by Reilly, Cora
I nicked her nipple with my teeth in warning and Valentina groaned, jerking her pussy against me again.
My eyes focused on her face, on the innocent surrender in her expression. She submitted to me, trusted me. I reached for her knee and opened her legs wider. There was no resistance. Her body was ready and she looked more than willing, but I forced myself to say, “Tell me now if you want this.”
Valentina’s chest heaved. Realization flickered in her eyes that this was it. I half hoped, half dreaded she’d say no. “I want this.”
“Good.” I turned my attention toward her other nipple, teasing it with my tongue as my fingers found her dripping center. I pressed down on her clit and Valentina exploded at once, crying out and shaking. She was so fucking wet, so warm and the sounds dripping from her lips went to my cock. She was like a firecracker. Valentina raised her eyes almost defiantly. Oh, I’d love to make her submit to me in bed.
I dipped my fingers lower until they brushed her opening and then I began to enter her. She was impossibly tight and discomfort flashed on her beautiful face. I kept pushing into her until my fingers were buried in her, then I forced myself to wait a moment for her to adapt even if it was the last thing I wanted.
The moment her walls softened their crushing grip, I started to finger-fuck her gently, giving her time to stretch and prepare for what was to come.
“You are incredibly tight. I can’t wait to be inside you.” I barely recognized my own voice, so drenched with desire. Valentina came again and I could barely hold back a groan.
I pulled my fingers out. They were slick with her arousal. She was ready for me. She had to be because I couldn’t hold back anymore. I didn’t want to.
I shrugged off my jacket before I unbuckled my belt
“You’re hard,” Valentina said in surprise as she looked at the tent in my pants.
“I’m capable of getting an erection. I’m not impotent.” Her look of fascination nearly made me laugh and I was glad for Valentina’s words because they reminded me that she was a young woman, my wife, who deserved any shred of tenderness I could spare.
“That’s not what I meant. But I thought you weren’t attracted by my body,” she said.
How could she still believe that? So dangerously oblivious when it came to detecting a man’s desire. “Don’t worry. Your body would leave few members of the male species unaffected.”
I got rid of my pants and boxers. It had been almost two months since I’d been with a woman and I couldn’t wait anymore, not when Valentina lay in front of me with spread legs, waiting for me to stake my claim.
“Scoot up,” I ordered, even as I realized that I should choose gentler words, but I’d warned her. I nudged her opening with my tip, stifling a groan at her hot arousal. Her walls fisted me tightly as I started to push in. Valentina tensed further and cried out in pain. Despite my dark hunger and the fierce throbbing of my cock, the sound of her discomfort was like a balm for the fire in my veins, reminding me again that she was my responsibility. I paused, waited for Valentina to relax, for a sign that she could take more of me. Her green eyes found mine, swimming with nerves and trust. She grabbed my shoulders and nodded. The permission I needed.
I pushed in the rest of the way in one sharp stroke, forcing her walls to surrender. Valentina pressed up against me, her lips thinning from the pain.
Pleasure thrummed heavily through my balls and cock. I couldn’t remember I had felt like this—if ever. “Tell me when I can move.”
“It’s okay.”
I started fucking her slowly. Every thrust pushed me closer to release. Staring down at Valentina’s stunned and sweaty face only increased my pleasure. Primal satisfaction at being the first inside of her filled me. This was supposed to be mere fucking but as I glanced down at the woman beneath me, it felt like more than using Valentina for pleasure. Being close to her physically felt good in unexpected ways. Acting on impulse, I kissed Valentina when I came. For a heartbeat, I allowed myself to lose myself in the taste of her, my eyes closed. When I opened them, catching Valentina’s hopeful expression, I quickly pulled away. I didn’t want her to get her hopes up for something that I couldn’t give her.
After making sure she was all right, I left the room without a look at her undoubtedly hurt face.
It was dishonorable to leave my wife like that after our first time together, after her first time, but the force of my guilt and confusion compelled me to seek isolation. I needed time to think, time to calm down.
