by Soraya Naomi
Softly, I confess to my husband, “Luca, I’ve never been so scared. I was terrified and hated that I had to leave Noah and Milana.”
In an instant, Luca frames my face, the pads of his thumbs stroking my cheekbones. “Don’t. Nothing has changed and I’ll always protect you and the twins.”
“I know that’s your intention, but it’s impossible. We were at a family wedding and anything could’ve happened to them.”
“Yet it didn’t. You were hurt, though, and I also can’t abide by that!”
“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me; I’m not that girl you met four years ago anymore.”
“I know that, but if anything were to happen to you, it would kill me,” he admits around a furious snarl, reminding me of how I adore him with every fiber of my being.
Because his torment hurts me, I go up on my tiptoes and sneak my arms around his neck to utter against his lips, “So we have to talk more, Luca. I feel like you make me forget the anarchy of this underworld since you keep so much of it out of our home. But I think I need to be more aware of what’s going on for the sake of my kids. I can handle it; I know how the Syndicate works.”
“You’re right,” he agrees, astonishing me as he holds me tightly. Yet it proves how much this night has shaken him as well.
He slides the tip of his nose down mine in the way I cherish before he roughly takes my mouth in a searing kiss, our teeth clashing in our impatient longing for each other.
“Ho bisogno di te.” I need you. His tone drips with desire as he unties my robe and slides it off my shoulders, leaving me in just my red lace panties.
Then he winds one arm around my middle to pull me flush against him, crashing his lips onto mine as his hand moves down my spine, disappearing under my panties. Two fingers rub over my wetness, and when Luca draws back, his roguish smile shoots a sensational tingle to my center.
“You’re so wet. Take off my clothes and touch me,” he orders.
As he kicks off his boots, I strip his dress shirt, fumbling with his buckle and the button of his slacks where his erection is already bulging before nudging them down. I skim my nails down his hard pecs and chiseled abs as I take in his tall, toned physique.
Letting out an unrestrained growl, Luca laces his fingers in my hair and I cup his balls as his other hand goes into my panties to palm my ass. Then his finger slides down to find my core and plunges in, circling leisurely before curling in two fingers.
“Lie back and let me taste you.”
Suddenly, lightning fast, he sinks his tongue into my mouth and we topple onto the couch. Hooking his hands behind my knees, he pushes me back completely and I shriek in surprise as the tear of my panties sounds loud in the stillness of the night. Then Luca adjusts my body so that I’m leaning back with one foot on the cushion and the other on the floor, spreading me wide for him as he shows me a playful smirk and dives in.
“Oh, shit!” I manage to croak out when he starts feasting on me like a man starved, so I entwine my fingers in his hair while pushing him between my legs.
Luca’s palms stroke down the insides of my thighs, leaving a fiery trail. Groaning, he spreads me open to taste every delicate part of me, the pressure of his mouth growing more insistent as he flattens his tongue to my flesh.
My body twitches with every flick. “Luca...”
Eagerly, he continues as I rotate against him. While his hands roam over my hips and to my ass, his tongue licks my core, sinfully wild, and I reach for the stars when his fingers dig into my behind. One thumb rubs fiercely while his tongue pushes in, which unexpectedly makes me come as I writhe against his face.
“Luca!” My orgasm explodes and I tug his hair when his tongue hits my most sensitive part, my eyes rolling back until, gradually, I relax as he leisurely licks me up and down.
“Hmmm,” he murmurs as I slowly open my eyes and look down to watch him, my limbs quivering from his talented mouth and just seeing him between my legs. Then he moves up and kisses me as his hands caress my body, his rock hard arousal almost breaking through his black boxer briefs.
Unfortunately, a cry coming from the bedroom has us stopping and I chuckle when Luca rests his forehead on mine, sighing loudly in defeat. For a second, I wait, but the baby howls again, louder this time, so Luca moves off me and pecks my cleavage before helping me up.
