Luca Vitiello (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles Book 0)

by Cora Reilly

  Matteo chuckled, as if that were the best news he could imagine.

  “You really think marrying her is a good idea?” I tried again. I couldn’t stop hoping Matteo would come to his senses.

  Steps rang out, then Aria and Gianna entered the room.

  Gianna spotted my brother and made a face as if she smelled something rotten. “What’s he doing here?”

  Like a masochistic moth, he was drawn to her fiery bitchiness. He sauntered over to her and kissed her hand. “Nice to see you again, Gianna.”

  I rolled my eyes at his antics.

  Gianna wrenched her hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

  Matteo’s eyes flashed with eagerness. I knew that look. I’d have to keep a close eye on those two. They had already kissed. I didn’t need another exchange of bodily fluids while the girl was under my protection. We all took our seats, Matteo across from me and beside his future wife.

  Aria watched them with a small frown, obviously as worried as me, and she didn’t even know about their impending nuptials yet.

  Marianna bustled in, serving roast lamb, rosemary potatoes and green beans. Her face softened when she patted Aria’s shoulder. What was it about Aria that made people go all soft?

  “Why did you crush that guy’s throat?” Gianna asked when we were done eating.

  Aria froze before she turned to me. I leaned back in the chair. This was a story I’d recounted countless times in my life.

  “Come on. It can’t be that big a secret. You got your nickname for it,” Gianna taunted me, her eyes holding obvious challenge, but I wasn’t Matteo and not as easily baited.

  Matteo grinned. “The Vise is a nice name.”

  “I hate it,” I said. As if that one moment defined me. I’d killed more brutally, and yet everyone only remembered that one fucking day.

  “You earned it,” Matteo said. “Now tell them the story, or I will.”

  “I was seventeen. Our father has many brothers and sisters, and one of my cousins climbed the ranks in the mafia alongside me. He was several years older and wanted to become Capo. He knew my father would choose me, so he invited me to his house and tried to stab me in the back. The knife only grazed my arm and, when I got the chance, I wrapped my hands around his throat and choked him.”

  “Why didn’t you shoot him?” Gianna asked.

  “He was family, and it used to be tradition that we put down our weapons when we entered the home of a family member. Not anymore, of course.”

  Family. That word was a joke. My uncles and aunts didn’t give a shit about Matteo or me; nor did our father. For the former, we were competitors for the position of Capo, for the latter a means to an end. If Father figured out a way to clone himself or live forever, he’d kill my brother and me without hesitation. A family based on trust and love that was something I’d never experienced, nor did I hope for it. Some things were out of reach, and I’d learned not to waste energy on longing for them when I had something I could fight for: the Famiglia.

  “The betrayal made Luca so angry, he completely crushed our cousin’s throat. He choked on his blood because the bones in his neck cut through his artery. It was a mess. I’d never seen anything like it.” Matteo flashed me a grin. He’d always been more eager to tell my story than me. He found it amusing, while it only made me angry. I’d been foolish in the past, had put my trust in people who didn’t deserve it, and it had almost killed me. I wouldn’t make that mistake again. Trust was stupidity. Love was weakness. My eyes found Aria, who watched me with compassion.

  “That’s why Luca always sleeps with an eye open. He never even spends the night with a woman without a gun under the pillow or somewhere at his body,” Matteo’s voice cut through my thoughts, and I realized he was right. Since that day, I’d never been without a gun around other people—until Aria. I glared at my brother. Couldn’t he just shut up?

  Matteo raised his hands. “It’s not like Aria doesn’t know you screwed around with other women.”

  Did he think that was why I was pissed? He blurted out facts I had no intention of sharing. Aria knew I was unarmed around her. I didn’t want her to read too much into it. Gianna leaned forward on her elbows, eyebrows cocked. “So are you wearing a gun now? We’re all family, after all.”

  “Luca always wears a gun.” Matteo leaned toward Gianna. “Don’t take it personally. I don’t think even I have seen him without a gun since that day. It’s Luca’s tic.”

