~ALINA’S POV~ They shoved us into the backseat like we were baggage. I hit the leather hard, my shoulder slamming into Giulia’s. She hissed. “Careful, asshole,” she snapped at one of Dante’s men, and I swear if her hands had been free, someone would’ve lost a tooth. Bianca slipped into the lead car. She looked giddy when she climbed in, like she was being chauffeured to a royal gala. Dante followed right after her. The drive was quiet except for the low hum of engines and the sound of my own pulse. I didn’t know where they were taking us, but I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like it. Soon we arrived at a building surrounded by dangerous-looking men patrolling the entrance. The sound of music thumped through the walls, loud and deafening. The convoy pulled up in front of the building, and that’s when I saw it. TINO CLUBHOUSE, written in bold neon letters. My eyes widened. “Wait… Tino Club?” I whipped to Giulia, confused. “As in… Valentino?” She gave me a shar
~ALINA’S POV~ Giulia looked at me like she wanted to punch me. But then she just sighed and nodded. We stepped into line behind the other women, all of us masked, half-dressed, high-heeled, and lit like some surreal, glittering nightmare. The stage curtain in front of us pulsed with colored lights while heavy bass music thudded through the entire floor. Then the curtain rose. For a moment, I couldn’t see. The light was blinding. I had to squint, letting my eyes adjust, until the crowd came into focus. Then followed the loud whistling , cheering, and howling of hungry-looking men. My skin crawled with disgust as their eyes raked over my body. “DAMN!” “THAT ONE, RIGHT THERE!” “FIVE GRAND FOR THE ONE IN BLACK!” I scanned the room until my eyes landed on Dante and Bianca sitting in a corner, looking far too pleased with themselves as they giggled and toasted each other with expensive drinks. I cursed them under my breath. The DJ didn’t waste time. The music began i
~ALINA’S POV~ Dante dropped to one knee immediately, head bowed and eyes locked to the floor. “My apologies, Don,” he began, voice trembling. “But this maid was disrespectful to Lady Bianca and insubordinate to her superiors. Per house rules, such maids are to be punished through public auction. I only followed protocol.” Valentino said nothing. At first. Then, without warning, a deep laugh rumbled from his chest, low and unhinged. It vibrated against my back where I sat curled in his lap, clinging to his collar for balance. I knew that laugh. That laugh never meant something funny. It was the quiet before the storm. And then the storm hit. With a violent sweep of his arm, he slammed his palm against the glass table so hard that the crystal bottles and expensive glasses shattered, spilling liquor across the floor in a violent splash. “You have the balls,” he said slowly, his voice rising with venom, “to compare my wife…” His gaze snapped up, burning through Dante.
~VALENTINO’S POV~ I stared at her. Those green eyes, usually soft, curious, a little lost, now blazed with courage. Fierce and unshakable. I’d always seen her as naive, innocent, someone tossed into a world far too cruel for her. But the woman standing in front of me wasn’t the fragile woman I married a few days ago. She was steel. She stood between me and my Capo like she wasn’t afraid of the fire burning in our eyes. And God… it was the most beautiful thing I’d seen all night. I stepped closer, cupped her jaw with two fingers, forcing her to look up at me. “Piccola,” I said quietly. “Do you even understand what you’re saying? This is not a fairytale. This is blood and war. You don’t get involved in this world without a price.” “I already have,” she said firmly. I clenched my jaw. “Don’t get yourself involved in matters beyond you. Just sit down. Let me handle it.” “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I won’t let you fight your own men because of me. I won’t let you rui
~VALENTINO’S POV~ Outside, the low growl of engines cut through the night as blacked-out SUVs rolled into the lot behind the club, their tinted windows swallowing the dim neon glow. The doors opened one by one, and out stepped the Anselmo Syndicate, dressed in black suits and shiny black shoes. Armed, deadly, and dangerous. I knew every face, especially the smug bastard in the middle. Adriano Anselmo. Leader of the Anselmo Syndicate. Sons of traitors. A Milan-based pack of wolves who thought they could piss on southern soil and call it rain. They had already broken one of our most sacred laws, moving illegal weapons on Italian land without clearing it through us. No permission. No cuts. No tribute. They had tried to smuggle in arms under fake paperwork, set up a deal on my turf like we wouldn’t notice. And tonight, Adriano Anselmo himself had the balls to show up and finalize it. That’s why I was here. To burn this operation to the ground before it spread li
~ALINA’S POV~His weight collapsed against me.Heavy, bloody and lifeless.“Valentino!” I screamed, my voice sharp enough to cut through the rain, through the gunfire, through everything.But he didn’t move.My knees buckled under him as we hit the wet pavement. I cradled his head to my chest, trembling fingers sliding to his throat.The pulse was there, faint, rapid, but thank God, still beating.I was soaked, shaking, but I didn’t care. The blood pouring from his shoulder was too much, too fast.“Stay with me,” I whispered, brushing his soaked hair from his forehead. “Don’t you dare leave me. Not like this.”Around us, chaos faded.Gunshots slowed, then stopped. I barely registered the retreating footsteps of the men as they scattered into the night.Outnumbered, outgunned and defeated by the Romanos.I looked around for anything, anything that could help. He wasn’t wearing a shirt. Just skin, ink, blood, and rain.I grabbed his belt, yanked it from his waist with trembling hands, a
