For the Love of Luca
Page 30
“How’s your new guard?”
She makes a face. “Quiet. He talks even less than you.”
Michael laughs just when a waiter comes up to us, and I ask for menus, but Fallon speaks up, “I want my dessert first.”
The waiter glances at me, so I nod that it’s fine. “Would you still like to see the menu, ma’am?”
“No, I want the Dolcezza cake.”
“I’ll have one too,” Cam pipes in. “I’m hungry and don’t mind eating my sugar first.”
“Two Dolcezzas. I’ll be right back,” the waiter says, and Fallon looks at me right before we both laugh, sharing a private joke.
“Two Dolcezzas sounds weird.” She mock glares at me. “As if you have a mistress.”
Throwing my arm around her neck, I pull her close, burying my nose into her soft mahogany hair, breathing in her ambrosia scent and whispering, “You know I’d never do that. I’m nothing without you.”
Her head whips up in amazement. “That’s exactly what I said to Michael about you a few weeks back.”
I peck her nose. “See, we belong together.”
“Forever.” Her full lips tilt up into a salacious smile.
“Per sempre.” Forever.
Our gazes meet and hold, but just as I’m about to give her another kiss, Brielle interrupts and places plates in front of both Cam and Fallon that hold a round chocolate cake decorated with a curled candied orange slice and Dolcezza written in gold.
“Hey, Fallon. Hope you enjoy your dessert.”
“Thank you. It looks amazing.” She clutches my hand beneath the table, entirely relaxed, just as I am. “Sit, Brielle. Or are you busy?”
“No, I have a few minutes,” Brielle replies but keeps standing as she says something to Cam.
At that moment, I notice Michael staring at Brielle’s hand, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary, just a silver bracelet around her wrist. Then Michael slinks away without a word to us, and Fallon and I look at one another with a frown.
“What was that?” she asks.
“I don’t know.”
“Does Michael know Brielle?” She keeps her voice soft.
“I don’t think so.”
“Hmm...weird,” she comments, yet I shake it off because Michael often has his melancholic moods.
Fallon takes her fork and slices of a piece of cake, bringing it to her mouth and sliding out her fork slowly. “It’s heaven,” she moans and slants a kiss onto my mouth.
“Happy Valentine’s Day. I’m glad you like it.”
She takes the slice of orange and bites off a chunk, offering me the rest, so I open my mouth as we lock eyes for a second before she pulls back since we have an audience. “It’s so chocolaty. Exactly what I love, and the candy orange slice is delicious.”
“That’s Brielle’s addition,” I explain.
Brielle smiles at me before telling Fallon, “I actually made full-size versions of all small desserts, and we’ve displayed them in the glass case at the bar. Have you seen it?”
“I haven’t.”
“Neither have I,” Cam states. “We’ll walk with you downstairs so we can see.”
“Okay.” Brielle turns away as Cam stands up, yet Fallon presses her mouth to mine and I cup the back of her head to deepen our kiss, as always, before I allow her to leave.
Grinning mischievously, she rises and follows Cam.
“Well, I haven’t seen that smirk in a while,” Adriano teases as I watch Fallon strutting downstairs and talking animatedly with Brielle and Cam.
Calmness settles in my dark soul where she’s the only light.
“Fallon’s taught me that I’m first and foremost a husband and father, not the underboss. I’m going home after dinner to spend time with my family,” I say with conviction, and he nods in agreement.
Then I look at my empire with pride, seeing Fallon standing in the center of it. Ultimately, she has been my savior. She’s showed me that she’s my equal in this marriage. She’s helped me to find absolute peace in an underworld where it shouldn’t exist. And with her by my side, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.
The end.
Chicago Syndicate series
The love story of Luca and Fallon
For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate #1)
For Luca (Chicago Syndicate #2)
The love story of Adriano and Camilla
For Adriano (Chicago Syndicate #3)
For Cam (Chicago Syndicate #4)
Although part of the Chicago Syndicate world, the following novels are standalones and can be enjoyed either with or without reading the rest of the series.
The love story of Logan and Rosalia (STANDALONE)
For Logan (Chicago Syndicate #5)
The love story of Henry and Mary (STANDALONE)
Black Hat Hacker (Chicago Syndicate #6)
The love story of Carmine and Eva (STANDALONE)
The Lawyer and the Tramp (Chicago Syndicate #7)
The love story of Luca and Fallon (STANDALONE)
For the Love of Luca (Chicago Syndicate #8)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Soraya Naomi
THERE’S ONLY ONE PERSON who’s as necessary as I am during the making of these Syndicate novels, and that’s editor extraordinaire, Renee. Thank you so much for always keeping me sharp. For teaching me and for perfecting these stories in a way no other editor is able to.
Thank you to lovely Genalyn for brainstorming with me and coming up with the perfect title. You do know Luca well!
Thank you to my one and only vamp, Cora Kenborn, for being the extra set of writer’s eyes and proofreading this crazy world. I hope you know that you’re one of the most special writers I’ve met, and you crack me up often!
Thank you to typo-wizard Brianne for proofreading the Syndicate. I’m so glad that we found each other in the Chicago Syndicate group. Only your keen eye can find the smallest typo.
A big thank you to the beautiful Rebecca Marie from The Final Wrap for making the cover.
A huge thank you to Give Me Books for handling the cover reveal and release day blitz.
And from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the ARC reviewers, bloggers, and all the readers who’ve taken the time to read and review the novel.
TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGES the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Smith & Wesson: Smith & Wesson Corp.
BMW: BMW AG, Munich, Germany
Marlboro: Philip Morris USA Inc.
Jack Daniels: Brown-Forman Corporation
Swarovski: Reg. Trademark Swarovski
Band-Aid: Johnson & Johnson
Netflix: Netflix Inc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SORAYA NAOMI READS many genres but favors intense, seductive, and provocative novels where the male character loves fiercely, without remorse or boundaries. She has a passionate obsession with the written word and indulges in chocolate pastries much too often. Her debut novel, For Fallon (Chicago Syndicate, #1), was released on July 26, 2014. She’s honored that For Fallon won “Best Breakout Novel 2014” in the Novel Grounds Semi Annual Literary Awards.
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ABOUT THE NOVEL
For the Love of Luca
Copyright © 2018 by Soraya Naomi
Published by Jasmine Books
BOOK 8 OF CHICAGO SYNDICATE series.
First digital edition published April 17, 2018.
First print edition published April 17, 2018.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case
of brief and correct quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE: THIS is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
THIS BOOK IS LICENSED for your personal enjoyment only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
TOP COVER PHOTO CREDIT: DmitryPoch/Depositphotos
Bottom Cover Photo credit: David Niblack.
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