Niccolaio Andretti: A Mafia Romance Novel (The Five Syndicates Book 2)

by Parker S. Huntington

  He turns to look at me, his gaze darkening as his takes in my curves under the tight Emerald green cocktail dress I’m wearing. “Ready to go?”

  I nod, and together, we go to pick Mina up. When we enter the group home, I feel the stares of everyone around us. Parents, siblings, children, and staff all stop to stare at Niccolaio, some in interest but most in fear.

  “Stop,” I whisper out of the side of my mouth.

  “Stop what?”

  “That look. You’re scaring people.”

  “What look?”

  “The one that says you’ll kill anyone who touches me.”

  If anything, his eyes darken further. “But I will kill anyone who touches you.”

  “They’re children,” I say, exasperated.

  “Not all of them.” At my look, he sighs and pastes an alarmingly handsome smile on his face. “Fine.”

  His smile is beautiful and attracting way too much female attention, so groan and say, “That’s even worse.”

  “Jealous?” His eyes glint in amusement and satisfaction.

  I sigh. “There’s no winning with you.”

  He leans into my ear. “I beg to differ. You sounded quite victorious last night when you were coming around my cock and calling me your god.”

  I playfully shove him away from me with a laugh, opening the door to Mina’s hall after we sign in.

  When she sees us, Mina screams, “Niccolaio!”, basically ignoring me completely.

  I roll my eyes, a small smile on my face as Niccolaio goes to hug her. Mina is obsessed with him, and I think he’s taken my place as her favorite person in the world, but I don’t mind. As Mina talks animatedly with Niccolaio, Erica finds me and walks beside me, watching the scene with a smile on her face.

  “She’s been happy lately. Have you noticed?”

  “Yeah,” I sigh, watching Mina’s bright smile.

  It reaches her eyes, causing them to shine.

  “You don’t like me much, do you?” Erica asks, confronting me about this for the first time in our four years of knowing each other.

  “I used to not like you.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m learning to forgive.”

  There seems to be a lot of that going around lately.

  “I’m not a bad person, you know.”

  I nod, because I do know that. Maybe not back then, but I see things more clearly now. I’m not as angry as I used to be. I’ve quit gold digging for good, and I’ve put a hiatus on law school until I’m sure that I know that becoming a lawyer is what I want to do with my life. Asher offered me an internship in any division of his company as a way to figure out what I like and dislike, and I think I’m going to take him up on that offer.

  Beside me, Erica says, “I used to be in foster care.”

  My eyes widen at that tidbit of information, because I always assumed she came from money. As a social worker, she probably gets paid poorly, but she’s always dressed well—with Hermés Birkin bags, Louboutin heels, designer clothing and diamond-embedded jewelry.

  She continues, “But when I was your sister’s age, a family took me in. They had money but no amount of money in the world could get my adoptive mother pregnant, so they adopted me. And I was this girl who didn’t care for it. Who was jaded from the world and hell bent on pushing everyone away, even if they were trying to help me. It took a while for me to grow up, and I needed a lot of help from my parents and friends to do so, but I finally did. And now, I’m happy. Every day, I’m happier than the last.” She turns to face me. “When I met you, Minka, you were just like the younger me. Jaded. Pissed off at the world. But now, you’re different. You’re happy. Good for you.”

  And with that, she walks off.

  The problem with raising yourself? You grow up fast, but you don’t grow up completely. And as I stood there and listened to Erica talk, I confirmed what I already suspected—that maybe I’ve finally grown up. That maybe I’m finally evolving.

  “What she say?” Niccolaio asks, cautiously approaching me.

  I smile at him. “Nothing I didn’t already know.”

  With Niccolaio pushing Mina’s wheelchair into the handicap accessible van Niccolaio bought for when we take Mina out, which is every weekend, the three of head towards Mina’s school. Mina leaves us to head back stage, and Niccolaio and I find a seat in the front row beside Bastian; Asher; Lucy; and hell, even Aimee.

  I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make the transition from mother slash sister duo to only being Mina’s sister, but I have. And as the curtains pull back and Mina nails her first lines a few minutes later, I realize that I may not know what I’m going to do with my life, but I know that, whatever I do, I’ll have my family—Niccolaio, Asher, Lucy, Aimee, Bastian, and Mina—by my side.

  I lean into Niccolaio’s ear and whisper, “I was right when I said we were going to be happy.”

  Epilogue

  six years later…

  But we can’t go back.

  We can only go forward.

  Libba Bray

  Admissions Essay #4

  Question: In four hundred words or less, explain what has been the most significant day of your life and how it altered (or continues to alter) your perception of your future.

  It’s a Dream

  by Mina Reynolds

  Six years ago, I was cast in my middle school’s production of Romeo and Juliet. For any other girl, that would be lauded. For me, it was like pigs suddenly sprouted Red Bull colored wings and began to explore the sky; purple rain was striking the unsuspecting New York pavement as a resurrected Prince sang notes at A5 that only dogs were able to hear; and a miracle had happened, and the Vatican had just received absolute, irrefutable confirmation that God exists, and we no longer needed faith to believe in Him.