Rounding the couch, I go into the hallway that has two enormous rooms on each side and turn left into our master bedroom. With the taupe curtains hanging open, the moonlight shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows as get my nightgown that’s laid out on our king-size oak framed bed and throw it on.
When I move to the cribs at the foot of the bed, Noah is red-faced while he fusses, so I reach down and pick him up with one arm, making his sobs lessen as I rock him, murmuring, “My baby, can you not sleep?”
He calms down when he recognizes my voice and yawns while staring at me, sucking on his tiny lower lip in the cutest way. “Shhh, go to sleep. Mommy will watch over you, always.”
I carefully get Milana out of her crib too, and simply because I need to hold my children, I walk to the bed and lay them down in the middle of it next to each other. Milana is such a deep sleeper that she doesn’t stir, and when I settle beside them, Noah sticks his thumb in his mouth, his green eyes fluttering closed while I caress his hair.
Just as I wonder what Luca’s doing, he steps inside the room with his phone in hand, wearing his black boxers and showing his smooth, honed torso. Closing the distance between us, he flings his device onto the nightstand and climbs into bed, spooning me while we gaze at the two little humans we made together. Two tiny people I love to the moon and back. Tenderly, Luca presses a kiss onto the delicate skin right behind my earlobe as the warmth of his chest heats my back, but then his phone chimes in, interrupting our family time, which bothers me tonight.
He doesn’t move to read the message immediately, which is unlike him, so I roll to my back to find him regarding me expectantly before he reaches for his mobile and swipes the screen. Then he puts it down and says, “I might have to go to work.”
I tell him what I feel, “Don’t go, Luca. Don’t leave us.”
His stare narrows. He’s shocked, I think. Or maybe he just now realizes how tonight’s events have affected me. In truth, I haven’t ever gotten used to this violent, fast lifestyle. Regardless, I’ve never asked Luca to choose between me and his Syndicate, but with the turmoil of the night on top of having kids in this underworld, I’m relying on him more than usual.
I want him to stay with us, and I’m terrified he’s going to deny me.
CHAPTER 5
Luca
“DON’T GO, LUCA. DON’T leave us,” Fallon requests in a vulnerable voice, catching me off guard.
Not once has she ever asked me to stay with her, and the earnest look on her heart-shaped face softens me. Although I’m not used to disregarding my boss and the thought of doing so unnerves me.
Torn, I waver in decision-making, but my heart wins out when I glance at my kids, so I kiss Fallon’s forehead. “I’ll never leave you alone, dolcezza,” I vow and spoon her tighter.
“Thank you,” she mutters, stroking her fingertips down my jaw, marginally comforting the mafia man that resides inside me before she turns to the babies, who are both snoozing hard.
Fallon rests her palm on Noah’s round stomach, and I place my hand over hers so that we’re all connected. In the quietness of the evening, I stare at Fallon in her customary white satin nightgown. White is serene, calm, and innocent; just like her, and lying next to her manages to soothe me in a way only her presence can.
I wait for Fallon to fall asleep while I watch over my three loves. For several minutes, I merely memorize Noah and Milana’s smiles while I press my lips to Fallon’s hair and inhale her sweet ambrosia scent. I hold her firmer to me than usual because I was afraid she’d been ripped from me earlier tonight. A fate so devastating that I can’t even fathom it.
Eventu
ally, when Fallon’s breathing has settled, I roll to my back and get my phone. In essence, Fallon has only managed to contain the killer inside me, but the need to take control over this situation that shouldn’t have occurred is still profoundly strong. While I’ll never leave her if she asks me to stay, I’m unable to refrain from replying to Adriano.
I send a message to my boss, who’s more like a brother, so I know he’ll understand the way I feel.
Luca: Fallon wants to be present when we discuss what happened and our plan of action. And I do think I should keep her updated more, but not about everything. I don’t want her seeing me interrogate our captives tomorrow because I’m out for blood. Also, I want to talk to Tez alone, before Fallon’s at the meet.
