by Soraya Naomi
His eyes, completely black from his dilated pupils, have been studying me in the mirror the entire time.
“I felt it too.” I turn my head to him as he thrusts his finger in while sliding his cock along my core.
Adriano’s tongue traces my jaw and his rough hand catches my breast, the pad of this thumb skimming back and forth across my nipple. We press into one another deeply, trying to become one.
“If I hadn’t been kidnapped, I might’ve never met you,” I murmur.
“I believe I would’ve found you. I would’ve always found you – eventually.”
Longing quickly changes to uncontrollable passion, as usual. His tongue delves in my mouth while the head of his shaft nudges my entrance. Ever so slowly, he moves inside, fulfilling the fantasy we started right here in this room. Whimpering, I bow my back and Adriano kisses my jaw as he glides into me roughly. Need explodes through me, curling up from my toes through my body like fire, and the world slows as I accept all of him.
“I love watching how you take me inside you.”
There isn’t a second we’re not kissing or groping while he overpoweringly pumps into me, our hot breaths mingling while I’m aflame from his scorching lovemaking. Pleasure rockets through my body while he fucks me.
Adriano grips my hips and rises, bending me forward and placing my hands to the mirror, and pulls me back into him while rolling his hips.
“Oh, shit. Yes.” I throw my head back as his nails scrape down my back, and he slaps my ass.
“You like that?” He smacks me again, then grabs my hips and crudely tugs me back against his pelvis.
Growling, Adriano shoves me forward and pulls me back with every hard thrust. “Are you coming, Cam?”
“Oh, yes. Don’t stop,” I pant, pushing against him.
But he pulls out, kneeling down, spreads my ass cheeks, and tongues me. When he cements his mouth over my core, I tremble while mewling as I reach for the sky, and I burst, my breath coming fast when Adriano fits himself inside my body again and comes with a low growl as I’m lethargically drifting down from my high. Our bodies move together slowly as I behold his half-lidded eyes in the mirror. After releasing a sigh, Adriano guides me back to the chair, and we drop onto the padding as he kisses me deeply.
“While I’d love to stay down here with you, we have to get going,” he utters.
The quietness of our moment is destroyed by reality. Still, I’m grateful about how we can always thrive in our sensuous dreams for a little while, even in the midst of murder and chaos.
“Also,” Adriano admits, “I’m a bit worried about Luca.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure if he can handle this,” he answers honestly. “And we need Fallon.”
CHAPTER 20
Luca
“I’ll quickly shower first.” Fallon walks ahead of me inside our penthouse.
“No, we’re talking first.” I shrug out of the sleeves of my suit jacket and toss it over the books scattered on the kitchen island.
“We don’t have much time.” She takes off the Cleopatra wig and weaves her fingers through her long mahogany hair.
“Why are you inserting yourself into Syndicate business?” I rest both palms on the black granite kitchen counter.
“I’m not,” she defends and grimaces.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. My back is just a bit sore.”
“You’re hurt from fighting! Why are you so eager to be a part of this?” I repeat.
Cynical wrinkles line her forehead. “Because this was inevitable. Eventually I would’ve become involved somehow.”
“How? I always keep you out of everything. For your protection.”
“But you can’t always do so, and I’d rather be in the know, like Cam—”
“So this is about Cam? You think Adriano is always so happy with Cam? They constantly argue about her safety.”
“But at least they communicate and she knows what’s going on in his life,” Fallon replies. “I don’t have that kind of reassurance with you. I never know where you are or what you’re doing, and that worries me.”
“That’s for your protection. The less you know, the safer you’ll be.”
“But excluding me isn’t working because first, I’m best friends with Cam, and although she never discusses Syndicate business with me, I still hear things, and second, people know that I’m your wife, so there’s always the possibility that an outsider will involve me in Syndicate business because of my connection to you, like what happened with Medlov.” She lifts her hand to her brow and pushes against it while expelling a frustrated breath. “Where are you going with these questions? We have to be back in thirty minutes.”
