Bound by Honor (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 1)

Gianna managed to get a ticket for a flight two days later. I was brimming with excitement that day. It hadn’t been long since I’d last seen her, but it felt like eternity. It was already getting dark outside when Luca and I pulled up at JFK. I wished Gianna could have gotten a morning or afternoon flight instead.

Since my comment that Luca would kill me in order to protect the Familia, he’d been emotionally withdrawn, not that he’d been an open book even before that. The only way we interacted was at night when Luca pleasured me with his hands and mouth, and I him in turn. Maybe without Gianna’s impending visit, I’d have tried to talk to him or even pleaded him to show me where he worked, instead I’d given him the space he obviously wanted. Luca parked the car and we got out. He didn’t try to take my hand. I didn’t think he was the type of man who held hands, but he touched my lower back as we entered the arrival area of the airport.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay with Gianna living with us for the next few days?”

“Yes. And I promised your father to protect her. It’s easier when she’s living in our apartment.”

“She will provoke you,” I said.

“I can handle a little girl.”

“She’s not that little. She’s barely younger than me.”

“I can handle her.”

“Luca,” I said firmly. “Gianna knows how to push people’s buttons. If you aren’t absolutely sure that you can control yourself, I won’t let her near you.”

Luca’s eyes blazed. He’d been on edge all day. “Don’t worry. I won’t kill her or you in the next few days.”

I took a step back. Where did that come from? Was he angry because of what I’d said? It was the truth; we both knew it.

“Aria!”

I whirled around. Gianna rushed toward me, dropping her trolley on the way. We collided almost painfully, but I clutched her to myself tightly. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered.

She nodded, then pulled back, searching my face. “No visible bruises,” she said loudly, her gaze darting behind me toward Luca. “You only hit places that are covered by clothes?”

I gripped her hand and gave her a warning look.

“Get your luggage,” Luca ordered. “I don’t want to stand here all night.”

Gianna glared at him but retrieved her trolley and returned to us. “A gentleman would have got it for me.”

“A gentleman, yes,” Luca said with a tight smile.

We walked back to our car, my arm linked with Gianna’s. Luca walked a few steps ahead and got behind the steering wheel without a word.

“What’s the matter with him? He’s even more of an asshole than I remember.”

“I think the Russians are giving him trouble.”

“Aren’t they always?” Gianna put her trolley into the trunk of the car before we both sat in the backseat.

Luca raised his eyebrows at me. “I’m not your driver. Get in the front with me.”

I was taken aback but his harshness but I did as he said and sat shotgun. Gianna’s face was scrunched up with anger. “You shouldn’t talk to her like that.”

“She’s my wife. I can do and say to her what I want.”

I frowned. Luca turned to me, meeting my gaze. I couldn’t place the look in his eyes. He turned back to the street.

“How are Lily and Fabi?”

“Annoying as hell. Especially Lily. She doesn’t stop talking about Romero. She’s in love with him.”

I laughed, and even Luca’s lips twitched. I wasn’t sure why but I reached out and put my hand on his leg. His eyes snapped toward me briefly, then he covered my hand with his until he needed it to shift gears again. Gianna’s eyes were attentive as they watched. She’d bombard me with questions the moment we were alone, no doubt.

***

When we stepped into the apartment, the smell of roast lamb and rosemary wafted over to us.

“I told Marianna to prepare a nice dinner,” Luca said. Gianna’s red eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Thank you,” I said.

Luca nodded. “Show your sister to her room and then we can eat.” He was still withdrawn and stiff.  I watched him head around the corner toward the kitchen area.

I showed Gianna her guestroom, but she quickly pulled me inside and closed the door. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I told you on the phone. I’m fine.”

“I prefer to hear you say it when I can see your face.”

“I’m not lying to you, Gianna.”

She gripped my hand. “Did he force you to sleep with him?”

“No, he didn’t. And I haven’t.”

Her eyes widened. “But something happened between the two of you. I want details.”

I pulled away. “We need to have dinner now. Marianna will be mad if the food gets cold. We can talk tomorrow when Luca’s busy with business.”

“Tomorrow,” Gianna said firmly.

I opened the door and led her toward the dining area. Her eyes took everything in, then became slits when she saw who else would be having dinner with us: Matteo. He and Luca stood beside the table, discussing something, but stepped apart when they noticed us.

“What’s he doing here?” Gianna said, her nose wrinkled.

Flashing his shark grin, Matteo walked toward her and gripped her hand to kiss it. “Nice to see you again, Gianna.”

Gianna snatched her hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

She needed to stop provoking him; he liked it way too much. Luca and I sat beside each other and Matteo beside Gianna. I wasn’t sure that was the best decision. I glanced at Luca, but his cautious gaze rested on his brother and my sister.

Marianna bustled in, serving roast lamb, rosemary potatoes and green beans. We ate in silence for a while until Gianna couldn’t keep her tongue anymore. “Why did you crush that guy’s throat?”

I put my fork down, expecting Luca to explode but he only leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

Gianna huffed. “Come on. It can’t be that big of a secret. You got your nickname for it.”

Matteo grinned. “The Vice is a nice name.”

Luca shook his head. “I hate it.”

“You earned it,” Matteo said. “Now tell them the story or I will.”

I’d been curious about it for a while. Nobody from the Chicago mob wanted to give me details and I hadn’t dared to ask Romero yet.