~ALINA’S POV~ The rain had stopped, but the wind still whispered through the cracks in the castle walls. It was early, the sun just rising, but I hadn’t moved from his side. For two days, Valentino had drifted in and out of consciousness, feverish and stubborn, refusing to let anyone near him but me. I sat curled up in a chair beside his bed, chin on my knees, watching his chest rise and fall beneath the covers. The bandages on his shoulder were still clean, no new bleeding. That was a good sign. A subconscious exhale left my mouth. I should have left for Toronto by now. The attorney was waiting. Guilia even called him yesterday—he said he’d still be in Toronto until Friday, but after that, he’s traveling. Today is Wednesday. If I don’t leave soon, I might miss the chance to claim my inheritance as soon as possible. But I can’t go.Not while he looks like this. Not while the man who took a bullet for me still lies half-dead in bed because of me. I reached forward, brushing a
~VALENTINO’S POV~“Thank you.”The words leaped out of my mouth before I could stop them.I hadn’t said that in years, maybe longer, and never like that, never with that kind of weight. But here I was, saying it for her.I watched the way her lips parted, the way her eyes searched mine like she was trying to figure out who I was.I didn’t blame her.I didn’t even know who the fuck I was in that moment.What the hell is this woman doing to me?I’d taken bullets before—plenty—but never thrown myself in front of one, not for anyone, not even my brothers. They were the ones who took bullets for me; that was the code, the way the world worked when you were at the top.But for her?I didn’t even think twice.And that kiss… Dio mio, I hadn’t kissed a woman like that in my entire life.Soft, tender, and real.Like it fuckiing meant something. Like she meant something than just my fake contract wife.I stood still for a beat longer, trying to shake the feeling crawling through my chest. Then I
~ALINA’S POV~The leather seat creaked as Valentino reached between us, his fingers deftly working his belt buckle open.The clink of metal, the slow drag of leather through loops—every sound sent a fresh pulse of heat between my thighs.His gaze never left mine, dark and commanding, as he pushed his pants down just enough to free himself.Oh God.Even half-hard, he was massive, thick and heavy in his own grip, the tip already glistening with precum.My mouth watered just looking at him.“Moglie,” he rasped, his voice rough with need.He reclined the seat back with one hand, the motor whirring softly as it lowered him into a near-horizontal position.His free hand wrapped around mine, guiding my fingers to his throbbing length.The second I touched him, he groaned, his hips jerking slightly.“Fuck,” he hissed, his fingers tightening over mine. “Yeah… just like that.”His skin was like hot velvet over steel, the weight of him intoxicating in my palm. I stroked him slowly, watching as h
~ALINA’S POV~His fingers dug into the bare skin of my inner thigh, pushing my dress higher, exposing me to the cool air of the car and to his hungry gaze.“Val—” I gasped, but his mouth was already on my neck, teeth scraping over my pulse point as his other hand fisted in my hair, tilting my head back.“Val?” he growled against my skin.My breath hitched.I could feel his eyes glued to me, quiet for a moment. Then, without a word, he reached up and flicked the dome light on.Warm, sudden light bathed the car’s interior, bright enough to make me squint.And there I was.His gaze roamed over me slowly, taking in the flush on my cheeks, the smudge of lipstick at the corner of my mouth, the way the strap of my dress had slipped off one shoulder.I swallowed.“Now I can see you properly,” he said, voice low, amused. “I can see how hungry you are for me.”My cheeks flushed red and I shifted under the weight of his gaze, acutely aware of every inch of skin the light touched.“I wasn’t hidin
~ALINA’S POV~I glared at him in disbelief.Is he high?He didn’t flinch, he just kept going. “Let me tell you the truth. I only made you sign that contract because I needed a wife. My Padrino wouldn’t let me ascend as Don unless I was married. I didn’t want to court anyone. No one seemed worthy. So… I used your father’s debt as an excuse to make you marry me.” His eyes locked onto mine. “I don’t care about the money anymore. Or the properties. I only care about you.” My heart thudded. I stared at him. Was he… being serious right now ? He didn’t care about the debt? About the inheritance? Maybe he wasn’t the devil the world made him out to be. Maybe there was a heart in there. A heart that just needed the right kind of love. Should I tell him about my father’s company? No. No, Alina. Don’t be stupid. He’s a mafia Don. They lie. He might feel this way now, but what if he wakes up tomorrow and changes his mind? What if I piss him off? What if he seizes everything? I’
