Ithink my husband is psychotic.
And God help me, I might be too because when Luciano claimed me as his in the middle of the nightclub, every inch of my skin warmed and his burning gaze sent a warm timbre down my spine.
I watched in shock, as he used Ian’s face as a punching bag. I didn’t even know he was in the club.
After the lawyer drafted the will, Nonno witnessed it, and Luciano’s attorney assured me it was valid as of that moment. Ella and I rushed to get ready. Yes, Luciano dragged me back to the States, but now I took charge of what I could do. However little that might be. I had to do something, starting with obtaining a copy of my parents’ will.
But this was not how I envisioned our night ending.
I wet my lips, trying to calm my nerves. Luciano wanted to know why I stole Ian’s keys out of his pocket.
“I need a copy of my parents’ will.”
I couldn’t come up with any feasible explanation other than the truth. My husband’s bloody knuckles reminded me how brutal he could be. Something deep in my stomach always pulled me towards him. I was a fool to think there was ever a chance of me moving on. The ember of hope, just like that cold January night, flickered, coming back to life.
I should never forgive him. A normal person would never forgive it. Yet, my heart wanted him. It only ever glowed for him, like a damn lightning bug at dusk. And he could squash me like that bug, and still, my stupid heart would only beat for him. Luciano and our son were my whole heart.
His hazel eyes on me were warm, emotions swirling in them that reflected my heart. I stepped towards him, the pull he had over me strong. His clean palm cupped my face, and I wanted nothing more than to press my face into his chest.
“You were going to break into his house?” Disbelief and amusement danced in his eyes. I nodded and thought I heard him mutter, “What happened to my sweet Grace?”
My lungs tightened and my heart constricted in a strange way. It was a reminder not to let him hurt me again. There was no mistaking it; I never got over my husband. He would eat me alive, and next time, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to pick up the fractured pieces of my heart.
We only live once.
That was the dumbest justification ever.
“Luca could do it.” Cassio’s voice interrupted the world where only Luciano and I existed. I blinked in confusion, wondering what he was suggesting. I had completely forgotten about him and Ella. “Luca could go into Ian Laszlo’s house and get the will. He can break into any safe.”
Ella and I shared a glance. Neither one of us thought about a safe.
“Grace, let Luca do it.” Luciano’s tone was commanding, and my instinct to fight him flared up. “He’s one of the best when it comes to that stuff.”
“We don’t know how to break into a safe.” Ella must have picked up on my intent to argue with Luciano. “Might not be a bad idea,” she murmured.
She was right. It was actually a very good idea. I extended my hand and opened my palm, showing the key I had taken from Ian. My palm had an imprint of the key dug into it, from the sheer force of my squeeze, protecting a possible key to my future.
“It has to be done tonight,” I muttered, meeting Cassio’s whiskey gaze. “And we have to return the key before he goes home.”
Cassio immediately sprang into action. He phoned Luca, and he was here within five minutes, along with Massimo. It made me think he lurked somewhere in the shadows of the nightclub.
“I’ll go check on our fallen fighter and keep him busy,” Cassio commented and left the room.
“Massimo, take Ella back to the house,” Luciano ordered. “I’ll bring Grace back. Take the safe route.”
I glanced Ella’s way to ensure she was okay with that plan. She must have been because she was already making her way to Massimo.
With everyone gone, Luciano and I were left alone.
I chewed on my bottom lip, forcing myself to meet my husband’s gaze. “You shouldn’t have lost your temper like that.”
He seemed unconcerned.
His hand slid to the back of my head, his fingers threading through my hair. Right now, I was happy that I decided to leave it down. I loved his smell and the strength of his touch. Our gazes locked, our lips inches apart. His thumb brushed across my lips. My pulse raced, my need grew.
“We should clean up your bloody knuckles,” I whispered. Because I was scared to say anything else.
