Dark Throne: A Mafia Arranged Marriage Romance (Russo Royals)

by Shanna Handel

  Her voice tightens. “He’s…gone. He left you a letter.”

  “A letter?” My brother kidnaps my wife, then disappears. Leaving a letter behind?

  What the fuck, Rocco?

  “Well, where did he go?”

  She hesitates. “Just come. Just come and I’ll tell you everything.”

  My throat goes so tight I have to swallow to ask my next question. My voice comes out low and tight and lethal. “Did he hurt you?’

  “No.”

  “You swear it?”

  “On my life. He didn’t hurt me. He had no intention of harming me. You can rest easy.”

  If he didn’t hurt her then he had only one mission by taking her.

  A message.

  To me.

  One he was going to force me to hear.

  I push it all aside. I don’t care right now. In this moment, I care only for Esme.

  “Stay with me, princess. Stay with me.”

  “I’m right here, Luca. I’m safe.”

  My phone beeps and I look down at the screen. Twenty meters from desired location. Somehow, I manage to drive the car, hold the phone, and shoot a quick message to Vincent.

  I don’t want her family worrying another moment.

  I rest the back of my head on the leather cushion behind me. “Almost there, sweet girl. Almost there.”

  “I see your headlights.”

  I turn the car to the right, heading down a path that goes past the old barn to the shore, to one of our older docks. I see a car. And I see Esme.

  “Thank you, God.” I have to hold my head in my hands for a moment, willing the breath to come to my lungs.

  Cutting the engine, I fly from the car, over to her in two strides. I lift her in my arms, raising her over my head and I stare at her beautiful face. She’s laughing, her feet dangling, her smile warms my soul.

  She’s okay.

  She’s safe.

  I bring her down, wrapping my arms around her and kiss her mouth, wanting this kiss to ease the pain, the torture of having thought I’d lost her.

  She sighs, kissing my back, her hands pressing against my chest.

  I want to stare at her face once more. I pull away. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, I inspect every curve, every angle. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

  She gives a nod and a smile. “Yes. Luca. I’m truly, truly fine. He didn’t want to hurt me, only to give you this letter—”

  From the pocket of her dress she pulls a folded piece of white paper, handing it to me.

  This can wait.

  I take the paper, shoving it into my back pocket.

  Her eyes go wide. “No, you have to read it.”

  “I will. But first, I’ll find him and kill him.”

  Her skin pales, her head shaking right to left. “No. No, Luca. I don’t want that.”

  I give a growl, thinking of what he’s done. “You may not have a choice.”

  But she looks so sad, that full, pink bottom lip of hers quivering.

  My God, the things this woman does to me.

  “Promise me you won’t hurt him, Luca.” Her chin trembles. “You said I only had to ask, and you would give it to me…anything. Well, I’m asking this. Don’t hurt your brother over me.”

  Her big, deep brown eyes plead with me.

  How can I say no to her? My princess?

  The queen of my heart.

  “Fine. You’ll have your way.” For now.

  “Thank you.” She stands on tiptoe, kissing my lips.

  She’s so precious.

  She means everything to me.

  And all the relief I felt washes away from me.

  My heart feels…heavy.

  I’ve failed.

  The most sacred task our families entrusted to me.

  The one thing I’ve been trying to do my entire life.

  And I failed her.

  Epically.

  I break away from our kiss. My throat is dry. I swallow back my discomfort. She needs to hear what I have to say.

  “I’m sorry, Esme. I’m sorry, I couldn’t” —my chest feels tight, my throat burns, but I force the words— “protect you.”

  Her brow knits. “You think this is your fault?”

  “I know it is. I knew Rocco was missing and I searched for him, tirelessly, but I should have known, I should have never left you alone—”

  She stops me, placing a finger over my lips. “Please don’t do that.”

  “You deserve more.” So much more.

  She shakes her head, pain rising in her voice. “Don’t say that, Luca.”

  But it’s true. I brought her into this family, marrying her to keep her safe. It turned out the threat to her safety was in the walls of our own house.

  If I can’t offer her protection, what can I offer her?

  I’ve given her my love.

  But it doesn’t matter, does it?

  Not when the one you give your love to can’t love you back.

  She squeezes my arm, pulling me from my thoughts.

  Her brown eyes are warm. “Luca. You listen to me. You’ve given me everything.”

  “Everything but love.” I run a hand through my hair. “I know you can’t love me.”

  I don’t wait for her to deny it. I take her hand, ready to go home.

  She gives my hand a gentle tug, stopping me.

  Her eyes go soft, almost twinkling under the moonlight. A warm smile comes to her lovely lips.

  “But that’s just it.” Her voice is quiet, shy. “I do. Love you.”

  Her words tear through me. “You do?”

  “Yes. I do. I’ve been…wanting to tell you that all night.”

  I stand there, staring at her.

  Frozen. Dumbfounded. Elated.

  Pink blooms on her cheeks under my gaze. “Well? Aren’t you going to kiss me now?”

  A great laugh bellows from my chest. I take her in my arms, lifting her and spinning her in a circle.

  And then I kiss her.

  “I love you, Esme Romano. My little princess.”

