Twisted Hearts (The Camorra Chronicles, #5)

by Cora Reilly

“You’re not always around, and Diego is neither. There are enough guys who’d love to be with me, Savio.”

“Everyone in this city knows you’re mine, and just remember Gemma, if a guy touches you, Remo, Nino and I are going to dismember him slowly. You know the rumors about how we deal with traitors.”

“And we both know it’s me you want, not some loser. You said it yourself, you believe in waiting until marriage, so as your future husband, all your firsts are mine.” I glared at him. “Get off me.”

“Because I don’t let anyone, not even time or death, dictate how I live my fucking life. So the knife stops the watch from ticking, from reminding me that every moment could be the last. I don’t need reminding.”

“Kitty, you only need to say the word and I’ll give you what you want.” I wanted him, only not in the way he thought. Not only in that way. I wanted him to be mine first, only mine.

“How about I give you a little decision help? You have been eying my tattoo in secret for a long time. What do you think?”

face. Toni was sitting on her father’s desk and Diego stood between her legs, kissing her, his hands on her waist. I gasped. Both turned to me. Toni’s face flashed with horror, then guilt. Diego grimaced. Could this day get any worse? I backed away, completely shaken. How hadn’t I noticed anything? How long had this been going on? I turned and walked away. “Gemma!” Toni called. “Wait!”

“What are you doing here?” He took in my wet hair and ruffled appearance. “What happened? Did Savio do something?”

“Gemma, tell me right this fucking second what happened. Did he touch you?” Toni approached us slowly. I shook my head. Diego forced me to look into his eyes. “What the fuck did he do?” “Nothing,” I said. “You don’t look like nothing!”

“Fuck it. I’m heading over there and talk to him. I swear if he touched you, I’m going to rip his dick off.” He stormed away. “Stay with Antonia! I’ll pick you up later.”

“How long has this been going on?” Toni shrugged. “A few weeks.” “Why didn’t you tell me? I thought we could tell each other everything.” She blushed. “I was worried about how you’d react.”

“Then don’t. If he wants you, he needs to work for it. He knew what he signed up for when he agreed to marry you.”

“I’m not one of your other girls, Savio. I’ve been brought up traditionally by my family. My mother raised me with strict values. I believe in the sacred bond of marriage. I believe in giving myself to my husband, and no one else. Nothing will change that. And even a Falcone can’t.”

“I’ll be your husband soon, and then everything is mine.”

“Is a kiss really so bad? Your mouth is so fucking kissable.” “Well, your mouth is coming around too much for my taste. You’ve probably kissed more lady parts than most toilet seats.”

“I’d love to have your pussy in my mouth,” I growled, and doing my usual routine without even thinking about it, I ground myself against the woman in front of me to show her what she was doing to me.

She jerked her knee up and hit my balls. Pain shot through my body and I groaned. She quickly slipped out under my arm and stormed away. “That’s called Bull’s eye!”

My eyebrows shot up. “I’m not the one who smashed his knee into your lady parts.” “Apologize for disrespecting me.” I regarded her. She was dead serious. “If anyone else treated me the way you just did…” “I’d cut his dick off and let him bleed out,”

“Do you want people to think I’m someone who can be disrespected? Do you want people to call me your slut like they do your other girls?” “Nobody would dare because you are my fucking fiancée, because you’ll be a Falcone. That’s a fucking big difference.” “Then treat me different to your sluts.”

“Fine, Kitty. I’ll honor your boundaries from this day on if that’s w...

“You should consider confessing.” “I don’t want to give the pastor a heart attack.”

I looked toward the sound and stared at Savio. The girl who’d been fondling him sat on the floor and he was standing. Had he thrown her to the floor? The look on his face called to a primal part in me, awakening a strange animal fear I hadn’t known I was capable of. He shoved people out of the way as he stalked toward me.

won’t tolerate cheating. The moment we’re married, you’re mine and if you as much as kiss another girl, I’m gone. I’ll leave and no one, not my family, not my brother, not even your brother Remo will be able to make me stay.

I’ll pack my things and find someone who knows how to treat a woman right.”

“What makes you think you can make fucking demands like that? I think you forget the nature of our arrangement. Marriage will make me your fucking owner, not the other way around. I can do whatever the fuck I want, can fuck whoever the fuck I want, ...

“I own you. I own your lips and your tits and your pussy. I own every fucking inch of you, Gemma.” He pressed his palm to my stomach...

“Savio’s used to women who do what he wants and who don’t talk back. If you act like them, he’ll treat you like them.” I wouldn’t let anyone treat me like that, not even Savio Falcone. “I talked back, but I didn’t get through to him.” Remo set the car in motion again. “I thought giving up wasn’t your style.” I shrugged. “I’m done. I’ve tried for too long.”

“You’re asking me to cancel your promise to my brother?” I merely nodded. “Then he’ll be free to do as he pleases, and I can find someone who really wants to marry me.”