I felt tension rolling off Luciano for the next hour, while we waited for Luca to get back. But it wasn’t an angry tension. More like anticipation of something that was to come… between us. I sensed his eyes on me, tracking my every move and every breath. My skin itched with that same anticipation. The one that would unravel me in the best way possible but could also destroy me with its invisible hold.
Cassio returned from checking on Ian and sat in the room with us. I learned this nightclub was his. Talk about an odd coincidence. It was probably how Luciano ended up here and saw me dancing with Ian.
“Have you heard from Luca?” I have been pacing back and forth, wondering what took Cassio’s brother so long. Ian’s place was right around the corner.
“No, not yet.” Both men’s gazes were on me.
“And Ian?” I questioned.
“He’s still here,” Cassio responded, leaning back into his seat. I could clearly tell by Luciano’s look and posture he didn’t give a damn about Ian. “Slightly woozy after the meds he received.”
“You drugged him?”
“Just a small dose of a sleeping aid.”
“That’s good,” I agreed in a raspy voice. I couldn’t feign wrong doing when it was something Ella and I contemplated ourselves. Hell, we even talked about killing him.
Luciano sat manspreading on the couch, his eyes boring into me while his arm rested behind the head of the couch. He looked comfortable, not a single worry on his face. I, on the other hand, kept worrying about everything.
I chewed on my lip. “Did Ella get home safe?”
“Yes.” He almost looked bored sitting there. Didn’t he realize shit was happening? I wondered what was going through Luciano’s head because I couldn’t read that man to save my life. Maybe it was exactly that which made him a good mobster.
I resumed my pacing again.
The office door opened, and Luca strode in. I rushed to his side.
“Oh, were you worried about me?” he teased me.
“No. I was worried about you finding the right documents.”
I didn’t notice it till now, he had a manilla envelope in his hands. “You mean this?” He raised the folder, waving it in front of me.
“Did you read it?”
“Yes.” I narrowed my eyes on him. “That fucking safe he had was something. Took me longer than usual to break into it.”
Thank God he went. He handed me the envelope, and I grabbed it eagerly. Pulling the papers out, my eyes scanned through it.
“So how long has your uncle been stealing from you?” Luca’s question had me pause and lift my eyes to him. Truth was I didn’t know, but I suspected probably from the moment he became my guardian.
“We have to return the key to Ian,” I answered instead.
“Done.”
With a nod, I strode to the chair in the furthest corner of the room and started reading. Zeroing on the date, I raised my eyes to find all three of the men watching me. “Was this the only will and only copy?”
A smile tugged on Luca’s lips. “You want this one too?”
He pulled another manilla envelope. I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I want everything you have taken that has to do with me.”
“Woman, you do not want to know all that,” he retorted. “Besides, it would have required a damn file cabinet to get all that out of there.”
I sighed. “I should have gone with you. Can I have it?” I extended my arm. “I assumed you read this one too?”
He handed me the folder and then leaned against the window. Luciano was the closest to me, Cassio directly across me and Luca on my right.
“I did. It reads the same with the exception of the guardian and power of attorney designator.”
I pulled that document out, skimming through the key sections and my eyes widened. “What the-”
How could that be? That document designated Luciano’s father as my guardian and executor of all my inheritance. My eyes darted between lines, my brain flabbergasted at the revelation. Did Luciano know? Did his father? I didn’t know they knew my parents.
And that’s when I found it. The loophole. I quickly dug the latest document that designated my uncle as my guardian and searched out the same paragraph.
“It’s still there,” I murmured to myself. Ian made a mistake and left a loophole in both documents.
“What is?” Luciano’s question startled me.
My head snapped up, my eyes darting between the three men.
Luca answered him. “The loophole.”
I nodded. “Yes, the loophole.”
“Well, you two are at an advantage. You have read both documents. Can you summarize it for us?”
Luciano didn’t like to be in the dark.
“Did you know?” I asked him, watching for any signs of deceit.
“You will have to be a bit more specific,” he replied, a frown on his face. “Did I know what?”
I shook my head. “The original will by my parents had your father as my guardian and executor of the inheritance.”
