Novel & Cerita Through Smoke And Steel: A Mafia Romance

I add instead, changing the subject abruptly. "I had to close a deal with an exporter for my restaurant…and underground olive oil smuggling," he answers nonchalantly, as if this is just another day at the office for him. Which, honestly, it kind of is. I guess you can take the man out of the mafia, but you can never take the mafia out of the man. "Smuggling, huh?" I tease, lowering my voice so the kids don't hear us. Dante shrugs again, sipping from his coffee. I do the same, welcoming the hot liquid into my system. It tastes surprisingly good. "Never took you for the house-husband," I add in a joking tone.

No moon tonight, just heavy clouds and the small red dot of a cigarette moving near the oleanders. Marco waited exactly where he said he would. He wore a long black coat and the same lazy smile he always used when he knew he had the upper hand. I stopped three steps away. He took a slow drag, dropped the cigarette, and crushed it under his shoe. “You’re late,” he said. “I’m here now.” He looked me over from my bare feet to my face and smiled wider. “Still wearing his kiss, I see.” I didn’t answer. He liked it when I stayed quiet, thought it meant he was winning.

Nicolai couldn't help but smile as he approached the chair where Alessia had obviously fallen asleep. The book that had dropped from her hands onto the thick carpet was facedown, its title Twisted Shifters – Four Twisted Romances. One Very Good Time. He picked it up and flipped through the pages, chuckling. Cursed Dildos and AI that came alive indeed. A faint blush dusted her cheeks from the warmth of the fire and he imagined her reading the steamy passages, lost in a world of make-believe lovers.

I couldn’t imagine that line had ever worked for him. He gave me a boyish smile that made him look like a charming musician that women chased after. “How about a dance instead then?” he asked. “Oh, yeah,” Scarlett answered quickly in my stead. “She’ll dance with you.” She nudged me towards him. I took his outstretched hand and his fingers wrapped around mine. I glanced at our connected hands and felt nothing. Darn, when would a man finally set off fireworks in me?

“Let’s pick up some pizza and head home. You know how your mother gets when she’s hungry.” He laughed. “Not as angry as you, Dad.” The Fifth Republic Series continues with Luca's story in The Emperor. Flip to the end of this book to read the first few chapters of his story and preorder it now. If you're looking for something new to read while you wait for The Emperor, I've got another mafia romance with a golden retriever that falls first and hard for the woman he's forbidden to touch. Read It Kills Me now! For those who are looking for a dark romance about a very morally grey alpha with black cat vibes where the MMC makes the FMC earn her freedom, read Buttons and Lace now.

Staring at the Prada shoes like the ones I’d bought my husband. “D’accordo.” Definitely Italian. What the fuck did that mean? “Don’t make me regret it.” Bile rose in my throat and I inhaled deeply to stop myself from retching. One of the men left, a pair of expensive Italian leather. Two remained. My heart raced. My vision swam. My ears buzzed. My lungs burned as I waited. Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bu-bum. Bang. The last bullet. It felt like the final bullet before it was my turn.

I guess he was a bit tipsy as he tried to find his way up the stairs, and I followed. But he was a mafia boss after all. He quickly noticed me and looked back as I immediately dodged and acted like I was also drunk. That way, he wouldn't even try to question me. He sighed and continued going up, and I followed. I was surprised by what I saw with just a little glimpse. When he opened the door, it was crowded with people. Cocains. They were manufacturing it. This was their main headquarters. “Vale,” I called. “Send in more men as much as possible. Let them hide in plain sight. This is their main headquarters. This is where they produce everything. I am not going to leave here until everything

Luca POV As soon as Matteo left, Dante started in on me, his voice sharp with suspicion. “Are you sure about this woman? She’s a stranger, Luca. You don’t know where her loyalty lies, and she might not be able to handle our way of life.” I poured a glass of whiskey, ignoring the weight in his tone. “Yes, I know that,” I said evenly. “But I’ve already made up my mind about her.” Dante leaned forward, jaw tight. “This isn’t like you. You don’t gamble with the family. What if she cracks under pressure? What if she runs? Or worse—what if she turns on us?” I set my glass down with a deliberate thud and fixed him with a cold stare. “She won’t.” He held my gaze, unblinking. “And if she does?” His m

The air was heavy with the odor of cigar smoke and dry leather — Samuel Blackwood's domain. The drapes were drawn to half and heavy with a sepia stillness that was man to the inch like the man. The oak desk, its surface worn to smoothness over decades of deal and betrayal, stood like an altar while the fire in the hearth crackled softly, producing only enough light to outline Samuel's face, his eyes shadowed under poor light. A knock at the door was heard.

Stephano doesn't respond to either of his parents, instead he spares me one more glance and stares at anything but me, mkaing me feel even worse than before as I'm faced with nothing but coldness. “Come, Alyssa… let us prepare,” Mrs Valentino says, gesturing towards the table for me to have a seat. I walk forward, brushing past Stephano just as the powerful scent of his cologne tingles my senses, making a wave of chills pass through me momentarily. Why does he have to smell so good... why does he have to be this handsome yet so cold and cruel...