“My brother was there. I saw Andrea walking out of one of the rooms with two other men.”
I promised I’d never tell her. I vowed that the secret would stay with me to my death, but I can’t keep it anymore. I need to be honest. I need to explain to the woman I love that her brother isn’t hers by blood. Instead, he’s a snake. An undercover mole for the Russos.
“Mio caro.” Reaching for her face, I cup her cheek in one hand, my thumb teasing circles over the smooth, rosy skin. “Andrea is not your brother.”
Her brows furrow and she attempts shaking her head.
“He’s… fuck, I didn’t want you to find out like this.” Dropping my hand, I turn away from her, not wanting to see the pain in her eyes.
She’s been through so much already and now I’m only going to pile on more shit. Her hand on my shoulder has me turning to regard her. “Tell me. I can handle it.”
“Andrea is a Russo. He’s Cristiano’s cousin.”
Shock paints her expression. I knew it would. I wait for the anger, but it doesn’t come. I thought she’d be angry that I didn’t tell her. Actually, I wanted her to be angry because I should have been honest. But as she regards me, I don’t see it.
“I never knew. I mean… He’s always been different, more volatile. Why didn’t my parents ever tell me?”
I shrug. Honestly, I don’t know the reason her parents even took him in as their own. He’s a fucking bastard child. One that I plan on getting rid of as soon as we find the fucker. Her father worked both sides of the coin. Most of the men who get killed do. They get greedy, only seeing the dollar signs, and they end up paying with their lives. The Nostra aren’t easy people to deal with. You fuck us over then you find yourself six feet under.
“Look,bella,there are a lot of unexplained stories that float around with these people. I wish I had more answers for you, but so far, that’s all I know. It’s something we’re working on uncovering, but I can’t tell you more.” I pull her in for a cuddle. I’m not the type of man who enjoys this sort of thing, but having her body mold to mine is an exquisite thing.
“Franco, take me to the dark room.”
“With pleasure.”
20
Raina
The lights are dim. I asked for this. I’m not sure what he’s about to do, but I can only imagine it’s going to have me soaring with pleasure.
“Get into position.”
Before I have time to think, my body obeys. Dropping to my knees, I wait for his command.
I hear his footfalls on the wooden floor. They move around the room and then I feel the heat of him behind me.
“Are you ready to experience me, Rai, with no limits?”
“Yes, Sir,” I murmur.
“Good girl,” he whispers on a smile. “I want you to stand, strip, and wait with your feet shoulder-width apart. I want your hands behind your back and your eyes closed.”
Nodding, I start my show for him. I can feel him watching and my body turns molten.
I fold my clothes and place them in the corner of the room. Once my panties and bra are lying atop the rest of my clothes, I pad barefoot back to the spot he’s asked me to stay in. Standing, I face the window and grip my hands behind my back. My legs are spread just the way he likes and my eyes flutter closed.
“You’re beautiful,bella.” His voice comes from behind me and I can’t help reveling in his words. “I’m going to do something to you tonight that’s going to push you outside of your comfort zone. It’s going to make you scream, cry, and I’m going to fuck you so hard, I’ll be the only man you’ll ever need. If you feel it’s too much, you have your safe word. Do you remember it?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good girl.”
With those two words, he grips my wrists and walks me over to the table he fucked me on, which sits at the window. He positions me on the cool wood. I’m kneeling comfortably, but a second later, my body is bent at the waist and I find my wrists at my ankles. A soft leather cuff circles my left wrist and clicks into place. He does the same with my right limbs. I’m now bound, locked in place with my most intimate areas bared to him.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmurs in awe. With a featherlight touch, he strokes my thighs, sending jolts of pleasure through me. His big hands grip my ass, squeezing it hard, making me whimper out loud. “No noise,bella,” he orders in a gruff but raspy tone.
It’s silent for a long moment and my ears prickle with the sound of a soft whoosh. A whip.