“I was seventeen,” Luca began. “Our father has many brothers and sisters, and one of my cousins climbed the ranks in the mafia alongside me. He was several years older and wanted to become Capo. He knew my father would choose me, so he invited me to his house and tried to stab me in the back. The knife only graced my arm and when I got the chance I wrapped my hands around his throat and choked him.”

“Why didn’t you shoot him?” Gianna asked.

“He was family and it used to be tradition that we put down our weapons when we entered the home of a family member,” Luca said coldly. “Not anymore, of course.”

“The betrayal made Luca so angry, he completely crushed our cousin’s throat. He choked on his blood because the bones in his neck cut through his artery. It was a mess. I’d never seen anything like it.” Matteo looked like a kid on Christmas morning. It was more than a little disturbing.

Luca glared down at his plate, hands clutching his thighs. No wonder he didn’t like to trust people. To be betrayed by family must have been horrible.

“That’s why Luca always sleeps with an eye open. He never even spends the night with a woman without a gun under the pillow or somewhere at his body.”

Luca shot his brother a glower.

Matteo raised his hands. “It’s not like Aria doesn’t know you screwed around with other women.”

I didn’t think that was the reason for Luca’s reaction.

“So are you wearing a gun now?” Gianna asked. “We’re all family after all.”

“Luca always wears a gun.” Matteo leaned toward Gianna. “Don’t take it personally. I don’t think even I have seen him without a gun since that day. It’s Luca’s tic.”

Luca didn’t wear a gun when we were alone. He wore one when Romero or Marianna were there, even when Matteo was there, but when Luca and I shared a bed, there wasn’t a gun under his pillow or anywhere else. That’s probably because he could overpower you with his hands bound behind his back. Still it seemed like an unnecessary risk.

Luca spent the rest of dinner, tense and silent, but Gianna’s and Matteo’s arguments filled the silence. I wasn’t sure who got off more on their fights.

When we were done eating, I got up to clean the table. Marianna had already left and I didn’t want to leave the dirty dishes waiting for her when she came back tomorrow. Luca surprised me when he rose as well and carried the serving platters and plates over to the dishwasher. I yawned, exhausted.

“Let’s go to bed,” Luca said quietly.

I glanced at Gianna. There was so much I wanted to talk to her about, but it was late and tomorrow was another day. “Not before Matteo leaves. I won’t leave him and my sister alone.”

Luca nodded grimly. “You are right. She shouldn’t be alone with him.” He went over to Matteo and put a hand on his shoulder before leaning down and saying something into his ear. Matteo’s face darkened with anger but he rose smoothly, gave Gianna his shark grin and then walked out of the apartment without another word.

Gianna came toward me. “He’s obsessed with me.”

Worry clawed at my insides. “Then stop teasing him. He likes it.”

“I don’t care what he likes.”

Luca leaned beside me against the counter, his arm sneaking around my waist to Gianna’s obvious displeasure. “Matteo is a hunter. He loves the chase. You better not make him want to chase you.”

I worried it might already be too late for that warning. Gianna rolled her eyes. “He can hunt me all he wants. He won’t get me.” She looked at me. “You don’t intend to go to bed now, right?”

“I’m really tired,” I said guiltily.

Gianna’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, me too. But tomorrow I want you all to myself.” She gave Luca a pointed look before heading off toward her room. She paused in her doorway. “If I hear screams, no gun under a pillow will save you, Luca.” With that, she closed her door.

Luca brushed my ear with his lips. “Will you scream for me tonight?” He licked my skin and I shivered.

“Not with my sister under the same roof,” I said, even as a tingling between my legs betrayed me.

“We’ll see about that,” Luca growled, then gently bit my throat. I moaned, but quickly bit my lip to stifle the sound. Luca took my hand and pulled me upstairs. With every step that we got closer to the bedroom, the pressure between my legs increased. I couldn’t believe how eager my body was for his touch, for the release he brought me. It was the only time I forgot everything about my life, the only time I was free of the shackles in our world.

Luca slammed the door shut behind us and I hoped it wouldn’t draw Gianna’s attention. But I didn’t have much time for worry because Luca pulled my dress off, then he lifted me into his arms, only to lay me down in the middle of the bed. Luca pressed a kiss against my lace panties, inhaling, before he kissed my stomach and my ribs, then my breasts through the lace of my bra.

“Mine,” he growled against my skin, making me tremble with arousal. He slid his hands under my back and unclasped my bra and slowly pulled it off. My nipples were hard. “I fucking love your nipples. They’re pink and small and perfect.”

I pressed my legs together, but Luca gripped my panties and slipped them down. He ran a finger over my folds, smirking. His hungry gaze returned to my breasts and he bent his head and trailed his tongue from one nipple to the other. I moaned softly. He took his time with my breasts and when he slowly moved lower I was already panting. His lips found my folds, teasing and gentle, then suddenly his tongue slid out hard and fast, and I covered my mouth with my palm, stifling my gasps and cries.

“No,” Luca snarled. He gripped both of my wrists in his hand and pressed them against my stomach, trapping them there.

My eyes widened. “Gianna will hear.”

He smirked and sucked my clit hard and fast, then gentle and soft. I whimpered and moaned, my body trembling from the effort to keep quiet. “Oh god,” I gasped as Luca slipped his finger achingly slow into me, then eased in and out in rhythm with his sucks on my clit. I buried my face in the pillow. Luca’s grip on my wrists tightened and pleasure ripped through me. I cried out into the pillow, my back arching, legs quavering.

Luca moved up my body until he bent over me, knees between my spread legs. “When will you let me take you?” he whispered harshly against my throat.