  I could feel Aria’s eyes on me, could see her thoughts whirring behind those baby blues. She knew. I sent her a harsh look, trying to dissuade her from making a big deal of my actions. So what? I didn’t wear a gun around her because she wasn’t an opponent to fear. That was all.

  After dinner, I helped Aria move the plates into the dishwater while Matteo and Gianna kept on their arguments in the living room.

  Aria yawned again, blinking slowly. “Let’s go to bed.”

  Her eyes darted to my brother and her sister sitting across from each other on the sofas. “Not before Matteo leaves. I won’t leave him and my sister alone.”

  She had a point. I didn’t trust Matteo to honor the rules of our world when it came to Gianna, and I doubted she gave a flying fuck about losing her v-card on her wedding night. “You’re right. She shouldn’t be alone with him.”

  I walked over to my brother, who tore his gaze away from Gianna with a grin. I bent down. “That’s your panty-dropper grin. Bag it and get down to your fucking apartment. You won’t go anywhere near Gianna’s panties before she’s your wife.”

  “Says who?” Matteo challenged.

  I gave him a warning look and he pushed to his feet with a scowl. What had he thought? That’s I’d allow him to spend the night with the girl? That was a war declaration in the making. Father would lose his shit and make us both pay for losing face. I had a feeling he’d finally found a way to make me pay in ways that would have a lingering effect. My eyes found Aria who leaned against the kitchen counter. It would take time to come up with a foolproof plan to get rid of the bastard; until then, I needed to make sure Father had no reason to target my wife.

  With a last grin at Gianna, Matteo left the apartment.

  Ignoring me, Gianna moved over to her sister. “He’s obsessed with me.”

  She was right.

  “Then stop teasing him. He likes it,” Aria said as I walked over to her and leaned beside her.

  “I don’t care what he likes.”

  I wrapped an arm around Aria’s waist, remembering a moment too late that I was trying to be less affectionate toward her. “Matteo is a hunter. He loves the chase. You’d better not make him want to chase you,” I told Gianna.

  Gianna rolled her eyes. “He can hunt me all he wants. He won’t get me.” That’s where she was wrong. Matteo already owned her, and soon she’d find out.

  “You don’t intend to go to bed now, right?” Gianna asked Aria.

  “I’m really tired.”

  Gianna’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah, me too. But tomorrow I want you all to myself.” She sent me a scathing look, as if that had an effect on me, before she headed for the guest bedroom. “If I hear screams, no gun under a pillow will save you, Luca.” She closed the door with a bang.

  Aria’s cheeks were flushed. I dipped my head. “Will you scream for me tonight?” I trailed my tongue over her throat.

  “Not with my sister under the same roof,” Aria said in embarrassment.

  “We’ll see about that,” I murmured, nibbling her throat the way she loved it, and was rewarded with a breathy moan. I’d get Aria’s screams tonight. Without another word, I led her into our bedroom. Shutting the door, I tugged Aria toward me then slipped her dress off. My eyes trailed over her white lace underwear in appreciation before I lifted her off the ground and carried her over to the bed where I put her down. I didn’t waste any time before I bowed my head over her parted legs and kissed her pussy through her panties. The material was already soaked, and Aria’s sweet scent tightened my
groin with arousal. I kissed my way up to her chest.

  “Mine,” I murmured against her breast before I opened her bra and removed it. “I fucking love your nipples. They’re pink and small and perfect.”

  I pulled her panties down next and stroked her swollen pussy lips, already eager for attention, but I focused on her nipples until Aria was writhing under me. Then I moved lower and dipped my tongue between her folds. Soon she was panting. When I suckled her harder again, she clapped her hand over her mouth, stifling her moans.

  “No,” I ordered, grabbing her hands and holding them down against her stomach.

  “Gianna will hear.”

  I hope she did. It would probably drive her up the wall. Keeping my eyes on Aria’s needy face, I began teasing her clit with my lips until she couldn’t hold back her sounds anymore. She was so fucking wet that my finger slipped in easily. “Oh god,” Aria gasped.

