The Vendetti Coward: Salvatore Vendetti (The Vendetti Famiglia Book 4)

by Sapphire Knight

  I can only open my heart more and let him in bit by bit, hoping he consumes my very soul and doesn’t harm me in the process. When I look to our future, I see it with hope-filled eyes. He’s a protector by default, but he’s yet to realize it. He’s kind in his own way, and giving. When we have sex, he’s always touching me and moving until I enjoy it most. If he were selfish, he’d never do that. I may’ve paid for our union with my virginity and the Vendetti tradition, but in return I’ve been given everything I’ve ever dreamed of.

  Rosa’s birth was the best thing to ever happen to me. She brought me to Salvatore, and in return, I’ll never stop letting her know how much I love being her mama.

  You know the saddest thing about

  Betrayal?

  It never comes from an enemy.

  - Sonny, Godfather Quotes

  The following week, once I’ve done my duty to the Empire, I steal my alluring wife away from our precious daughter. I’ve been busy, and I’ve missed spending time with her since Matteo’s been bestowing more trust in me lately. I turn on SAINt JHN- the Imanbek Remix- Vs R3hab & A Touch Of Class “All Around The Roses” (DJs From Mars Bootleg) with my Bluetooth. With the remote, I increase the volume until it’s making the estate’s ballroom practically vibrate from the music.

  I tried to get the group here in person, as I wanted this night perfect for Annabella. She deserves something special in her honor. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pull it off. I did set it up in the future though, as Annabella deserves everything I can possibly offer her.

  Her mouth drops, her hand patting against her leg to the loud beat. The other points up towards the roof speakers and she shouts, “This is that song!” She means the one we danced to from the club. The one where I was higher than a kite and ready to bring her down with me. While I’ll always regret that choice, I’ll forever cherish those dances and kisses we shared. She hasn’t the faintest idea how incredibly beautiful she looked under those multicolored lights that night.

  “Si.” I tug her to me as the remixed version comes pouring out. I have several on a playlist, but that song has stuck with me because of her. Her palms fly to my chest as I move her with my hips. I’ve done so much partying in my life that one thing I can do is dance. Taking her hands in mine, I raise them high, winding them in the air as we gyrate to the beat. It’s fast, as the song is intense, but nothing better explains my feelings for her. They, too, were fast and now intense.

  She giggles, happiness filling her eyes as she realizes we’re here to cut loose. I may not be high right now, but I can still enjoy myself. It’s taken a lot to get me to start lowering my wall where she’s concerned, but I’m trying. I leave her hands in the air, bringing mine to the bottom of her blouse. I have her shirt up and over her breasts before she realizes what my plans are.

  “Someone can come in!” she shouts, and I grin.

  “Let them!” I respond, tossing her shirt to the side.

  “It’s only fair…” she trails off, moving to unbutton my shirt. Rather than wait, I rip through them, sending buttons all over the floor. Annabella’s gaze alights as she sees my undershirt, then she’s pushing my shirt off and lifting my undershirt. The cool air is refreshing as it hits my chest. Another version of the song comes on and she bursts out laughing, but the smile soon falls from her lips as she catches the look I’m giving her.

  “I’m going to fuck you to this song, cara. I wanted to that night, and I want to now.” I flick the button on my slacks and move to push her skirt up over her hips. She’s enticing like this, letting go and bending to my will. She looks so free…that’s the sort of feeling I’ve chased most of my life and she reaches it effortlessly. She had that before she came here—her freedom.

  That privilege ended the moment she placed her bloody palm on Matteo’s contract.

  She works my cock free, giving it a squeeze. She pumps me back and forth, making me draw in a quick breath. She’s eager. I wasn’t expecting that after being gone a lot this week, but perhaps she’s missed my presence. Hooking my finger in her panties, I draw the icy-blue lace away so I can feel her juicy wetness. Her thighs are slicked with her arousal, tipping me past the point of stopping. My free hand grips her chin, moving her where I want her. My lips fall to hers, drowning in the taste and scent of her. I’ll never have enough, no matter how hard I try and get ahold of my affections for her. They’re too prominent.

