by Cora Reilly
I was going to kill the bitch.
Aria shivered, and I touched her waist, sliding my thumb along her soft skin. “And a key. It’s still in my bag,” she said quietly.
“That fucking bitch.” Grace was pissed about my marriage with Aria. The brainless twit had probably hoped to become the next Mrs. Vitiello. As if I’d ever marry an outsider, especially one of the fucking thrill-seekers who’d always only be with me to be in the spotlight and add a kick to their pathetic lives. A woman like that would never understand what it meant to be bound to the mafia, what kind of sacrifices were required to be part of our world. Sacrifices were a foreign concept to a creature like Grace.
“Who?” Aria asked.
“Both of them. Grace and Cosima. They’re friends. Grace must have put her up to this. That cunt.”
Aria jerked away from my anger, eyes wide and shocked. Fuck. I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. My nose in her hair, I breathed in her scent. At once, my anger dimmed. Aria wasn’t supposed to witness my brutal, vengeful side.
Aria softened in my hold. “Grace wanted to humiliate me. She looked really happy when I found you.”
“I bet,” I muttered. Grace and Cosima had probably met right after the incident and laughed their fucking heads off. They wouldn’t laugh for much longer. “She’s a fucking rat trying to humiliate a queen. She’s nothing.”
Aria was a queen, and nobody would treat her as anything less than that.
“How did she react when you told her that you couldn’t see her anymore?” Aria asked curiously.
I hadn’t seen or talked to Grace since our last fuck, and I had no intention of doing so. I’d never even considered telling her that we were over. Why? We’d never been a couple or even an affair. I’d messaged her when I’d wanted to fuck, and she’d always come running. We hadn’t gone on dates or even been exclusive. Far from it.
“You promised you wouldn’t see her or other women again,” Aria whispered, and I realized my fucking mistake. She tried to escape my embrace, body trembling, but I didn’t allow her to pull away.
“I did, and I won’t. But I didn’t talk to Grace. Why should I? I don’t owe her an explanation, just like I don’t owe a fucking explanation to the other sluts I fucked.” Aria was stiff in my hold, not believing me. I tilted her face up so she had no choice but to meet my gaze. She needed to get my next words into her head. “You are the only one I want. I’ll keep my promise, Aria.” It was the goddamn truth. I desired Aria like I’d never desired a woman—in the obvious way, but also in a deeper way that didn’t even make sense to me.
Aria searched my eyes. “So you won’t see her again.”
“Oh, I will see her again to tell her what I think about her little stunt.” I’d probably end up killing her. I’d never been more furious in my life. Grace tried to mess with my marriage, and I knew she wasn’t done yet—if I didn’t put a stop to it once and for all.
Aria touched my arm. “Don’t.”
I stared at her incredulously. I thought she wanted me to end it verbally.
“I don’t want you to talk to her again. Let’s just forget her.”
Forget how Grace had not only tricked me but also tried to humiliate my wife? “Please,” Aria begged, her fingers digging into my biceps.
Fuck. How was I supposed to deny her when she looked at me like that? Begging didn’t work with me, but Aria…
I nodded, even if I knew I couldn’t do nothing. I’d keep my word and not contact Grace, but I sure as hell wouldn’t forget what happened. Next time I saw her father to give him money for his campaign, I’d tell him exactly what was on my mind. He knew that Grace was good for nothing. “I don’t like it, but if that’s what you want…”
“It is,” she said quickly. “Let’s not even talk about her anymore. Pretend she doesn’t exist.” Aria gave me a small smile. I touched her parted lips, loving their softness.
“Your lips are too fucking kissable.”
Aria averted her eyes in embarrassment. Shy and sweet. That men like Fiore Cavallaro and my father had chosen this kind of woman for me was a miracle, but one I was definitely grateful for.
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” she mumbled.
“More bad news?” I asked carefully. The Grace thing was already souring my morning.
