Chapter 45
Gina
Tommaso drags his thumb over my lips, then leans down to kiss me gently. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I lean into him, but glance warily at Stefano, knowing he has the ultimate power to ruin the future Tommaso and I desperately want.
Stefano clears his throat, flanked by Marco and another man who, now that I get a closer look, bears a strong resemblance to my husband, and I realize he’s Riccardo, Tommaso’s oldest brother.
Even though the patriarch of their family just told me that Tommaso and I were to remarry at their family home with the rest of the family present, I still don’t know his role in all of this. Which makes me fearful of what he can do and the power he holds.
Vittorio walks back into the room and claps his hands, making me jump, and reminding me that we’re at another Don’s home in Cosa Nostra territory. “Stop playing with them, Stefano.” He grins and walks over to us. “Tell Tommaso the good news.”
“Which is?” he asks, and I can hear the tightness in his tone.
“You passed,” Vittorio replies before Stefano can.
I’m confused, but Tommaso and his brothers seem to know what he’s talking about. Marco curses, and Riccardo shakes his head with a small smile.
“For fuck’s sakes,” Tommaso growls, turning to glare at his father. “This was all a test?”
Stefano regards him, his unreadable mask falling to show the love he feels for his son. “Clearly, I didn’t orchestrate the situation with Altera and Caruso, but I did use it, yes, as the final test for you.”
“Test?” I look between them all, confused. “Final test?”
“We’ve all been put through trials throughout the years,” Riccardo explains. “To advance up the ranks in our family and to earn our positions.”
“Not only to earn your positions,” Stefano says gruffly. “But to identify which path and role you were best suited for.”
“There’s no automatic inheritance of the roles and power,” I deduce, and he nods with a smile.
“You passed, too, my new daughter.”
The pressure builds behind my eyes, and I’m suddenly fighting the urge to ugly cry.
Tommaso wraps his arm around my waist. “And what tests did Gina and I pass exactly?”
Stefano regards us for a moment before saying, “Ruling California.”
“You’re giving up control?” he asks, stunned.
Marco looks equally stunned and doubtful. “You’re a control freak, Papà.”
“Don’t I know it,” Riccardo mutters.
Stefano cuts him a hard look and clears his throat. “Yes, Tommaso, I’m giving you autonomous control over our territory in the States. A seat will be added at the ‘Ndrangheta table, and you’ll have the same power and responsibilities as the rest of us Dons.”
Stefano looks down at the dead body of his colleague, Carmine, with disgust. However, I know that disgust isn’t because of the grotesque state he’s in, but rather because of his plans and what he and Arturo had planned to try to force through their syndicate.
The reminder of Carmine’s body makes everything assault me at once. The attack at Vincenzo’s, being taken, having Carmine’s head basically explode all over me. This revelation, and that Tommaso isn’t going to be ripped away from me, nearly makes me collapse.
I start to shake. Tommaso knows what’s happening because this man is in tune with everything regarding me. He keeps me close to his side and walks us toward the door without a word to his father, brothers, or Vittorio.
But Vittorio calls out, and we turn. His eyes dance; as much as he’s a ruthless Don, I can tell he loves to cause chaos. “I have family in New York. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re ever in need of an ally, and the Candreva family can help.”
Tommaso nods, then walks us out the door. He seems to know where he’s going, and once we’re out of the room, he scoops me into his arms and carries me through the house and up the stairs.
We enter a bedroom, and I see my bag from Vincenzo’s is already inside.
“Tommaso.” I start to shake harder, not knowing if I should be sobbing with relief or punching him for using me as bait.
“Shh, il mio sole. Let me clean you up, and then you can unleash on me however you see fit.”
He walks into the ensuite, sets me gently on the vanity, and starts the shower. Then he’s back, pulling my soiled dress off my body and removing my underwear and shoes. He undresses quickly and picks me up again to carry me into the shower.
I don’t protest because, with how hard I’m trembling and how badly my skin itches with the blood and gore covering it, I couldn’t clean myself fast enough.
He sits me on the stone bench under the spray and begins to wash me. We don’t speak as he scrubs my hair, rinses it, then repeats the process to ensure everything is gone. After he works the conditioner into my hair, he washes my body thoroughly, then rinses it all off.