I turned to stone. Luca raised his head, eyes meeting mine. “Fuck. Why do you have to look so fucking scared when I ask you that question?”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I just need more time.”

Luca nodded, but there was a deep need in his eyes that seemed to grow every day.

I ran my hands over his chest, feeling his gun holster beneath the shirt. He sat back and I leaned forward, beginning to unbutton his shirt, revealing his toned torso and the black holster with his gun and knife. Luca took off his shirt and I opened the holster, helping him out of it. He thrust it to the ground. Matteo’s words came back to me and I ran my hands over Luca naked chest.

I pressed a kiss against Luca’s tattoo, then against the healing wound over his ribs. I brushed Luca’s nipples with my fingertips and he groaned in response. He quickly got out of his pants. I lowered my lips to his erection but paused an inch from his tip. “If you’re not quiet, I’ll stop.”

Luca’s eyes flashed. He put his hand on my head. “Maybe I won’t allow you to stop.”

“Maybe I’ll bite.”

Luca chuckled. “Have your way with me, I won’t make a sound. Don’t want to offend your sister’s virgin ears.”

“What about my virgin ears?” I kissed his tip.

“You shouldn’t still be one,” Luca said in a low voice. I took his erection into my mouth to distract him. He made a sound deep in his throat, then quieted as I took care of him.

I pulled back again before he came.

After he’d cleaned himself, Luca spooned me.

“I’m sorry for what your cousin did,” I said into the darkness.

“I should have known better than to trust anyone. Trust is a luxury people in my position can’t afford.”

You can trust me, I wanted to say because he could. No matter how much I tried to fight it, I had fallen for him. “Life without trust is lonely.”

“Yes, it is.” He kissed the back of my neck, then we fell silent.

***

Luca was asleep when I woke, his body wrapped around mine, his hardness pressing against my lower back. I untangled myself and slipped into the bathroom. It wasn’t late yet, but Gianna was an early riser and I couldn’t wait to spend the day with her. I took a long shower, feeling more awake already. I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around myself, then went back into the bedroom. Luca sat on the edge of the bed but got up when I entered. His erection jutted out. I gave him a teasing smile as he curled his fingers over my hipbones. “Hard again?”

He growled. “I’m always hard for you. One day my balls are going to explode.”

I could hear movement somewhere in the apartment, then a curse. Gianna was awake. “I should go to her.”

“Oh no, you won’t,” Luca rasped. He kissed me possessively and I stood on my tiptoes to make it easier for him. One kiss couldn’t hurt, but the way Luca was grinding himself against me I knew he wanted more than a kiss. He turned me around and pulled me flush against his chest so his erection pressed into my back.

I gasped. We were facing the floor length mirror across from the bed. Luca gripped the towel and pulled it down, leaving me naked. He kissed my throat, eyes on me through the mirror. His strong hands traveled up my sides and cupped my breasts. He captured my nipples between his forefinger and thumb, and twirled them. My lips parted and a soft moan escaped.

I could hear Gianna coming up the stairs toward our floor. Oh god.

Luca pinched my nipples, then tugged. I closed my eyes at the delicious sensation that swept through me. He peppered my throat and collarbone with kisses and licks while his hand slid down the valley between my breasts, over my stomach and between my thighs. Gianna stopped outside of our bedroom. Luca flicked his thumb over my clit and I bit down on my lip to stop myself from moaning.

“Aria? Are you awake?”

“Your sister is a fucking nuisance,” Luca muttered in my ear, then licked the skin below before sucking it. His index finger slid between my folds, then entered me. I exhaled. “But you’re so fucking wet, principessa.” A new wave of wetness pooled between my legs. “Yes,” Luca growled into my ear. His eyes bored into me in the mirror and I couldn’t look away. His finger slipped in and out of me, spreading my wetness all over my folds.

I couldn’t believe he was making me watch him fingering me. I couldn’t believe how much it turned me on. His fingers pinched my nipple again, harder this time and I could feel it all the way in my clit. I whimpered.

“Aria?” Gianna hammered against the door. God, she wouldn’t stop. I tried to pull away. This was wrong. I couldn’t do this with my sister outside of the door. Luca smirked, his grip on me tightening. His second hand moved down and rubbed my clit while his other kept slipping in and out of me. I was spiraling out of control. His lips crashed down on mine, swallowing my moans as pleasure washed over me. My legs spasmed and I rocked myself against Luca’s hands as I came hard. Luca didn’t stop moving his hands, even as I tried to step away. Instead he pushed against my shoulders until I leaned forward, my hands coming up to support me against the mirror. My eyes grew wide when he knelt behind me, palming my butt and then spreading me. And then his tongue was there, sliding over my folds. He licked the entire length of me. I tensed when his tip slid along my back entrance and he quickly returned his mouth to my clit. I lost all sense of myself, even as I heard Gianna’s insistent knocking and her occasional calls. All that mattered was Luca’s tongue as it drove me higher and higher. This had to be wrong, but it felt too good. I bit the inside of my cheek and as pain and pleasure mingled my second orgasm crashed over me. My legs gave way and I fell to my knees beside Luca, panting and gasping, and hoping Gianna couldn’t hear it.

I glared at Luca, but he smirked, hunger on his face. He stood, and his erection twitched. I watched as he began stroking himself in front of my face. I knew what he wanted. I parted my lips and he slid his tip in. The saltiness of his pre-cum spread on my tongue. I couldn’t believe I was blowing Luca with Gianna close by, but the wrongness of it turned me on even more. What was wrong with me? Luca caressed my cheek as his other hand cupped the back of my head. His eyes never left me as he slowly slid in and out of my mouth. I wasn’t sure why I liked it, but I did.