“You’re not going back with me, dolcezza. This is not negotiable,” I state to her.
She blinks repeatedly in astonishment. “But we already agreed at the club that I would go.”
“I only said that to get you out of there. You’re not going. I have a truly bad feeling about this.”
“So we just leave Rosalia with Medlov? Are you crazy? If this was about anyone else, I would agree with you, but I’m not going to let you shut me out this time. I’m going.”
I swipe a hand down my face in irritation. “Non mi pressare su questo, Fallon.” Do not push me on this, Fallon.
“Wade said something is at play here, something big.” She clenches her fists as anger unbridles.
“Exactly, and I’m not placing you in the line of fire. Pack some clothes. I’m getting you away from here for the night.”
Her mouth gapes in sheer disbelief. “What are you doing?”
“Keeping you safe until this is over. I won’t abandon Rosalia, but you will not be at the meet. Medlov’s interest in you is too dangerous, and there are too many unknown factors for me to even consider having you participate.”
“But that’s not your choice. Adriano’s the boss, and he said that it was okay.” Fallon attempts to stifle me by mentioning Adriano’s rank.
She’s gotten craftier since she’s been hanging out with Cam.
“And...we promised. What’s going on in your mind, Luca?”
“That I don’t want my wife with the Ukrainian boss!” I shout. The thought of it cutting brutally through my chest as I round the kitchen island.
“I’m not failing Rosalia,” she says, aiming complete bewilderment my way. “How can you expect me to do that? What will Adriano and James do if I don’t show up? They wouldn’t abandon you when you need them most.”
“You’re more important to me than this Syndicate. Jesus Christ! I don’t know how Adriano does this with Cam!”
“By trusting her,” Fallon mumbles.
I snort, arcing a brow. “Cam thinks she can do anything she wants and get away with it, but Adriano just knows how to guide her. In the end – when it counts – she does what he says. She knows when to stop fighting him. And I need you to stop fighting me now.”
“If anyone else was in danger, I would agree with you. But this is the only family we have—I have left. I’m not disappearing when Cam and Rosalia need me. They’re always here for me.”
“I’m starting to dislike your friendship with Cam,” I snarl and edge closer.
She bravely tilts her chin up a notch. “That’s not true. You’re just angry. But stop and think about what you’re suggesting. If I leave and anything happens to Rosalia, I’d hate myself and you.”
Clenching my jaw, I trace my fingertips across her bare shoulders. “I’m not changing my mind. If you want to shower, go now, dolcezza.”
She stands there, lost in thought for a second. Then her eyes get thinner, but she conforms, traipsing down the hall to our bedroom while I go to the window, watching the spitting rain streaking against the floor-to-ceiling glass.
Rubbing my chin fervently, I try to reach for some sense of calm. But when I think about my solace being used for Syndicate business, all my walls go up. Ultimately, Adriano will understand why I ca
n’t put Fallon at risk like this. And Fallon doesn’t comprehend the severity of this predicament. I’m positive that the Ukrainians have a master plan, and that this mission is just a disaster waiting to happen.
In a flash, a chill runs down my spine, and I wonder if Fallon might disobey me? With a few determined strides, I’m in the bathroom, but she’s in the shower, vigorously scrubbing her face.
Would she rebel?
I believe that she would because she’s been gradually becoming part of this Syndicate. I’ve recognized her changing behavior the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless, as long as she didn’t become directly involved in a mission like with Cam and Rosalia before, I was fine with it. Until I realized today, in Adriano’s office, that she’s much more aware of the organization’s business than I thought. And she cunningly withheld information until she pinpointed the exact moment that it was necessary to relay Medlov’s message. Fallon’s grown into her role as my wife, and now she’s become increasingly eager for knowledge. She’s seen how we train and educate Cam and how it’s strengthened her, and Fallon wants that too. Her world view has changed; she’s becoming harsher.
This is what mafia life does to a person.
