. But as they say here in the mafia, exclude yourself from the job, put on a brave face and fake your way
Continued: "I'm scared to know she's lying in a bed not far away from your collection of guns," she states. "I'll move them," I nod. I hadn't thought about this, but she's right. Bianca will be trained to some extent. To what? I don't know, but having my guns at her fingertips probably isn't the best of ideas. "What if...What if she continues with this tirade of wanting him?" "Soon, she'll be my wife. I won't let her take him from you, not that he deserves you." "I'm sorry you've been brought into this mess," she sighs. "Could be worse; I could be marrying a girl I have no fucking interest in." "You like her?" She perks up. "I did before she hurt you. Perhaps that'll come back, perhaps it won't. Either way, she belongs to me now, and I won't leave room for childish behaviour. She'll grow up real fucking fast. You don't need to worry, Queen." "You're not planning on fighting Dimitri over this?" I wish I could... "I owe him, and we need her to keep things secret. I
Continued: "I don't know what you're referring to, Father. Special?Fine, an hour. Emma and I will be there. No chance, Father. You placed her number one enemy inside my compound. She comes," he hisses through clenched teeth. I close the door to his office, standing inside with him. My spliff hangs from my mouth, and I inhale as much as I can while holding my breath. "I'm not leaving it up for chance," he sighs as I take a seat. I'm not sure what to do while he argues with his father, but as soon as I relax back, the door handle rattles, and there Emma stands in nothing but lingerie. I avert my gaze, but not before I get enough of an eyeful that it makes me feel sick. "One hour," Luca states, obviously finished with his father. His attention immediately goes to Emma, his nose flaring as he takes in her state of undress. I'm almost one hundred percent sure that if I hadn't have been sat here, he would have jumped her bones. "Morning," Emma greets us both. "Good morning, Bambina.
Bianca Niko didn't come to bed last night, nor did he find his clothes dumped haphazardly all over the bed as I had hoped. But that was yesterday, and I've woken up with a new perspective today. And that is, I shouldn't be pushing away the one person placed here to protect me. When I woke, I felt terrible, but only enough to fold them all and pile them against the wall on his side of the bed. After leaving his room, I hoped I'd find Niko in his office or perhaps the kitchen, where I found Anna making breakfast. She smiles warmly, greeting me with a quick hello before she pushes the tray she intended to bring to me. I study it and then look at her with confusion. "Thank you," Anna. "No problem." "Where's Niko?" I ask shyly. "Attending to business, I believe. Luca, Emma, and he will be leaving for work soon." "Oh! Okay then." "It's okay, Bianca. Time heals all wounds. Emma will find it in herself to forgive you..." she tells me stoically. I'm not sure I asked for her opinion
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
Bianca The house stands unchanged, familiarly quiet amidst the dawn's soft golden light. However, outside, a group of men now loom on the beach, pacing restlessly in the early morning glow, moving as if under some unseen directive. Sven strides into the kitchen, getting straight to work, giving Lucia exactly what she suggested down at the safe house. The scent of brewing tea mingles with the salty air wafting in from the open window. He carefully prepares the steaming pot of tea, then digs out a tin of biscuits from a shadowy cupboard that looks empty and unused. Their sweet aroma tempts me as he delicately places them before Lucia. I watch him amused. He's so attentive to her needs, and it's obvious they are very familiar with one another. They share a delightful smile before she speaks. "Thank you, Sven," she replies, her smile radiating warmth that brightens the dim room and my otherwise dark mind. "I'll head out and keep an eye on things with the others," he says, nodding tow
Continued:"Do you want to go home?" I inquire, curiosity mingling with concern. I don't want that, not yet. It's too soon.She nods reflexively, a flicker of hope in her eyes, only to falter and lie by saying, "No.""A honeymoon should surely extend beyond just a few fleeting days," Lucia interjects."The moment they depart, they'll never see each other again," Alexandra adds bitterly, her words sharp and laden with an underlying want."My word, you truly are remarkable, Alex. I wanted to resist believing Dimitri—nor anyone else—but you've really slid down the slope, haven't you?" Lucia's tone mingles exasperation with disbelief."I," she stutters. "I just want to belong," Alexandra insists, her voice trembling with raw vulnerability as if she's revealing a secret she's hidden for too long."Don't we all?" Sven chimes in, his Russian accent thicker than usual, his eyes glinting dangerously. "That doesn't mean we'd stoop so low as to sell out those close to you," he adds, integrating
NikoLucia holds Bianca close; her evident need to protect Bianca radiates from her every gesture. I can see the depth of her concern that she holds, and it tugs at my heart to know Bianca has someone who cares beyond me. It's comforting, in a way, for if anything happens to me, at least I know there's someone else to be Bianca's pillar. Still, I can't shake the longing to rudely intervene and take Bianca aside, not to diminish Lucia's care but to provide her with a different comfort in a more private manner, where she might feel free to express herself without restraint just as she has done in the days before this evening. Most importantly, I need to assess her emotional turmoil.Instead, I refrain from intervening. I watch silently as Lucia gently guides Bianca toward the sofa. They settle down together, the cushions moulding around them, creating a cosy nook where their conversation can unfold."And at last, she shatters," Alexandra cackles, her voice slicing through the air like a