Dangerously In Love
Mafia In Love Series, Book One
Rachel Kelly
Copyright © 2020 Rachel Kelly
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
ISBN-13: 9781234567890
ISBN-10: 1477123456
Cover design by: Art Painter
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Books In This Series
About The Author
Books By This Author
Prologue
Maria
Since the beginning of my life people have controlled everything. My life had never really been mine to live. I was told how to act, look, and taught to follow my husband's lead. Everyone always made my choices for me. I didn't have a normal life and I never would. I looked in the mirror and I didn't even recognize the girl who was staring back at me. She was wearing a thin smile, a floor length one shoulder black chiffon dress, black stilettos, diamond earrings, a small diamond necklace, and two diamonds on her ring finger.
She looked so different from the girl that wore the sun dresses that came in all the bright colors and didn't care about dressing to impress people. She used to be happy. She used to live a life that seemed to be going according to plan, well, her father's plan. She royally screwed it all up. She made a simple mistake that changed the outcome of her life forever. She fell in love with the wrong person. She got hurt and hurt badly. She swore she would never love again or give herself to someone without knowing exactly what they were capable of.
It was hard to believe that the girl I was seeing...was me. This unhappy and extremely terrifying girl was me. This fierce, strong, brave girl was me. I suppose you shouldn't ever underestimate what sudden changes, pain, and heartbreak can make you become.
Chapter One
Maria
The sunrise was absolutely breathtaking from my balcony at our condo in Manhattan. I could just stand here for hours and watch the city life. This was one of the few peaceful times that I could enjoy and soak up a sense of normalcy in my life. This was my place to be normal. Outside of this balcony and the sunrises and sunsets I've watched over the years my life was never actually mine. I didn't have choices to make or get opinions. Every choice was made for me by my father, Vincent Salvatore II, Italian Mafia Boss.
I felt arms wrap around my waist and a kiss at the back of my head, "What are you thinking about this morning, love?" I turned around to face my fiancé, Marco St. Claire, my father's third in command. I tried to keep out of the inner workings of the family business because I really didn't want to know what things they've done. Women really didn't have any part of the business. Our job was to keep our husbands happy and to have babies.
"Nothing really, just enjoying this little piece of normal." I didn't really love him but my mother kept saying that I would grow to love him just like she grew to love my father. I don't know how such an amazingly sweet and caring woman was married to a mafia boss and was the daughter of an enforcer but I guess she decided that those things wouldn't take away from her happiness and joy. My parents were almost complete opposites but somehow they fell in love with each other over the years. My father was a hard man to love and a very cold man but with my mother he was as sweet as can be. He used to tell my brother's that the only person that should weaken your resolve is your wife.
"I know this isn't the life you wanted, Maria. But I promise to keep some sense of normalcy in your life. I would do anything for you." He kissed me passionately and held me in his arms. I didn't really want to marry him but I had no other choice. My father chose my husband when I turned sixteen. "I have some business in the city and I have to leave. I'll leave Paolo and Louis here to protect you while I'm gone. Be good and don't try to leave, please. I can't deal with hearing your father lecture me again on making sure you stay put. If you want to leave, call me and ask first." He kissed my forehead and walked away. I was forever doomed in this life. I had dreams like every other girl my age...the only difference? I'm the daughter of the Italian Mafia boss...those dreams were never really mine to dream.
I walked back inside and went to the kitchen to make myself something to eat. I had made Marco's breakfast earlier when he had woken up just before dawn. I'm just glad that I enjoyed cooking because if I didn't it would be such a chore. Louis and Paolo were the two most trusted enforcers that Marco had. "Are you guys hungry? I'm making frittatas and coffee," I asked the guys as I walked past them. They both moved to sit at the counter and watch me cook.
"Marco is lucky to have such a willing girl to cook and that offers to cook for others." Paolo smiled at me and laughed.
"I'm not so lucky. My wife hates to cook and she always complains. Her food tastes awful so I just have our daughter cook. Lucia loves to cook." Louis laughed.
"Do you know when we're going back home? I love it here but I miss my Mama and Anna." I asked quietly.
"Marco said as soon as the business here is finalized." Paolo said as he folded his arms and leaned back on the bar stool.
"And that will be when?" I asked with a slight attitude as I put a cup of coffee and a bowl of fruit in front of each of them.
"Hell if I know. Marco said it could take days or weeks depending on how smoothly the club visits and house checks go. Maybe he'll bring me back some fun this time." Paolo smirked and chowed down on the fruit.
"Don't talk about strippers in my kitchen or I won't feed you." I folded my arms and glared at him.
"Sorry, Maria. That wasn't something a woman should hear." Paolo frowned and continued to eat.
