Becoming his Mistress: A Zanetti Famiglia Novel

by Faiman, Hayley

  He shakes his head. “We certainly haven’t been together long enough. So, who did you fuck before me?”

  I wanted honesty, but I didn’t expect this. What was left of the rubble that is my heart is crushed down into sand right here in this bedroom, what’s supposed to be our bedroom.

  I should let him believe it’s someone else’s baby. God knows it would make my life that much easier. I could pick up the pieces of what’s left of my life, one that he’s completely obliterated and I could move on.

  But he doesn’t deserve to think that about me. I won’t allow it. Standing to my feet, I tip my head back to look up into those devastating blue eyes that I love so much and hate all at the same damn time.

  “It’s yours, you asshole, and you know it. I’m not the one fucking other people, that’s all on you,” I grind out.

  He lifts his hand as if he’s going to strike me, but as quickly as he lifts it, he drops it to his side. His fingers form a fist and his jaw clenches as he looks down at me. Shaking my head, my eyes pinch closed just for a moment before I open them.

  “Don’t be a dick. You were the untrustworthy one here, not me. I’ve done nothing but be completely devoted to you. I fell in love with a married man, a man that I couldn’t keep for myself. I became a mistress, Arlo, you did that to me. Don’t you dare turn around and try to convince yourself that I did anything to you that would cause you not to trust me. Ever.”

  He gnashes his teeth together, moving his jaw back and forth for a moment before he completely relaxes in front of me. I take a step back, ready to retreat to the bathroom and lock myself inside. He doesn’t let me though. Before I know what’s happening, his hands are around my waist and he tugs me against his chest.

  I place my palms on his torso for balance and tilt my head back to look into those baby blues that I love no matter how much a dick he’s being to me. His lips twitch, as if he can read my mind, then before I know what’s happening his mouth slams against my own.

  ARLO

  I hate myself a little more for what I’ve just accused Lenora of. Coaxing her mouth open with the subtle strokes of my tongue against the seam of her lips, when she finally opens, it feels like a victory in and of itself.

  Her words play on repeat in my head with each taste of her as I continue to move inside of her mouth.

  Pregnant. Pregnant. Pregnant.

  Like a chant, like the most beautiful of chants.

  Sliding one of my hands up her spine to grip the back of her hair, I tilt her head so that I can taste her more fully, deeper. She whimpers and I swallow the sound, my cock twitching with anticipation. Taking a step forward, I move us until the backs of her knees touch the side of the bed.

  I swallow her panting breaths, knowing that she’s as fucking hot for me as I am her, only causes my cock to harden even more, begging to be freed, to sink inside of her wet heat.

  “Carlo,” she whimpers against my lips.

  Breaking the kiss, I rest my forehead against hers, inhaling her scent before exhaling. Closing my eyes, I just fucking hold her against my chest. I should apologize, fuck, I should say so much to her. I don’t. Call it pride, call it macho bullshit, whatever it is, I can’t say the words aloud. I’m sorry, it’s just not there.

  Her arms slide up my chest, wrapping around my shoulders and without a word, she jumps, wrapping her legs around my waist.

  “I love you, Lenora,” I breathe as I slowly lift a knee, planting it in the mattress, and slowly lower her onto her back.

  She sighs, her sweet breath washing over my face. Looking at her, I watch as her closed eyes slowly open. Her gaze is soft, lazy and so damn beautiful as she looks up at me.

  “Do you?” she asks.

  My chin jerks as I nod once. “You know that I do, tesoro, so damn much.” Slipping my palm between us, I slide my hand down to her flat belly. “This is a good thing, a happy thing. I am so fucking happy, Lenora. I was a dick.”

  “You really were,” she says, though she doesn’t sound angry anymore. “It’s too soon,” she murmurs. “We have so much to work on, between the two of us.”

  Shaking my head, I dip my chin and touch my mouth to hers. “It’s not too soon, it’s fucking perfect,” I state.

  It is too soon, but I don’t give a fuck, because this is just another way to keep her as my own. Which I fucking plan on doing until the day that we both die. She lets out a trembling sigh as her hands slide farther up my hips, wrapping around my waist and her heels dig into my ass.

