Chapter 7
MICHAEL
I feel sorry for the woman before me. Sorry for what she endured at the hands of the Bianchis. And in her eyes, I see the pain as though it’s here among us. But it’s not enough to save her. Not from me. Because no one crosses the family, even someone as beautiful as her.
And she’s right. I did know she was here in my home, and I wanted to see how far she’d take it.
When I brought Smitty here, who skimmed money from us, I was hoping she’d think it had everything to do with the food she’d been stealing, but it didn’t.
I was merely testing her, wanting to see what kind of person she was: the one to look out for herself or for others.
And she passed. That’s the only reason she’s still alive.
I’d have no use for her otherwise. Elsie is the perfect choice to pretend to be my wife.
To live alongside my daughter. She has no choice, unless she wants to end up like Smitty here—or end up in prison, where I’ll make sure she stays for a long time.
If she suspects the Palermos have people in their pocket…
well, she hasn’t met the Messinas yet. We know people in every avenue.
Judges, cops, even senators. And each of them would do anything for us.
Like keep a pretty little thing like her in prison for as long as possible, throwing every charge they can at her.
The Mafia owns this city, and we’re at the head of that table.
There are five families that rule here: us, the Palermos, the Rosolinos, as well as the Cambria and Grazia families.
The bosses of each family have also formed an alliance, known as the Azienda.
It was established before my time and has been in existence for years.
It’s where we hash out differences, prevent an all-out war between families, and where new alliances are created.
Our family and the Palermo family have always been at odds, and if it wasn’t for the alliance, I’d have killed the Bianchis already.
They have nothing on us. They may think they’re on top, but only one family has a name that every person in this city knows well.
Fears enough to do whatever we ask. We could squash them like a bug, but it’d turn into a full-blown war.
But a treaty was signed with them, which prevents me from killing every one of them. They promised to stay out of our business, and we stay out of theirs.
We may turn our eyes away from what the Bianchis are doing, but I’d never send a woman to them.
It’s taken everything in me not to put an end to the human trafficking, the club.
But I can’t risk a war, and Sophia can’t become a casualty of it.
If I start one and break that treaty, all bets are off.
Protecting my daughter is all that matters to me.
“If you’re not gonna kill me…” Elsie’s features harden, practically clawing at me with her striking gaze. “What the hell are you gonna do with me?”
Those big, twinkling brown eyes hold me captive with a fire burning through them, even while I can practically taste her fear like it’s marking her soul.
I like that in a woman, someone who’s tough even while she’s bathed in fear.
And I like knowing she’s afraid of me. She should be.
No one breaks into the place where my daughter sleeps without answering for it.
I don’t care that she was one of the Bianchis’ girls or how beautiful she may be—and she is that. Goddamn, she is.
It’s taking every amount of restraint not to punish her the way I truly want to. Pinned against the wall. Helpless. At my mercy. Her body mine to take, to make it do anything I want. But I can’t do that. Not with a woman who’s been through what she has.
But that doesn’t stop my mind from taking a joyride filled with dirty thoughts: hands in her long waves, my fingers inside her cunt. I bet it’s pretty. Like the rest of her.
Her large breasts heave with each one of her heavy inhales.
She likes me. She may not want to, but I can sense it in her breaths, those eyes growing aroused.
“Well…there’s a lot I can do to you.” My lips fall to the curve of her jaw, wanting my teeth to sink into that soft skin, to hear her cry out my name.
Michael, fuck me. Make me come.
It’s as though I can’t restrain myself. It’s like I’m unable to stop touching this woman. It’s not something I’m used to, and not something I want to get used to.
“Like what?” she whispers, her voice cracking like stone, like she’s trying not to show me how much she’s enjoying our proximity.
“Like call the cops and have you arrested. Or…”
“Or what?” she breathes.
I lift the pistol still clutched in my palm, tipping her face up with the muzzle and pressing it to the underside of her chin. “Or we can just end this right now, just like you begged.”
Her brows snap, eyes watering over, and something in me almost feels it, that hurting inside her. Almost. Not enough to stop me from shooting her if I had to.
“No.” She vigorously shakes her head, swallowing roughly. “Don't call the cops. Please.”
