The Mafia's Forbidden Heiress

Aria’s POV Luciano Cortez. The son of my father’s murderer. The man I was meant to hate forever. The man I had been slaved to. He was tall, about six foot two, broad-shouldered, with dark brown hair and piercing grey eyes. He carried a presence that demanded obedience without ever raising his voice. The resemblance to the former Don was unmistakable. In that moment, it became clear he was Luciano, the new Don everyone feared. “Where were you,” Luciano’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and cold, “when my uncle Ricardo was harassing her?” The fat man stiffened. His face was drained of color. Sweat broke out on his forehead, soaking into his collar. His lips trembled as he tried to speak. “I… I went to ease myself, sir,” he stammered. “I only stepped away for a minute.” Luciano turned slowly, his movements calm but terrifying. He took one step closer. Then another. “You left her alone,” he said quietly. “In a room full of animals.” The fat man’s knees shook so badly I th

Aria’s POV “They want you upstairs.” Rosa’s voice was barely louder than a whisper, but it froze me where I stood. In this house, upstairs meant only one thing. Luciano Cortez. My fingers tightened around the damp rag in my hand until my knuckles burned. Soapy water dripped onto the tiled floor, spreading slowly, but I didn’t notice. My heart began to pound slowly at first, then faster, heavier, like something inside me was waking up and screaming to be let out. I already knew Rosa wouldn’t answer me, but I asked anyway. “What does he want from me this time?” I whispered. As usual she didn’t answer. Rosa never spoke more than she had to. And when she did, her words came wrapped in fear, heavy, short and with a state of urgency. She only looked at me, her eyes filled with something close to pity. That scared me more than words ever could. I dropped the rag into the bucket and wiped my wet hands on my skirt. The kitchen smelled of spices, oil, and warm bread. The smell mocked

Luciano Pov I should not be thinking about her. Aria was everything I had sworn to hate — the daughter of Simone Ginne, the man whose betrayal had stained my family with blood. Yet here I stood, alone in my bedroom, shirt discarded on the floor, and my hands braced hard against the edge of my heavy oak desk.The rain had stopped hours ago, but the memory of her soft moans still echoed inside my head like a dangerous song I could not silence. Her scent clung to my skin even now. Her body, oh the way she had come apart beneath me.Lightning flashed outside the tall windows, casting sharp shadows across the room. The single lamp on my desk gave off a low amber glow that did nothing to calm the storm raging in my chest.I could still see her mouth; those full lips forming a perfect curve when she gasped my name. She had not kissed me like a scared captive. No. Her kisses had been hungry, demanding, matching every thrust I gave her with equal fire. Her fingers had clutched the sheets, her

Aria POV The mansion felt too quiet after Luciano left. I stayed in the kitchenette, slowly wiping the counter even though it was already clean. My burned thumb still stung, but my mind was somewhere else.Then I heard the front door open downstairs. I could hear heavy footsteps echoing through the hall. He was back.I stepped into the hallway just as Luciano appeared at the far end. His coat hung open, his jaw was set like stone, and his eyes looked darker than before. The drunk man from earlier was gone. In his place stood someone angry.“What happened?” I asked carefully.He stopped right in front of me and stared at my face for a long moment before his gaze dropped to my bandaged thumb.“Go to bed,” he said.“That’s not an answer, Luciano.”“We have work tomorrow.”His voice was short and sharp, like he was holding back anger.“Luciano…”“A container docked at the port tonight,” he cut in. “It carried my seal, my codes, and my registry numbers.”My stomach tightened. “But you did

Luciano POV Mateo didn’t knock.He strolled into my study like the mansion still belonged to his side of the family, arms spread wide with fake warmth.“Cousin!” he said cheerfully. “It has been too long. How have you been?”I remained seated behind my desk, irritation rising fast in my chest. I didn’t bother hiding it.“You should have called first,” I said flatly.Mateo smiled wider and dropped into the chair opposite me without waiting for an invitation. He crossed one leg over the other, looking far too comfortable.“I was in the area,” he replied smoothly.“You are never just in the area,” I shot back. “What do you want, Mateo?”He chuckled softly, but his eyes stayed sharp. “Straight to business as always. I heard about the container at the port. Word travels fast in our world.”“Of course it does,” I muttered. “Your father sent you?”“My father sends his greetings,” Mateo said, leaning forward slightly. “He is… concerned about you. He wants to know how far you have gone in fin