"It's okay." I smiled and finished the frittatas, sliding some of it on each of the three plates I had pulled from the cabinet. I sat one in front of each of the guys and they chowed down. "Hope it's up to par." I teased.
"Damn, Maria. This is the best frittata I've ever put in my mouth. Better than your mom's." Louis smiled from ear to ear. I blushed and refilled their coffees.
"Anything else you want boys?" I put my hands on my hips and watched them eat before I thought about eating. Housewife 101: don't eat until all your guests are served and satisfied. They both shook their heads no so I sat down next to Paolo and ate my frittata and fruit. I had to admit it was pretty darn good.
After they finished and went into the living room to watch TV or play vide
o games, something they wouldn't dare do around Marco; I cleaned up the kitchen and put the leftovers in the fridge. There was a loud knock on the door and they both jumped up and shuffled to answer it. I heard some voices and then some running footsteps toward the kitchen. "Ria!" I heard the sweet sound of my little sister calling my name. I turned around and ran to her, picking her up. I kissed her all over her face as she giggled and smiled.
"My sweet little love! What are you doing here and without father or mama?" I kissed her cheek once more before setting her on the edge of the counter and handed her a sippy cup full of apple juice. My sweet little sister was only three and she was the light of my life! My mama had gotten very sick a week after Annamarie had turned one, who we just called Anna for short. So, I stepped up and took care of her for mama.
Anna was my little shadow, she felt like more than a sister. I had practically raised her. Mama lives at another house under the watchful eyes of my grandparents and her numerous doctors. My father didn't really want her around the business so he moved there with her and commuted to the main house for business. I live with Anna and my brother's families in the main house.
"Mama got sick and papa is with her. Zay brought me!" She struggled to say my brother Xavier's name so he just told her to call him Zay instead. Xavier stepped into the kitchen and leaned up against the island. Anna looked at him and smiled. I wiped off the counter and placed Anna on the floor and she ran into the living room to watch TV with Louis and Paolo. I walked towards Xavier and gave him a long hug. We were never all that close growing up but over the past couple of years we had grown closer.
"What happened with mama?" I frowned and stepped away to hand him a glass of water. He took a few sips.
"She has a fever and can't keep any food down." He set the empty glass on the island counter and looked down.
"Is there anything the doctors can do for her?" I filled his glass again.
"Not right now. They want to take her to the hospital but you know how father is. He won't let them take her because the Russians could get to her." He gulped half the glass and sat it down.
"How are you and Arielle?" I tried to change the subject.
"If we're gonna talk about that infernal woman that I'm married to then get me a glass of whiskey." I walked away and grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the liquor cabinet and a short glass. I filled a separate tall glass with ice and walked back to him. I sat the bottle down and the glasses and filled the short one with the ice and then the whiskey and placed it in front of him.
"So...you've got your whiskey, now start talking." I teased him.
"We've been arguing, she was flirting with another man and I caught her doing it. She keeps doing it. I got extremely angry the other night at her for locking me out of our bedroom. I broke down the door and yeah, the rest I'm not telling you. I hate her so much. She used to be so sweet but after she had Asaro..." he paused and took a huge gulp of the whiskey. I filled his glass again. "...she has become so irritable. She complains that I'm never there enough and that I don't treat her the way I should after she gave me a son." I sighed.
"She clearly doesn't understand what responsibilities you have. How could father match you with her? She's not even in one of the main families anyways. I got lucky with Marco, well for the most part." His cell started to ring and he stepped away. I walked into the living room and picked up Anna in my lap and held her close.
"You need a baby." Anna whispered softly and gave me a kiss on the cheek. She giggled and jumped onto Paolo's lap. He tickled her until she was laughing hard. Paolo wanted a wife and kids so badly, but he didn't want a woman to suffer what his mother went through. His father died when he was young at the hands of the Russian boss. He said that he never wanted a woman to worry about him not coming home at night.
"Maria needs a baby!" Paolo looked over at me and laughed.
"She and Marco will have one after they get married, little one." He kissed her forehead.
"They need to marry!" She jumped down and started to sip on her juice. Paolo and I both just laughed. Xavier walked into the living room with a sad look on his face.
"What's wrong?" I stood up and grabbed Anna into my arms.
"I have to go back to Staten Island. Louis. Paolo." The guys stood up quickly. "Watch them and protect them. I mean it. You need to stay close to them at all times." I didn't like the tone of his voice. He came over to us and hugged us, kissing our foreheads. "Or I'll kill you." With that he walked out and Paolo locked the door behind him.
I took Anna to my room. I sat her on the bed, "stay here, Anna. I need to talk to Paolo and Louis." I kissed her forehead and she nodded. I walked out and shut the door behind me. They both looked up at me.
