36. Rork
36
RORK
S itting at my desk, I stare down at the latest message from Nico Marino, a sense of dread settling in the pit of my stomach. The words on the screen are hostile, accusatory, dripping with a venom that I’ve come to know all too well.
"Where are the pictures, Rork? What have you done with my daughter?"
"Do you think I won’t come for you if you’ve hurt her? You’re a dead man."
"If she’s dead, I swear to God, I’ll make you pay. I’ll hunt you down like the dog you are and put a bullet between your eyes.”
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face as I try to quell the rising tide of anger and frustration that threatens to overwhelm me. I knew this moment would come, that the temporary peace Bianca and I have found together couldn’t last forever.
Despite my refusal to engage, it’s clear that Nico is worried my silence means I’ve killed Bianca. He’s losing his mind, and I know it’s only a matter of time before he takes action. Our temporary peace is just that—temporary.
But I intend to soak up every moment I can with Bianca. Every laugh, every touch, every smile. She’s become my world, and the thought of losing her, of things changing between us if I’m forced to kill Nico, is unbearable.
I should have known better, should have realized that a man like Nico Marino would never let his daughter go without a fight. He’ll never accept her choice to stay with the enemy he’s despised for so long.
Another message pops up on the screen, this one even more frantic than the last.
“Damn it, Rork, answer me! If you’ve killed her, if you’ve taken my little girl from me… I’ll burn your whole fucking world to the ground. I’ll make you suffer in ways you can’t even imagine.”
I snort, rolling my eyes. “I’d like to see you try, Nico,” I mutter to myself, placing my chin in the palm of my hand as I stare out the window. I know I should respond and find a way to reassure Nico that Bianca is safe and that she’s still with me of her own free will.
But I doubt he’d believe me even if I did. He’s too far gone, too consumed by his own rage and fear to see reason.
Placing the phone down, I decide to wait until the morning to think of a response. Instead, I make my way to the bedroom where she lies sleeping, soft and warm and perfect.
And mine.
She stirs as I slip under the blankets, pulling her close to me.
“Rork?” she croaks. “Is everything alright?”
I stroke her hair, lost in my thoughts. The softness of her skin, the warmth of her body against mine—it’s almost too perfect.
And it terrifies me.
She’s more awake now, looking up at me with those beautiful eyes that have captured my heart. “What’s wrong?” she asks, pushing back a bit to sit up.
I force a smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Nothing, love. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
I hesitate, not wanting to burden her with my worries. “Just about how lucky I am to have you.”
Even in the darkness, I can see her rolling her eyes. “What a sap,” she teases, leaning up to kiss me gently. “But I’m the lucky one,” she whispers against my lips.
As we kiss, I try to push the dark thoughts away. I want to be fully present with her, to enjoy every second we have together. Because I’m not sure how things might change if I’m forced to kill Nico Marino to keep the woman I’ve fallen madly in love with.
The thought of taking her father’s life gnaws at me, but I know it might be the only way to protect her—and us. For now, I’ll hold onto this moment, to her, and hope that when the time comes, we’ll find a way to make it through together.
* * *
I don’t respond to Nico the next day, and if the ten messages I received overnight are any indication, he’s losing his goddamn mind.
“Answer me, damn it! What have you done with her?”
“If you’ve hurt Bianca, I’ll make you suffer like you’ve never imagined.”
“You coward! Face me like a man! Tell me she’s alive!”
Each message is more frantic, more unhinged than the last. It’s satisfying to see him unraveling.
The day with Bianca is wonderful. We laugh, we talk, and for a while, I can almost forget about the chaos waiting for us. When the sun sets, casting a warm glow over the room, I take her hand and lead her to our bed. The way she looks at me, with love and trust, makes my heart ache in the best way possible.
As we lie tangled in each other’s arms, I turn her around, guiding her onto her hands and knees. “Are you ready?” I whisper, my voice husky with desire.
She nods, looking back at me with a mixture of anticipation and love. “Yes, Rork. I want you.”
I position myself behind her, entering her slowly, savoring the feel of her. She gasps, her back arching as I fill her completely. I start to move, our bodies finding a rhythm that feels both primal and intimate. The way she responds to me, the way she moans my name, drives me wild.
My hands grip her hips, pulling her back against me with each thrust. Her skin is soft under my touch, her body pliant and eager. Every sound she makes, every shiver that runs through her, spurs me on. I lean forward, pressing kisses along her spine, feeling her tremble beneath me.
“You feel so good, love,” I murmur, my voice rough with need.
“So do you,” she breathes, her fingers clutching the sheets as I quicken my pace.
The intensity builds, each moment bringing us closer to the edge. I can feel her tightening around me, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps. I reach around, finding her clit, and she cries out, her body convulsing as she reaches her peak.
I follow her over the edge, the pleasure crashing over me in waves. We come together, the world fading away, leaving only the two of us lost in a haze of ecstasy. We collapse onto the bed, our bodies still entwined, breathing heavily.
“I love you,” she whispers, her voice filled with emotion.
