by Soraya Naomi
“It’s okay, everyone!” the male employee yells. “We’re doing construction downstairs, but the backup power will come on within a few seconds.”
At that moment, the rectangular fluorescent ceiling lights switch on again, and the employee smiles pleasantly at us while we’re holding up our weapons.
“Everything’s fine, sir,” the guy speaks to Adriano.
However, I walk past him, saying, “I’m looking for my wife; she’s at your range right now.”
“Oh, okay, sir. You can go through the door.”
I run forward and bang the door open with my gun to look past a row of cubicles separated with partitions, and approaching me from the third one is a curvy shadow that aims her pistol at me. As she gets closer, I see that she’s dressed in a long sleeve, knee-length emerald dress that flares at her hips and light brown suede boots that I recognize immediately.
“Jesus Christ!” I sigh. “Fallon? Where’s Cam?”
She lowers her gun. “In the store with her instructor.”
Adriano, who’s standing behind me, turns back instantly as I hurry over to Fallon, although she appears to be at ease.
“I was scared for a second when the lights went out; there’s something going on with the power here,” she mutters.
Stashing my gun, I stop in front of her and scan her features, seeing that she’s perfectly composed, which makes me proud that she didn’t panic, even though I did. “They’re having construction work done.”
Calma, Luca. She’s fine. Don’t make her worry.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, smacking a kiss on my lips. Then she moves back into her cubicle, and as she turns around, her long gold earrings clink together before she clicks out her ammo in the sexiest manner.
Gradually, calmness fills me now that she’s safe with me, and although the man who needs to protect her always domineers, I hide the absolute terror that coursed through my veins up until a few seconds ago.
When my phone beeps, I fish it out of my pocket to read a message.
Adriano: Got Cam. But that instructor is looking at her with a little too much interest.
Luca: Okay. Give me ten minutes alone with Fallon.
Adriano: We’ll be waiting here, but I swear to god if that instructor touches Cam one more time, I’m going to shoot his hand.
Luca: Calma. We have them. Did you tell Cam anything?
Adriano: No. You?
Luca: No.
Stashing my phone in my jacket, I answer Fallon’s earlier question when she lifts her brows. “I’m here because I wanted to surprise you.”
She tilts her head in reaction to my suggestive grin, but as I inch closer, she cocks her weapon once more and smirks.
“What are your intentions, Mr. DeMiliano? I’m armed now, so I suggest you tread carefully.”
“Should I be scared of you, Mrs. DeMiliano? I think you have things confused. I’m the underboss here.”
“I’m not afraid of you...”
“Because you know that I’d never hurt my wife.”
Her smile widens. “Did you come for a quick fuck, Mr. DeMiliano?”
“No, not a quick fuck.”
I’ve been edging closer until the tip of the revolver hits my chest, and I grin at Fallon wolfishly before, lightning fast, I grab her piece and turn her, wrapping my arms around hers to trap her in, her ass pressing into my groin.
“Ah, too slow, Mrs. DeMiliano, and I already saw you unloading,” I admit against the shell of her ear while I trace the tip of the gun down her cheek, causing her breath to catch as a smile quirks her lips. “But to answer your question properly: I came to bend you in every position I want, Fallon. Right now. And, dolcezza, you didn’t answer your phone; you disobeyed me.” Setting her Smith & Wesson on the table, I push myself against her, burying my nose in her long, silky soft hair.
She tenses and slowly looks up to the side. “I didn’t hear it inside here, Luca,” she defends, and I realize she would never deliberately ignore my calls.
“I know,” I whisper, to which she expels a sigh, and the need to possess her explodes within me.
Quickly, I rotate Fallon around and boost her up onto the table, sliding her to the edge with my palms gripping her ass while I lean forward to slant my mouth over hers.
“Luca, someone could come in,” she objects, although her movements say the opposite, spurring me on as she caresses my face and neck, down to my shoulders.
“No one will come,” I say as she loops her arms and legs around me while I roam my palms up her smooth, lean thighs, gathering her dress up until my thumbs reach her hot core.