CHAPTER 21
Fallon
Biting my lip, I ponder what to do as I pass our bed, shedding my clothes along the way, but I keep my phone with me as I go into the bathroom. I don’t want to defy Luca, but he’s not being rational, so I need to call for back-up.
“Hey,” Cam answers.
“We have a problem. Luca’s backing out. He’s going to hide me until it’s over.”
“What? Did you call Adriano?” Cam retorts.
“No! And risk having the boss know? I don’t know what to do. I can’t reason with Luca.”
“And I can?” she yells disbelievingly.
“Just get over here. Now,” I whisper-shout. Time is of the essence.
“Okay. Stall, and don’t leave your apartment or else Luca will make sure that I’ll never find you.”
“Just hurry.”
“In my car already.” Cam hangs up.
Hearing footsteps, I turn on the faucet and jump into the shower, washing the black eyeliner from my eyes right when Luca enters and then goes right back out.
This is such a mess. He’s going to be livid when he discovers that I’m working with Cam against him. At my slowest pace, I wash under the showerhead until I’m all wrinkled.
Luca comes in again, completely dressed in his charcoal suit, opening the shower door and holding up a towel for me. “Hurry, dolcezza. Dry.”
Tentatively, I step out.
“Don’t look so scared. I just don’t want you anywhere near here when we go in to rescue Rosalia.”
“Adriano’s never going to trust us again. And neither is James. I don’t like this, Luca.”
“Basta così.” Enough. “This is not up for debate.”
“Fine.” I grit my teeth, gathering that a discussion is out of the question.
Grabbing the towel, I dry myself as he watches me.
But when the doorbell buzzes, the line of his mouth flattens. “Who’s that?”
I brush past him, going to my drawer and taking out a bra and panties. “It’s Cam.”
Hastily, I put on the underwear, jeans, and a beige top. Then I go to the elevator. Luca’s right behind me but doesn’t stop me as I press the button that starts the elevator mechanism. Instead, he folds his arms over his chest, staring me down with a look that could incinerate me and propping his hip against the kitchen island.
It takes forever for Cam to finally arrive, and she bursts through the doors before they’ve slid open entirely.
“What’s going...on?” Her words trail off when she meets Luca’s stormy expression. “Luca?”
“Cam, stay out of this,” he warns in a low tone.
“I can’t,” Cam counters. “Soldiers are already staking out Wicker Park. There isn’t a sign of Rosalia or Medlov yet, so we have to move fast because we only have until midnight. If we’re late, who knows what he’ll do to Rosalia or where he’ll take her next. At least right now, we know she’s in that area, and we need Fallon to get her at that meet.”
The tiny hairs on my arms rise as Luca’s eyes rest on me, his impeccable suit in contrast with his anguished gaze. Neither of us concedes, both of us anticipating what to do next.
“We’ll find another way to get Rosalia back tonight,” he retorts evenly.
Cam clutches her hair in defeat. “Oh my god! You’re even more stubborn than Adriano.”
Luca’s tightly leashed, self-controlled appearance is wavering more and more.
Yet again, we’re interrupted by the buzzer. All our gazes flick to one another, and the excruciating tension can be cut with a knife.
“By the way, Adriano knows,” Cam admits guiltily.
“Cam!” I protest, but it’s too late. Adriano has clearance and is already on his way up.
“What?” Cam lowers her arms to her sides. “I can’t handle Luca. You need Adriano to talk some sense into him.”
CHAPTER 22
Adriano
I zero in on Luca the second I enter his apartment. He’s scowling at Fallon and Cam as they stand opposite him in the kitchen.
I was in my office at the club while Cam was still dressing in the private room when Fallon called her. In turn, Cam informed me the moment she took off to see Luca and Fallon and told me to follow her since Luca’s faltering. I didn’t inform James or anyone else about our issue with Luca, but we’re pressed for time and Luca needs to obey orders. However, I’m his friend before I’m his boss, and I understand his torment, because Cam and I have gone through these exact same motions as well. My own rage about how Cam was assaulted earlier tonight hasn’t been appeased in the slightest. Only because I have more important matters at hand am I able to keep myself calm. But the sinner in me is craving reprisal.
