Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles, #5)

by Cora Reilly

“Every inch of that beautiful skin.” He pressed a light kiss to my shoulder, catching me off guard. Instead of telling him off, my body flushed with heat and the familiar butterflies that only Savio could create fluttered in my belly.

“Won’t you congratulate me? After all, I won you.” You had me all along.

“If you keep looking at me like that, waiting until marriage isn’t going to happen, Gem.”

“I know you want your first kiss to happen in church,” he rasped, his lips brushing my cheek then the corner of my mouth before he moved down to my throat and pressed a firm kiss to my skin. My body leaned into the touch, unable to resist.

“Kitty, you make sweet sixteen very difficult to resist.”

“Maybe you should think of her feelings,” he seethed, then turned around and stalked off. “Don’t tell me you’re going to walk home?” He only gave me the finger.

“I don’t expect you to be like that. I want you to be who you want to be and decide for yourself. You know what I think of your oppressing traditions.”

That isn’t letting me decide for myself, Savio. That’s oppression in disguise. Maybe I want to be only a wife and mother, maybe I don’t want to go to college. Shouldn’t it be my choice what kind of life I want?”

jerked to my feet. My chair tumbled over and crashed to the ground. Before I could consider the consequences of my actions, I swung my arm back and smashed my fist straight into Will’s face.

From what I hear, you broke his nose, Gemma.

Then his eyes slid to me and my bruised hand that I still cradled against my stomach. Something in his face shifted. “What the fuck happened with your hand?”

“Will Reynolds called my sister, an honorable Italian woman, your future wife, a Falcone whore,”

Remo swung himself out of the ring and Nino climbed out a moment later. Even Fabiano stopped what he had been doing to watch the freakshow. Savio only stared at me. “That bastard suggested that your brother as Capo would…fu…”

would take my sister and that you’d watch. That you two would share h...

Remo asked with a twisted smile that raised the little hairs on my neck. “Remind me again, Nino, what is it called? Ius?” Nino shook his head with a frown. “Ius primae nocti.”

“We will make the engagement official, and I will make it clear that Gemma is only mine. Nobody will touch her, not a single fucker, and most definitely not any of my brothers.”

“This will have to heal before you can wear my engagement ring.”

Then he looked up at me and the arrogant mischief was back. “I already know exactly what kind of ring to get you.”

don’t take orders from anyone, angel,” he said in a low voice. He nipped her throat. “But maybe I’ll stop them as a gift to you. After all, I got your first night.”

“Girls that know of their effect on men are dangerous, but you, Kitty, are killing me without even realizing it.”

“Sweet sixteen is mighty sexy and hella tempting when it comes in a package like yours. I’m glad you’re such a fucking good girl. Maybe I can keep my promise to your father after all.”

“To keep my hands off you until you’re officially mine, before God and whoever else needs to give his approval.” “You are touching me.”

“Believe me, Kitty, the kind of touching I’m talking about will leave you hot and bothered, and even more breathless than you are now.”

his simple kiss to my temple and his closeness already. “Fuck,” Savio muttered and stepped away. “That look’s going to get us both in trouble.”

“Rudeness is Remo’s mother tongue and if you manage to embarrass either of my brothers, I’m going to buy you that Porsche you’re so crazy about.” He linked our fingers and dragged me into the house.

And holy fuck, Gemma had chosen a dress that knocked the breath straight out of me. It hugged her curves like a second skin and the fabric was so light, it appeared almost translucent. As I stepped closer, I realized it was, but all the interesting places were covered by flower applications. Gemma’s waist was narrow and her hips and booty designed to bring men to their knees. She turned around when she heard me and for a moment, my brain short-circuited. The neckline dipped low, reaching her sternum, accentuating Gemma’s round breasts.

She cast her eyes up. “Are you serious?” Indignation rang in her voice. “I had it handcrafted. I put a lot of thought into it. I hope you like it.” My grin widened at the look she gave the ring. “Let me.” I took the ring from her, grabbed her hand and slid it on. It was obvious that she was fighting for composure.

“It’s white gold with a diamond.”

thought having the ring form my initials was a nice touch.” Gemma raised her eyes. “Like a brand.” “Only without the pain.” “I think I would have preferred the burn,”

“You wanted people to know you are mine. You wanted people to back off. What better way to do that than have a ring with my initials, Kitty?”

“Sleeping your way to the top?” Will asked. “I never thought Savio would go for plain fare in bed.” Noemi let out a nasty laugh, and Gemma’s body tensed. I knew that look on her face.

stepped between them, grabbed Will by the throat and thrust him against the wall.

I nodded at Noemi who was trying to sneak away. “You st...

“Your mother deep throated me a week ago. Did you know she likes to have her hair pulled while eating dick? I thought you should know I fucked your dear mommy to get back to you for talking shit to my fiancée in s...

“You think that money is going to protect you in this city?” I growled, fingers digging into his skin. “My brothers and I got rid of many rich cocksuckers when we claimed power in ...

“A punch made you cry?”

“You were the worst lay of my life, so run after Will. His standards are lower.” She dashed away, looking like she was about to bawl. Gemma held her purse in a death grip, her cheeks bright red. “You slept with Noemi?”

“I slept with many girls. It’s why dear Mrs. Reynolds was in favor of hosting this party. She didn’t want word about our intermezzo to get out.”

“It means you are mine, and that I’m going to crush every fucker who doesn’t get the message.”

She threw her purse at me, hitting me square in the chest. I laughed in surprise. Then she took her pumps off and threw them at me as well, but I managed to dodge the pointy things. “Keep the stupid purse and shoes. I don’t want your gifts!”

“She turned blue today, so Mom and Nonna took her to the ER. I don’t know when they’ll be back.” “Is she okay? Should I go to the ER?” “No, they’ll do the usual check-ups. She needs a new heart, or this will keep happening.”

“Did you miss me?” “You distracted yourself pretty good from what I hear, so you probably didn’t waste a single thought on me,” I bit out.

“Did Diego badmouth me again?” “Is it a lie then?” “Is what a lie?”

“That you were with Dakota yesterday and God only knows how many more girls in Reno.”

“It’s true.” At least he didn’t lie, but my stomach turned, all the same, hearing the words.

“But it’s also true that I thought about you every fucking day. I couldn’t get that last image of you in that dress out of my head. You were always in the ba...

“I do honor our engagement. I promised to marry you and I will. I enjoy seeing my initials on you.”

“How dare you? You can’t just reserve me like a table in a restaurant and go on living your man-whore life while I sit back and wait for you to make up your mind about our wedding.”

“I’m a Falcone. I can do whatever the fuck I want, Gemma. And I want you, so no one e...

“Nobody will as much as look at you, or I’m going to rip the fucke...