The expression on his face told me he didn’t know it. “Are you sure?”
I handed him the will while my brain worked furiously. There was so much I didn’t know. How would I ever find out all the secrets with my parents gone?
“Why didn’t he ever say anything?”
“Are you going to exercise the loophole?” Luca asked. He turned his gaze to Cassio. “She doesn’t get her inheritance until she turns twenty-five. Unless-” he paused, I guess for the special effect or something. “Unless she gets married. How is it that you didn’t know this?”
“I never received a copy of the will. I was twelve when my parents died.”
“Hasn’t Ian told you that?” Luciano asked in a growl. “He’s your attorney and should be looking out for you.”
“No, obviously he hasn’t,” I replied bitterly. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to resort to stealing it from him. He only serves my uncle’s interests, in case it escapes you. Ian is my uncle’s lover, has been for a while.”
Luciano’s expression was comical. “What? You sure?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. They have been an item behind closed doors for a long time.” I didn’t have to wonder what my husband was thinking. “And no, Luciano. He never dated me. Both Ian and my uncle needed a diversion, someone to cover their relationship.”
He didn’t comment further. Not that it would matter whatever he thought. His eyes went back to my parents’ document.
“You are worth quite a penny,” Luciano muttered, his eyes darting the pages of my parents’ will.
Apparently, not enough. Because my husband threw me away.
There was no time for bitterness or regrets. I didn’t care about the money, but it was obvious my parents didn’t want my uncle or my grandmother to get their dirty hands on it. Not that I could blame them considering what they were doing.
I could transfer it all into Matteo’s name. If something happened to me, he’d be taken care of. The will I have put in place already designated him or any future children I might have, which I won’t have any, as my beneficiaries.
“Grace, let me help you.”
Luciano’s offer startled me. I forgot about all of their presence as I worked out a plan in my mind. I didn’t trust him, any of them. After all, they were criminals, and I could still feel the press of the cold metal pushed against my temple as he was getting ready to pull the trigger.
Yes, I wanted him. Craved him even. My heart belonged to my husband. But I wouldn’t be that naive girl that believed he’d take care of me anymore. I couldn’t rely on anyone but myself and Ella.
So, I’d use him. His resources and his mind.
“I need your lawyer again,” I said, my mind made up.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his contact.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Cassio asked.
I shook my head. I wouldn’t dare ever trust a King with anything. Cassio and Luca King must not know about the Romano belle arrangement. Otherwise, they would have taken me to their father at first sight. I trusted them even less than Luciano. After the beating Luciano had given Ian, I was inclined to think maybe he wouldn’t let them take me and sell me to the highest bidder.
Besides, I was already married. So what good would I possibly do them? Those belles supposedly were auctioned off to marry high ranking and the richest mobsters of the world. Or do other things, I thought with a frozen fear.
Yes, I had to transfer everything I owned, including my parents’ inheritance to Matteo. So if I fell into their clutches, they couldn’t put their dirty paws on something that belonged to my son.
“Giuseppe is on his way.”
“Thanks.”
“You are going to keep us in the dark, aren’t you?” Luca asked.
Yes.
“None of this has anything to do with any of you.” Liar. “Thanks for your help, though, in retrieving the documents.”
I sent a note to Ella, knowing she’d be worrying.
One loophole.
We always kept our text messages short. Her reply was thumbs up. Twenty minutes later, Luciano’s lawyer entered with one of the club bouncers. “Laszlo is gone,” he informed Cassio and Luciano.
“Mrs. Vitale, twice in one night.” Giuseppe didn’t seem upset to have been dragged into a club in the middle of the night. He probably did it often. It also didn’t escape me that Luciano noticed I didn’t correct the man for calling me by my married name.
“Sorry about that,” I muttered. “I’d like to have all my inheritance transferred to Matteo’s name.” I handed him both copies of the will, aware of all three men’s shocked gazes on me. “The executor and power of attorney should have been removed a while back.”
I watched as his eyes roamed the pages. “If we could do it as soon as possible, that would be ideal,” I added.