“You’re so beautiful, Aria,” he murmured, pushing a bit deeper into my mouth. I swirled my tongue around his tip and he exhaled sharply, so I did it again.

Gianna’s step receded down the stairs but I kept sucking Luca, slow and sensually. Luca’s hand guided me, a light pressure against my head. I sucked him faster, increasing the pressure of my lips. “Cup my balls.”

I did. I loved how soft they felt in my palm. Luca rocked his hips faster. “I want to come in your mouth, principessa,” he said harshly. I wasn’t sure if that was something I’d like, but Luca didn’t mind tasting me down there, so I should at least give it a try. I nodded and sucked him deeper into my mouth. Luca growled, his hips bucking faster. After a few more thrusts, he came in my mouth. I swallowed. It tasted strange and was more than I’d thought it would be but it wasn’t exactly bad.

Luca still stroked my cheek as he softened in my mouth. He pulled back, his penis sliding out from between my lips. I swallowed again. Luca grabbed my arm and lifted me to my feet, his mouth crashing down on mine in a fierce kiss. He didn’t mind tasting himself on me. “I hope you remember this all day.”

***

Luca left shortly after breakfast and Gianna immediately pulled me out onto the roof terrace, away from Romero’s attentive ears.

“What’s going on? You’ve been acting strange all morning. Why didn’t you answer when I called you this morning?”

I looked away, a blush spreading on my cheeks. Gianna’s eyes shot open. “What did he do?”

“He went down on me,” I admitted.

“You let him?”

I laughed. “Yes.” More heat rose into my cheeks at the sound of eagerness in my voice.

Gianna leaned forward. “You like it?”

“I love it.”

Gianna bit her lip. “I hate thinking about you with him, but you really seem to enjoy it. I guess it has its advantages that Luca fucked every society girl in New York.”

I didn’t want to think about it.

“So how does it feel?”

“As if I’m shattering. It’s overwhelming and amazing, and I don’t know how to describe it.”

“But you didn’t sleep with him?”

I shook my head. “Not yet, but I don’t think Luca wants to wait much longer.”

“Fuck him. He can screw himself.” She narrowed her eyes. “Did he make you blow him?”

“He didn’t make me. I wanted to do it.”

Gianna looked doubtful. “And? Tell me more. You know I have to vicariously live through you. I’m so fucking tired of being under surveillance all day. I want a boyfriend. I want to have sex and have orgasms.”

I snorted. “I doubt Father will allow it.”

“I don’t intend to ask him,” Gianna said with a shrug. “I’m here now. Nobody’s stopping me from having fun, right?”

My eyes widened. “Father would kill me if I let you hook up with guys while you were here.”

“He doesn’t have to know, does he?” She shrugged again. “It’s not like I would tell him.”

I gaped, then laughed. “Well, unless you want to seduce Romero or Matteo your options are kind of limited.”

“Ugh, no. I don’t want either of them. I want a normal guy. A guy who doesn’t know who I am.”

“Well, I don’t know how we could find a guy for you.”

Gianna grinned. “How about we hit a club?”

“Romero won’t let me out of his sight after I ran away from him once. There’s no way we can escape him and go off to a club.”

Gianna contemplated this. I worried about the crazy plan she might come up with. I actually liked the idea of going out for a night of dancing. I’d always imagined how it would be to spend a night on the dance floor and let loose.

“Romero can come with us. He’s guarding you, not me. Maybe I can slip away.”

“And then what? A quickie in a restroom stall? Do you really want to experience all your firsts like that?”

Gianna glared. “At least, I’d experience them on my own terms. It would be my choice. You don’t have a choice at all. Luca and Father took them all away. I don’t get how you can be so calm about it. How can you not hate Luca?”

Sometimes I wondered that myself. “I should hate him.”

Gianna’s face crumbled. “But you don’t. Fuck, Aria, do you actually care about him? Love him?”

“Would you really prefer I hate him and be miserable?”

“He treats you like a prisoner. You don’t really believe Romero is just for your protection, right? He keeps an eye on you, so no other guy gets a piece of you.”

I knew that. “Let’s go shopping.”

“Really? That’s so trophy wife of you.”

“Shut up,” I said teasingly, wanting to light the mood. “Shopping for hot outfits for tonight. We can hit one of Luca’s clubs.”

Gianna grinned. “I want to wear something that gives guys a fucking boner from looking at me.”

***

Romero had waited outside the store while we went shopping. He’d probably checked beforehand if there was a back entrance we could use to escape. I hadn’t told him about our plan to head out to a club yet. It was better if I sprang it on him at the last moment.

Gianna whistled as I turned around so she could admire my outfit. “Holy shit. You are sex on legs. Or maybe death on legs, because Luca will probably kill every guy that looks at you the wrong way.”

I rolled my eyes. “Luca won’t kill anyone for looking.”

“Wanna bet on that?”

No, I wouldn’t. I’d never worn anything that sexy in public. The black leather pants hugged my body so tightly, they looked like a second skin. The sheer black sleeveless blouse I’d tugged into my waistband, revealed my sparkly push-up bra below.

“You don’t look too shabby either,” I said.

Gianna jumped up from my bed. “You think?” She flashed me a seductive smile. She really looked smoking hot in her black tights and black leather hot pants.