Zita gave me a curious look as I passed her on the way to my office.
Once the door closed behind me, I staggered to my desk and sank down in the chair. My gaze landed on the picture of Carla. A new wave of guilt crashed down on me. Raking my fingers through my hair, I put the frame down, not able to bear my late wife’s eyes on me.
Another emotion mixed with the guilt over betraying Carla: guilt over how I treated Valentina. She’d done nothing wrong. Remembering the way, she’d given herself to me mere minutes ago only increased the weight on my conscience. I sank back in my chair.
As a rational man, I knew it was unreasonable to feel obligated to a dead woman when I had a breathing, feeling woman I was supposed to care for.
And yet, here I was, torn apart between the present and the past.
I picked up the frame, opened a desk drawer then hesitated before I finally stowed it inside and closed the drawer.
This wasn’t going to silence the past. My fingers lingered on the handle. With a sigh, I leaned back and closed my eyes.
The next day, I met with Giovanni, Rocco, and my father in the Scuderi mansion for our weekly meeting. Father regarded me with narrowed eyes as I stepped in. He had been keeping an even closer eye on me since my marriage. I wasn’t sure what he was waiting for.
I shook Rocco’s hand. “How’s married life treating you?”
I gave him a tight smile, not replying. My marriage was none of their business. Then I turned to Giovanni.
“How’s Val?” he asked quietly. Concern flickered in his eyes.
His question was difficult to answer. Valentina was unhappy with our current situation, last night hadn’t changed that. She wanted closeness on an emotional level. But she was a clever woman. Her asking me to work showed that. But even a job wouldn’t change Valentina’s unhappiness entirely. Yet, I had to admit my suggestion for her to take over as manager in the casino was fueled by the hope that she’d be too busy to ponder on our emotional estrangement. It seemed like the only way I could guarantee her happiness, and I wanted her to be happy. “She’s doing well. She wants to start working.”
Surprise filled Giovanni’s face. I crossed the room to Father who hadn’t risen from his armchair. “I assume you didn’t allow her that kind of nonsense,” he quipped.
Rocco motioned toward the armchair beside my father’s but I shook my head, preferring the higher vantage point when dealing with the old man. Rocco sank down, followed by Giovanni, waiting for my reply.
“I suggested that she could work in one of our Underground casinos.”
“The one near the Palermo?” Rocco guessed. I’d only recently killed the previous manager because he stole money from the Outfit.
“Yes.”
“Raffaele and Leonardo won’t like that. What is she supposed to do anyway? I don’t suppose you want her to be a complimentary girl,” Father muttered, smoothing back his white hair even though it was in place.
I narrowed my eyes at him. Giovanni’s face turned red with anger, his hand clenching around his knee.
“I expect everyone to show respect to my wife, you included, Father,” I said quietly. Many people in the Outfit would be offended by the mere idea of a Capo’s wife working, especially in a position of importance. It was a decision for Valentina.
Father’s eyes flashed with anger but I was the head of the Outfit now. While he was still greatly respected among our men, they saw me as the more capable leader, had done so for many years already. Fath
er was old. It was time for him to die. Unfortunately, he clung to live like all narcists did.
Pushing my hands into my pockets, I said casually, “She’s going to manage the casino.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Father said, shaking his head. “Neither Leonardo nor Raffaele will listen to orders from a woman.”
Rocco’s expression was carefully blank but I suspected he shared my father’s views. He was too clever not to side with me though, and he’d try to convince my men of my standpoint even if he disagreed. He was an opportunist through and through, which was useful and appalling at once.
Father turned to Rocco as I’d expected. “You can’t agree with Dante’s choice.”
Rocco smiled tightly. “I trust my Capo to do what is best.”
Father’s mouth thinned. I preferred the term Capo, but he’d instilled the word Boss. This subtle use of Capo showed clearly which side Rocco was on: mine. His gratefulness extended into the present. Letting him live had proven useful in many ways over the years. He gave me a subtle nod, his eyes like that of a dog expecting a treat.