“Going somewhere, wife?”
I ignored Luciano’s question.
“I can have it done first thing tomorrow morning,” he glanced at his watch. “Well, this morning when offices open,” he continued, chuckling. It was a little past midnight now. “I’m assuming the guardian you appointed earlier remains unchanged?”
I nodded. “That’s correct.”
He gave me a pensive look. “Will there be problems with Mr. Laszlo?”
“Ian Laszlo will not be a problem,” Cassio chimed in, surprising me. “He will probably spend the next two days recovering from a major hangover.”
Perfect. I wouldn’t ask any questions. Ian chose his side when he started working with my uncle, against my well-being.
We worked out a few more details, and Giuseppe was on his way.
“Well, I’m going to get going too,” I told them tiredly. I headed for the door, glancing over my shoulder. “Thanks for your help. You guys enjoy the rest of your night.”
Luciano actually chuckled. “You are not going anywhere alone. I’ll take you home.”
I rolled my eyes noting amused expressions on Luca’s and Cassio’s faces. “I am quite capable of going places alone.”
“I am sure you are, but I’ll be taking you home regardless. And stop rolling your eyes.”
I rolled my eyes again, just to make a statement. Although my lips curved into a smile on their own, with a stupid excitement at challenging him. Maybe I got off at challenging him. His big arm wrapped around my waist as he nudged me out of Cassio’s office.
“Good night, you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Luca mused.
“Or maybe you shouldn’t do what my brother would do,” Cassio drawled, with a grin on.
“Whatever.” Those two totally had the wrong idea. Didn’t they?
Then why did I feel this longing ache between my thighs?
Luciano’s arm around me, we walked through the nightclub, glances thrown our way from all corners. He didn’t pay attention to anyone but me, his steps rushed. Like the club would be set on fire at any second.
“Slow down, Luciano.”
The moment we were outside, his body pressed against mine, cornering me against the wall. He had a gun underneath his sophisticated Brioni suit, ruthlessness dressed up. He might have looked like a businessman, but he was a cobra ready to strike.
His body pressed against mine, his heat seeping into every pore of me.
His lips were barely an inch from mine, when he rasped. “Next time I see any man touch my wife, I’ll cut off each one of their fingers,” he growled. “One. By. Fucking. One. And then I’ll slice their hands. After that, I’ll gut them. Nice and slow.”
I watched the burning inferno and fury in his eyes. He had always been possessive; but this was a whole new level. Desire pooled between my thighs. My body shouldn’t be reacting this way. My lips parted on their own, a rush of blood ringing in my ears. I was turned on, unlike ever before.
“I-I was just dancing,” my voice was breathless. I nervously licked my lower lip. “I needed to get that will.” Why was I justifying myself? “Besides, I’m practically not your wife anymore.”
Even as those words left my mouth, I pushed off the wall, wanting to feel every ounce of his body flushed against mine.
He groaned and pressed his pelvis against my lower belly. He was hard, his cock straining against his pants and now against the thin of the dress material.
“Does this feel like you are not my wife?”
Oh my God. My chest would explode any minute. I had no idea how my hands found themselves under his suit jacket, my palms against his chest. My head swam with desire, drunk on it.
The moment I felt my husband’s mouth on my neck, a loud moan escaped me.
“That’s right,” his lips moved over my overly sensitive skin. “You are mine.”
His lips left a trail of the sweetest searing sensation. He nipped; he kissed; he licked. I felt his hands on my ass, pulling me harder against him.
“Luciano-” My voice was breathless, slutty. I didn’t care. I wanted my husband. “Please.”
“Ahm, sir,” a voice came from the distance but I didn’t care.
“Don’t stop,” I begged, my hands fisting his shirt in my grip, pulling him closer.
He sucked on my neck. “Fuck, you smell good.”
“Sir?” The same voice again.
Luciano raised his head, my eyes watched him through heavy eyelids. I felt drunk, but it had nothing to do with alcohol.