“You’re jailbait.” Good thing we didn’t have to worry about getting carded. I linked our arms and led her out of the bedroom and down the staircase. Romero was sitting on the sofa, cleaning his knife. His eyes darted up and he stilled completely. His gaze wandered over our bodies. He’d never openly stared at me.

“Are you checking us out?” I couldn’t help but tease him. He was always so controlled. This small flicker of humanness was a relief.

He stood abruptly, sheathing the knife into its holder. His eyes were again firmly focused on my face. “What’s going on?” There was a hint of strain in his voice.

I walked up to him and he actually tensed as if he thought I would jump in. That almost made me laugh. “Gianna and I want to go to Marquee.” That was one of the hottest clubs in town.

Romero shook his head. “That belongs to the Bratva.”

“Oh, what’s hottest club that belongs to the Familia then?”

Romero didn’t say anything at first. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, probably to call Luca. Something snapped in me then. I couldn’t believe he needed to ask Luca permission. I gave Gianna a look and nodded toward Romero who had started typing. She sidled up to him and actually squeezed his butt. He jumped and I used the moment to snatch his phone from him. He took a threatening step toward me, eyes blazing with anger, then he froze. “Aria,” he said. “Give it back.”

I slipped the phone into my waistband. The pants were tight enough that there wasn’t a risk of it slipping down.

Gianna stepped away from Romero, grinning. “Why don’t you shove your hand down Aria’s pants and get it. I’ll take a pic and send it to Luca.”

Romero’s eyes lingered on the shape of his phone in my pants, but I knew he wouldn’t try to get it. “This isn’t funny.”

“No it isn’t, you’re right,” I said sharply. “I’m an adult. If I tell you to take me to a club, I don’t want you to ask my husband for permission. I’m not a child, nor am I his property.”

“You are Luca’s,” Romero said calmly.

I stepped up to him, so close that I had to tilt my head back. “Gianna and I are going to a club. So unless you want to keep me at gunpoint, you’ll drive us there or let us leave alone.”

Romero’s jaw tightened. The look in his eyes made me realize why he was my bodyguard. For the first time I was reminded that Romero was a killer. “I’ll drive you. But you will go to Sphere. It’s Luca’s.”

“Is it any good?” Gianna asked.

“It’s hotter than the fucking Marquee.” Romero was really pissed.

“Take us there then.” He put on his jacket and led us to the elevator. “Luca won’t like it,” he said.

***

Gianna and I sat in the back as Romero steered the car through traffic. I pulled the phone out and checked what Romero had been writing.

A wants to hit a club. Permission?

He had managed to send it off before I’d snatched it, but Luca’s reply had come afterward.

No

My blood boiled. Gianna huffed. “I can’t fucking believe his nerve.”

Romero glanced at us through the rearview mirror. “Did Luca reply?”

“Yeah,” I said. “He said you should stay close at all times.”

Romero bought my lie and actually relaxed. Gianna winked. Luca would go through the roof, but I really couldn’t bring myself to care. Romero parked the car in a side alley and led us around the building. A long line of partygoers waited in front of the entrance but Romero ushered us past it.

“Hey you stupid fucker, there’s a line,” a guy shouted. Romero stopped, a cold anger replacing his usual calm.

“Go ahead,” Romero said to us before he turned around to the guy. Gianna gripped my hand and dragged me toward the two bouncers at the front. They were as tall and muscled as Luca.

“You don’t look old enough to hit a club,” the dark-skinned man said.

“Is that a problem?” Gianna asked with a flirty smile.

The man’s eyes moved to something behind me. “Romero,” he said with a hint of confusion.

“She belongs to the boss, Jorge. This is Aria Vitiello and her sister Gianna Scuderi of the Chicago Outfit.”

Both men stared at me, then stepped back respectfully. “We didn’t know she was coming tonight. The boss didn’t say anything,” Jorge said.

Romero grimaced, but didn’t say anything. Instead he led Gianna and me inside, past the cloakroom tinged in bluish light and a bar area. Behind it the doors opened to a dark dance floor. Blue and white light flashed and hip hop beats blasted toward us. Gianna tugged at my hand, wanting to go in that direction.

“We should go to Luca first,” Romero said.

“He’s here?” I asked surprised.

Romero nodded. “The club has several backrooms and a basement where we handle some business.”

“Why don’t you go tell him I’m here while Gianna and I hit the dance floor.”

Romero gave me a look. “No chance in hell.”

“That’s your problem then. Gianna and I are going dancing.” Romero grasped my wrist. I tensed. “Let me go right this second,” I hissed and he did, his chest heaving. Gianna and I walked into the club. The beat vibrated under our feet as if the floor had come to life. The club was crowded with writhing bodies. Romero shadowed my sister and me as we squeezed through the throng of dancers toward another bar area.

“Two gin tonic,” I said. The barman frowned briefly before noticing Romero, then he prepared our drinks and handed them to us. Romero leaned over the bar and said something to the man, who nodded and walked around the bar. I knew what it meant. I took a deep gulp of my drink, then set it down and moved onto the dance floor.

I let the music claim my body and started writhing to the beat. Gianna grinned widely, throwing her head back. She looked happier than I’d seen her in a long time. She moved her hips and butt, shaking and rotating her hips. I stepped closer and mimicked her motions. Our eyes locked as we lost all sense of everything around us, as we let the beat carry away who we were. I wasn’t sure where Romero was and I didn’t care. This felt like freedom.