I must worship Fallon’s body right now to make sure she never forgets how much I desire her. So I shove inside her panties and circle her with the pad of my thumb, making her moan against my mouth as I bite her lip and release it slowly. When I slip my finger inside, she curves into my touch and we almost topple backward from our frantic movements. I cup her head and spear her tongue with mine in the same rhythm I finger her, her hips bucking as we grind into one another.
Deftly, I unfasten my pants, letting the flaps fall open as Fallon yanks my boxers lower to free my erection. Then I kiss my way down her throat, rubbing the tip of my cock along her wet pussy.
“I’ve missed you.” I grip her breast in my palm as she tangles her fingers in my hair.
When I nudge my shaft inside, she plants her hands on the table and leans back slightly while I grab both her ass cheeks and drive into her. With both of us completely dressed, I take what I need. Fallon’s spread wide, her legs hooked around my hips as I kiss her brutally, her back curving. I own my wife as we move together in unison, the table shaking because there’s no finesse in our heated passion.
“God, so hot...so wet...” My palm wanders up her thigh to hook my arm under her knee while I hammer into her, my hair falling across my forehead as I gaze into the fire in her amber irises.
“Yes, Luca!” she pants, biting her lip to suppress the volume of her voice. “You feel so good inside of me.”
I take a deep breath, mad with longing for her, and she grips my neck as our teeth clash in another searing kiss. Fallon’s soft groans and the way she tightens her fingers at my nape tells me she’s about to come, and I’m also about to blow, feeling her wetness coating me.
“Don’t come yet; I’m not done with you,” I tell her, and she whimpers as I drag my lips down her throat and cup both breasts through the fabric of her dress.
Then I quickly pull out, swing her around, and with my hand on her neck, I bend her forward to lie on her stomach on the table. Trailing my fingers down her spine, I kneel and hastily bunch up her dress, shoving it over her behind. I widen her stance, pulling her panties aside to lick her slit, once, twice before I devour her, eagerly taking what’s mine.
“Fuck, Fallon,” I groan in between licks.
Her mahogany hair fanned out on the table, she purrs my name over and over, making lusty noises as she mashes her pussy against me, my tongue savoring every drop of her. But I want her to come on my cock; I burn to feel her when she climaxes. One final time, I feast on her folds, and she screams unashamedly before yelling, “Shit,” and I can tell she’s grinning while pursing her lips.
Rising, I guide her to stand up and shove her up against the partition from behind, holding the dress up over her hips with one hand and kicking her feet apart. Then I push her panties out of the way again and slide my shaft from her pussy up to her ass before moving it back down.
“Put it inside me, Luca,” she begs, making me smile as she presses back against the head of my dick.
“Place your palms on the wall,” I direct, and she does so without hesitation.
I fit my cock into her body and cover her hands with mine, lacing our fingers. She meets my thrusts as I piston into her, arching her back to take me in deep. Skin slaps together frantically, and a drop of sweat rolls down my forehead. God, her ass cheeks feel luscious and full against my skin as I plunder her
pussy, her hot channel clamping around my cock like a vice. Our tangled fingers constrict painfully, and I bend to nibble the spot where her neck and shoulder meet, branding her as I energetically roll my hips.
“Come for me, dolcezza,” I growl, pushing her toward that precipice with deliberate assault while the seam of her panties strokes the side of my dick.
She reaches her peak first, shudders rocking her as she whimpers and wriggles, circling her ass against my crotch, prompting my pleasure to build until it crests into a magnificent outburst. It curls through my blood, settling low in my groin as I spend inside her. Then I can barely take in air as we breathlessly stand together with our palms against the partition, my cock still pulsing.
Ultimately, I slide out and fasten my pants as Fallon rights her dress and turns around with a satisfied grin, her wild hair framing her face. “Thank goodness, the kids weren’t here to interrupt us.”
“This time, I wouldn’t have stopped,” I tease and she pushes me away, fingering her hair. “Aren’t you done?”
“I don’t think so,” she says; however, I need Fallon to stay with me now, until I’ve handled the situation with the guard leaving his post.
