AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The next day, I meet with my capos. All of them. That means Uncle Sal and the captains who pledged loyalty to my grandfather, as well as the captains who used to kick up to Tony Gagliardi. It’s the first time I’ve gathered everyone together as the new boss of both families, and it feels significant. Not just because I was almost killed last night.
For a moment, I allow myself to rememberNonno. He would be so proud of me right now. This is exactly what he wanted for me, and what I never did. Not after my parents died.
Bravo, Nazzaro. You got your wish. You raised me better than my father, at least.
My parents. I think of them as little as I can, although for different reasons. My mother was a sweet, loving woman. She didn’t want this for me, but she never had a choice. She always knew what I was going to be. What my father was going to make me.
He got what he wanted, and what he deserved.
Sorry, mom. And fuck you, dad. I’m glad you never got the chance to be proud of the monster you created.
I turn my face to stone before addressing the group of men in front of me. “Last night, someone made an attempt on my life. A car bomb. I’m sure you’ve all seen the news reports.”
Angry murmuring fills the room in response.
“May they rest in shit when we find them,” scowls Uncle Sal next to me. Everyone hurries to agree.
“It must’ve been the Maroney crew,” says Vittorio Conti, Isabella’s father. “Their dealers have been pushing into our territory in South Bover, giving us a lot of problems. It’s been hard to respond without escalating, but it seems like theywantto escalate. I was just talking to Gio about this last night.”
Gio the Butcher speaks up in agreement. “I know those Irish boys don’t push up on Rossi territory much, so maybe they aren’t on your radar. But we’ve been having problems with them for a long time.”
“Hey, Colin Maroney and his brother have been a thorn in my side for years,” says Sal. “I’ve got South Side properties, too. If Colin’s getting too big for his britches, we gotta slap that little cunt down.”
“I don’t want anyone escalating tensions with Maroney’s crew until we have more information,” I say forcefully. “Sal, see if you can set up a meeting with him. No need to start bloodshed unnecessarily. But if he did it, we nail him to the fucking wall.”
***
I’m not looking forward to seeing Ava at home.
That’s a lie.
Truthfully, it’sallI’m looking forward to, and that’s the problem.
When I didn’t have attachments, I didn’t have weak points. Now I’m wearing my weak point on my sleeve.Around my fucking finger.
I’m one big weak point.
She’s all I think about. Keeping her safe. Keeping her out of the darkness that surrounds me. Keeping the dangers of my world from ruining her the way they ruined me.
She’s my beacon of light in this darkness, and if I’m not careful, it’s going to get extinguished.
Ava greets me wearing nothing but a red, see-through lingerie set, and I have my moment of release. I collar her, lead her roughly to the bedroom, have my way with her. Then I make her wear the ball gag and the remote control plug. I eat my dinner at the kitchen table, her tied to a chair next to me, vibrating the plug whenever I please. It’s fun, having that power, seeing the way she pouts at me even though she’s loving the loss of control.
When I’m dominating Ava, everything else melts away.
***
Ava
This is the only time I feel close to him. The only time I feel like myself.
Alessandro puts the ball gag back in as soon as I’m finished eating, and it’s almost a relief. He doesn’t have his guard up when I’m like this, in the position of firmly submitting to him. Losingmyself in this role feels soright,so needed.To be used, reduced, owned, and valued all at the same time. Things are simple when I’m his toy. I follow his orders, or I get punished. Either way, I’m the center of his attention.
“Spread your legs for me,” my husband whispers, pushing me down onto the couch in the living room. “That’s it, good girl. Don’t close them.”
I obey, looking up at him as his eyes devour my naked body.
His voice is barely more than a rasp. “Fuck, I love your pussy. So perfect and pink and swollen for me. Does she want some attention?”