Men were watching us. I didn’t return their hungry gazes. It wouldn’t be fair to lead them on. Gianna didn’t share my restraint. She smiled and flirted, batted her eyelashes and ran her hands through her hair. A few men started dancing around us. Gianna pressed up to one of them, hands on his chest. Another man raised his eyebrows at me, but I shook my head. He opened his mouth then closed it and backed away.

I didn’t need to look back. I kept dancing. I knew who was behind me, knew from the looks of respect from the men around me, from the looks of admiration from the women. I rotated my hips, thrust my butt out, raised my arms. Firm hands came down on my hips. For a second I worried they belonged to some suicidal idiot, but they were the strong big hands I knew. I arched, pressing my butt against a crotch. I smiled. I was wrenched against a muscled body and Luca’s hot breath brushed my ear. “Who are you dancing for?”

I tilted my head to stare into his blazing gray eyes. “You. Only you.”

Luca’s expression was hungry, but there was still a hint of anger too. “What are you doing here?”

“Dancing.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I told Romero ‘no’”

“I’m not your possession Luca. Don’t treat me like one.”

His fingers on my waist tightened. “You are mine Aria, and I protect what’s mine.”

“I don’t mind being protected, but I do mind being imprisoned.” I turned in Luca’s arms, catching a glimpse of Gianna in a heated argument with Matteo. “Dance with me,” I shouted.

And Luca did. I knew from photos on the internet that he’d often been to clubs in the past and it became obvious when he moved his body. A man as tall and muscled as him shouldn’t be able to move so smoothly. His eyes never left mine, his hands possessive on my waist. Luca bent his head toward me to whisper in my ear. “You look fucking hot, Aria. Every man in the club wants you and I want to kill them all.”

“I’m only yours,” I said fiercely, and God help me it was the truth, not just because of the ring on my finger that marked me as his. Luca’s lips crashed down on mine, fierce and demanding and possessive, and I opened up for him, letting him claim me in front of everyone.

“I’m so fucking hard,” Luca growled against my lips and I could feel his erection against my stomach. “Fuck. I have a call set up with one of our distributors in five minutes.” I didn’t ask what they were distributing. I didn’t want to know.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Come back when you have time. I’m going to grab a drink.”

“Go to the VIP area.”

I shook my head. “I want to pretend I’m an ordinary girl tonight.”

“Nobody who looks at you will think you are ordinary.” His eyes travelled the length of my body and I shivered. Then he took a step back, regret obvious on his face. “Cesare and Romero will keep an eye on you.” I was about to nod when I noticed a familiar face in the VIP area, watching me. Grace.

My breath caught. She sat on another man’s lap so she wasn’t here for Luca but the look in her eyes said it all. She wasn’t over him. Luca followed my gaze and cursed. “She’s not here because of me.”

“Yes, she is.”

“I can’t throw her out. She comes here all the time to party. I haven’t seen her since that night. I usually stay in the back.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. Luca took my chin between his thumb and index finger, forcing me to meet his eyes. “There’s only you, Aria.” He glanced at his watch, then pulled back. “I really need to go now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He turned and strode through the crowd that parted for him. Matteo followed after him and Gianna stepped up beside me. “That asshole.”

“Who?” I said distractedly. Grace had disappeared from the VIP area.

“Matteo. The guy has the nerve to tell me not to dance with other men. What is he? My owner. Fuck him.” She paused. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “Let’s go to the bar.” Romero and Cesare fell into step behind us but I turned around to them, feeling on edge. “Can you watch us from afar? You’re driving me crazy.” Without a word they separated and took positions in corners of the club. I released a breath and settled on a barstool.

I ordered two new Gin & Tonics and took a deep gulp from the cool liquid, trying to relax. Gianna jiggled her leg. “You can go dancing,” I told her, but she shook her head and bobbed her head to the music. “In a few minutes. You look pale.”

“I’m okay,” I said, my eyes searching the club for a sign of Grace, but she seemed to have vanished into thin air. There were too many people on the dance floor to find her anyway.

“I really need to go to the restroom,” Gianna said after a while. Her Gin & Tonic was almost gone.

“I need to sit for a few more minutes.”

Gianna gave me a worried look but then she slipped away and Cesare followed at a safe distance.

I put my head in my palm, taking a deep breath. An arm bumped against mine, startling me. I drew back as a man with long blond hair leaned against the counter beside me. He reached past me for a straw. His jacket brushed my breast and I leaned even further back, and glanced away, uncomfortable with the look he was giving me.

“What’s your name?” he shouted.

I tried to ignore him. Something about him was seriously giving me the creeps. I took a sip from my drink and tried to pretend I was busy searching for someone. The man kept leering at me with an ugly smile on his unshaven face. “Are you waiting for someone?”

I turned away, really trying to ignore him and not make a big deal out of this. If I started freaking out, Romero would come over and make a scene. Maybe he was already on his way. My vision started to blur and my stomach gave a lurch. I took another sip from my drink but it didn’t help. I slid off the stool but my legs were shaky and I felt dizzy. I grabbed the counter behind me. Suddenly, the man’s mouth was at my ear, his stale-cigarette breath on my face. “I’m going to fuck your tight ass. I’ll make you scream, bitch.” His grip on my arm was crushing as he tried to drag me away from the bar. My eyes found Romero who was steering toward me, hand under his jacket where his gun and knife were. Impatient by our slow progress, my attacker wrapped an arm around me like a loving boyfriend ready to help his drunk girlfriend out of the club. “I’ll fuck you like an animal. I’ll fuck you bloody, cunt,” he rasped into my ear. I stared at him, my limbs feeling heavy, my mouth like it was filled with cotton. I’d heard those exact words not too long ago.