  You see, I have spina bifida, and I was told at a young age by a chorus of cynics that I wouldn’t amount to anything. That for the rest of my life, I would be nothing more than a girl stuck in a wheel chair, and I shouldn’t aspire to be anything more than that. That I was nothing more than my disability, and we were one in the same. And for a dark moment, I believed them. For twelve years, I thought that I couldn’t reach further than what my wheel chair would allow.

  But as I opened my mouth and said as Juliet, “How now! Who calls?”, my voice reverberating around the theater and reaching the loving ears of my family, a band of nonconformists that, though not all related to me by blood, have been the only family I’ve ever known in every sense of the word, I realized that I could be anyone. Not just a foster kid. Not just a cripple. Not just Juliet.

  Anyone.

  I am Mina Reynolds, and my hopes and dreams aren’t bound by a stupid chair I’ve sat in for most of my life. They are the moon, the stars and the skies, and though they look so far out of reach, they are just as much mine as they are anyone else’s. Being Juliet was a wakeup call. A much needed eye opener. And after that, everything else became much clearer.

  My life isn’t just the things that are arms reach from a wheel chair.

  It’s a dream.

  W I L T O N U N I V E R S I T Y

  O F F I C E O F A D M I S S I O N S

  December 15, 2023

  Dear Ms. Mina Reynolds,

  We are delighted to inform you that the Committee on Admissions has admitted you to the Class of 2028 under the Early Action admissions program. Please accept our personal congratulations for you outstanding achievements.

  In recent years, we have received an average of over thirty thousand student applications for the twelve hundred and fifty places available in each freshman class. Faced with an increasingly competitive selection of talented individuals to choose from each year, the Admissions Committee only chooses students that show great strength in academia, extracurricular activities, and personal areas.

  With each decision, we are confident that we have chosen the best and brightest students this world ha
s to offer. In voting to offer you admission, the Admissions Committee displays our firm belief that you will make outstanding contributions to this university during your undergraduate years and the many that follow.

  Should you choose to accept your admissions, you will receive an early orientation in May of 2024, where our faculty and your fellow student body have arranged a special welcome to help you choose your major. You will find the remainder of your application and steps to accept your admissions on the Wilton University admissions website. For more information, please visit the website.

  We look forward to teaching you in the years to come.

  Sincerely,

  Wilton Admissions Committee

  The Wilton University Office of Admissions

  Stay tuned…

  FOR A SNEAK PEAK OF BASTIANO ROMANO, BOOK TWO IN THE FIVE SYNDICATES SERIES.

  Acknowledgments

  Even after struggling to write tens of thousands of words, the acknowledgments portion always seems to be the hardest to complete. I want to thank everyone, and I want to do justice for their contributions to my success, my life, and my future as an author. Because everyone one of you guys deserve my thanks and more.

  As always, I have to start with my family. L, you’re an amazing boyfriend. It’s crazy to think that we’ve been together for twenty-percent of my life—not because that’s a long time, but because it doesn’t feel long enough. You deal with me when I’m the biggest pain in the ass, and we both know it. I don’t know how you do it, but I’m glad you do. (Also, thank you for being the first to read my books, even though you’re so not a fan of romance. LOL.) Bauer and Chloe, you guys are the best writing partners ever! I’m sure that if you guys could write with your paws, you’d be bestselling authors. Instead, you’ll have to settle for writing gibberish on my Word docs every time one of you steps on my keyboard. (Thanks for that, by the way.)

  Elan! You’re kind, sorta my best friend. I’d say it more affirmatively, but we wouldn’t want your already bloated ego to expand. I’m already amazed that it can fit inside your body, and I’m sure that an ounce more of self-esteem would surely blow you up, and we can’t have that, can we? Thanks for dealing with my sparse replies while I’m writing (which is always), and always replying when I manage to find the time to shoot a few texts here and there.

  Emmanuel, I’m adding you to my acknowledgements, because you said you wouldn’t read a book of mine unless you were included. (So, you can go ahead and say you’re only reading a romance novel because you’re acknowledged in it, but we all know the truth… You’re reading it because you love me.)

  Thank you, thank you, thank you to my author friends, who have helped me SO much! Kat Mizera, your advice has been invaluable. Silla Webb, you are the kindest, most talented soul I’ve encountered. Erin Trejo, you are an advice QUEEN! Odette Stone, if you ever decide to retire, I’ll hire you as my rock. What that job description pertains, I have no clue. Knowing you, you’ll figure it out for me. LOL.

  Last but not least, thank you to my amazing readers! Without you all, none of this is possible. I want to give a special thanks to my Parkerettes, particularly the first ladies to join the group, who are always encouraging me to be my best. Carla, Krista, Aglipay, Joanne, Carrie, Pam, Brandi, Sarah and Heidi, this one is for you guys!