Father turned to Giovanni who, like Rocco, knew better than to show his sentiments openly. “You can’t possibly want your daughter to work. It’s not proper.”
“If it makes Val happy and if Dante agrees with it, I don’t see why I should disapprove. She’ll stop working once she’s a mother anyway.”
I stiffened. Having children was expected, especially now that I was in my thirties and my first marriage hadn’t produced any offspring. I fought against the flood of anger and sadness that bubbled up.
Father nodded grimly. “Whenever that is. But I’m sure Dante has everything planned out.” He didn’t say anything after that. Maybe he finally understood that his days of power were over. My word was law now. He’d still give me his opinion on the matter repeatedly no doubt.
After the meeting was over, I pulled Father aside. “I think it’s time for you to retire fully and stop attending my meetings with my men. Your presence undermines my authority and that’s something I can’t allow.”
“Allow?” Father repeated sharply. His old eyes met mine, trying to stare me down but as had been the result in the last few years, he eventually looked away. “Very well. If that’s what you want.”
“It is,” I said firmly.
I returned to the car but didn’t get the chance to start the engine before my phone rang. Mother. “What can I do for you?”
“I hear you’re allowing your wife to work?”
She heard it from Father of course. “Yes.”
“It’s going to cause a scandal, Dante. You’ve already offended many people by taking a widow, why do you insist on breaking my heart? Think of the Outfit!”
My mouth thinned at her theatrical performance. Her words brought my mind back to Valentina and our last night, tantalizing memories I didn’t want to replay while talking to my mother. “Mother, I’m leading the Outfit into the future. I have to hang up now. I’ve business to attend to.”
She let out a small sniff but I knew her fake cries. I ended the call. During my drive home, my phone binged again. Chancing a glance down, I caught the message from Ines.
I’m proud of you.
My mouth twitched.
Allowing Valentina to work was partly to my benefit of course. She was busy and had less time to seek my company. As I’d expected, the past wasn’t easily put to rest. I avoided Valentina’s closeness as much as possible during the day, but at night my desire always won out. I’d never been this unrestrained, this dominated by my needs. Valentina was unaware of her power over me, and not just by night. Even during the day, I caught myself thinking of her. Something about the way she insisted on pushing my limits intrigued me.
But while I kept Carla’s photo in my drawer, her memories lingered. They weren’t easily forgotten, nor did I want them to be.
In the next few weeks, Valentina proved to be a capable asset in the casino and a more and more daring lover in bed. We fell into a routine that suited me well but that obviously bothered Valentina. I pretended to be unaware of her dissatisfaction because it allowed me to ignore my own annoyance with myself. Part of me wanted to seek out Valentina for more than sex, but my stubborn nature kept me rooted to a promise I should have never given.
In an attempt to show Valentina in subtle ways that I appreciated her, I went to our family’s jeweler and asked him for a necklace with emeralds. He had several on display. Since almost every Made Man from the Outfit bought jewelry for their wives and sometimes mistresses there, he always had a wide selection to choose from.
I picked the one that had almost the same shade as Valentina’s eyes. Despite her breathtaking body, her eyes haunted me more than her curves.
On my way back home, my phone rang with a call from Tommaso. I picked up, my lips thinning. He was a remnant from my father’s reign, a disgusting waste of space and air. Unfortunately, he wasn’t involved in attacks because of his back, so he couldn’t find an unfortunate end through a Bratva bullet. “Yes?” I clipped.
“Sorry to disturb you, Dante. Is my wife at your house? Your wife picked her up without my permission.”
“My wife only needs my permission, not yours,” I said in a low voice.
Tommaso cleared his throat. “Of course. But Bibiana is my wife.”
“I’m sure Valentina is having coffee with her.”
“I’d appreciate it if you could give me a call if you know more.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I hung up.
When I pulled up in the driveway, Enzo was already waiting for me.
“She took the car without you?” I guessed.