Adriano: Cam also wants to be there, which I’m not happy about. I’d rather keep her and my daughter away from the Syndicate, so of course we’ll protect them however we need to. I’ll call you in the morning, supposedly for other business, and then you can come in alone. First, we’ll talk to Tez and interrogate the two fuckers. And we also need to inform the employees about the sex club before Cam and Fallon join our meet.
Luca: Okay. Text me around nine. I’m going to the hospital with Fallon first.
Adriano: She okay?
Luca: Yes, Marc said it’s just a precaution to ensure she doesn’t have a head injury.
Adriano: Okay. I’ll text you at nine a.m.
After reading Adriano’s last message, I chuck the device onto the nightstand and press my front firmly against my wife’s back, molding her luscious curves into mine.
This is who I am. This is how I take care of business, how I keep control: I protect what’s mine however I feel is best. Sometimes that means omitting things for the safety of everyone involved.
Nevertheless, I fall into a fitful sleep, unsettled about the danger that surrounded my family tonight.
I AWAKEN WHEN MY DAUGHTER, who’s now lying next to me, starts fretting and notice that Fallon’s gone. She must have switched Noah and Milana’s positions.
Needing to at least hear my wife’s voice, I yell, “Fallon?”
“In the kitchen! Heating the milk for the babies.”
“Okay,” I say, relieved because I don’t like waking up without her in my arms.
Apparently, I conked out with the babies in the bed, and I see that Fallon has placed large pillows on the other side so that they won’t roll off.
Milana demands my attention with her cute sounds that are like music to my ears.
“Buongiorno, figlia mia.” Good morning, my daughter.
Even after three months, I still can’t believe that the sweetest twins in the world are mine. When I turn to my side, she directs a wide smile at me.
“Milana,” I speak quietly and rub my hand over her belly, which she obviously adores since she makes soft noises while kicking her legs. Then she wraps her tiny hand around my pinky and her fingers don’t even touch.
Every morning, I play with my twins before the havoc of the day begins. It’s true that becoming a parent greatly changes a person. But having Milana and Noah hasn’t softened me, it’s only strengthened my resolve to shield my family from harm. It shows me love in the truest form – parental love, something I’ve never experienced as an orphan myself.
Confronted with Milana’s auburn hair and her innocent gaze upon me reminds me of Fallon, making me need to see her, and at that moment, she enters the room with two bottles in hand, asking, “Are they up?”
I scan the bruise on her temple. The swelling has gone down and it’s less purple, thank god.
“Milana is,” I answer, but she’s already smiling at our daughter.
The mattress dips as she sits on the edge at my hips and bends over me to place a kiss on Milana’s forehead. “Hey, pumpkin.”
“That baby voice of yours is comical and a bit creepy,” I tease.
“You just hate it that she smiles more at me than you,” Fallon retorts.
“You wish. Let’s see what she says first: mommy or daddy?”
“Well, you repeat daddy so often that you drill it into them as if they were your soldiers,” Fallon counters before pressing her lips to mine, but as she pulls back, I cup the back of her head and deepen the kiss for a moment. Then she addresses Milana, “You love it when daddy rubs your tummy, don’t you?”
Milana revels in all the attention, beaming and wriggling her tiny limbs.
“I’ll feed her,” I offer, taking the bottle from Fallon, and while Milana drinks hungrily, I ask, “How are you feeling?”
“Good. No headache,” she replies, resting her hand on my chest and stroking it.
“We have to go to the hospital. You get ready and I’ll feed Noah and call the babysitter.”
“Okay.” She stands up as I watch her walk to the bathroom, looking delectable in her sheer nightgown, and I continue feeding my kids so that we can leave soon.
AFTER THE CT SCAN HAS been done, Fallon and I sit across from Dr. Calderone in his pristine office that smells of disinfectant at Northwestern hospital. He has some additional questions, which strikes me as odd.
While leaning forward with his elbows on his desk, he instructs, “Ask Tez why he believes Fallon was out the entire ten-minute run back to the club when he carried her. Did he talk to you during that time, Fallon?”