“They aren’t coming over. Gemma asked me to nullify your engagement,” Remo said as if he was talking about the fucking weather. I stared at him, feeling like I’d been sucker-punched. Serafina got up to stop Nevio from trying to climb the bar. “You are the biggest idiot on the planet.” Ignoring her, I walked around to Remo. “Don’t tell me you agreed to this nonsense.”

“I told you to be sure you wanted to marry. I told you this wasn’t a fucking game. I told you that I wouldn’t tolerate you offending a loyal family again after what happened to the Carluccis. And what do you do? You not only fuck around, you do it in public.”

“Never mention it around the twins again, got it?” he said in a deadly voice. “You’re lucky I don’t want Greta to see me breaking your fucking jaw.”

won’t let you go, Kitty. I promised to marry you and I will. Thanks for the cake, by the way. I guess I deserved that.

He looked pissed. His nose spurting blood, he lunged at me at the same time as I aimed a high kick at his head. My foot collided with his chin, throwing it back. It smashed against the edge of a wall cabinet and his eyes went out of focus. He fell forward. My eyes went wide when he collided with me, taking me down with his much heavier body. My head crashed against the floor. Stars burst in my vision and then all went black.

Oh shit

“What’s up?” “The Bratva attacked the Amalfi.” It took my brain a moment to register his words. Gemma worked in the Amalfi every day. Even if I hadn’t contacted her in the last two months, I’d kept an eye on her. “Nino and I are on our way.” “What about Gemma?”

“Call Gemma. She always has her phone with her to talk to Toni!” He tried—nothing. Diego gripped his hair. “If…if…fuck.” “Nothing will happen to anyone.” Nothing would happen to Gemma. Diego called home, reaching his mom who was taking care of Carlotta.

His father lay in a pool of his blood. Bullet wounds littered his body. His eyes stared unseeingly up at the ceiling. Diego made a small choked sound. Two dead assholes lay near the bar, dead. Russians, no doubt. The waiters next to the bar were dead as well.

“Where’s Gemma?” I asked. “We arrived shortly before you,” Nino said. “We didn’t have time to check the kitchen yet. There wasn’t a sound though.” Which meant everyone still around was dead. Whoever had done this would be gone by now. “Gemma and Nonna were supposed to be here,” Diego said tonelessly.

Diego’s nonna lay on the floor, a bullet hole in her forehead. Dread settled in my bones and my heart slammed against my ribcage.

Nooooooo CRYING

He let out a hoarse cry, his face scrunching up with despair and he dropped his gun. “No!”

Then I saw Gemma on the floor in a pool of blood. A tall man lay half on top of her. I froze and everything seemed to stand still. My breath lodged itself in my throat. My fingers around my gun loosened.

“No, God, please.” I staggered toward him and helped him shove the Bratva asshole off Gemma. At least, she was still dressed. She wasn’t raped before they killed her. That was the only consolation. She didn’t have to suffer.

A gentle pulse throbbed against my fingertips. I jerked my head up, staring at Gemma. “What is it?” Remo asked immediately. Diego lifted his tear-stained face. I dug my fingertips into her throat. A pulse. A fucking pulse. For a moment, I didn’t dare believe it. “Remo,” I got out. He knelt

“What… what’s going on?” Diego whispered. Nino came in then rushed over to us and bent over Gemma, feeling her pulse. “She’s alive.” Diego sucked in a sharp breath. Relief washed over me.

“He too.” He grinned twistedly. “He’s mine,” I said. Once Gemma was taken care of, I’d turn the last few hours of that asshole’s life into a nightmare. Remo inclined his head.

I took Gemma’s hand, linking our fingers. They twitched. Then her lashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes, fixing me with those stunning olive irises.

“Say something,” I said to Nino. “She’s got a concussion. I don’t think it’s more than that.” He held a finger in front of her eyes and moved it slowly. “You should have a head scan just to be sure.” Gemma shook her head, grimacing. “I’m fine.” “Gem, being tough is honorable, but don’t be unreasonable. A head injury isn’t a joke.”

“My dad?” “Are you sure you want to see him?” She tried to shake me off but I tightened my hold. “All right. I’ll take you to him, but he’s been hit by more bullets than your nonna.”

“Dad, please.” Slowly she pulled away, then looked at her palms now covered in his blood. Her clothes and hair were already soaked with her and the Russian’s blood. She began quivering, her wide-eyed gaze hitting me. “Savio…” “Shhh,” I crooned, touching her cheek.

“Oh God.” Gemma pressed a hand over her mouth, horrified. “What are we going to do now? Without Dad? How’s Mom going to pay the bills for Carlotta? How are we going to get by without Dad? Without the restaurants?” “I will take care of all of you,” Diego said.

“You hurt me,” she breathed. “I won’t hurt you like that ever again.”