  I fingerfucked her gently as I sucked her clit, and then she came hard. She pushed her face into the pillow, but a few moans rang out loud and clear. The sight of Aria losing control alone made me want to eat her out every day.

  I crawled back up her, kneeling between her legs.

  “When will you let me take you?” I asked in a low voice as I pressed a kiss to her pulse point.

  Aria stiffened. I looked at her. “Fuck. Why do you have to look so fucking scared when I ask you that question?”

  “I’m sorry. I just need more time.”

  More time, when I wasn’t sure how much time we had. I gave a terse nod.

  Aria stroked my chest through my clothes, smiling apologetically. I leaned back and took off my shirt. She helped me out of my gun and knife holsters before she kissed my tattoo, then the wound over my ribs. Suddenly her expression turned daring, and she raked her fingers over my nipples. I groaned then quickly got naked and settled on my back.

  Aria leaned over my erection and stopped with her lips only an inch from my tip. “If you’re not quiet, I’ll stop.”

  I touched the back of her head, loving this teasing side of Aria. “Maybe I won’t allow you to stop.”

  “Maybe I’ll bite.”

  I crossed my arms behind my head. “Have your way with me, I won’t make a sound. Don’t want to offend your sister’s virgin ears.”

  “What about my virgin ears?” She kissed my cock, making me twitch.

  Still a virgin. “You shouldn’t still be one,” I got out, but then Aria started sucking me and I focused on the feel of her hot mouth and staying quiet. Like last time, I warned her before I came and she quickly pulled back.

  Afterwards, I spooned her and turned off the lights.

  “I’m sorry for what your cousin did,” Aria said suddenly.

  It took me a moment to understand whom she was referring to: Junior, my traitorous cousin. The worst thing was that I hardly ever thought about his betrayal anymore because there were so many new threats in my life, not all of them Russian. “I should have known better than to trust anyone. Trust is a luxury people in my position can’t afford.”

  “Life without trust is lonely.”

  “Yes, it is,” I agreed, kissing her neck. Part of me wanted to risk trusting Aria. It was a part I thought long dead.

  I woke after Aria for once. When she returned from her shower, I was already sporting a morning rod. Aria gave me a disbelieving smile, but I didn’t wait long. I got out of bed and pressed her to my chest, facing the floor-length mirror. I made her watch as I teased her nipples, even as her cheeks turned red in shame.

  Of course, her sister was an early riser as well, and soon called for Aria right in front of our door, but I didn’t release her. I wasn’t done with her yet. Far from it.

  “Your sister is a fucking nuisance,” I whispered in her ear as I eased my finger between her folds then pushed into her. “But you’re so fucking wet, principessa.” Aria rewarded me with more arousal.

  “Yes,” I groaned as I thrust my finger into her slowly, watching her as she watched everything.

  “Aria?” Gianna hammered against the door.

  I stroked her clit and kissed her harshly, swallowing her cries as she came hard under my fingers. I pushed her forward and knelt behind her. Fuck, the sight of her ass and pussy on display was almost too much. I dragged my tongue along her crease then dove back in until Aria’s second orgasm caused her legs to give away.

  Panting, she knelt beside me. I straightened, bringing my dick close to her face.

  After a moment of hesitation, Aria took me into her mouth. Having her on her knees sucking my cock was the hottest sight I could imagine.

  “You’re so beautiful, Aria,” I murmured as I started thrusting gently, trying to see if she could take me like that.

  Gianna finally gave up as well, but I could only watch Aria as she blew me slowly. I began guiding her head into a faster rhythm. “Cup my balls.”

  Fuck, this felt amazing. I rocked my hips as Aria sucked me. “I want to come in your mouth, principessa.”

  When Aria nodded, I almost came right then, but I held off until it just got too much. My hips jerked as I came hard, all the while watching my wife. I stroked her cheek as she tried to swallow everything. I pulled Aria up to me, not wanting her to get insecure, and kissed her harshly.

  “I hope you remember this all day.” I definitely would.

  After a quick breakfast, I left for a day in the Sphere. Matteo and I had our drug sale numbers to go over and to finally discuss our father’s end.