  My finger sinks into her core, my cock twitching at the sheer perfection of Annabella. Her forehead leans on mine, breaking our frenzied lip lock. A tempting moan falls from her lips, drawing my eyes to the spot. I want to sink my dick in that pouty mouth of hers, perhaps skull fuck her a bit and really distort her image she has of me inside. She’ll come out of this marriage thinking me a monster.

  Wrapping my arms around her and hugging her to my body, I half walk-carry her over to the nearest wall. My mouth finds hers again whispering, “Maybe I’ll wifey you for another week if you keep moving those hips like that.”

  She bursts out with an adorable giggle that quickly turns to a moan as my fingers sink deep. “Salvatore! More, please.”

  “Such a sweet wife, using your manners,” I breathe against her neck, nipping my way to suck on her earlobe. She vibrates from the attention to her sensitive area, clawing at me to get closer. Knowing my touch affects her so deeply has some primal part in me coming to the surface full of male pride. Without further delay, I hike her against the hard surface, driving my cock to the hilt. She’s warm, wet, tight, and everything right in the world. “Mm,” I rumble and tilt my hips to go impossibly deeper.

  “Yes, right there,” she cries, her eyes already beginning to roll back as pleasure descends over her. “You’re so good at this.”

  A smirk tilts my lips as I move my pelvis in sync with her little whimpers. I could never get tired of those sounds. She’s intoxicating and has no idea, my own aphrodisiac. Her innocence only drags me towards her more. I can attempt to tell myself it’s wrong, being with her. However, it feels too good to be true…invigorating, like I’m finally living, not only existing.

  “Dolcezza,” I comment, licking over the swells of her breasts. With one palm braced against the wall, I release her hip with my other hand, sliding it over her silky skin. I stop once I reach her breast, cupping the perfect globe, my mouth salivating to have her nipple between my lips.

  “Suck me, Salvatore.”

  I tsk. “Giving me orders now? Be careful, you may get more than you ask for, more than you can handle,” I tease, but I do as she asks, drawing the pert peak between my teeth. Applying a touch of pressure, her pussy begins to quiver, her cries growing louder. Her reaction only motivates me to seek more. I want to take her over the edge, feel her tiny pussy squeeze me until the rest of the world fades to black.

  I’m an addict. I’ll seek that blissful high any way I possibly can. I can fight against the draw, but eventually something always grabs me and brings me right back in. My control spirals with the tempting thoughts of coming deep in Annabella. “Fuck!” I swear, drawing my mouth away from her before I bite a little too hard. I squeeze her breast savagely, moving back to palming her hip. I hike it impossibly higher as I dwarf her frame and drive in relentlessly.

  Annabella screams as her orgasm crashes into her full force, and I hit so deep it has her G-spot firing off. My moves grow tense, jerky, and once her head falls back, spent, I spill myself. The walls move in, the world momentarily closing in on me before it all turns black and my orgasm rocks me all over. I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard in my life, not even on our wedding night. It’s different, having her like this, to myself to do whatever I want to with.

  She’s the best drug I’ve ever had. I can’t give her up—not now, not ever. I’m hooked. Addicted.

  I hold her limp body to me, catching my breath as our surroundings begin to come back into focus. That was intense. Inhaling deeply, I pull back enough to take her expression in. I’m sure she enjoyed herself, by the sounds she wa
s making.

  Annabella’s eyes are still closed, her mouth open a bit. She’s breathing. I can see her pulse pounding in her throat. It appears my wife came hard and is completely spent. If that isn’t a compliment to my male ego, I don’t know what is.

  I do what any good husband would. I pull my trousers on, help her get covered back up, and carry her to our suite. I tuck her into bed, relishing in the grateful kiss she offers in return. I check on Rosa, and eventually climb in the California-king beside Annabella’s sleeping form. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, my nose finds her sweet-smelling hair. It doesn’t take long before her scent, along with having her against my chest, lulls me to sleep.

  I’m content. Happy. I’ve finally found my antidote.

  “It’s been weeks, since everything happened with that Fiadh O’Toole woman,” Annabella begins. I nod. “Have you found her or anything out about her?”