“I love you too,” I murmur, kissing her shoulder. When I’m with her, I forget all my troubles. I forget about Nico, about the looming threats. All I can think about is how much I love her, how she’s become the center of my world.
A sudden disturbance shakes the very foundation of my home. The sound of panic spreads audibly through the household—shouts, crashes, and the unmistakable clatter of gunfire. I scramble into some boxers and pants, my heart pounding with a mix of adrenaline and fear.
“Stay in the room,” I warn Bianca urgently. “Hide if anyone tries to come in.”
She scoffs, climbing out of bed, slipping her nightgown on and grabbing a robe, tying it tightly around her. “I’m coming with you,” she insists, her jaw set with determination.
“Bianca, please,” I begin, but there’s no time to argue. The door to our room explodes inward with a deafening crash. Standing in the splintered doorway is Nico Marino, Bianca’s father, flanked by heavily armed men.
Heavily armed Sicura men, the crest gleaming in the moonlight.
My blood runs cold.
Nico has utilized his alliance with the Sicura family to storm my estate and fight my guards protecting the house. The chaos outside tells me that my men are losing the battle.
“Well, well,” Nico sneers, his eyes locking onto mine with murderous intent. “There you are, you son of a bitch.”
“Papa, stop!” Bianca cries out, stepping in front of me.
Nico’s rage is palpable as he takes in our disheveled state and the rumpled bedsheets. His face contorts with fury, his eyes blazing as he advances on me.
“You violated my daughter!” he screams, his voice echoing through the chaos.
“Papa, no!” Bianca raises a hand. “I’m Rork’s wife . He’s not done anything a husband wouldn’t do to his wife.”
Nico’s expression shifts from rage to disbelief, as if he can’t comprehend the words coming out of her mouth. “You’ve lost your mind, Bianca,” he says, his tone dripping with condescension.
“No, I have not, Papa! What are you doing ?”
“Get away from him, Bianca,” Nico orders, his voice cold and unyielding, looking every inch the Mafia Don he is. “This bastard has taken you prisoner long enough.”
She shakes her head. “Papa, you don’t understand?—”
“Oh, I understand perfectly, mia figlia ,” he interrupts, advancing into the room. “He’s brainwashed you, but don’t worry, we’ll get you away from him.”
I step forward, placing a hand on Bianca’s shoulder. “Nico, you don’t have to do this. We can work something out.”
“There’s nothing to work out,” Nico spits, his face twisted with rage. “Get your fucking hand off my daughter. You took her to hurt me. Now you’re going to pay.”
Before I can react, one of Nico’s men lunges forward, trying to grab Bianca and pull her away from me. But she’s ready.
She channels all the self-defense training she’s learned from me and Mitch. With swift, precise movements, she takes down the first man, sending him crashing to the ground with a well-placed kick to the knee. Another guard lunges at her, but she sidesteps, using his momentum against him and flipping him onto his back.
I stand there, momentarily stunned, watching her. She’s beautiful, breathtaking, a warrior in every sense of the word. Her robe billows around her as she moves with the grace and power of someone who knows exactly what she’s doing.
Nico’s eyes widen in shock and anger as he watches his men fall. “Bianca, stop this madness!” he yells, but she doesn’t even flinch.
“You don’t get to decide what’s best for me anymore, Papa,” she says, her chest heaving but her voice steady and defiant. “I love Rork, and I choose to be with him.”
The remaining guards hesitate, unsure whether to advance on her or wait for Nico’s orders. I take a step forward, my own fury simmering beneath the surface. “You heard her, Nico. She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Nico’s rage is evident in every line of his face as he snarls back at me. “She’s my daughter,” he spits. “ I decide where she goes.”
Before I can react, the Sicura guards grab Bianca. My heart lurches in my chest, and instinctively, I lunge forward to protect her, but the sudden appearance of guns pointed directly at me freezes me in my tracks. I’m outnumbered, outgunned, and fear courses through me like ice in my veins.
Nico’s voice cuts through the tension, cold and menacing as he levels his gun at me. “Step aside, O’Malley, or I’ll shoot you where you stand.”
Bianca’s desperate plea reaches my ears, tearing at my heartstrings. “Papa, please don’t do this. I’ll go with you if that’s what you really want, but you can’t hurt Rork.”
“No,” I breathe, her words hitting me like a punch to the gut. I can’t lose her. But I can’t risk her safety, either. With a heavy heart, I step back, my hands raised in surrender.
Bianca glances back at me, her face pale and her eyes filled with terror.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper, though I’m not sure I believe it myself.
Nico’s triumphant smirk only adds to my anguish as his men drag Bianca away. I watch helplessly, my heart breaking with every step she takes further from me. As she’s whisked out the front door, my heart shatters into a million pieces before rage courses through me, hot and all-consuming.
Nico’s unleashed hell upon himself. I’ll burn the whole world down if I have to, but I will get Bianca back.
And when I do, there won’t be a single corner of this earth where Nico can hide from me.
The old Rork—the vengeful, angry, vindictive one—is back, and nothing will stand in my way until Bianca is safe in my arms once again.