I forced my lips into a smile. “You are a dead man.”

Confusion flickered across the man’s face a second before it contorted in agony. He released me and my legs gave away, but Cesare caught me, his arm replacing that of the man. My eyes darted around for Gianna. She hovered beside Cesare, face drawn in worry. Romero was close behind my attacker, his knife buried in the man’s upper thigh. “You will follow us. If you try to run, you’ll die.”

“Take her drink,” Cesare said to Gianna. “But don’t drink.”

Cesare half carried me toward the back of the club and down a flight of stairs. He shouldered open a door and we walked into a sort of office. Matteo rose from his chair. “What’s going on?”

“Probably roofies,” Romero said, giving the man he was holding a good shake.

“I’ll get Luca,” Matteo said with a twisted smile. He walked through another door and a moment later Luca stalked into the room, as tall and impressive as ever. I hung in Cesare’s grasp, my face half pressed against his chest. Luca’s eyes narrowed, then flitted between me and my attacker.

“What happened?” he snarled.

Suddenly he was in front of me, lifting me into his arm. My head lolled against his chest as I gazed up at him. He put me down on the couch. Gianna knelt beside me, gripping my hand. “What’s happening to her?” she cried.

“Roofies,” Romero said again. “This sick fuck was trying to drag her outside.”

Luca drew himself up before my attacker. “You put Roofies in my wife’s drink, Rick?”

Luca knew that man? Confusion flickered in my hazy mind.

“Wife! I didn’t know she was yours. I didn’t. I swear!” The man’s lower lip was trembling.

Luca pushed away Romero’s hand and curled his fingers around the handle of the knife still buried in Rick’s leg. He twisted and the man screamed. Romero held him upright by the arms. “What did you plan to do to her once you had her outside?”

“Nothing!” the man cried.

“Nothing? So if my men hadn’t stopped you, you would have just dropped her off at a hospital?” Luca’s voice was pleasant, calm, his face devoid of emotion.

Gianna’s grip on my hand was painful. I swallowed and cleared my throat. “I’ll fuck your tight ass,” I whispered.

Luca’s head whirled around, then he was at my side, his face so close to mine, I could have kissed him. Maybe it was the Roofies but I really wanted to kiss him senseless in that moment, wanted to rip his shirt off, wanted to…

“What did you say, Aria?”

“I’ll fuck your tight ass. I’ll make you scream, bitch. I’ll fuck you bloody, cunt. That’s what he said to me.” Luca stared into my eyes, a muscle in his jaw working. Before he could move, Gianna had leaped to her feet and flew at Rick. She hit his face and kicked his groin, and struggled ferociously against Matteo’s grip as he dragged her away from Rick.

“You will die!” she screamed.

Luca straightened and she stopped moving.

“Let me go,” she hissed.

“You promise to behave?” Matteo asked with an amused smile.

She nodded, her stare fixed on Rick. Matteo dropped his arms and she straightened her clothes. “They will make you bleed,” she said coldly. “And I hope they will rape your ugly ass with that broomstick over there.”

“Gianna,” I rasped. She came over to me and sank down on the edge of the couch, taking my hand again.

Matteo didn’t take his eyes off her. “I’ll make him pay, Gianna.”

“No,” Luca said firmly. Rick looked ready to burst from relief. “He’s my responsibility.” Matteo and Luca exchanged a long look, then Matteo nodded.

Luca brought his face close to Rick’s. “You wanted to fuck my wife? Wanted to make her scream?” His voice tore through my growing dizziness and sent a shiver down my back. I was glad it wasn’t directed at me. I’d been scared of Luca before, but never had he sounded anything like this. Rick shook his head frantically. “No, please.”

Luca wrapped his hand around Rick’s throat and lifted him until he stood on his tiptoes and his face was turning red. Then he tossed him away and Rick collided with the wall and crumpled to the floor.

“I hope you’re hungry,” Luca snarled. “Because I’m going to feed you your cock.”

“Take the girls to the car, Romero,” Matteo ordered as Luca unsheathed his knife. Romero lifted me into his arms and walked out the backdoor, Gianna close behind.  Dizziness cloaked my brain and I pressed my face into Romero’s jacket. He stiffened.

Gianna snorted. “Do you think Luca will cut off your dick too because she leaned against you while she was sick?”

“Luca is my boss and Aria is his.”

Gianna muttered something under her breath but I couldn’t make out the words.

“Open the door for me,” Romero said and then I was lying on cool leather. Gianna lifted my head and put it in her lap. Her fingers untangled my hair and she rested her forehead against mine. “That guy gets what he deserves.”

I closed my eyes. I had condemned a man to his death with my words. My first murder. “Your bodyguard doesn’t even dare to wait in a car with us. Luca is a beast.”

“Romero keeps watch,” I whispered.

“Sure.” I must have dozed off because suddenly the door was ripped open and Luca spoke. “How is she?”

“Holy fuck,” Gianna said, voice shrill. “You’re covered in blood.”

I opened my eyes, but had trouble focusing.

“Only my shirt,” Luca said, annoyance clear in his voice. There was rustling.

“You have no shame,” Gianna said.

“I’m taking off my shirt, not my fucking pants. Do you ever shut your mouth?”

“Here, Boss.”

Blurrily I saw Luca putting on a new shirt. “Burn that one and take care of everything, Romero. I’ll drive.”