  My brow hikes. “It’s business. You were brought into it momentarily, and I apologize for that fact, but I’m doing my best to keep you away from it all.”

  “I’m grateful you’re attempting to protect me, but I worry. I’ll feel better if you talk to me. I don’t want to pressure you about being open on everything until you decide you want to be…but I’d like to know about our safety where the Irish is concerned.”

  “Let me worry over our safety. I promise I’m doing my best to make sure nothing ever happens to you or any of our famiglia. I want you to feel secure and happy here. This is our home.” I tuck her into my arms, wrapping them around her. She holds Rosa to her chest, and I couldn’t be more content than I am in this moment.

  “Salvatore, please. I try not to question you about anything. I’m asking you give me an update,” she states firmly, pulling away to lay the baby down. I watch her, missing her from my embrace already.

  With a sigh, I take her hand once she’s finished and walk with her into our bedroom. I close the door behind us and pull her to our sofa that sits in front of a large window overlooking the gardens. I sit and tug her until she rests on my lap, her body sideways so she can easily gaze up at me. Releasing her hand, I raise mine to lightly caress har jaw and tuck her dark locks behind her ear. “What’s gotten into you, bella? Hmm?”

  She looks at her lap and releases a breath. Something is riding on her mind, I can see it plain as day. My sweet woman is normally smiling and upbeat, but she’s almost solemn.

  My fingers go to her chin, tipping her face up until she meets my eyes again. “What is it?”

  She bites her lower lip, drawing my stare there momentarily. “I feel safe with you here. However, I don’t think you understand how much you’ve come to mean to me. I’m falling in love with you, Salvatore.”

  I offer a tender grin. “Then why so glum? Is loving me too taxing?”

  “No, of course not. I just worry because I don’t know what’s going on with this woman, and I can’t bear the thought of losing you or Rosa to her wrath. I love you both, and it will break me if something happens to you.” A tear falls over her cheek, and for the life of me, a look has never broken me so much as hers does in this moment.

  I dig deep for some much-needed courage. I place a kiss to her tear-streaked cheek and tell her, “We haven’t found her. There’s rumors that she went back to Ireland to regroup. Matty wants us to figure out where her brother is and go after him instead. We’ve upped our security here and at the clubs. New made men have been inducted the past two weeks. The Empire grows bigger than ever before. Never question your safety, or ours, for that matter, as I’ll always make sure you are safe.”

  She nods, another tear leaking.

  I kiss that one too and lean my forehead against her temple. “You and Rosa are the two most important things in my life. I couldn’t breathe without you. As for falling in love…well, I’ve already fallen. I love you, Annabella Vendetti, even with my damaged soul. I love you.”

  She leans up to meet my kiss, whispering against my lips, “I love you too. I’m scared to lose you.”

  “Don’t be. Haven’t you noticed by now?”

  “What?”

  “Us Vendetti men are extremely stubborn and possessive. You signed a blood oath, bellissima. You’re mine in life and in death.”

  She cracks a smile, leaning in to give me another kiss. “I’ll hold you to that. From what I hear, you Vendettis are always keeping your word.”

  “I only see you, my love,” I respond, not needing to say any more. She knows what those words mean. I’m hers. Forever.

  Fairytales are made up of

  Tuscany at twilight.

  - Questadolcevita

  Valentino promised to never speak of my secret again, so long as I didn’t either. He’s kept his word so far and hasn’t attempted to hold it over my head in any way. He’s acted somewhat normal when everyone’s around, although I can see everything’s not completely okay with him. Maybe because I tend to pay more attention to him than the others, due to everything that’s happened with Fiadh. I’m not going to ask and potentially rock the boat either. I’m too grateful I have this chance to get away with my betrayal and be good to my husband and Rosa.