  Tugging her head back, her neck arches and I choose that moment to kiss down the column of her throat, feeling her vibrate as she moans from my lips, tongue, and teeth. Her legs fall from my hips, opening for me and I’ve never wanted her more. She’s completely mine in this moment, in every way that I need her to be.

  Moving my mouth down her body, over her clothes, I nip the fabric of her pants right where her pussy is. Her legs jolt, causing my lips to twitch into a small smile. Once I’m on my knees, I reach up and unbutton, then unzip her pants.

  “Legs together, tesoro,” I gently urge.

  I watch her legs as she brings them close together, slowly I slide her pants and panties down her legs, tossing them behind me. She arches her back as she spreads her thighs for me. Her pussy glistens and I lean forward, touching my lips to her clit as my eyes watch her face.

  “I shouldn’t allow this,” she rasps as she lifts up on her elbows, her eyes watching me between her legs.

  I smirk at her words. “Probably not,” I agree.

  “Why do I love you, Arlo? Why do I need you?” she asks, though I think it’s rhetorical. I don’t give a fuck, I’m going to answer her.

  Flattening my tongue, I slide it through her entire center, circling her clit before I do. “Because you fucking love me, Lenora.” Wrapping my fingers around the insides of her thighs, I wrench her legs wider for me. “You were made for me, tesoro.”

  Burying my face in her pussy, I eat her like I’ll never have her again, like I’ve been starving for her because I fucking have. Her fingers slide in my hair, gripping me tightly as she brings my face even closer to her cunt.

  She tastes so fucking sweet. Gone is that forbidden feeling I had in the shadows being with her, now there’s just that rightness. This is right, she is right. And for the first time in my life, I am finally at peace.

  Lenora lifts her hips, rolling them as she climbs closer and closer toward her release. I flick her clit with my tongue, concentrating on the sweet nub as I slip two fingers inside of her.

  “Carlo,” she moans softly.

  The house is still full of people and I have no doubt that they’ve all figured out what we’re doing in here, but I don’t give a shit. They could all press their ears against the door and I wouldn’t care. Curling my fingers inside of her, I pump my fingers in and out of her soft body.

  “Shit,” she curses which only causes me to chuckle as I continue to play her body, just the way that I know she likes it.

  When I gently nip her clit, her muscles stiffen and that’s when I feel her pussy clamp down around my fingers, trying to keep them inside. Focusing on her clit, I continue to flick it over and over, my fingers moving in and out of her, until her orgasm subsides.

  Only when her entire body has gone limp, do I slowly remove my hand from between her legs. Touching my lips to the inside of her thigh, I sit back on my haunches before I slowly stand to my feet.

  Lenora has a small smile playing on her lips, her eyes are closed and her breathing comes out in short small pants. I want nothing more than to strip out of my clothes and sink inside of her, but I don’t. This, this moment was my apology for being an ass, for accusing her of shit that I knew wasn’t true the second I said it.

  “Arlo?” she asks as she sits up.

  Her hair is mussed from my fingers, her face is flush and her lips are swollen from my mouth. She’s never looked more beautiful than she does in this moment, that is, until the next moment she blows me away, w
hich will no doubt be any fucking second.

  “Mama has dinner for everyone. They’re waiting for us,” I offer, holding out my hand for her.

  She lifts her fingers to her lips, her eyes widening, realizing what we’ve just done with a house full of people.

  “Put your pants on, let’s get you two fed.” I grin.

  Lenora shakes her head, her wild hair flying around her shoulders like a golden fucking halo. I don’t deserve her. I knew it the second I laid eyes on her. I took her anyway. Ruined her—kept her.

  “I can’t believe… with your parents here,” she hisses.

  I watch as she stands to her feet. Reaching out, I grab her pants and panties, holding them out for her. She snatches the fabric from my fingers and quickly pulls them on, the entire time muttering softly to herself. When she’s dressed, she starts to walk past me, but I don’t let her. Gently, I wrap my hands around her hips and tug her against me.