“You can continue Monday,” I offer and reach out to pick up her purse, dropping her gun inside before handing it over to her. “Let’s go home together; I’ll work from there.” Taking her white winter coat, I hold it open and she slides her arms inside.
At that moment, my phone chimes in, so I dig it out of my pocket and bring it up to my ear when I see Henry’s name, “Henry?”
“Adriano texted me that you have the girls. I tried to call him just now, but he isn’t answering. There’s someone here for you two. Someone you’ll want to talk to...”
“Who?” Motioning to Fallon to go ahead of me, I watch her as she struts toward the front and slings her purse across her shoulder just as her instructor returns. And she speaks to him to schedule a new appointment.
“The New York Syndicate’s boss,” Henry replies.
I stop short for a second, speechless, before stepping through the door and following Fallon down the aisle toward the exit. “Is he at Club 7 now?”
“Yes, I told him to wait in the office.”
“Adriano and I are coming to the club,” I inform him and hang up, telling my wife as she cranes her neck, “We have to drop by the club first.”
“Okay,” she says, twining our hands as we cross the threshold and the stinging wind hits my face.
Fortunately, Adriano and Cam are already waiting in my vehicle, and they obviously don’t notice us, because Cam’s seated in the back, leaning forward with her chin on the passenger seat as she mutters something to Adriano, who reaches back and cups her cheek while he smirks.
I guide Fallon to round the hood of the car and open the back door for her before getting inside and updating Adriano, “Henry called me. Michael’s at Club 7.”
Adriano’s eyebrows lift slightly. “Why?”
“I have no idea.” I start the car to drive back to the Loop, undeniably curious about why Michael wants to see us.
Another boss has never made a surprise visit.
WHEN I ENTER THE OFFICE, fingers entwined with Fallon and Adriano and Cam trailing behind us, Michael is standing in front of the desk as Henry occupies Adriano’s desk chair, watching the bulky guard who was ordered to stay put.
Adriano and I release Cam and Fallon’s hands after I close the door and Adriano says to them, “Wait here.”
They nod and smile at Michael, who dips his chin as Adriano walks over to him and shakes his hand. Michael looks like his usual self in his tailored black suit and dress shirt, trimmed beard, and black hair that’s neatly combed back and to the side. Or so I think until I note the dark circles under his ashy-grey eyes.
However, I need to take care of the guard first. Pointing to him as he stands to my right side, I state, “You’re fired. You can go. Carmine will handle you.” When he opens his mouth, I wave my hand, my patience gone, so he shuts it and exits the office.
“You’re being lenient,” Adriano remarks.
“That’s because this is our own fault. We don’t have a head guard. Tez and the rest of us order the guards around, and we use soldiers as guards too – it’s confusing. There’s no structure in it at all; hence, we miscommunicate.”
“I was thinking the same,” Henry puts in, leaning back in the chair. “We need to set up an official team, which we can organize while we remodel.”
Adriano gazes at Cam as he rubs his hand over his mouth. “You’re right. Let’s discuss this Monday with all the men.” Then he addresses Michael, “So why are you here?”
Michael is his equal in the mafia and he was a Chicago Syndicate member before he went to New York. Tragically, his fiancée was killed three months ago due to New York Syndicate business gone wrong.
“Because I want out of New York,” Michael answers steadily.
And Adriano casts me a side-look before he says, “You want out of the Syndicate?”
Michael’s mouth tightens. “No. I know that’s not an option, and there’s no life for me outside the mafia. But I can’t live in New York anymore. I don’t want the burden of being boss.”
I approach him and grip his shoulder. “Michael, you’re still grieving. Do you really want to make this decision now?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yes. I’ve been going over this for weeks while my underboss, Cesare, covers for me.”
“Did you tell him you’re in Chicago?”
“Yes, everyone on my team knows I’m here. I came fully prepared and have informed the members of my plan to resign as boss.”
“So you’ve discussed it with them already? Who will take over New York?”