“No, I don’t think so. I was just weak in his arms. And I did feel like a limp doll, so it must’ve appeared to him as if I was unconscious,” Fallon responds, and Marc knits his brows.
“Why do you want me to ask Tez?” she inquires before I get a chance to.
“Because it would concern me if you were unconscious for that long. But I’ll have the results within a day, and I’ll call you as soon I get them. Just let me know what Tez says. It is a good sign that you feel well and that the bruise on your temple is healing fast, so it could very well be that you just hit a soft spot, which messed with your balance.”
At that moment, right on cue, my phone beeps and I get it out of my pocket to read a message from Adriano summoning me to the club. When I show it to Fallon, she smiles at me.
“We’ll talk to Tez later,” I tell Marc as I rise, and when I hold out my hand, Fallon gives me hers and I entwine our fingers. “We have to go.”
“If you feel dizzy again, you call me, Fallon.”
“I will. Thank you for handling all of this,” she says, and I grin at Marc, whose eyebrows hit his hairline – this is his job and he gets paid royally by us for his discretion, and we are not men who thank people on our payroll.
“Anytime, Fallon,” he replies as I escort her out of the office, and we take the staircase to the ground floor.
“Adriano needs me to come in, so I’ll drop you off at home, and you and Cam can join us later, okay?”
“Sure,” she answers without questioning me, trusting me entirely and further fortifying my love for her.
AN HOUR AND A HALF later, I’m inside Adriano’s office at Club 7, interrogating Tez.
I stand across from him in front of the desk, looking down since he’s inches shorter than me, and start, “I want to know exactly what happened from the second you discovered there were intruders to when you returned with Fallon.”
Calmly, he relays, “I forgot my burner phone, which is why I came to the club. But I knew the wedding was happening, so I came in the back door to avoid disturbing the guests. When I was about to leave, I saw a suspicious looking guy staking out the entrance of the alley, and he sprinted toward me when he spotted me. That’s when I jumped back inside and ran into Fallon in the hallway. We got into the elevator, but it took us down instead of up – the men were already somewhere in the sex club. We hid, but Fallon was seen and one of the guys ordered the other to kill us, so we ran.”
I clench my fist.
“And I didn’t have a gun, which is why we were forced to go deeper into the underground. Then I remembered you talked about how it came out at the L station eventually, which it did, and we climbed out
via a pipe. But they were on our heels, and while I was standing on the manhole cover, I saw Fallon losing her balance, and she hit the sidewalk after a pedestrian pushed her out of the way. I picked her up and hurried back to the club, where you saw me when I entered with her. The other two men didn’t follow us.”
Taking a step back, I consider his story and am appeased slightly because his version coincides with Fallon’s.
Adriano then sums it up, “That means there were three men who were ordered by Rudd to raid Club 7. And the person who originally called Rudd obviously wants something from the underground, which narrows our list of suspects to sex club clients. We have both the man who was staking out the alley and Rudd in custody. And although we haven’t fully interrogated them, they claim to not know who contacted them; it’s all anonymous, so it’s someone with connections or maybe even power.”
Tez seems lost in thought, brushing his hand through his brown hair but freezing suddenly as if he’s had a lightbulb moment. “It could be related to the last issue we had in the sex club, but that wasn’t with a powerful client. It was just some average businessman who was a little too rough with a girl and believed he was entitled to be so with his coked-up mind. I banished him from the club.”
“Yeah, but we’ve also had other issues, so look into all of the clients involved in any of them,” Adriano advises before he catches my gaze. “But what would someone want from the underground or be doing there?”
“It’s also possible someone left something valuable behind,” I put in, unbuttoning my navy blue jacket. “Maybe someone wanted to get something back?”
Yet Tez discounts that scenario, shaking his head. “No, I don’t think so, because all the rooms are cleaned daily and important items are given to me. Nothing of value has been found.”
Adriano rubs a hand over his mouth in agitation while we glance at each other, clearly recognizing the annoyance in each other’s expressions. Neither of us has a clue who could be behind this.