  She tips her head back, her green eyes find mine and widen. Dipping my chin, I touch my mouth to hers.

  “They don’t care. They all knew we needed to talk,” I rasp against her lips.

  She shakes her head. “That wasn’t talking,” she says against my mouth.

  Smiling, I nip her bottom lip, then lift my head from hers, but keep her body against my own. “That’s the way that I talk.”

  She rolls her eyes. “You better not be talking with anyone else,” she snaps.

  My fingers grip her hips tighter. “Never again, Lenora. This relationship, it stays this good then you’re the only woman that I need,” I state.

  “If we fight?”

  “We’ll make up.”

  “If we don’t?”

  Tilting my head to the side, I snort. “Don’t start making shit up, tesoro. We’re together. We’ll be married soon and then you’ll have my baby. We will always make up, because you love me, and I you.”

  “Why do you have to be so sweet? Then why can you be such a fucking asshole?”

  I can’t stop myself from letting out a chuckle from her words. “Extremes, Lenora. Unfortunately, that’s what you get when you get me. You calm my beast and even out my personality in the most delightful ways.”

  Without another word, she lifts to her toes and touches her lips to mine. Our kiss is short and sweet, hot but not heavy. Taking a step back, I lace my fingers with hers and together we walk out of the room and head toward the dining room where I know my mother has a whole fucking family-style meal waiting for us.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  ARLO

  I tuck Lenora in bed, holding her body against mine until she falls asleep in my arms. It feels good, having her here, freely, knowing that I don’t have to lie, to leave in the middle of the night.

  This is our home, our bed, our beginning to a new life. I just have to deal with the Columbians and Kade, shit first. Making my way into the living room, I’m not surprised to see my father back on the sofa. He took my mother home a couple of hours ago. Luca sits next to him on a chair and both men lift their gazes to meet mine when they sense my presence.

  “Tell me what’s happening,” my father demands.

  Gone is the good, kind, older gentleman. The man in front of me is mafia, all business and ruthless as his dark gaze cuts to me.

  With a nod, I walk over to the bar and pour myself a whiskey. Taking one swift gulp, I inhale a deep breath before I turn to both Luca and my father.

  “Kade, Wynter, and Senator McClain decided to get into dealings with the Columbians and their gold trade,” I begin.

  My father curses. Ignoring his obvious irritation, I continue with my story, giving them all the details that I know. It isn’t much, what I have. A nameless man, a dead senator, and my dead wife. Gold with no buyers and Columbians after Kade who promised them he could make the sales happen.

  “I should have fought harder to take over. None of this would have happened…” my father says, letting his words trail off.

  “This doesn’t have anything to do with who took over, this was bound to happen no matter who was in charge,” I point out.

  My father shakes his head. “From Antonio. I should have challenged him taking over as Boss.”

  “Papa, you never wanted to be Boss. I know you don’t regret not taking over. So just stop. None of this shit was avoidable.”

  “You wouldn’t have been engaged to that woman. I wouldn’t have allowed it,” he snaps.

  I snort, lifting my hand and waving it around. “Doesn’t matter. She’s gone,” I remind him.

  He growls, closing his lips and pressing them together. His eyes narrow as he watches me, waiting to see what I’ll say next.

  “Kade’s women are being brought to the casino. He lied to us, but we want to see what they know. While we have video surveillance, we don’t have audio on his entire operation. Which we will rectify in the future from our new supplier, whoever he may be.”

  “What about the Savage Beasts?” Luca asks.

  I clear my throat, lifting my eyes to the ceiling, then bring my gaze back to meet his. “Hopefully, they can find someone else.”

  “That’s going to fuck up our timeline, no?” he asks.

  I nod my head, biting the inside of my cheek. “No doubt that it will,” I agree. “This whole thing is a nightmare and one giant clusterfuck,” I grunt.

  My father snorts. I lift my gaze to him and he dips his chin as if he’s agreeing with me. Inhaling a deep breath, I stand to my feet, lifting my chin to Luca. He rises as well. Shifting my gaze to my dad, I open my mouth but he only lifts his hand to wave us away.