Aria shrugged. “Well, I guess that depends on your viewpoint. I want Gianna to visit me. Her school doesn’t begin for another two weeks, and I miss her.”
I stifled a groan. “It’s been only a few days since you saw her.”
“I know.” Aria’s expression became pleading once more, and I knew I was screwed. If Matteo found out that Gianna was coming to visit, he’d be ecstatic.
“Where would she stay?”
I immediately knew what she was up to.
“I don’t know. Maybe in our guest room?” She bit her lower lip with that smile, her eyes so fucking hopeful that I knew there was no way I could say no to her, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Your sister is a major pain in the ass,” I muttered.
Aria leaned closer, her expression pleading.
My eyes dipped down her nightgown to her beautiful tits. “How about a deal?”
Aria’s smile fell, anxiety taking over. “A deal?”
She sounded as if I was going to force her to let me fuck her. I wanted nothing more than finally being with her, claiming her, but not if she was so fucking terrified. “Don’t look so nervous. I’m not going to ask you to sleep with me so you can see your sister. I’m not that big of an asshole.”
“No?” Aria grinned, her entire face transforming, and I just couldn’t resist. I kissed her hard, needing to taste those lips.
“No. But I’d like to explore your body,” I said, my hand trailing over her waist and hip, imagining how it would be to taste her beautiful tits and pussy, to bury myself between her legs. Fuck, I was getting hard again.
“What do you mean?” Aria asked, her voice low.
“Tonight, I’ll try to be home early from the meeting at the club, and I want us to soak in the Jacuzzi for a bit, and then I want you to lie back and let me touch you and kiss you wherever I want.” I ran the tip of my tongue along her ear, showing her what I’d do to her lovely pussy. “You’ll love it.”
Aria exhaled, her body tensing under my touch. Her eyes reflected her conflict, torn between curiosity and anxiety.
I slid my hand between her thighs, putting pressure against her clit. Aria’s resulting moan and the twitch of her hips made me smile. Her mind was anxious, but her body definitely wasn’t. Her panties were wet with her need for more. She was so wonderfully responsive. The idea of how slick she’d be around my cock almost drove me to insanity.
“You like this, Aria. I know you do. Admit it.” There really was no doubt about it. Her body sent a clear message, and the soaked lace was all the answer I needed. I pressed the heel of my palm against her clit again, earning another gasp.
Aria’s face was flushed, her eyes hooded. “Yes.” Watching her, I rubbed my palm over her slowly, enjoying her amazed pants. “Don’t stop.”
“I won’t,” I rasped against her throat. I wouldn’t stop at all if she allowed it. I wished she’d allow herself to turn off her brain and let her body take over control. “So, will you let me have my way with you tonight? I won’t do anything you don’t want.”
“Yes.”
I kissed and nibbled her throat as I stroked her pussy through her panties, faster and harder, matching the rhythm of her desperate rocking. She arched and cried out as she came under my touch.
I regarded her closed eyes, parted lips, pink-tinged cheeks. Breathtakingly gorgeous.
I left another lingering kiss on the tip of her chin before I met her gaze. It was obvious that Aria’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts again, worrying, wondering.
She pressed her head against my shoulder, gripping my biceps.
“So, can I call Gianna and tell her to buy pl
ane tickets?” she whispered against my skin.
Back to business, the little minx. “Sure, but remember our deal.” The buzzing of my phone ruined the moment again, and any chance of me getting another hand job or, better yet, a blowjob. I didn’t even look at the screen before growling, “For fuck’s sake, Matteo, what now?”
“We got another message from the Russians,” he said. “They left pig heads in front of Ferris’ best restaurant.”
I shoved down the string of curses lingering on the tip of my tongue. Business wasn’t something we should discuss in detail over the phone. I gently untangled myself from Aria and stood. “We’ve got his back. I won’t let another fucking restaurant go to the Russians.”
“Father wants us to have a word with him.”