“Luca, what’s wrong?” I demand and press my lips against Cam’s temple, whispering, “Give us some privacy in a couple of minutes.”
Fallon sends me a disappointed look as Luca replies, “I can’t do it. Fallon doesn’t go to the meet.”
“FYI – Fallon wants to go and is not on board with Luca,” Fallon interrupts, earning another glare from him.
“We’re losing valuable time here, because I have the address and James is already instructing the soldiers about who will guard the perimeter of the establishment we’re meeting at since it’s in their territory, Ukrainian Village.” I glance at Cam, and she takes her cue, guiding Fallon to the bedroom to give me privacy with Luca as I requested.
“Do you think I would ask this of Fallon if there was any other way to get Rosalia back with minimum casualties? No, I wouldn’t. I never want to involve her either. But she’s part of this now, and she can handle it. We don’t have a choice here; we can’t let Rosalia or James down, Luca. You and I will not lose sight of Fallon for a second. Trust me. Don’t abandon me on this operation.”
He releases a terse breath. “If Medlov hurts her, all bets are off.”
“Of course. We’ll kill him together if he so much as touches her. No one will come near her. She’s only going to talk, and you and I will be there. All soldiers have been ordered to guard Fallon with their lives. I’m not taking any risks with Fallon. I’d never do that. Just like I know you’d never do that to Cam.”
Luca’s rigid body slowly unwinds. “Adriano, I have a bad feeling about this. We’re going in blind, being forced into a situation without having the faintest clue as to what Medlov’s master plan is.”
“That’s why I’m taking extra precautions. I also want Rosalia back as soon as possible so that I can begin making people pay for what they did to Cam and Fallon today, Luca.”
“I get that. See, look what happened to Cam. And she’s much stronger than Fallon.”
“No. Cam’s not. Not anymore. Fallon’s been training and taking shooting lessons with Cam a lot. Amico, you do see what’s happe
ning here, don’t you? She wants in. Be glad she isn’t judging us anymore and is truly understanding the importance of our mafia family. Which you are not doing at the moment. Your fear is clouding your judgment, just like mine was when it came to Cam the first few times she was this intricately involved. Don’t let this tear you and Fallon apart. It almost did Cam and me. This is the life we chose, and they’re part of it – whether we like it or not. Both of us have to learn to guide them a little more and not order them around. Don’t fight Fallon, because in the end, your relationship will lose.”
“Jesus, aren’t you Confucius nowadays.”
I feel a grin tugging at my lips. “Cam’s been educating me on the importance of feelings.”
“Adriano, I need your word that you and I will be with Fallon every second.”
I frown because I would never leave her side, but I do get his need for reassurance. “Every second.”
“How much time do we have?”
I check my chrome watch. “We should’ve left five minutes ago. Cam? Fallon?”
Cam peeks from around the corner.
“Let’s go. Fallon too. Don’t take any belongings except your gun. Hurry. We’ll have to instruct Fallon in the car.”
***
Within fifteen minutes, I’m steering my vehicle through the bustling streets of west downtown Chicago toward Wicker Park while resting my hand on Cam’s thigh. Driving past countless bookstores and art galleries, I’m forced to park farther away than I expected because the street I need to enter is closed down for a Halloween event.
Luca and I are drilling Fallon before we head to our destination.
“First, you demand to see Rosalia if she’s not there with him,” Luca starts.
And I add, “If Medlov asks you random questions – which he will to make you uncomfortable – answer concisely or don’t answer. Don’t let him pressure you into answering. Don’t engage in his taunting. Same goes for you, Luca.”
But Luca’s fixated on Fallon, who’s stashing her gun in the back of her pants.
Checking the rearview mirror, I spot more Capi and soldiers pulling up and approaching my car. Cam entwines our fingers as I take a calming breath. I look at her beautiful face and completely empathize with Luca’s situation.