Once he’s done, he kneels before me. Water drips from his face and clings to his dark lashes.
I slap his beautiful, gorgeous face as a sob catches in my throat before I fist his hair and slam my mouth to his.
I’m, by no means, the dominant one in our relationship, but I need him to know that he can never do that to me again.
That he can never keep me out of the plan, especially when it directly involves our child.
“I’m sorry, love,” he says between punishing kisses. “Everything hinged on Arturo having no idea.”
I slap him again, but with less anger. “You’re saying I’m not a good enough actress.”
He kisses along my jaw, then bites down, and I arch into him with a cry of need. “I couldn’t risk it. Not when it comes to you or our child. For our family, I’ll do whatever it takes, even if I need to keep you in the dark to protect you.”
My hands burrow deeper into his hair, and I yank his head back so he’s looking at me. “Fine.” I do understand his motives. “But it doesn’t mean I like it. Or that you won’t pay a price.”
The corners of his beautiful mouth curl into a dark smile, and his eyes glint with wicked intent. “Make me pay, wife.”
Having control over this man—this king of the jungle, my lion—is intoxicating because he never gives this to anyone but me. He’d never get on his knees for anyone but me.
Controlling his head, I push him down while I spread my legs. “Worship your queen, il mio re leone.”
“With fucking pleasure,” he growls. It rumbles through the tiled shower, sounding like an actual lion.
My back bows the instant he starts to devour me like I’m his last meal. My cries fill the shower, but I don’t care. The thought of anyone hearing is the last thing on my mind because the only thoughts I’m capable of are the pleasure this man brings me and how much I love him.
My hips buck and grind against his face, chasing my release like I’m chasing oxygen to breathe. My fingers tangle in his hair, holding him to me, directing him, using him, and I’m heady with the control and power he’s giving me.
Our normal power dynamic is me submitting to his control, and I love that. But taking some control right now, in this way, even though I know I’ll gladly hand it back over to him soon, quickly drives me to the edge.
“Tommaso.” I arch back with a throaty, needy moan. “Oh god, right there.”
Stars erupt with a shot of pain-pleasure, and my eyes fly open. He does it again: he slaps my pussy. And oh god, it—
Slaps.
“Only my name,” he growls before lowering his head back between my legs. And bites my clit.
I erupt like a ball of flames explodes within me, and my vision blurs, and my screams of his name fill the space.
Before my orgasm is finished, Tommaso slams into me. My powerful king is taking back control. My clenching pussy tries to fight him as it continues to spasm through my orgasm until it finally yields, and he hits a spot deep within me.
I’m putty; his to do with what he’d like.
He pins me to the bench with his large, powerful body and grips my throat. My eyes roll back in ecstasy as he continues to hit that spot, but also because I love him holding me this way. He doesn’t need to restrict my air; just having his hand there, asserting his dominance and control, is enough.
“You’re mine, Gina.”
“Yours.” My throat is thick with love and the need to come again. “And you’re mine, Tommaso.”
“Fucking right I am.” He thrusts into me brutally. “You’ll rule by my side. Just as my queen should.”
I nod, unable to speak, as pleasure and bliss rip through me.
“I promised you I’d ruin you, il mio sole.” And oh god, is he ruining me, bringing me to both heaven and hell. He’s my salvation and my damnation. “But I will never break you or harm you. You have my word or my life.”
Tears blur my vision as a happiness I never dreamed possible fills me. “Family above all. Santoros above all.”
His eyes glisten. “I love you so fucking much. And I’d do it all again. Every underhanded, scheming thing I needed to do to make you my wife.”
And I know he would. And I want nothing more.
“Our family and love will be our legacy. What the world will remember.” His mouth falls onto mine as I tumble in blissful release and reverent devotion.
When my climax hits, it triggers his to follow right on its heels, and I feel him pulse into me as his groans of pleasure wrap around me as tightly as his arms.
Once we both come down from the high of our release, he rests his forehead against mine as the water cascades around us. “It was love at first sight.”
I cup his face. “And a love that will always exist and live on through our children. Even if I never regain all my memories, my heart and soul have them…every single one. They knew and recognized you the moment I regained consciousness in the hospital, and the love I had for you.”
“Il mio sole. My sun. My light. My queen. My entire reason for being.”