That one word twists into the hurt she carries, weaving through the pain carved in her features as deep as the scar on my face. And that part of me that doesn’t want to feel a goddamn ounce of sympathy for her…it damn near shatters.
“You're more afraid of them than you are of a bullet?” My curiosity gets the better of me.
“Yes.” She nods, eyes going downcast before she focuses on me.
I place my nine in my waistband, eyes searching hers. Without realizing what I’m doing, my hand reaches her face, fingertips against her temple, softly moving away pieces of her hair that have fallen around her eyes. Those beautiful eyes.
“What are you running from?” My voice grows tender.
I’m not a tender man. Never been that way, especially not with a woman.
I get what I need from them and never look back.
It’s how it’s been. First, it was because none of them were ever good enough for my daughter.
But when Raph left, after it all happened, I knew I’d never find the family I once thought I could have. Sophia is my family, and that’s enough.
“That's none of your business.” She glares now, pushing my hand off her.
But I already know the kind of life she’s escaping from. I just want to hear her tell me. If I were to call the cops, she and I both know one of the dirty ones still loyal to the Bianchis would tell them they found their missing girl.
I wouldn’t let that happen. I’d pay them way more money than the Bianchis could afford.
But she doesn’t know that.
“Now…” She pops a brow. “Are you gonna kill me or what? Might as well do it before your daughter finds me again.”
My fingers instantly tighten around her delicate throat, and I love the way her mouth parts and her cheeks flush.
“Don’t you ever speak about my daughter. If you’re trying to die, you’re about to succeed.”
Her smile is cold. Ruthless. And I fucking love it.
“You talk a lot of shit for a man who hasn’t killed me yet.”
I groan as I near my lips to hers, fucking groan like a madman because those words…goddamn, they set me off. That smart mouth of hers is getting me rock hard. I haven’t felt so well matched with a woman before.
They try too hard to please me. That doesn’t do a thing for me. But this? This, I like. That attitude of hers has me so hungry for a taste. But I’d never take it like I take everything else. It’s something she’d have to be willing to give.
“I only kill when I have to. And I don’t have to kill you, little dove. Not if you agree to a proposition.”
“I’m not your dove.” Anger pinches her features, like she’s stabbing me in the heart with just a look.
A wry smile stretches over my face. “Oh…but you are.” The knuckles of my other hand trace across her lips. “Delicate. Soft. One snap to your neck, and you’d be dead.”
Her pulse quickens against my touch. I can feel it thundering.
She lets out a gasping breath, swallowing harshly. I can feel the swell against my palm. But then, instantly, that fear evaporates and strength returns to her eyes.
“So, are you going to actually tell me what your proposition is, or do I have to wait until your mouth decides to work?” The sass in her tone has a smirk creeping over my mouth.
Fuck. The things I want to do to that curvy body. I’d have her bent over, with that ass spread and my tongue inside it.
“You have quite the attitude for a woman pinned to the wall.”
She snickers. “Let’s just say I no longer give a fuck what you do to me.”
I break with a slow, dragged-out chuckle, tightening my palm around her throat. Her mouth trembles, brows tightening.
“If you agree to my terms, it’ll spare your life and allow you to leave unharmed.”
Her head cants with a scoff. “I bet there’s a catch, though.”
I move back a fraction, my fingers slipping off her neck. Her throat looked a lot better with my hand around it.
“There’s always a catch, little dove.” I can’t help the satisfied grin on my face when her eye muscle twitches at that nickname. “My father’s the boss of our little enterprise, and for me to take over, I need to get married—”
“Oh, hell no!” She shakes her head. “Just give me the bullet.”
“Okay.” I shrug a single shoulder, reaching into my waistband. “Anyone you want me to call after I spray my walls with your blood?”
“Screw you,” she hisses.
“Keep talking with that mouth, and the only one who’s going to get screwed is you.”
That gasp and the sudden flush of her cheeks has me smirking, my cock heavy and throbbing.
“Shall I continue, then?”
She rolls her eyes in disgust, glancing at the ceiling momentarily. “Fine.”
The word may as well have been a curse, and I can’t help but laugh again. When the hell have I laughed this much except with Sophia?
“You’ll have to stay married to me for a year, attend all—”
“A year!” Her eyes grow wide. “Are you insane? You truly must be.” Her features twist with revulsion.