“Get lost,” he ordered.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. I didn’t want to come to my senses. It would be stupid, and I’d regret it tomorrow. I’d regret it for the rest of my life. But right now, I needed him like the air I breathed.
I’m using him. That was it.
“He’s gone.” He led me to his car that someone pulled in front of the club and sat me into the passenger seat.
The throbbing between my legs was unbearable. I needed the ache to go away. I watched as Luciano got behind the wheel, put his McLaren into drive, all the while painfully aware that I needed this ache to be gone.
I have pleasured myself for the past three years. And right now, I was so tempted to do the same. I must have lost my mind because the fact that Luciano was next to me driving, only excited me more.
I shifted in my seat to ease the ache. It made the throbbing worse. My heart raced; my body needed his hands on me. As if he read my mind, his hand reached over. He put his palm on my thigh, slowly pulling the dress up till his palm rested on my skin and a needy whimper left my lips. My hand covered his big hand, and I placed it over my pussy.
“Fuck,” he groaned, his eyes burning into me. “You are fucking drenched.”
“Pull over, Luciano.” My voice was raspy, breathless, needy.
It took him ten seconds to take a sharp turn off the main road into the closed alley and put his car into park.
He reached for my seatbelt, unbuckled it and grabbed me by my waist, hauling me over onto his lap. I shifted so I was straddling him. My mouth clashed against his. His lips tasted of liquor and him. The taste of him that I’ve been craving for the past three years. My lips parted, and he accepted the invitation by plunging his tongue into my mouth, conquering it. Moans escaped my lips, getting swallowed by this man that shattered me to pieces.
I ground against his hard shaft. His hand tightened on my hips as I kissed him, hungry, frantic. He consumed me. Every single emotion within me shook with overwhelming need for this man. His hand cupped the back of my neck as he sucked on my tongue, kissing me hard.
I moaned into his mouth, my fingers pushing through his hair, all the way down to his nape. God, he smelled divine, tasted even better. Like cognac, citrus, and a woodsy cologne. Same as before.
I rolled my hips, friction between us making me gasp. A shredding sound reached through the haze in my brain. In shock, I realized he tore my panties off of me. Before I could even process that fact, his finger touched my clit and every single thought fled my mind. It was only him, in every single cell, every single breath.
“Mine,” he hissed. “Say it.”
He felt amazing.
“Luciano, please.”
He thrust a finger inside me, and my hips started moving against it. My blood ignited; my body burned with every touch he gave me.
“So wet,” he groaned. “Say you are mine.”
“Oh God.” I moved against him, grinding against him. This was so much better than my own touch while I fantasized about him. I never came close to this high. “Yes.”
He pulled his finger out, his other hand came to my hip and his fingers dug into flesh, willing me to still. My eyes shot open and our gazes locked. Our breathing was the only sound in the car and as I watched him through heavy eyelids, he brought his finger to his sinful lips and licked them clean.
“Fuck, you taste amazing,” he rasped. “Just like my wife.”
My breathing hitched, and my ears buzzed with desire and blood pumping through my veins. My hands went to his pants. I lifted my butt off of his lap just enough to unbuckle him. The sound of the belt, followed by the zipper and our labored breathing vibrated within the car.
He still didn’t wear boxers. My hand wrapped around his cock, and his head fell backwards.
“Grace. Fuck, yeah.” I pumped up and down, watching him with hunger. I bit into my lip, to stop moans from leaving, the sight of him erotic. He threw his head back, the look of pure bliss on his face. I wanted to taste him, to see if he tasted as good as I remembered. The ink on his neck tempted me. I licked my lips and his hand cupped the back of my head, pulling me hard to him.
His teeth nipped my jaw, then his lips ran up my neck before pressing to my ear. “You are mine. Say it.”
“Yes,” I breathed.
“Say it, wife.”
“I’m yours.”
A groan rumbled from his throat, then he grabbed my hips and slammed inside of me, filling me to the hilt. A scream of pleasure pierced through the interior of the car, and it was mine.
