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Something gripped me just as another shot rang out, and this one had me falling to the floor. My head bounced off the travertine and I felt the warmth of my own blood as it seeped from my wound. Everything ached, and as I lay there beside my arch enemy, both of us now stricken at the hand of my nemesis. I tried to glance up at him, but my eyes grew heavy as everything faded to black. If this was the end, I’d have to take solace in knowing that my own death hadn’t been for naught.
NAZARIO
It had been two weeks since the death of my father, and after the applicable mourning period, I was ready to emerge as a leader of the family. There was no opposition, not that I expected that there would be, but one never knew. Just like Leonardo Di Salva, there were always loyal soldiers of my father that might try to take his place. So far, none had emerged. After all, Stefano was dead and gone, because of me. Unless these stronzo wanted to join him in Hell, they would fall into place as others had. Word traveled fast, and after tonight, the Camorra would see that there was a new leader of this independent family.
I had planned a party at what used to be my father’s club, and from the sounds coming from outside of the door, I knew it was already in full swing. I always liked to make an entrance, and I would definitely do that tonight. Beside my father’s title and assets, I had taken one other thing that he once thought belonged to him. I snuck a glance at the dark-haired woman beside me. She was fucking gorgeous… and all mine.
“Are you ready to make a proper entrance, Viviana?”
She smiled up at me. Her lips were the same candy apple red shade that drove me wild in the beginning, and they matched her long nails to perfection. Her dark ebony locks had been straightened and she was in the tightest black dress I had ever seen. Her curves were on full display, as was the large rock on her finger. We were going to present a united front tonight, but I wasn’t naïve enough to believe that we would remain that way. After all, I had not only taken her purpose in life, but I was stealing what was left of it.
“I’m ready whenever you are,” she answered.
“You’re being very amicable tonight,” I remarked in observation. It was a far cry from the day of my father’s demise. She’d been fit to be tied when she came to and realized that she hadn’t gotten to kill my father after all. I had thought the first shot ended Stefano, but when he grabbed Viviana, I put another bullet between his eyes. She’d fallen to the floor and hit her head so hard that it had knocked her out. After an hour and plenty of ice later, she returned to the land of the living.
That night, she railed at me for taking her mission from her, even though I had always told her that she wouldn’t be the one to take him out. I’d been adamant about that. After reminding her of that, she’d struck me... threatened me... and when she realized her attempts were futile, she later came so fucking beautifully for me when I’d thrust up inside of her. I’d then kept her underneath me for much of the next few days.
“Sei mio,” I told her as I leaned in and nibbled on her ear.
She loved when I called her mine, even though sometimes, I wondered if it was joy or some sort of planned retribution that made her so happy. Tonight, I wouldn’t worry about it because she was about to walk out into Camorra society on my arm. I not only took my father’s life and organization, but I also took his queen and she would serve as a reminder to everyone that Nazario Vaccaro was in charge.
“I’m all yours,” she murmured before leaning in to brush her lips against mine.
I grabbed the back of her head, then held her prisoner as I thrust my tongue into her mouth. She surrendered to me so genuinely, but I knew this wasn’t a sign of things to come. She still was just as much of a venomous hellcat as she’d always been to me before, but she was behaving quite well tonight. I’d have to reward her later for it if she kept this up all evening.
Our tongues danced in rhythm with one another. I’d never tire of having her this close to me. I couldn’t remember a time when I didn’t desire her, and that would never change. Since my father’s demise, we fucked like a couple in love, all while neither trusted the other completely. She’d fooled someone so infallible like my father, so I wouldn’t put anything past her when it came to me. I’d ruined her purpose in life, and although I had given her a new one, I still slept with one eye open.
I kissed her for a few more seconds before pulling away. She traced her now swollen bottom lip with her tongue, and I was tempted to put that hot mouth to use. “Stop looking at me like that or else you’ll make your debut into my world with my cock in your mouth.”
Her eyes twinkled, and that smirk of hers lighted up her face. She shrugged, then returned to the vanity to touch up the lipstick of hers that I had smeared. When she turned back around, she looked completely untouched, which only made me harder. Life with her was definitely different, but it wasn’t bad. She challenged me... invigorated me... and even if one day she decided to destroy me, I realized it would be one hell of a ride. I was then reminded of a quote that I had once read somewhere. It mentioned something about feeling like Heaven when flirting like Hell, and as Viviana took my hand, it felt appropriate. Justified.