“Yeah,” I gritted out. I’d assumed that much. Ferris’ restaurant chain paid a shitload of money for our protection. We definitely didn’t want to lose him to the Russians because their threats got to him.
“ASAP,” Matteo added.
“Yeah. I’ll be ready in thirty minutes.”
So much for enjoying a nice, calm morning with my wife. I dropped my cell on the nightstand. At least my annoyance over the Bratva had gotten rid of my boner.
“I have to talk to the owner of a restaurant chain,” I told Aria.
She was propped up on her elbows, her hair spread out behind her. There were a million things I’d rather do than convince Ferris that being on our bad side was worse than having the Bratva as his enemy.
Aria’s face fell. “Okay.” She looked honestly sad about my leaving. The realization gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
I moved back to her and bent over her. “Call your sister and tell her she can come. And I’ll be back in time for dinner, okay? I have a few take-out menus in the kitchen. Order whatever you want.” I kissed her, realizing with a start that I, too, was disappointed about not getting the chance to spend more time with her. I enjoyed being around Aria, and not only because I couldn’t keep my hands off her. “Let Romero take you to a museum or something like that.”
Aria nodded. I kissed her again then headed into the bathroom for a quick shower. When I emerged, Aria was typing on her phone with a small smile, probably telling the bitchy redhead that she was allowed to visit. Seeing Aria’s happiness, I couldn’t even be pissed over having to endure Gianna for a few days.
Pressing a quick kiss to her forehead, I mumbled, “Can’t wait for tonight.”
“Be careful,” Aria whispered.
I pulled away, then turned and left, feeling slightly stunned by her words. Nobody had ever said something like that to me.
Matteo waited for me in the underground garage and we took my car to Ferris’ place. He was a sleek business type who owned close to thirty restaurants in New York and New Jersey. The Russians were trying to convince him to switch to them. That wasn’t going to happen.
“You look better than I thought after last night,” Matteo commented, scanning me.
“I’ve had worse.”
“Did Aria help you recover?” His lips pulled into a suggestive grin.
“Do you have the video of me torturing that Bratva bastard on your phone?”
“So no sharing naughty details?”
“Matteo,” I growled.
“Of course. It was one of your brightest hours, torture-wise. All that pent-up sexual frustration is good for something, after all. If I wasn’t already such a master torturer, I’d consider a few celibate days.”
I rolled my eyes.
When we pulled up in front of the restaurant in Brooklyn, I spotted Ferris pacing the boardwalk, speaking into his phone. We got out and headed for him. His agitated expression turned to anger when he saw us. A few of his employees were scrubbing the once white front, trying to get rid of the blood splatters. The pig heads were already gone. “I have a business to run and a reputation to uphold. This is unacceptable. If you don’t put a stop to it, I’ll have to consider a new cooperation.”
Cooperation? Did he think we were some kind of business venture he could decide to work with? I smiled coldly. “Why don’t we head inside to discuss this away from the public eye. You don’t want to attract the wrong attention,” I said in forced calm.
He scowled and moved into his restaurant, actually believing me. Fucking idiot.
Matteo and I stalked inside after him. The moment we reached his office, my pleasant mask slipped right off.
I grabbed him by the collar and raised him up, shoving him against the door.
“Have you lost your mind? I’ll call…”
“Call the police?” I finished in a deadly murmur. “We pay more than half of them. We pay the people who matter in this city, too. And let’s not forget the things you don’t want to get out in the open, Ferris. Like the pretty little bellboy you’re banging behind your wife’s back.”
I set him down slowly and waved Matteo forward.
“Now listen up, Ferris, and listen well, because I’ll say this exactly once. Our cooperation ends when we end it, not one fucking day sooner, and if it ends, trust me, you won’t like it.”
Matteo held his cell in front of Ferris’ face, then played the video of me slicing the Russian into tiny pieces. His screams blared from the speakers. Ferris squirmed, trying to get away. When I didn’t let him, he closed his eyes.