He nodded, looking unnerved. “She was gone before we could act.”
I walked into the house and as expected I found Bibiana and Valentina in the hallway. Valentina shifted, shielding her friend from my view as if she worried I’d hurt her. Bibiana was a poor woman. She certainly didn’t have to fear me.
“Good evening, Bibiana.”
She cowered, not meeting my eyes. “Evening.” Her face and arms were littered with bruises. It was a fate I’d protected Ines from. If she’d married Jacopo, she would have been a broken shadow of the woman she was now—like Bibiana. I had to consider options to dispose of Tommaso at some point.
After I’d informed Tommaso that his wife would spend some time here, I retreated to my office to give Valentina and Bibiana some time.
I sank down in my desk chair and twisted the small satin box in my hand. A Valentine’s day present always evoked emotions in women. It had been the case with Carla. She’d always gushed and cried when I’d given her something. Sighing, I set the box down on my desk. My eyes darted to the drawer where I kept the picture frame. I’d resisted looking at it today.
Instead of giving in to my need to drown in the past, I picked up my phone and called Pietro.
“Dante, what a pleasant surprise.”
“Hello Pietro.”
I opened the box and stared at the emerald pendant. Valentina’s eye color… God, those eyes.
“Is anything the matter?”
“How’s Ines?”
“Getting bigger every day,” he said with a small laugh so full of tenderness that my heart lurched in my chest. “Only two more months.” He fell silent. “How are things with Valentina?” His voice was careful. He knew how reluctantly I shared any private details.
“Things are going well,” I said evasively. “I assume word about her new job is already making the rounds.”
Pietro laughed. “Well, what did you expect? It’s the first time a Capo’s wife is working. So far even the wives of Underbosses always only stayed home.”
“Valentina is eager to work and she’s got leadership qualities.”
“You’ll have to do a lot of convincing in the Outfit, you realize that?”
“I do, but I also don’t have to explain my decisions. The Outfit is under my rule.” It wasn’t as easy as that. I needed the support from m
y Underbosses and Captains, so I’d have to tread carefully, especially about our traditions.
“How are things going in Minneapolis?”
Pietro easily followed my topic change. I’d never regretted my choice to support his quest to marry Ines, and he was one of the few men I trusted. I closed the box with the pendant, unsure if I should give it to Valentina.
Valentina was still asleep when I got up. As usual, her face was twisted toward me, gorgeous in sleep and without a touch of makeup. She deserved more than I gave her. It was a truth I knew without a flicker of doubt. I set the box with the necklace and a handwritten note down beside her then left.
I had a busy day ahead of me. My Underboss from Detroit was in town and we wanted to discuss his problems with the Bratva.
Later that day, I was on my way to check in on Valentina in the casino. Leo and Raffaele still needed clear instructions from me. Their reluctance to work under a woman was very apparent. My phone rang when I was only a block away. “Enzo, what’s the matter?”
“We have a problem, boss. Valentina’s just left the casino without telling anyone and is meeting with an unknown man.”
Fury followed by startling jealousy washed through me. Valentina was alone with an unknown man?
“I’ll be there in a minute. Wait for me.”
Enzo was already in the parking lot when I pulled up. I didn’t waste any time and followed him to a warehouse next to our casino. Glancing around the corner, I found Valentina talking to an outsider. He definitely wasn’t one of my men. He was barely taller than my wife and had reddish hair. My eyes narrowed as I tried to stifle my jealous rage. This overwhelming sense of possessiveness was new to me. Enzo and I crept closer, keeping close to the building.
The man grabbed Valentina’s arm. “Valentina—”
Suppressing the urge to shoot the man on the spot, I said, “Hands off.”
Valentina whirled around with a startled cry, her eyes wide. The man did the same but then tried to run away. Enzo grabbed him and pulled him into a headlock.
I stalked toward Valentina and gripped her arm. It took a lot of effort not to let my anger out on her. I’d given her lots of freedom, more than most Made Men gave their wives, and she seemed to abuse my trust in her.