  The relationship between Matteo and Valentino has changed a bit. It doesn’t seem quite as impenetrable as it did when I first arrived. Valentino goes about his Empire business, but from what I’ve heard from Sal, Valentino can’t handle anything to do with the Irish. He remains the underboss. However, more responsibility has been pushed in Sal’s direction. He’s embraced it, and while I was worried it would spill over into our homelife, so far he’s kept most of it separate. He doesn’t tell me much, but occasionally he’ll share a few details about what’s happening with the Irish. As far as I know, there’ve been some scuffles, territory disputes, and Fiadh remains in Ireland. I can only imagine what she’s been doing while healing, and it scares me to think of what’s she’s planning to do for retaliation.

  You’re probably wondering how I could go on without confessing what I’ve done to Salvatore. It’s wrong to keep things from those you love, right? Well, I don’t think that way. As far as I’m concerned, I can do more good in this family, versus out of it. I’ve gone back to school as Matteo had offered when I signed the blood oath, and someday I’ll be a pediatrician where I can help other children out there who need me. I figure if Sal is going to be active in the Empire, I need to do the opposite and give something back to the world. Hopefully, when the day comes that he needs some good karma for his sins, I’ll be able to offer it to him.

  We’ve gotten closer in our marriage. Salvatore’s been opening up to me more as the days pass. He told me all about the Vendetti curse and why the tradition came into play. I wished he’d have shared it with me beforehand, but I understand why he held back. I’ve heard whispers about this family my entire life, so the secrecy about what goes on behind these walls doesn’t shock me. As it turns out, the gossip was severely lacking. I had virtually no clue of everything that transpires, and my eyes are now wide open.

  I’ve grown more attached to Rosa, I didn’t think that was possible, but it’s true. She’s been the icing on the cake, as far as I’m concerned. I love that little girl so much. My world completely tilted the moment she called me Mama. Never had a word sounded sweeter, not counting Salvatore telling me he loves me. Those have been the two happiest moments in my life.

  So you see, there’s no way I’d give it all up by admitting one choice I made in the name of protecting my family. In fact, I’d do it again. Strong women make tough decisions for their families, and in the Vendetti Empire, it’s the only way to be.

  When I look at Annabella, I see a future for me and Rosa. Our love may not be perfect, but it’s ours. I won’t try to pretend as if maintaining my sobriety has been a walk in the park, because it hasn’t. It’s still a struggle I deal with nearly every day. From my understanding, it’s something I will have to fight with for the rest of my life, but I don’t let that prospective loom dauntingly. I take it day by day, being
thankful for the famiglia and support I have and what I’ve accomplished so far.

  Rosa will grow up with two present parents, which is more than I can say was in my life. I’m trying not to be bitter any longer. The therapy is helping me get to the root of things, as does Annabella. It’s not easy and can be frustrating. I feel like I’m the only one out of the seven of us with so much resentment towards my parents. I’m a grown man with a famiglia of my own, I don’t understand how anything that happened so long ago can still weigh down my shoulders this much.

  Don’t get me started on Empire business; it’s been tense. In a famiglia that prides itself on being close, we all feel a sense of betrayal from Valentino. He’s the underboss. This never should’ve been an issue for him. Matteo thinks he’ll screw up again if the Irish woman is involved. I’ve taken over business in that aspect. Surprisingly, I haven’t caught any strife from my younger brothers. I honestly think they’re simply pleased to have me around and involved with them.

  I never thought this was what it’d be like to be involved with the Empire. I don’t think I’d have run from my responsibilities so desperately had I known what life could be like. I suppose that is partially where the resentment inside me still stems towards Romano. He had me terrified as a young made man of what to expect, of everything I’d be responsible for. Guilt still claws at my chest over leaving everything for Matteo to deal with. For years, he not only took on his load of the mafia, but mine as well, until Valentino was old enough to step in. I’ll always be grateful to him for his sacrifices, and hopefully, I can make up for some of it now and in the future.

  As for Valentino, I owe him as well for doing what I couldn’t. So instead of holding his misgivings against him, I’ve vowed an attempt to understand his position and offer him my shoulder when he needs someone to lean on. My brother’s a stubborn Vendetti and refuses to admit he’s weak, which is okay. I’ll be here for him for the rest of my life. After all, who am I to judge him? I spent the majority of my life making mistakes, and I’m sure I’ll mess up in the future as well.