I gave her hand a squeeze, then walked alongside her as we entered the stage area of the club. Nazario Vaccaro and Viviana Spataro. With the new beginning of our lives. It could also be the end, and when our presence was detected, I looked down at my soon-to-be bride, and grinned. Only time would tell what it would be. Her hand trembled a little as we walked onto the main stage of the club, and that served as a reminder to me that she wasn’t completely infallible. As everyone turned to look at us, I didn’t need to mince words.
I released her hand so I could wrap my arm around her. Taking the small microphone centered on the stage, I said all I needed to say in four words. “Long live the Vaccaros.”
My brief announcement was received with applause, and when a passing waiter stopped, I took two shots of gin from the tray and handed one to my fiancée. Damn, she was fucking hot, and all the men in this place were staring right at her. Most were likely wishing they could have one night with her, but no one ever would. She was mine, as I was hers. We didn’t believe in foolish things like love, but we thrived on the lust. As she knew what those same men were looking at her with, her gaze moved to the crowd, then returned to mine.
“Saluti,” she whispered in salute, then clinked her small glass with mine. She brought it to her lips, then slammed it back. There was not even a slight wince or anything as the potent liquor burned its way down her throat.
She not only cursed like a sailor, but she could drink like one. No, if I ever thought life might get boring between us, I had a feeling she would change that pretty quickly. I downed my own drink back, then pulled her to me. Her eyes twinkled under the club lights, and when her luscious lips parted, I seized her mouth with mine, eliciting more applause. Everything I had wanted this crowd to see, they did. It still didn’t stop me from kissing her harder and longer.
By the time I did pull back, she was slightly breathless. None of that stopped her from reaching up to pull my head down. This time, she was the aggressor as her mouth moved over mine. If she didn’t watch herself, I might have to take her right there on the stage. I tore my lips from hers, but kept her in my arms as my mouth moved along her defined cheekbone to her ear.
“Don’t provoke me, or else I’ll give you and this crowd a hell of a lot more than you’ve bargained for,” I warned.
She dropped her head, then winked at me before she turned to the crowd. Most were still watching us, so she walked to the edge of the platform and one of the enforcers helped her down the steps. From there, she disappeared into the sea of people. I’d find her. Neither of us could stay away from the other, so I’d simply follow her scent. I’d always find her. As I’d told her when my father’s body was being taken from their bedroom—her fate was in my hands. I’d spared her life, but not out of generosity. I had my reasons, and as long as she complied with my wishes, she might live long enough to know what they were.
VIVIANA
We were not nearly at the club as long as I thought that we would be. Nazario was very doting when we’d been there, but he since had disappeared to do something else. There was no use asking him what he was doing or where he was going because he wouldn’t tell me. I might be his fiancée, but I knew what my place was according to him, and I’d need to obey his wishes or else end up dead like his father.
That still pissed me off that he’d come in and did what I had worked so hard for over the last decade. The things I had to endure back in Sicily to be able to pull this off had been extreme. Those three men that had trained me did so well. They also did it without mercy, and during those times I wanted to give up, I never did. So many nights I wondered if my body would betray me by giving out, but it never did.
My mind was stronger than my flesh and bones. I let those men hurt me in so many unimaginable ways, but I knew they did it with love even during those times when there was no mercy shown. It was never something I’d begged for, and it wouldn’t have been given even if I had. No amount of physical or psychological pain mattered when thinking about Stefano’s miserable life being cut short at my hands. It actually got me off in ways I never knew I could. Now, that motivation was gone, but like father, like son. Nazario had robbed me of my destiny and stolen my future. One day, I’d steal his life and we’d finally be even.
I knew he was distrustful of me. No matter how many times we fucked, his suspicions never waned. I was like a damn machine. I moaned, cried, and came on command, so he’d never be the wiser. All of that was a front, though. When alone with my thoughts like I was now, there was a vulnerability I despised, yet couldn’t ever completely shake. The last two weeks had been spent in a daze. The days blurred together, and I found myself lacking a reason to live any longer.
“Why are you keeping me here?” I asked aloud to myself.
