Screwing the Mob

by Kristen Luciani

  “Yeah, baby? What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t know, I guess I’m just wondering what comes next for us. Is this feud finally going to be over? Are our dads going to actually resolve this now?”

  I take a deep breath. If Tony knows what’s good for him, he’ll figure out how to bury his issues once and for all. Any sign of dissention from the family won’t bode well for the Orianis, and I can only do so much damage control if Tony decides to air his grievances to others outside of the family.

  For his sake, and the sake of his family, I hope he thinks long and hard before shooting off his big mouth to the wrong people. They won’t see him as an ally. They’ll see him as the weak link of our family, and the weak link is always the first to break.

  Nobody wants to take on a liability like Tony, but they’ll use him to infiltrate our organization. And that would cripple us, causing complete anarchy within the ranks.

  I know what comes next, and now is the time to tighten our security, not plug leaky holes.

  “I think there’s a good chance of that,” I lie. Dad may get Tony’s ear for a while, but it won’t be enough, not when Tony has his own ideas about how the family needs to be run. The problem is that they’re shitty ideas, which is how he got us into this situation with Cappodamo in the first place. He’s not a leader or a visionary. He’s always been the muscle. But he fights it because he knows muscle doesn’t equate to power and respect.

  He wants it all, but in the face of opposition, he acts rashly and doesn’t think about longer-term consequences.

  Very bad for business.

  “I’m transferring.”

  My brow furrows. “You’re what?”

  “Transferring. Up here. I’ll start applying for next fall.”

  “No way.” I shake my head. “You love school. Besides, I like having you far away from this world. The farther away you are, the safer you are.”

  “Too bad. I can’t be that far anymore, Nico. I’d be freaking out constantly, wondering where you are, if anyone attacks the club, if anyone tries to—"

  I place a finger over her lips. “Hey, you don’t ever have to worry about me. I’ll be fine. The club will be fine. I have plenty of guys who have a vested interest in keeping me alive.”

  Tears gather in the corners of her eyes. “But these people…they’re dangerous. And they’ll be back. I heard my dad before. I can’t live without you, Nico. I just can’t. Even when I hated you, I couldn’t. And now?”

  “Wait, when did you hate me?”

  A snort of laughter escapes her mouth and a single tear rolls down her cheek. “Don’t try to change the subject.”

  I grin. “It made you smile, though.”

  “It won’t erase the panic, Nico.” Her smile fades, and fear is etched into her expression.

  “You have to trust me. Do you really think I’m going to let anyone get to me? I have too much at stake now.” I tap her nose with my index finger. “And yes, that means you.”

  “I just love you so much. I can’t bear the thought—"

  “Then don’t.” My forehead touches hers, the warmth of her breath tickling my skin. I breathe in the sweet scent of her body lotion. It smells like vanilla frosting. And God, do I want to coat every inch of her body in frosting and lick it off before diving deep inside of her, over and over again.

  I should be thinking about so many other things right now — strategizing, plotting, conspiring.

  But I choose sex and frosting because it’s my only chance for a temporary escape from my reality.

  And also because it can’t kill me.

  Unless, of course, it’s manufactured in a facility that may contain peanuts.

  Epilogue

  Four Months Later…

  NICO

  I dig my toes into the cold, wet sand and stare out at the horizon. Crashing waves break over the shore of South Beach in Miami, the sound of which drowns out the tirade of thoughts popping around in my brain like firecrackers on the Fourth of July.

  I came down here because I needed a reprieve.

  And Shaye.

  Not in that order.

  I couldn’t wait another week for her to get home. Even though she’s been buried in books preparing for finals, she’s still next to me, under me, on top of me, and in any other position I can convince her to try.

  I fucking love that girl. And I love it even more than she’s coming home to Jersey and starting at one of the local universities next semester to be close to me. I don’t know how I got so lucky, and I let her know it every chance I get.

  Even though I’ve seen her every other weekend over this semester, it’s not enough. It’ll never be enough, not until I wake up to her naked body plastered against mine every morning.

  This long-distance shit has been pure fucking torture.

  I trudge back toward our lounge chairs and collapse onto mine. She rolls over with a sleepy smile for me. “How was your swim?”

  “It would have been better if you were in there with me. Naked.”

  “Is sex all you think about?”

  “Sex keeps me sane.”

  “Really.” She sits up and pulls a textbook onto her lap. “Well, let’s see what this author thinks about a dependency on sex in the name of preserving sanity.”

  “So, you’re saying I’m a head case or something?”

  “Or something.” She grins. “Maybe you could be a case study subject for me.”

  “That would include a lot of analysis and research, right? Different positions, times of day, all kinds of things that might impact my level of sanity? I like the sound of that. Keep talking.”

  “Well,” she murmurs, sliding onto my lounge chair. “I think it will definitely take a lot of research. And I’ll have to develop some theories we’ll have to test out.” She traces a fingertip down my abdomen, making my already half-hard cock strain against my board shorts.

  “I think we should start brainstorming those theories right now.”

  She dips her head, her lips massaging my neck and the area behind my ear that she knows drives me crazier than a shithouse rat.

  I press my fingers into her slim waist, tangling them in the strings holding her bathing suit bottom together. And she doesn’t stop me because I know she wants it as badly as I do. “Okay, swim time.”

  “Oh, yes,” she whispers, a sexy smile curling her lips upward. She straddles me, rising slowly, dragging her pussy over my cock. She runs her hands down her torso, settling them on her waist. She juts out one of her hips. “Are you ready?”

  “Aren’t I always?” I swing my legs over the side of the chair.

  “Doesn’t look like you are right now.” She giggles.

