by Soraya Naomi
“Lo prometto.” I promise.
A look of pure joy wreathes her expression. “I don’t regret it either. You’re the love of my life, the man who dispelled my loneliness. And you give me more than I deserve.”
“No,” I object. “You deserve it all.” I don’t deserve you because I’m a killer, but I’ll never let you go.
“I love you so much,” she whispers, sliding my ring on before we entwine our fingers. “I didn’t get you a Christmas gift yet.”
“You’re all I need,” I respond and reach into my back pocket and hold up three airline tickets. “And that was just an overdue gift, by the way. This”—I hand over the tickets—“is your Christmas gift.”
She eagerly reads the destination, beaming. “We’re going to Marseille for New Year’s Eve?”
I nod. “I’m taking you to your mother’s hometown. It’s our overdue honeymoon.”
“I’m so excited to go to France, Michael!” she exclaims and loops her arms around my neck.
“Kiss me,” I order, causing her grin to widen before she goes onto her tiptoes and briefly touches her lips to mine. Cupping the back of her head, I coax her mouth open with my tongue, but when I grab her ass and pull her into me, she pushes me away.
“We can’t. Our guests are coming,” she protests just when the buzzer rings, so I rest my forehead against hers and growl, stroking her rounded ass.
“Fine, but as soon as everyone leaves, you’re all mine.” I release her. “I have to change now.”
Brielle’s mouth curls up. “I’m always yours, Carrion.” She sends me a salacious smirk before turning around and strutting down the staircase as a wide smile tugs at my lips.
I didn’t know true love until Brielle barreled into my life. Rachel’s death broke me due to guilt and my inexperience with relationships, but Brielle healed me. Of course, I regret what happened with Rachel, though if I hadn’t been with her, I’m not sure if Brielle and I would have crossed paths. But Brielle’s spirited and amusing ways make me feel alive. Don’t we all want to feel alive? Collateral damage happens, but I thank a god I don’t believe in that I managed to protect Brielle. She lessens my worries and gives me a reason to keep going.
When voices suddenly ring out downstairs, I quickly change into my tux, and as I’m righting my black bow tie, I stroll down the staircase to see that my apartment is filled with people. All the high ranking members and their families are here, and luckily, I’m used to having people over since Brielle often hosts dinners.
Tonight, we’re all in black tie since it’s Christmas. I nod at Adriano, Luca, and Henry, who are sipping drinks at the large tree by the window, before I go into the kitchen, where I step around Cam and Amalia playing with her dolls on the floor. Brielle’s closing the oven and walks around the corner to the dining table that’s decorated with red and white roses and napkins, which cheers up our place even more.
“You’re so busy,” I say to Brielle.
“I’m done now. We can eat.” She rakes her nails down my tux jacket. “Are you the man in black again?” She edges closer. “You do look dashing in your black tux with a black shirt and bow tie.”
I hold out my arms. “To please my wife.”
“To please me?” she repeats.
“Yes.” I palm her ass, making her laugh as she pushes me away while everyone’s claiming their seats.
Brielle and I sit at the head of the table, the smell of turkey and pasta drifting around, and she speaks to me, but I don’t hear her because Adam and Amalia, who are overly excited about their presents, are chattering to no one in particular.
“They’re loud,” I comment as I take a champagne glass and hand another to Brielle, and we laze back, my arm settling along the back of her chair.
She grins. “I don’t mind. I’ve got an entire loud family and I love it. My daughter will never be lonely because if anything ever happens to me or you, I’m positive that Luca and Fallon would raise her as their own.”
“That’s true.” Whatever happens to me, Brielle and Olivia will never have to face the world alone – the Syndicate will keep them safe.
As I study Brielle, I’m positive I made the correct choice to move back to Chicago. She’s the one who grounds me amidst a chaotic existence.
At that moment, when Adriano and Luca sit across from us and everyone has a drink in hand, Adriano brings up his glass. “It’s been a very good year for the Syndicate. Ever since I became boss, I’ve always wanted us to have a regular family life too, so I’m glad we’re here together with our wives and children. Salute.” Cheers.
Along with everyone else, I bring up my glass. “Salute.”
As I gaze around at each high ranking member with his other half, I pull Brielle into me and kiss her temple, being completely happy in this anarchic life. I have a wife and a daughter, things I didn’t think I’d ever have, and I love them more than myself. When it comes down to it, that’s what love is – valuing someone else’s life more than your own.
So would I do anything any differently? No. I’ll eliminate anyone who threatens Brielle and Olivia. I’ll always manipulate any situation to shield them. I’ll always use my influence and power to make sure they have the best of everything.
Because in the mafia, we take what we want.
We’re fearless killers who protect our own without any remorse.
And we’ll get away with it forever because we rule the Chicago Syndicate underworld.
The end.
BOOKS BY SORAYA NAOMI
CHICAGO SYNDICATE SERIES
For Cesare (Syndicate #0.5) (standalone)
For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate #1)
For Luca (Chicago Syndicate #2)
For Adriano (Chicago Syndicate #3)
For Cam (Chicago Syndicate #4)
For Logan (Chicago Syndicate #5) (standalone)
Black Hat Hacker (Chicago Syndicate #6) (standalone)
The Lawyer and the Tramp (Chicago Syndicate #7) (standalone)
For the Love of Luca (Chicago Syndicate #8) (standalone)
The Man in Black (Chicago Syndicate #9) (standalone)
STANDALONE BOOKS
Unconquerable Sins
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Soraya Naomi
OF COURSE, I FIRST have to thank the godmother of this series, Renee, who’s by far one of the best editors I’ve ever met. I can’t express into words how much your help is appreciated. How much time you take to teach me and fine-tune the novel is simply amazing. With every book, I’m so happy you’re there to shape it into the end result. And every time, your attention to detail amazes me!
A big thank you to the beautiful Rebecca Marie from The Final Wrap for making the cover.
A huge thank you to Give Me Books and L. Woods PR for handling the cover reveal and release day blitz.
And from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the ARC reviewers, bloggers, and all the readers who’ve taken the time to read and review the novel.
TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGES the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Smith & Wesson: Smith & Wesson Corp.
BMW: BMW AG, Munich, Germany
Band-Aid: Johnson & Johnson
Calvin Klein: Calvin Klein Trademark Trust
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SORAYA NAOMI READS many genres but favors intense, seductive, and provocative novels where the male character loves fiercely, without remorse or boundaries. She has a passionate obsession with the written word and indulges in chocolate pastries much too often. Her debut novel, For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1), was released on July 26, 2014. She’s honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the Novel Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards.
For more information about the novel and author:
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ABOUT THE NOVEL
The Man in Black
Copyright © 2018 by Soraya Naomi
Published by Jasmine Books
BOOK 9 OF CHICAGO SYNDICATE series.
First digital edition published August 9, 2018.
First print edition published August 9, 2018.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief and correct quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: THIS is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THIS BOOK IS LICENSED for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
TOP COVER PHOTO CREDIT: IgorVetushko/ Depositphotos.com
Bottom Cover Photo credit: David Niblack
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