~ALINA’S POV~The moment I stepped out of the car, all eyes turned to me.I felt it like heat on my skin.Heads turned, some subtly, others not even trying to hide their gawking.Val just smirked, proud and possessive, his hand sliding firmly around my waist like he was staking a claim. He didn’t say a word, but I felt his pride in every inch of that touch. Like he was saying; Don’t you dare look at her. She’s mine.A man walking past actually stumbled, his head craning so hard in my direction that he nearly walked into the wall. Somewhere near the valet station, a car screeched just a little too hard to a stop.Valentino gave a quiet laugh under his breath.“Easy,” he murmured with a smirk, his hand tightening around my waist.He was smug about it. And protective. And I… I liked it.We entered the restaurant, his hand never leaving mine. The restaurant was perched atop one of the tallest buildings in the city, the sixty-eighth floor, to be exact. As we stepped inside, I was hit w
~ALINA’S POV~“What? You’re seriously paying three times for that?” the lady hissed, loud enough for half the room to hear.Valentino didn’t flinch. His grip stayed firm on my waist, his presence a shield I didn’t realize I’d needed until that moment.The sales associate, unfazed by our exchange, pulled a machine out of his pocket and spoke softly, almost nervously. “Sir,” he said with a respectful nod. “Your PIN.”Still holding onto me, Valentino pressed his code with his free hand, his thumb moving over the keys swiftly.Beep. Beep.Tap.Confirmed.The screen flashed green. Payment Accepted.A beat of stunned silence followed.The woman scoffed, arms crossed so tight her fake nails looked like they were about to snap.“Whatever. Let him waste his money.”Her voice grated against my nerves, bitter and sour. I couldn’t stop the disgust curling in my chest as I looked at her—she had that sour energy of someone who thought being loud meant being a bad bitch.Her boyfriend looked like h
~ALINA’S POV~I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, clearly expecting her rotten attitude.“Yes,” I snapped. “Well, I’m buying it,” she said sweetly, then turned to her boyfriend. “Babe, get it for me,” she drawled, dusting invisible lint off his cheap-looking jacket. He hesitated—just a fraction, but it was enough to guess he couldn’t afford it. “You know I want it,” she pressed. “I said I saw it first,” I repeated, a little louder this time. She scoffed. “You think you can afford that? Please.” I stared at her. Did she really think I was going to roll over because she strutted in with designer heels and a man at her side? She laughed and said, “My man is buying it for me. You can go look at something cheaper.” I stepped forward. “No. I want this one.” “And you think your boyfriend can afford it?” she sneered. “Sweetheart, he’s probably out there trying to haggle a clearance rack. Oh, I forgot—a fat ugly bitch like you can’t afford to have a man. Who wants a
~ALINA’S POV~I slipped into the car, the door closing softly behind me as Valentino rounded the hood and climbed into the driver’s seat.He didn’t speak at first. He just started the engine, and the MC20 purred to life like a beast.Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” hummed low through the speakers. It was dark out, the kind of soft, hazy Toronto night where the streetlights looked like gold dust smeared across black silk.It was quiet… until my heart started doing this ridiculous flip inside my chest.He was taking me on a date. A real one.How? Why?He could’ve said a ride or a meal, but no—he said a date.And I couldn’t stop the butterflies that instantly scattered in my stomach.This wasn’t what I expected. This was supposed to be a contract marriage, a cold arrangement where we used each other to get what we wanted.I had a goal—to find out what happened to my parents, to claim my father’s empire, to rise on my own.But this… this felt like something else.The man beside me wa
~VALENTINO’S POV~Was this the woman I married?I stared at her, stunned, as she rose from her seat, slow and poised, like a queen in a court full of kings. She adjusted her dress lightly at the hips, her chin lifting with grace, and I could swear the temperature in the room shifted.There was fire in her—not forced, not loud. Just natural, and absolutely astonishing.God, she looked stunning.Mr. Herrera leaned back in his chair, fingers still folded beneath his chin, watching her like a man waiting to be proved wrong.I could hear Jerome’s breath hitch slightly. Mine almost did too. I hadn’t expected her to speak up. I wasn’t even sure she would.But here she was, standing in front of international investors, about to answer one of the most challenging business questions thrown at us so far.She inhaled once, then spoke.“Thank you, Mr. Herrera,” Alina began. “Now, to your question. You asked how Tino Autos plans to stay ahead of competitors who might launch similar prototypes by th
~ALINA’S POV~ I chuckled under my breath. “Wow… I didn’t know you were so playful,” I murmured, peering up at Valentino with a look of amused surprise. Inside, though, my thoughts were spiraling. Every moment with him revealed something new. He wasn’t just the cold-blooded Don the world feared. He was protective, calculated, and now… playful? I liked seeing these different layers. It made me wonder how many more were still hidden beneath that sharp suit and cold expression. Valentino turned his head slightly, lips curving into a slow, dangerous smirk. He leaned in, his mouth brushing close to my ear, his voice low enough to stir something deep in my chest. “Your Majesty,” he murmured, “there are many things you don’t know about me.” He paused for a beat, fingers brushing lightly along my spine as he straightened again. “But don’t worry, moglie … you will. Soon.”A warm rush bloomed in my chest. God… was I falling for this man?Jerome held the door open, and we stepped into the