“Either you open your eyes or I’ll remove your fucking eyelids.”
His eyes flew open and his face began to perspire as he watched the video. He retched and I quickly shoved him away from me so he threw up on his shoes and not mine.
Matteo flashed me his shark grin and put his cell back into his back pocket.
“We’ll handle the Russians,” I said. “You only need to worry about paying us in time.”
Matteo clapped the man’s back hard. “Good talking to you.”
We left.
“Why do they always throw up?” Matteo asked as we headed for my car.
“I need to pay Cosima a visit,” I said.
Matteo sent me a curious look. I’d never talked to Cosimo by choice. “I have a feeling it’s got something to do with your Grace debacle.”
“It does. She told Aria where to find me.”
Matteo whistled. “Bitch.” He regarded closely me as we settled in the car. “But Aria forgave you?”
I frowned. I’d avoided talking to him about this topic. “She doesn’t really have a choice. This marriage binds us both.” It was the half-truth, but I wasn’t willing to discuss Aria in detail, especially not my feelings or hers. I wasn’t sure if she’d forgiven me, and she probably shouldn’t, but Aria wanted this marriage to work, and I was grateful for it.
We pulled up in front of Cosima and Giovanni’s house. She’d been married to him for four years now. His father was one of our Captains.
“Want me to come along?”
I shook my head. “I’ll handle this alone. It won’t take long.”
I walked up to the townhouse and rang the bell. A maid opened the door, her eyes widening in alarm upon spotting me. “The master isn’t home.”
“I need to see his wife,” I said, stepping forward, forcing her to open the door wider and allowing me entry.
“Who is it? I told you not to let anyone in, you useless cow!” Cosima screamed, appearing in the hallway. She froze. She was still in her bathrobe. “Giovanni is not here,” she said quickly.
I closed the entrance door, meeting her gaze. “I’m not here for him.” I turned to the maid. “Leave us alone.”
She quickly hurried off. Cosima crossed her arms in front of her chest, but worry shone in her dark eyes. “You can’t be alone with me. It’s not proper.”
I gave her a cold smile and advanced on her. “I know you sent my wife to my fuck date with Grace.”
Cosima’s expression slipped for a moment, then she quickly masked it with feigned shock. “I didn’t do anything. How can you accuse me of something like that?”
“Do not lie to me,” I gr
owled, and she backed away but bumped into the wall.
“I’ll call Giovanni,” she said, reaching for her phone in the pocket of her robe before she raised it.
I grabbed her arm. “This is between you and me.”
With her free hand, she clutched her robe closed, lowering her eyes. “Giovanni and my father won’t be happy if you dishonor me.”
I released her as if I’d been burnt. “Fuck, Cosima, I’m not going to touch you like that.”
“Everyone knows the stories of your father. Don’t pretend you’re not like him. Even he didn’t crush a family member’s throat.”
I leaned down, scowling. “I can promise you I’ll crush your throat before ever fucking you.”
I nodded toward her phone. “Call Giovanni. Then I can have a word with him as well. He should keep a closer eye on you.”
She didn’t call him. Instead, she looked up at me with badly played guilt. “It wasn’t my idea. Grace came up with the plan. She wanted to win you back and destroy your marriage.”
I laughed darkly. “My wife is my possession, Cosima. You know that as well as I do. This marriage will last until the bitter end.” Nobody would ever find out how desperate I’d been when Aria had run off. “The only thing your insane plan did was make me furious, and trust me when I tell you that it’s never a good thing to be on my bad side, dear cousin. So the next time Grace asks you for a favor, you’ll say no, or your husband won’t become Captain.”
She paled. Cosima was ambitious. She’d dreamed of marrying an Underboss, but she hadn’t been graced with the beauty required to lure a man in that position. If Giovanni remained a mere soldier, that would be a humiliation she wouldn’t survive.
I left her standing there. She’d think twice before going against me again.