  Oh, and before I forget, thank you to the bloggers, ARC readers, and reviewers for all that you do in spreading the word, writing reviews (which help more than you know!), and getting my work out there. Take the credit for any and all of my successes, because you guys are all a part of it. Hell, y’all are the reason for it.

  About the Author

  Parker S. Huntington hates talking about herself, so bear with her as she awkwardly toots her own horn for a few sentences and then bids her readers adieu.

  Parker S. Huntington is from Orange County, California. She graduated pre-med with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Creative Writing from the University of California, Riverside. As of May 2017, the newly-22-years-old novelist is still pursuing a Master’s in Liberal Arts (ALM) in Literature and Creative Writing from Harvard University.

  Go Crimson!

  She has 2 puppies—an obnoxious German Shepherd mix named Bauer and an evil husky and lab mix named Chloe—both termed after characters from Fox’s 24. She also lives with her boyfriend of four years—a real life alpha male, book boyfriend worthy hunk of a man.

  She is currently working on Book 3 of The Five Syndicates series (Bastiano Romano), which she hopes to have published by the end of 2017. This is probably an appropriate time to mention that she also sucks at meeting deadlines and is a notorious procrastinator. #ItsInHerBlood

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  If you didn’t like this book, I’d love to hear why, too! Feel free to reach me at parkershuntington@gmail.com.

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  Now, for an exclusive sneak peek at Bastiano Romano…

  PROLOGUE

  Nevermind your happiness.

  Do your duty.

  Peter Drucker

  Something was wrong.

  Most of my life had been spent without luck. So often did my life go wrong that I couldn’t distinguish between bad and worse.

  But this? I could feel it deep within my bones.

  Something was wrong.

  Something was terribly, terribly wrong.

  I knew that much. And at that moment, I couldn’t wrap my finger around how I knew. But my mind was still hazy from the blur the last twenty-four hours had been, and I couldn’t quite convince myself to focus on the dreadful feeling that was welling in the pit of my gut.

  Instead, I ignored it and focused on the kind nurse as she grabbed my newborn baby from my reluctant arms.

  My beautiful Ariana.

  All of this was for her.

  I had run away from the only home I ever knew. For her. For something that didn’t even weigh seven pounds yet. It was funny if I thought about it like that.

  “She’s beautiful,” the nurse said, smiling.

  I opened my mouth to agree, but the only sound that escaped my lips was an odd gurgling sound.

  The nurse frowned and clutched my baby girl tighter, protectively. “I’m going to return Ariana to the nursery, but I’ll be right back. Okay?”

  I vaguely remembered nodding before she left. I almost expected her to say, don’t move. I’ll be right back. As if I could move. I was in the hospital, having just given birth hours ago, and I didn’t plan on moving for a long fucking time.

  I bit my lip.

  I had a baby girl to take care of now, and I shouldn’t have been cursing. Perhaps I was delirious, but for some reason, I found that thought to be hilarious. The most hilarious thing I had ever heard of.

  Me?

  A baby girl?

  I was a stripper.

  Correction: I had been a stripper.

  That was before I ran away, but still… I was hardly qualified to raise a child. And the father? My darling, beautiful girl was better off without one than with the one whose DNA she shared. That was a secret I would take to my grave.

  I was still laughing when another nurse entered the room. I forgot her name, and she was frowning as I tried to guess it.

  “Ms. Simpson, if you’ll please,” she began. “You left your baby’s last name blank on the birth certificate form.”

  “Huh?” I said, waggling my eyebrows, because it was fun.

  “De Luca,” I barely got out.

  And that was all I remembered before everything went black
.

  But it was too late.

  With those words, I had already condemned my own flesh and blood.

  Here’s an exclusive of Odette Stone’s debut novel, Her Fiancé’s Brother!

  Chapter 3

  I stared at my own refection in the grimy glass door of the subway train, trying to avoid the crush of jostling people that pressed against my back. I looked less like a bride-to-be and more like a college waif with my red hair pulled into a pony tail and my blue eyes devoid of make-up. I should have put make up on but I had gotten caught up in my book and then when I realized how late it was, I was running just to get out the door.

  The train peeled into my station before jerking hard to a stop, throwing the person behind me against my back. I held my breath as the door whooshed open and then the crowd was spilling around me into the underground station. Glad for my sneakers, I pumped my way up the two sets of cement stairs, which left me more than a little breathless when I staggered onto the street above. Cars honked and the sidewalks were packed with pedestrians. Feeling claustrophobic on the busy street, I passed panhandlers, food trucks that sizzled with the smell of hot grease and overflowing garbage cans. I let out a breath of relief when I reached my destination, the Paper Pelican.

  The store was quiet with only the clerk standing at the counter. I glanced at my watch. I was a bit early and Matt generally was a bit late. I spent in inordinate amount of time browsing through the aisle, trying to look like an avid shopper. Where was Matt? I checked my phone. No messages. I debated on what to do. He hated it when I called him out for being late, but the store was only open for another 30 minutes. I had deliberately picked this store for our wedding invitations because it was only two blocks away from his office. I decided, with a bit of trepidation, to send him a text.