VALENTINA POV I COULDN’T MOVE. I sprawled on top of Vincenzo, my muscles quivering like jelly. That had been the best, most intense sex of my life. It was like he knew what I wanted better than I did. You like it rough and mean, just like I do.Yes, I suppose I did.It was more than that, though. It was Vincenzo. He turned me inside out, made me do and say things I never would otherwise. Then he rewarded me in return. There were no losers, because I made him crazy, too.His hand swept down my back, removing the ruined bodysuit. I smirked against his chest. “You weren’t kidding when you said to buy four of those.”“I ordered you to buy five, but Dimitri said the store only had three in stock. So the others are being shipped to the castello.”I blinked up at him. “You had Dimitri order more lingerie for me?”“Of course. Do you think this embarrasses me?” He huffed, his lips quirking. “My son knows we are fucking, Valentina.”“Maybe it embarrasses me, you stronzo.”He pressed a quick ki

VINCENZO POV AFTER FEEDING Valentina BREAKFAST, I took her for another soak in the jacuzzi. Then I fucked her slow and sweet one last time before we left the apartment. I could not get enough of this woman.In fact, I considered keeping her in Roma for another day. But these wishes were foolish. Too much demanded my attention in Siderno and it was dangerous for me to be away for so long.My life was not my own. It never had been. From the time I was born, my destiny was set—just as Dimitri’s had been. And his sons as well, and so on. It was the way our brotherhood worked. And I wouldn’t change it. Our traditions were how the ’Ndrangheta had grown and maintained a stronghold throughout the world. We were more fearsome and powerful than the Cosa Nostra or the Camorra, and my ’ndrina was near the top of the pyramid.And despite the high probability that I would one day be murdered or arrested, I still loved my life. When we walked inside the castello, Marco was waiting in the entryway.

VALENTINA POVOVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, life settled into a normal pattern—or as normal as could be expected when one was a mafia don’s girlfriend. Yes, girlfriend. I had convinced myself that Vincenzo was my boyfriend, because that was preferable to the real situation, that I was his mistress. Everyone knew the truth, however. The only person I was fooling was myself.Most days, my inner lie worked. Everyone on the estate treated me with kindness and respect. Whatever I asked for was granted, and I felt like part of the family. The only person who hadn’t quite warmed up to me was Marco, and I found that troubling, considering his closeness to Vincenzo. Marco’s attitude remained polite but cold towards me. I told myself I didn’t care, but the question of why dug under my skin like a splinter.My classes started next week and I couldn’t wait. I found a college with a good agricultural program that had online classes, and as promised, Vincenzo gave me the money in a trust and bought me

VINCENZO POV THE CLUB’S basement was sparse and musty. There wasn’t much down here to speak of, just a table and some chairs. A metal storage box in the corner housed the equipment needed to work over unwilling captives. While I didn’t like having meetings outside of the castello, these weren’t the kind of men I wanted anywhere near my home—especially with Valentina there.Two men were strapped to chairs, their eyes burning with hatred but also fear. They knew they would die here tonight, but also it would not be an easy death.It had taken time, but we finally located the captain and first mate of the ship that stole my product a few weeks ago. The coke had long disappeared, sold off to one of the Sicilian families I couldn’t touch. We had an agreement with the Cosa Nostra not to interfere or intrude in their business, and vice versa, unless absolutely necessary. And this theft was hardly worth breaking peace over.But I would have answers and vengeance. I’d already removed my sui

VINCENZO POV I woke up first. Valentina slept next to me, her luscious body pressed tight to my side. Even angry, she wanted to be close to me.I hadn’t lied—I was not unhappy about this child. I’d always wanted more children, but Lucia and I never had time before she was killed. Then I never found the right mantenuta to trust with raising a child. But I trusted Valentina. As furious as she was now, I had seen her with Lamborghini and the other animals. She had a gentle heart. She would make an excellent mother.My cock thickened just thinking about her round belly and swollen breasts. Stretch marks from my child increasing inside her. I could not wait to dote on her hand and foot. Zia would be thrilled, as well. My aunt loved babies.Clearly, my stubborn piccola monella would not go easily into this situation. She would fight this, keep demanding to go back to Toronto. I had to convince her to stay—for her sake and the baby’s. I would not have my unborn child upset by discord betw