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“Salvatore would never hurt me. He’s capable of many things, but not that. Not even if his father would ask him to.” That was the one thing I was sure of.
Salvatore Fiori was dangerous. For many, he was lethal, but not for me. It didn’t matter that he had a gun on him all the time or that the force in his arms could snap me in half, when we were together, I never felt an ounce of fear.
“I just have this nagging feeling, Grazia, like you’re going to hurt yourself.”
I turned my head and looked out the window just in time to see a navy-blue luxury car cruising down the street with the lights off. I couldn’t see Salvatore, but I was sure he was watching my window like a hawk. Yes, Delfina might be right. I might hurt myself because my heart was my biggest enemy. I wanted to break my bond with Salvatore and the damn traitorous bitch was working against me. The only solution that I could think of was stab myself in the chest.
“Delfina, did you have dinner?”
“Yes, but I’ll stay with you if you want.”
“That would be nice. I’m going to take that shower first.”
I needed the water to flow down my body and take at least some of the Salvatore away with it. God, I was in so much trouble.
This was supposed to be simple, Salvatore and I. We were born in the same life, both under the siege of the mafia world, from fathers that for the most part of their lives lived like brothers. We were raised together, promised to each other in marriage when we were children. Salvatore and I were supposed to be a safe bet, but it turned into a life and death game.
The Caputofamigliahas grown alongside the Fioris for decades. Every dirty deal was done together, every pile of money was split equal, every kill was a burden for both and that went on for years. The city was protected by the mafia, not treated like a battlefield. All that changed four years ago when something that broke our ties happened. No one saw it coming. One day we were fine and the next, everything fell apart, just like we were struck by lightning.
Adrian Fiori, theDonof theirfamigliaand Salvatore’s father had stolen from us. What did he steal? I was never told, but one day my father called me and my brothers in his office and told all of us that all the ties we had with the Fiori family were to be severed immediately. My engagement with Salvatore was broken the same day andBabboasked for the ring Salvatore gave me on my eighteenth birthday to be sent back. When I refused to give it up, he had my brother, Garon, hold my hand while he removed it. It was heartbreaking.
I wasn’t the only one who suffered. My brothers lost Salvatore too and they were all thick as thieves. They’ve lost friends because they were associated with the Fiori family. Goliath, one of the twins, had to break things off with his girlfriend, Chiara, because she was Adrian’s niece.
The break between our families has caused a lot of pain and it made a wave through the city. It was hard for two mafiaDonsso powerful as my father and Adrian Fiori to coexist in the same turf and split their business. More than once, gunshots echoed through the streets when lines were crossed. Things got better after a year or so, but the tension remained and now no Caputo was welcomed on the Fiori’s side of the harbor and vice versa.
That should have been the ending of the childish puppy love I had for Salvatore, but he didn’t make it easy for me. Just one day after we were ordered to stay away from each other at all costs, he was waiting in the dressing room of my ballet studio. He took me in his arms like nothing had happened and reminded me I was his. When I’d told him to leave, he refused. When I’d told him my father broke the engagement, he laughed. When I’d told him that I’d start to date other guys, he vowed to skin them alive. Ever since then we’ve met in secret and ever since then I’d been trying to break it off.
My father was a great man. Fabiano Caputo, the lion, the strongest Don in Sicily. Even now, in his sixties, he was respected and feared by all. Not even theCarabienieridared to bother him. He fathered eight children and loved us all, made all our dreams possible. When I told him I wanted to be a ballerina, he brought me the greatest dance maestros all the way from Paris to teach me. He found a place close to our home and bought it to open the studio where I was dancing now, just so I would be happy.
This thing I was doing with Salvatore was ripping me in half because I never wished to go against my father’s word. The choice was impossible, though. I was trapped between two men that were such big parts of my life, letting go of either would make my world fall apart.
Salvatore Fiori would bring hell into my life if I couldn’t find the strength to break myself free from him. Someone’s blood will be spilled and it terrified me that it might be Salvatore’s. None of my brothers would let the offense slip without asking for retribution, I knew that. My father would look at me with disappointment for going to his enemy. If we’d get caught, it would really be hell. For both of our sakes I needed to be the strong one and never see Salvatore again. If a broken heart was the price I had to pay to save all of us from that fate, then so be it.
I looked down to look at my own tattoo. Two red roses with their stems growing around each other. It was on my right hip and no one except Salvatore and I knew what they meant. It was us. We were supposed to be forever, but it was time to tore the roses from their roots.
Chapter 2
We watched the ship being anchored into the harbor in silence, but I could feel Pietro fidgeting at my side. He hated night duty and I wasn’t a big fan either, but someone had to do it, and when it came to transports as big as this, we couldn’t just send soldiers out to check it.
“It smells like fish.” Pietro stated the obvious.
“Really?” All I could smell was chocolate. Grazia’s aroma was imprinted on me.
“Yes, really. This whole damn ship smells like fish. Are you sure this is the one we’re looking for?”
“Shut up, Pietro. Enjoy this fine summer night.”
“How the hell are you so happy? Where’s your mind at?”
“At a brunette with blue eyes.” And dimples, and perfectly round tits, and full, lush lips, and the most amazing taste.My Grazi.
Why was I so lucky that God has sent the most stubborn of his creations to be mine, I had no idea, but she was mine to deal with. Sometimes her little tantrums drove me crazy, but I couldn’t go more than two days without one. I had to see her constantly, fight with her, fuck her, hear her laugh. I’d take anything she was willing to give as long as it was something.
She was promised to me when I didn’t even understand what that meant, but I didn’t need anyone togiveGrazi to me. She was simply mine, it was in the order of things, just like the sun rises in the East. Eventually, I’ll marry her and all this sneaking around and nights sleeping alone will come to an end.
Things would have been much easier if it wasn’t for that damn bastard Fabiano Caputo and his greedy nature. He fucked us all when he decided to touch what wasn’t his and steal from my father. He tried to take my Grazi away, like I would have allowed anyone – man, god, or devil – to do that crime. If it wasn’t for Fabiano, I would have married his daughter the day she turned eighteen and now I wouldn’t be here knowing that all that waits for me at home is an empty bed.
“Oh,” Pietro pulled me back to reality, “and you still answered my call?”