“Cesare will become boss. Everyone’ll move up a rank.” He paces toward the window and sighs loudly. “I’ve thought this through. This isn’t a rash decision. I realize what I’m giving up, but I can’t be the boss New York needs anymore. And I’ve taken care of everything with Cesare. He’s already handling business as boss.” Then he stares out the window at the clouds veiling the sun. “I can’t live there anymore with Rachel’s ghost haunting me.”
Adriano’s amazement switches to empathy while I realize that Michael doesn’t come off as frantic, so I believe that he’s made his final decision.
“Did you pack up your stuff, Michael?” I ask, to which he turns around and looks me in the eye.
“Yes. I still have my apartment in the Blackhall, so I’m moving back there. Since business can continue in New York without a hitch, I’d hoped we could easily transfer me back. I’ve made sure that there are no outstanding issues.”
Adriano answers, “There’s an issue that I don’t have a high ranking position for you. Usually, when a boss retires, he becomes Consigliere, but I have a counselor, so would you want a lower rank within the Chicago Syndicate?”
“That’s exactly what I want. I need a break to get my mind off things and to try to move on. And we were soldiers together in the Chicago Syndicate, but moreover, we were friends – you know you can trust me.”
Adriano cocks his head. “I don’t question whether or not I can trust you, Michael. Of course, I’d want you on my team. But this is all coming out of the blue for us. I need to discuss this with Luca and Carmine.” He takes a moment of quiet contemplation before suggesting, “Take a few days to settle in here, and we’ll talk on Monday. I get why you can’t be in New York anymore, but I can’t guarantee you a position within management.”
Slightly appeased, Michael strolls around the desk, back to us. “I understand. I’ll be at the Blackhall, unpacking my stuff.”
“Do you want to ride with us?” I offer Michael. “Fallon and I still live there.”
“No, thanks. I have my car.” He shakes our hands before quietly withdrawing from the office.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” Adriano says to me, still surprised.
“Can we trust him?” Henry bends f
orward with his elbows on the desk.
“Yes,” I answer. “We joined the Chicago Syndicate with him, and he was sent to New York where he climbed the ranks fast. And we never had any issue with them since he took over. Furthermore, he’s a friend.”
“Let’s see if he still feels the same way in a couple of days.” As Adriano rounds his desk, Henry stands up to vacate his chair.
“Okay, then I’m going home now.” I hold out my hand for Fallon, who’s standing next to the door and immediately joins me. “Call me if you need me. We’ll appoint new guards on Monday for the girls too, right?”
“Fuck. You fired the guard, so who’s guarding them this weekend?” Adriano’s annoyance regarding our malfunctioning guard system blisters back to the surface.
“I don’t have any plans this weekend,” Cam announces just as Fallon utters, “I’m staying home anyway.”
I give Adriano a pointed look. “We’ll take care of this Monday.”
“Fine.” He grins. “And, Luca, check on Michael.”
“I was already planning to,” I confirm right before I tow Fallon out of the office, wanting to be alone with my wife and kids since I seem to be the only one who can truly protect them, which becomes painfully clear sooner rather than later.
CHAPTER 8
Fallon
IN THIS MAFIA LIFE, we have enough worries as it is, and we want to enjoy our families when we get the opportunity, so Luca dotes on me and our children inside the sanctuary of our apartment for the next two days. It’s not until Sunday that Luca has to go to the club.
Luckily, taking care of twins fills my day, making it pass by faster. When I’ve bathed and fed them on Sunday, it’s already noon and time for Cam and Amalia to pick up Milana to take her to their apartment while Noah stays with me.
Lounging against the cream cushions, I relax on the white wooden reading bench by the floor-to-ceiling windows inside my library, my favorite room in our penthouse. The walls are painted a bright white, and there are white bookshelves running up to the ceiling on the left wall with a sliding library ladder. The other wall is decorated with huge bookcase letters spelling dolcezza – all done by Luca before we even got married. The space is almost as large as the master suite and features two bathrooms, so we’ll probably turn it into two rooms once the kids are bigger. That way, they’ll each have their own bedroom and bathroom.