  “The famiglia, it comes first right now. Sometimes it won’t, but right now it does. I’ll stay here with the girls,” he offers.

  “Mama?”

  His lips twitch into a small smile. “I have soldiers watching her. She is safe as can be.”

  Walking over to my dad, I clap him on the shoulder, muttering a soft thank you, before I turn to the door and begin to walk away.

  “Carlo,” he calls out.

  I stop, my hand on the knob of the door. When he doesn’t speak right away, I turn around to face him. He’s watching me, his weathered gaze focused on me, then he smiles softly. He shakes his head once, as if to shake the thoughts rolling around in there before he finally speaks.

  “I’m glad that you found a woman to love, who loves you, too. Make your life beautiful with her, yeah?”

  “Just like you taught me,” I counter with a smirk.

  He chuckles. “Be stronger than me. Be the man she needs you to be and the Underboss that you need to be for yourself.”

  I don’t miss the flash of regret that dances over my father’s features. Lifting my chin, I leave him. Turning, I walk out of the apartment. Once Luca steps outside, I lock the door behind him and together we make our way down to the parking garage.

  “You’re going to have a kid, Arlo,” he states once we’re both in the car and I’ve started the engine.

  Shifting the car into reverse, I look over to him with a grin. “I am,” I agree.

  “You ready for all this?” he asks.

  I snort. “I’m ready for everything to be done and over so that I can enjoy my woman,” I state.

  “You ready to be a papa?” he asks.

  Backing up the car, I turn the wheel, then shift into drive so that I can head out of the parking garage. I turn to him, a smile playing on my lips. “So fucking ready,” I state. “So fucking happy,” I say.

  Luca’s eyes widen and I watch him reach into his jacket right as my door is wrenched open. I open my mouth to yell when a rag is placed over my face and then everything goes completely dark.

  GAVINO

  I pace outside of Kade’s door, waiting for Arlo to grace me with his presence. It’s well past midnight, and the fucker was supposed to be here an hour ago. I’m sure that he’s only just lost track of time with his woman. I can’t fucking blame him, it’s easy to get lost inside of my Ciana over and over again and lose track of
time.

  My phone buzzes in my pocket. I reach for it, frowning when I see one of my Capo’s names flash across the screen instead of Arlo’s.

  “Santoro,” I bark.

  “They fucking took him,” he shouts.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “I’ll be at the casino in five. But, know this, Vino,” he growls. “The Columbians just started a goddamn war.”

  The phone goes dead and I look down at it, then lift my gaze to the closed door. Cazzo. Lifting my hand, I run my fingers through my hair as I thumb through my contacts looking for Arlo’s name. My fingers actually shake as I touch his icon. The phone rings but nobody answers. I try again, and again, and a-fuckin-gain. Every time it goes to voicemail.

  “Boss,” Luca’s voice shouts as he runs toward me.

  Turning around to him, I suck in a breath as I wait for him to get closer to me. He doesn’t even take a moment to breathe before he begins to tell me what’s happened.

  “He just wrenched open the door, put something over Arlo’s face and drug him from the driver’s seat. There was a car waiting, I couldn’t get my gun out fast enough and climb to the driver’s seat to stop the car at the same time. The car was in drive. I was fucking fucked. They fucked me and took him,” Luca rambles.

  Reaching out, I clap my hand against his shoulder, my fingers squeezing before I give him a small shake. “It’s okay, Luca. Did you make sure the women were okay?” I ask, trying to keep from panicking.

  He nods. “I called Carlo Senior, he’s staying with them. He said everything was fine. Then I called a couple of my soldiers to watch the outside and patrol.”

  “Good job,” I encourage.

  “Arlo told us about these guys, about what happened with Wynter and the senator. What the fuck, Gavino?”

  “Shall we get some information from Kade?”

  “How are we extracting it?” Luca asks, a glint to his gaze.

  I smile, turning back to look at the door, then shift my gaze back to him. “The fun way. These fuckers have my Underboss, my cugino, I think it’s time Kade tells us exactly what he knows.”