  She smiles back. “And I love you.”

  I can’t wait another moment. I have to have her, this woman of mine. I scoop her up into my arms, kissing her and carrying her my car. I perch her ass on the edge of the hood. “I have to have you.”

  My hand goes to the fabric of her soft cotton dress, gathering and pushing it up her thighs until I see a flash of the bare, delicate skin between her thighs. She wears no panties, me having confiscated them earlier.

  They’re still in my pocket.

  She gives a low moan, as my tongue swipes against hers.

  I kiss her mouth.

  Her neck.

  I tug down the fabric of the V-neckline of her dress, exposing her bare breast. No bra either. I take her peaked nipple in my mouth, nipping it lightly between my teeth until I ease another beautiful moan from her lips.

  I tongue her nipple, caressing her breast. My fingers wander up the inside of her bare thigh, finding her wet, wanting, ready for me.

  Any other time, I’d take my time.

  Any other time, I’d get down on my knees and taste her before I take her.

  But not this time.

  Between the relief of finding her and the high I’m running on from her I love you, I need to be inside her.

  Now.

  I unbuckle, unbutton, unzip, freeing my cock as fast as possible. It stands at attention, hard and ready, the moonlight illuminating our bare skin.

  Sliding my hands under her ass, I find that magical spot I seek.

  Nothing, nothing in this world could satiate me in this moment but this.

  My eyes close, my breath catching as I enter her.

  “My sweet, sweet Esme.”

  Her arms wrap around my neck. Holding on to me.

  I move my arms to her lower back, her ass resting on the edge of my car, her legs hanging free on either side of mine, and I move in deeper, deeper, until I’m all the way inside of h
er.

  And our bodies become one.

  I hold her closer, moving slowly, gentle.

  But as it always seems to do, our lovemaking turns to fucking. One hand on her shoulder, the other going to her hip, I move in and out, faster, harder, her head lolling back, her face flush, her skin glistening as she calls my name. “Luca.”

  I want to be ever further inside her. I grab both her hips, holding her to the gleaming hood so she won’t fall as I pull out from her. She gives a little sigh as I turn her over, her hands going to the hood, her palms pressing against its smooth top.

  “Fuck me, Luca. Fuck me.”

  “With pleasure.”

  She’s bent over the hood of my car, perfectly. I take her hips in my hands once more, fingertips tight in her flesh and find her once more, pushing my cock inside of her. With her angled over the car, I’m deeper now. The fronts of my thighs press against the backs of her. I move forward, chasing my pleasure.

  Then in the throes of passion, I still.

  I look out over the moonlit ocean and in this moment, this declaration of love, the breeze blowing salt air over our skin, the silver of the moon lighting our bodies, and I have a deep need to see her face.

  To hold her.

  To make love to her.

  I pull out and she gives a little whimper of despair.

  “Shh, come here.” I lift her hips, turning her towards me, leaning her ass against the curve of the hood. I slide one hand against her cheek.

  She glances up, giving me a curious look. “What is it?”

  I shake my head. “It’s nothing. I just needed to see your face. To kiss your lips. To hear you say, I love you, one more time.”

  Her gaze holds mine and she whispers those glorious words once more and they pierce my heart with their sweetness. “I love you.”

  I kiss her lips, hold her close to me, grab her leg, wrapping it around me, and I move inside her once more. She gives a satisfied sigh as I enter her fully, my kiss moving to her cheek, and then her neck.

  And I make love to her.

  Moving inside her until she’s crying my name out into the dark, empty night.

  There’s a tightening in my core, a winding of a gear, going tighter and tighter until I think I’ll break.

  She calls out. “Oh, Luca…”

  And I know she’s going to go.

  I love how tight she clamps down around my cock when she comes, like she’s never going to release it, like our two bodies are one. I give another hard thrust and in time with her, I feel that tightening in my core burst. Giving me the release I’ve craved, the closeness I needed.

  Euphoria washes over me in this moment of magic, of bliss, the moment of unity with her that I’ve needed since the moment I saw her out here, standing by that car.

  Since I knew she was safe.

  Since she said those words.

  She’s safe. She’s mine. And, she loves me.

  I hold her tight to my chest,

  “Oh, Luca!”

  She lays her head against my chest, still leaning against the hood of my car. We spend a moment like this, together, recovering.

  I reach into my pocket, finding her panties from earlier today.

  One knee in the dirt, I lift her feet, helping her step into the panties. I slide them up the backs of her legs, snapping them into place.

  I’m ready to get her home. I give her panty-covered ass a swat. “Let’s go.” I tug her dress back down into place.

  She stands, wobbling like her knees have gone to jelly. “Give a girl a minute. I can barely breathe after what you did to me.”

  “I want to get you home.” I lean down, kissing the top of her head. “And do it again.”

  “And the letter?”

  “Later.” I give her the look she needs to tell her it’s not up for discussion.

  She gives me her own look. “You promise?”

  “Yes.”

  She glances to the vehicle she came in. “And the car?”

  “I’ll send someone for it.”

  I get her settled in the Romeo, buckling her seatbelt myself. Leaning down, I kiss her lips. “I love you.”