  “That’s your fault.”

  “I hear that a lot from you.”

  “Add it to the case study.” I smirk. A blaring sound comes from my duffel bag. I fumble around in one of the pockets and pull out my phone. “Yeah.”

  “Nico, it’s me.”

  “Hey, Dad. What’s up?”

  “Take a walk.”

  “Yep.” I look up at Shaye and wink. “You need to start brainstorming. I need a minute, okay?”

  She nods, but I can see the concern in her gaze. She’s too observant for her own good. She knows when my tone of voice changes, when I take a business call versus a personal one. She can read me, and I hate it.

  Mainly because of the lies I have to tell to keep her happy and comforted.

  I wonder if she knows about those…

  I head up the beach where there are no sunbathers at this moment. Good for me, considering the fact that it looks like I’ve got a piece of driftwood in my shorts. “Talk to me.”

  “He’s back, son.”

  I rake a hand through my hair. “I’m actually surprised he didn’t show up sooner.”

  “Had to finish his overseas tour. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. Have you talked to Max?”

  “Not yet. I have him working on some deals with Viktor. I didn�
��t want to distract him with this until we knew more.”

  “It’s time to tell him. We need to start making a plan.”

  “And Tony? Is he going to come through for us this time?”

  “He’ll do it. I’ll make sure of that.”

  “You give him too much credit.” I peek over my shoulder to witness Shaye stretching her arms overhead, her tits stretching against the scraps of fabric covering them.

  Focus, focus…

  “You need to put some degree of trust in people, Nico. And always have them under watch, just in case.”

  “We can’t take any chances. This guy wants revenge for his dad.”

  “You need to get back home. Even with your security detail down there, it’s not safe. For either of you.”

  I sigh and look around. Beachgoers stroll the boardwalk in the distance. Crowds of sunbathers cover the stretch of beach in front of me. There are plenty of places to lurk, plenty of opportunities to pounce. “I know. Give me a few days.”

  “Be careful. I love you, son.”

  “I love you, too, Dad.” I end the call and slap the phone against my leg. Sonofabitch. I knew this would happen. It’s been a long time coming, and it’s time to clue in my closest confidantes, including Max and Rocco, the ones I myself have been watching because it’s just how the game is played.

  I learned very early on that there are certain things guaranteed in this life.

  One: money always talks. Bullshit rarely walks.

  Two: respect always comes with a hefty price tag.

  And three: someone always wants you dead.

  THE END

  * * *

  Are you ready for what comes next in The Mob Lust Series???

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  Contents

  1. Nico

  2. Nico

  3. Shaye

  4. Nico

  5. Shaye

  6. Nico

  7. Shaye

  8. Shaye

  9. Shaye

  10. Nico

  11. Shaye

  12. Nico

  13. Shaye

  14. Nico

  15. Shaye

  16. Shaye

  17. Nico

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  The Venture Series by Kristen Luciani

  Standalone Romance Titles by Kristen Luciani

  Acknowledgments

  Screwing the Mob © 2018 by Kristen Luciani

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Except for the original material written by the author, all songs, song titles, and lyrics mentioned in this novel are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, scanned, distributed, or used in any manner whatsoever, via the Internet, electronic, or print, without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  For more information, or information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact Kristen Luciani at kluciani@gmail.com

  Edited by: Elaine York of Allusion Graphics

  Cover Design by: Harper L. Jameson of Dark City Designs

  Created with Vellum

  About the Author

  Kristen Luciani is a USA Today bestselling romance author and momtrepreneur with a penchant for stilettos, Silicon Valley, plunging necklines and grapefruit martinis. As a deep-rooted romantic who prefers juicy drama to fill the lives of anyone other than her, she tried her hand at creating a world of enchantment, sensuality, and intrigue, finally uncovering her true passion. No pun intended…

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  The Venture Series by Kristen Luciani

  www.kristenluciani.com/books

  UNLIKELY VENTURE

  Book One of The Venture Series

  NOTHING VENTURED

  Book Two of The Venture Series

  VENTURE FORWARD

  Book Three of The Venture Series

  JOINT VENTURE

  Book Four of The Venture Series

  ***Now a USA Today bestseller!***

  Standalone Romance Titles by Kristen Luciani

  PLOWED

  FATAL LIES

  DIRTY REVENGE

  Acknowledgments

  I’m so excited!!! Screwing the Mob is my first mafia romance. But it’s sooooo much more than that! It’s got something for everyone – the forbidden romance, that taboo best friend’s sister element, drama, angst, deceit, and murder! I hope you guys love it as much as I do!

  To my husband…I’m so thankful to have your love and support. You’ve always encouraged me to chase my dreams, to drive forward, and to take chances…as long as they don’t bankrupt us. I love you so much!

  To Lulu, Cooper, and George…I love you guys more than I can ever express, and I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Cheers to THE THREE!

  To Harper Jameson of Dark City Designs…You freaking ROCK, lady! Your cover is AMAZING!!!! Love you, girl!

  To my editor, Elaine York of Allusion Graphics…I can’t thank you enough for helping me make the story of Shaye and Nico the very best they can be. I appreciate all of the time you spent helping me perfect this book!

  To Stacy and Maura, my trusted sounding boards…Love you guys to pieces! Cheers to Culaccino!!!!

  To my beloved Reviewer Loungers…Thank you for reading and pimping and supporting me. Love you guys!

  To The Stiletto Click…thank you for being the most amazing reader group ever. You ladies are fabulous!

  To the readers…I’m so grateful to all of you who make my job of spinning sexy and suspenseful tales the best one in the world. THANK YOU!