Bound By The Past (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 7)
Page 34
One moment half grown-up, the next back to being children. What a strange phase in life, but one I didn’t want to miss. Despite Bea’s need for attention, I was determined to spend as much time with Leonas and Anna as possible. Before I could blink, they’d be adults.
Hands came down on my shoulders and Dante brushed a kiss against my cheek, then pressed another one to Bea’s head. “Isn’t it too cold for you?”
I shook my head. “I’ll come in soon. I don’t want to miss this. Who knows if Anna’s still going to enjoy snowball fights next year?”
Dante wrapped his arms around me. “Already becoming wistful?”
I shrugged. “I just want to enjoy every day, every single second. I’m so happy right now. I want to conserve this exact moment and keep it in my memory forever.”
“So many moments of happiness still lie ahead of us, Val.”
I turned away from the fight to look up at Dante. “That’s my line.” I was the one who always tried to see the positive.
Dante chuckled. “You’ve rubbed off on me over the years.” He kissed me and Leonas groaned loudly. Then cried out in surprise as Luisa hit him in the face.
I shook my head, laughing but then became serious at the look on Dante’s face.
“Fourteen years, and I’m still waiting for the day when you don’t make me love you a little more every second I spend with you.”
I blinked. “That’s a lot of love over the years,” I got out. “But you started on a very low level.”
Dante ran his thumb over my cheek. “I’m not without failure. I’ve made so many mistakes over the years. You and our children aren’t one of them, and every moment of suffering, of pain, of uncertainty was worth it, because it ultimately brought me to this moment.”
“I love you,” I said quietly, trying very hard not to cry. Anna had already suffered one moment of mortification today. If I started bawling in front of Luisa without any apparent reason, she’d experience her second.
Dante’s hold on me tightened. “And I love you, and every day a little more even if it seems impossible.”
“It’s a good thing that love’s infinite,” I said softly. Dante pulled me even tighter against him and Bea beamed up at him. Leonas and Anna laughed boisterously.
Surrounded by endless love. It couldn’t get any better than that.
THE END
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The Camorra Chronicles:
Twisted Loyalties (#1)
Fabiano
Twisted Emotions (#2)
Nino
Twisted Pride (#3)
Remo
Twisted Bonds (#4)
Nino
Twisted Hearts (#5)
Savio
Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles:
Luca Vitiello
(Luca’s POV of Bound By Honor)
Bound by Honor
(Aria & Luca)
Bound by Duty
(Valentina & Dante)
Bound by Hatred
(Gianna & Matteo)
Bound By Temptation
(Liliana & Romero)
Bound By Vengeance
(Growl & Cara)
Bound By Love
(Luca & Aria)
Mafia Standalones:
Sweet Temptation
Fragile Longing
Cora is the author of the Born in Blood Mafia Series, the Camorra Chronicles and many other books, most of them featuring dangerously sexy bad boys. She likes her men like her martinis—dirty and strong.
Cora lives in Germany with a cute but crazy Bearded Collie, as well as the cute but crazy man at her side. When she doesn’t spend her days dreaming up sexy books, she plans her next travel adventure or cooks too spicy dishes from all over the world.
This isn’t a complete list of all characters in my mafia world, only the most important characters featuring in this book. Some explanations might be spoilery for later parts of this book.
Adamo Falcone—Youngest brother of Remo Falcone.
Anna Cavallaro—Daughter of Valentina and Dante.
Aria Vitiello—Oldest daughter of Rocco Scuderi and wife of Luca Vitiello.
Arturo—Enforcer of the Outfit.
Bibiana Fabbri—Valentina’s best friend and cousin.
Camorra—The ruling mob family in the West.
Capo—The head of a mob family.
Captain—Fourth rank in my mafia world. Capo>Consigliere>Underboss>Captain
They rule over a number of soldiers and are responsible for certain business areas in a territory.
Consigliere—A Consigliere is the personal adviser for the Capo.
Danilo Mancini—Underboss in Indianapolis, Serafina’s ex-fiancé.
Dante Cavallaro—Capo of the Outfit.
Enforcer—Responsible for the dirty work. Puts pressure on debtors.
Enzo Bianchi—Valentina’s bodyguard.
Fabiano Scuderi—Son of Rocco Scuderi and Enforcer of the Camorra.
Famiglia—Leading mob family in the East.
Gabby—Maid in the Cavallaro household.
Gianna Vitiello—Second daughter of Rocco Scuderi and wife of Matteo Vitiello.
Giovanni Aresco—Father of Orazio and Valentina, and Underboss in Chicago. Later, Consigliere of the Outfit.
Ines Mione—Dante’s sister and Pietro’s wife.
Leonas Cavallaro—Dante’s and Valentina’s son.
Liliana Vitiello—youngest daughter of Rocco Scuderi and wife of Romero Cancio.
Livia Aresco—Mother of Valentina and Orazio, and wife of Giovanni.
Luca Vitiello—Capo of the Famiglia.
Matteo Vitiello—Consigliere of the Famiglia and Luca’s brother.
Nino Falcone—Consigliere of the Camorra and Remo’s oldest brother.
Orazio Aresco—Son of Livia and Giovanni, brother of Valentina. Later: Underboss in Boston.
Outfit—Leading mob family in the Mid-West.
Pietro Mione—Dante’s brother-in-law and Ines’ husband. Underboss in Minneapolis.
Remo Falcone—Capo of the Camorra.
Riccardo Scuderi—Youngest son of Rocco Scuderi with his second wife.
Rocco Scuderi—(Former) Consigliere of Dante Cavallaro.
Rocco Jr. Scuderi—Oldest son of Rocco Scuderi with his second wife.
Samuel Mione—Son of Pietro Mione. Dante’s nephew.
Santino Bianchi—Son of Enzo Bianchi. Second Enforcer of the Outfit.
Serafina Mione—Oldest daughter of Pietro and Ines Mione.
Sofia Mione—Youngest daughter of Pietro and Ines Mione.
Taft—Valentina’s second bodyguard.
Tommaso Bonello—One of Dante’s Captains. Husband of Bibiana.
Underboss—Rules over a city and its surroundings in the Capo’s name.
Valentina Cavallaro—Wife of Dante Cavallaro.
Zita—Maid in the Cavallaro household.