"We can't tell you, you know that.." Paolo walked towards me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't tell you regardless of if you wanted to know or not. All I'm saying is that you both aren't leaving our sight. If I don't have eyes on you at all times, I won't feel like I've protected you." I nodded and sat on the couch.
A couple of hours had passed and Marco still wasn't home. I got up to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Marco stumbled in the door with blood all over his shirt, scratches on his face, and a couple of knife slashes across his arms and gashes in his chest. I stood there and gasped. I had never seen him like this before. I rushed over to him. "Get towels and get him to the guest room! Call the doctor!" I screamed at Paolo and Louis.
Chapter Two
Nikolay
She was absolutely beautiful. I looked into her gorgeous green eyes and smiled. I put a hand on each side of her face and kissed her softly. "You're beautiful, my darling." I whispered as she giggled. She got up and pulled me up with her. She was the kind of girl that I would follow to the ends of the Earth and back for.
She was adventurous and was always bothering me about leaving New York City to travel. I owned a house in Miami as well as one in Russia. I wanted to take her to the place where I was born in Moscow. Every son of my father and grandfather was born in the homeland as our parents called it.
I had fallen madly in love with this girl and I wanted to give up this death and violence filled life for her. I would give anything to protect her from harm. She would be safe as long as she was with me.I had never met a girl like that in my life but she was absolutely beautiful. She looked so sweet as she ran towards me, arms open. I picked her up in my arms and swung her around, kissing her and holding her close. I wanted that again.
I woke abruptly to a loud knock on my door. "Who the hell is it?" I yelled.
"It's your mother! We need to talk." She yelled back.
"Fine, let me get dressed." Great. This was going to be a conversation that I would regret later, I just knew it. I threw on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I opened the door and within my seconds my mother flew into the room.
"Your father is an idiot, Niko! He's forcing me to move out of MY house! And why?" I didn't really care right now. I loved my mother dearly but she was very dramatic.
"Why?" I asked her even though I didn't care.
"That whore of his is moving in, Niko! Talk some damn sense into him! Please!" This was a shock to me, I figured it was because she was complaining more and getting to the point where he couldn't stand her. Since when did my father have a mistress?
"What do you mean? Are you sure you aren't overreacting to him being flirty? You know how he can get when he's been drinking." I tried to calm her down with a hug. She was about to go insane.
"I know that when I walk in on MY husband in OUR bed with ANOTHER WOMAN that it's not just flirting Nikolay! I'm not an IDIOT!" She screamed at me. I held my hands up in surrender.
"I'll talk to him whenever I get back from business, mother. Now get out so I can get ready." I shooed her out of my room and locked the door behind her.
I quickly showered and got dressed in an all black suit with a gray button down shirt. I walked downstairs to the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat before we had to leave.
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We were driving to invade the Italian's nightclub in Manhattan when my phone rang. "What?" I said coldly into the phone.
"Boss, the Italian's guy Marco is there with five enforcers." Alexei, my captain of security said worriedly.
"I should be worried about the Italian's underboss? You should call me with actual problems Alexei." I hung up the phone.
"Alexei said the Italian's underboss is there?" Demitry, my right hand and my brother, spoke to me quietly.
"Nothing we can't handle." I confidently laughed. The Italians had it coming after killing three of the women from one of the families that we protected last week. I would tear them apart and throw a party to celebrate taking over their club. We pulled up to the club and Demitry along with five of our best enforcers got out before me. We ran to the back door and quietly opened it so no one would know that we were here yet. No one was there so we continued through the back to where they kept their girls. We weren't leaving anyone alive. I hope Marco's girl hadn't planned on him coming home tonight. He was as good as dead.
I was yearning for their blood as often as possible since they killed my late fiancee. We all put the silencers on our guns and got ready for the real fun. We walked up to the dressing room door, quietly opening it and I gave the cue to open fire. They were all dead within a minute. My men walked through each of the next rooms and killed everyone in sight. We finally got into the main hall and there was Marco with five other Italians, four of their girls, and . We opened fire again and I ran for Marco and the table. Demitry ran right beside me, pulling his knife as he fired his gun to cover me.
Marco stood up and went to run but I tackled him before he could move. Demitry killed each of the men sitting close to him. I slashed my knife across his arms twice and it grazed his face at least three times. I punched him hard and held a gun to his head. "You're dying today." He punched me square in the gut and I fell back. I didn't expect him to fight back. As he got up and ran out of the door with one sole surviving guard, something fell out of his wallet. I picked it up and it was a picture of a beautiful girl with long brown hair and green eyes. I'd seen this girl before. Where had I seen her?She looked exactly like the girl in my dreams.
Dangerously In Love: Mafia In Love Series, Book One Page 1