  She gives a giggle. “I love you, too.”

  Closing her door, I tap out a few messages on my phone, letting my men know she’s safe. I put out feelers for Rocco, just to keep tabs on him. For now.

  Every chance I get as I drive back to our place, I sneak a glance at her pretty face. And every time I lay eyes on her, I feel a pulsing in my heart.

  I have to accept that I can’t keep Esme within arm’s reach at all times.

  It’s the fucking hardest thing I’ve ever had to do—other than keeping my word and not wringing Rocco’s neck for taking her. It tears me up inside, to think that she could ever be hurt, or taken from me again.

  I have to focus on what I can control.

  First order of business? Tighten my security. One call to Rockland Bachman, and our estate is getting a full security upgrade. Their technology surpasses our own military’s and I’ll rest easier knowing I have the best equipment.

  Now that I know Esme loves me, maybe I can give her more of what she needs…the things that are harder for me to provide…the emotional side of things.

  Softness.

  Kindness.

  Gentleness.

  Will I still stripe her ass with my belt when she gets out of line?

  Absolutely.

  I’m dominant to my core.

  That’s not changing.

  But I can tell her more often how I feel.

  Give her more attention when I’m preoccupied with other things.

  And ask her to answer the one question that keeps plaguing my mind.

  Now that she knows me, truly knows me…given the chance to do it all over again…

  Would she choose me?

  There’s one simple way I can be sure.

  It’ll only take the rearrangement of two little words.

  16

  Esme

  I know why Rocco gave me that letter.

  Because he knew I’d pester Luca until he reads it.

  It’s been two days and the letter still lays folded, untouched, unread in the top drawer of our dresser.

  Today is the day.

  My heart hurts to think of how Luca will feel when he reads the letter. When he finds out about his mother’s affair. Of her murder.

  It almost makes me not want to push him to read it.

  But I gave my word to Rocco.

  Taking the letter from the drawer, I sit on the bed, waiting for Luca to get out of the shower, laying the letter neatly in my lap.

  He finally comes out, in a cloud of steam, the scent of lemongrass filling the air.

  He’s got a white towel tied around his waist. Another in his hand as he uses it to dry his thick hair.

  I can’t tear my gaze from his shoulders, the muscles that decorate his back.

  My God, the man is gorgeous.

  And all mine.

  My love.

  He catches me staring at him and flashes me a wicked smile. “You want something, princess?”

  “I do.” You, between my thighs.

  But there are more pressing matters at hand.

  “This.” I hold the letter out to him.

  He looks it over, his jaw tightening. “That damn thing?”

  “Yes. I promised him, Luca. And. You promised me.”

  He stares at my face, running a hand through his damp hair, leaving it standing on end. “Fine.”

  He sits on the bed beside me, water droplets from his skin transferring to my arm. He smells so good and he’s naked, right beside me, but I keep my desires at bay.

  This will not be an easy letter to read.

  I put my hand on his thigh as he opens the paper. I keep my gaze from skimming the page, Rocco’s tall, even penmanship out in the open, but it’s hard not to spy. I train my eyes on a little spot on the ceiling.

  He finishes. Folds the paper back in three
s.

  He stands, going to the dresser, sliding it back into the top drawer. Closes it.

  And gets dressed.

  I watch him, flabbergasted. “That’s it? You’re going to read a letter like that and then just put your pants on?”

  His back is to me as he pulls his trousers up, his upper body still bare. “I assume he told you about our mother?”

  “Yes, he did. I mean, I haven’t read the letter, so I don’t know if there’s more in there than he told me, but yes, he told me the story of…Sergio’s” —I try to find the right words, the easy words, to not bring him anymore pain— “…birth.”

  “That was the main part of the letter. There was a little more—a bit of nonsense. Some fantasy of his.” He goes to the wardrobe, pulling down a white button-down shirt. It’s Sunday and my family will be here in an hour for our weekly dinner. He pushes one arm through a sleeve, then the other, his nimble fingers buttoning up the front of the shirt. “Nothing that matters.”

  Like it’s just another day.

  Like he hasn’t just found out about his mother’s secret past, her lover murdering her.

  Wait…

  He’s so calm. So collected.

  “You knew, didn’t you?”

  His blue eyes turn to meet mine. His gaze is heavy. “Yes. I knew. I’ve always known about the affair, the fact that Sergio and Rocco had another father. I suspected as much about the murder, but this note from Rocco confirms it.”

  He sits down on the bed beside me.

  “How did you know?”

  He runs a hand over his brow. “I…found them. Once. In the garden.”

  “Your mother and her lover?”

  “Yes. I was six, I think. I was looking for apples.”

  I think of little Luca with his blond hair and blue eyes looking for apples, always looking for apples, and picture the scene he must have stumbled upon and my heart tears in two. “What happened?”

  “They fumbled to put on their clothes. He took off. My mother beckoned me to her. I was too young to know what they were doing at the time, but I knew it wasn’t right, that she was only supposed to do those things with my father. She asked me not to tell.”

  A heavy burden on such young shoulders. “What did you say?”

  “I told her that I would keep her secret. If she promised never to see him again. She did. And I kept her secret…for nine months.”