  We settled across from each other in the office.

  “So you finally want to give the sadistic asshole what he deserves?”

  “He’s barely doing what needs to be done so the Famiglia stays at the top.”

  Matteo grinned. “As if that’s why you want to kill him. You don’t like how he treated your wife.”

  “I don’t like how he treats a lot of people.”

  Matteo’s expression made it clear that he wanted me to cut the bullshit.

  I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “He ruins everything. He thrives on misery. I just want him gone. You with me?”

  “Do you really have to ask? I’ve wanted to kill him for as long as I can remember.”

  I nodded, then leaned back. “We have to be careful. We can’t risk anything being traced back to us.”

  Matteo considered that. “Father is paranoid. The only time he isn’t heavily guarded and doesn’t have his bodyguards sitting right beside him is when he meets with his mistress.”

  “We can’t kill him ourselves.”

  Matteo’s mouth tightened. “I really want to be the one to do it, but I get your point.”

  “We’ll figure something out. Father’s got a long row of enemies. There has to be a way to get one of them to kill him.”

  CHAPTER 17

  Matteo and I were checking our sales numbers for cocaine and synthetic drugs when my phone beeped.

  It was a message from Romero’s cell.

  A wants to hit a club. Permission?

  “I hope no more bad news,” Matteo muttered as I typed “No” and sent it off.

  “Aria and Gianna want to go dancing.”

  “I assume you said no.”

  “If Aria wants to hit a club, she’ll have to do it with me.”

  We returned to business. Going through the sales figures sorted by cities in our territory always took forever, but I wanted to know what was going on in our territory.

  Another hour passed before a knock made me look up from the laptop. “Come in,” I said.

  Our barkeeper, Tony, poked his head in. I frowned. Usually he stayed behind the bar. This was close to peak time, so I doubted the bar could do without him.

  “No drinks for us?” Matteo said with a grin.

  Tony smiled, but I could tell that he was nervous. I narrowed my eyes. That meant I wouldn’t like what he had to say.

  “Romero sent me,” he said carefully. “Your wife and her sister are here, dancing.”

  I shoved the
laptop to the side and got up, as did Matteo. Fury shot through me. I had given Romero a clear order. Of course I doubted he’d gone against it without good reason, and I had a feeling Aria and her sister had found a way to force him here. I motioned for him to leave, and he did quickly. “Damn it,” I growled, then staggered out of the office. Matteo was close behind me. “Seems like Aria isn’t as well trained as you thought.”

  I shot him a glare. “That’s Gianna’s doing, no doubt. That girl’s a trouble maker.”

  We entered the dance floor and it didn’t take long for me to spot Aria. It was impossible to miss her. Her long blond hair glowed under the lights, and a gathering of men danced around her and Gianna, admiring them.

  Fuck. I’d never seen Aria dressed like this. I walked closer, taking in every inch of her tight leather pants, the way they accentuated her perfect butt. She swayed her hips to the rhythm, rotating and twisting, making me wonder how it would be once she rode me. I sent death glares toward the fuckers who’d dared to dance near my wife, and they backed off. One fucker hadn’t noticed me yet, too focused on Aria and actually motioning for her to dance with him. I met his gaze with the full force of my fury, and he looked away and turned. Good for him.

  I stopped right behind Aria. She swung her hips to the rhythm, then arched her back, presenting that perfect, peach-shaped ass. I grabbed her hips, feeling her heat. Aria tensed then relaxed. She surprised me by jutting her ass against me. With her heels, her cheek pressed enticingly against my cock. I jerked her against me, then bent down to her ear. “Who are you dancing for?” I asked, my voice shaking with possessiveness.

  Aria leaned back, her blue eyes meeting mine. “You. Only you.”

  Only me. Always. “What are you doing here?”

  “Dancing.”

  “I told Romero ‘no.’”

  “I’m not your possession, Luca. Don’t treat me like one.”

  Aria didn’t understand how far I’d go to make sure she was only mine, to guarantee her safety. “You are mine, Aria, and I protect what’s mine.”