A hand brushed my cheek and Luca’s face hovered over me. Then he was gone, the door closed and he slipped behind the driver seat. The car started moving and my stomach churned.

Gianna leaned forward, her head between the seats. “You are quite a hunk, you know that? If you weren’t married to my sister and not such an asshole I might consider giving you a go.”

“Gianna,” I groaned. When she was scared or nervous or angry, she never stopped talking, and the longer she talked the more offensive she got. And around Luca she was constantly angry.

“What, cat got your tongue? I hear you usually jump everything that doesn’t have a dick,” Gianna said.

Luca still didn’t say anything. I wished I could see his face to find out how close to exploding he was. He’d killed a man not long ago; Gianna should really shut up.

Gianna sat back, but I knew she wasn’t done yet. She wouldn’t give up until she got a rise out of him. He pulled into the underground garage of our apartment building. “We’re there,” Gianna whispered into my ear. I wished she would talk as reasonably to Luca as she did to me.

The car door swung open and Luca hoisted me into his arms. He carried me toward the private elevator and stepped in. The bright halogen lights hurt my eyes but I kept them open to watch Gianna and Luca in the mirror. She leaned beside him and her expression didn’t bode well. “Have you ever had a threesome?”

Luca didn’t move a muscle. He was looking down at me but I kept my attention on the mirror, trying to send Gianna a silent message to close her mouth. “How many women have you raped before my sister?”

Luca’s head shot up, eyes burning as he stared at Gianna. I pressed my palm gently against his chest and he glanced down at me. The tension remained. “Can’t you do something else with your mouth than yap?”

Gianna straightened. “Like what? Give you a blowjob?”

Luca laughed. “Girl, you’ve never even seen a dick. Just keep your lips shut.”

“Gianna,” I croaked in warning.

At last, we arrived on the top floor and Luca stepped out into our penthouse. He headed for the stairs to our bedroom when Gianna blocked his way. “Where are you taking her?”

“To bed,” Luca said, trying to sidestep my sister but she followed his movements.

“She’s high on Roofies. That’s probably the chance you’ve been waiting for. I won’t let her alone with you.”

Luca became very still like a wolf on the verge of attacking. “I’m going to say it only once and you better obey: get out of my way and go to bed.”

“Or what?”

“Gianna, please,” I pleaded. She searched my face, then she nodded once and quickly kissed my cheek. “Get better.”

Luca walked past her, carried me up the stairs and then into the master bedroom. The sickness that had been a distant pressure in my stomach turned into an insistent throbbing. “I’m going to be sick.”

Luca carried me into the bathroom and held me over the toilet as I retched. When I was done, I said, “I’m sorry.”

“What for?” He helped me stand, though the only thing keeping me upright was his steely grip on my waist.

“For throwing up.”

Luca shook his head and handed me a wet towel. My hands shook as I wiped my face with it. “It’s good that you got some of that shit out of your system. Fucking Roofies. It’s the only way for ugly fucks like Rick to get their dicks into a pussy.”

He led me back into the bedroom and toward the bed. “Can you undress?”

“Yeah.” The moment he let go, I fell backward and landed on the mattress. Laughter bubbled out of me, then a new wave of dizziness hit me and I groaned. He leaned over me, his face slightly blurry.

“I’m going to get you out of your clothes. They stink of smoke and vomit.” I wasn’t sure why he was telling me. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen me naked before. He grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head. I watched him as he unzipped my leather pants and slid them down my legs, his knuckles brushing my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He unhooked my glittery bra and threw it to the ground before he straightened and stared down at me. He turned abruptly and disappeared from my view. Dots danced in and out of my vision and I was on the brink of another laughing fit when Luca returned and helped me into one of his shirts. He was only in his briefs. He slid his arms under my knees and shoulderblades, and moved me up until my head rested on the pillow, then he got into bed beside me.

“You’re impressive, you know?” I babbled.

Luca scanned my face, then pressed a palm against my forehead. I giggled and reached out, wanting to touch his tattoo but misjudging the distance and brushing my fingertips across his abdomen and then lower. He hissed, snatched my hand away and pressed it against my stomach. “Aria, you’re drugged. Try to sleep.”

“Maybe I don’t want to sleep.” I wriggled in his grip.

“Yes, you do.”

I yawned. “Will you hold me?”

Luca didn’t say anything but he extinguished the lights and wrapped his arms around me from behind. “You better lie on your side in case you feel sick again.”

“Did you kill him?”

There was a pause. “Yes.”

“Now there’s blood on my hands.”

“You didn’t kill him.”

“But you killed him because of me.”

“I’m a killer, Aria. It had nothing to do with you.” It had everything to do with me, but I was too tired to argue.

I listened to his breathing for a few heartbeats. “You know, sometimes I wish I could hate you, but I can’t. I think I love you. I never thought I could. And sometimes I wonder how it would be if you made love to me.”

Luca pressed his lips against my neck. “Sleep.”

“But you don’t love me,” I mumbled. “You don’t want to make love to me. You want to fuck me because you own me.” His arm tightened around me. “Sometimes I wish you had taken me in our wedding night, then at least I wouldn’t still wish for something that will never be. You want to fuck me like you fucked Grace, like an animal. That’s why she told me you would fuck me bloody, right?”

My tongue felt heavy and my eyelids stuck together. I was talking nonsense, a garble of words I shouldn’t say.

“When did she say that? Aria, when?”

Luca’s sharp voice couldn’t rip through the fog blanketing my thoughts and blackness claimed me.