Bound by Temptation (Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles, #4)

by Cora Reilly

but before I’d left I’d risked one more look at the man that had captured my heart and would never let it go: Romero. Soldier of the New York Famiglia.

Why was it that we sometimes wanted something that was impossible? Something that only led to hurt?

“You only have this one life, Lily. Make the best of it. I wish I had done it and now it’s too late. I don’t want you to end like me, to look back at a life full of missed opportunities and lost dreams. Don’t let life pass you by. You are braver than me, brave enough to fight for your happiness.”

I untangled myself from his hold and left without another word. Mother had said I should take risks for my happiness, and I was doing just that.

One moment Mother was there and the next she was gone. Just like that a life ended, and with it the dreams and hopes of that person. Life was so short, any moment could be your last. Mother had told me to be happy, but in our world happiness wasn’t something that came easily.

Maybe I wanted to hear crying so I could storm in and console her, be her knight in fucking armor. I moved on.

The moment she hadn’t been the glitzy society lady they’d ditched her like a dirty rag. They made me sick, all of them.

That’s life for you

So often in my life I’d felt as if I was surrounded by invisible bars, and now I sought shelter behind them.

He cupped the back of my head and let me sob. In the safety of Romero’s arms I dared to give my sadness room, didn’t fear it would swallow me whole. I knew Romero wouldn’t let it. Maybe it was a ridiculous notion but I believed Romero would keep me safe from everything.

Cute

Everyone always said they wanted to protect me. I wondered from what. Life?

The loneliness you felt when you were surrounded by people was the worst kind.

Aria chanced a glance in my direction. She probably wondered if it was a good idea to have me around her sister, and to be honest I wondered the same thing.

“But only because we’re leaving for the Hamptons early in the morning. We’ll be spending the summer at the beach.” “Really?” I asked. Aria smiled brightly, and suddenly the dark cloud over my head burst open.

Lily is my favorite one so far I think she just feels so real and raw

“I thought you weren’t a mother hen?” “I’m not. I’m the angry mother bear who’s going to tear his dick off if he hurts you.”

“Lily, you are stunning. Of course I find you attractive. Look at you, you are too fucking beautiful for words.”

“Thanks for staying with me.” Romero kissed the back of my head. “Get some sleep. I’ll keep the nightmares away.” “I know you will,” I whispered.

They’re so wholesome I love them

He checked the corridor before he moved closer, and said in a low voice, “You look breathtaking.”

“I don’t know. Maybe nothing. But I want you, Lily. I can’t get you out of my head. No matter what I do there’s always you.”

Romero kissed me again. He shook his head. “I don’t know how you did it but I can’t get you out of my fucking mind. And now this.” He gestured at my bikini. “You’re lucky you can’t read my mind, you’d be shocked.”

“I should probably say no,” he murmured. “But I’m screwed anyway.”

“I’ve been wanting to do this for so long. Fuck, I don’t care that it’s wrong, that it goes against my promise, I can’t resist you.”

When my door finally opened and Lily walked in, dressing in a flimsy nightgown, I had to stop myself from shoving her up against the wall and burying myself in her.

“We only want to be together because we love each other. Is that so bad?”

On no she said the l word

“You’ve got me in your hands in every possible way. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.”

“I want you to be the one, Romero. I don’t want anyone else. Please.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, but there was hardly any vehemence behind the words. “Yes. I want you. Please.”

Today I’d finally become his.

I wasn’t sure why I said it because it definitely didn’t make things easier but it slipped out, “I love you.” And by God, it was the truth. I loved Lily, even though I knew our love was doomed. She sucked in a breath before whispering, “I love you too.”

Omg yes

I wished I could say I would have acted differently if I got the chance, but I knew I’d sleep with her again. I’d wanted her, still wanted her. I would never stop wanting her.

“I’m going to marry again.”

Her dad is getting married again what????? I thought he was gonna marry her off 😭😭😭

Maria was only one year older than me. She could have been Father’s daughter.

“In turn,” Father continued evenly. “You are going to marry her father, Benito Brasci.”

YEAH NO WHAT????,, im in shock what????? I can’t breathe

“It’s like he’s marrying you. It’s sick.”

Then I hid the phone in my travel bag again and curled up on my bed, letting sobs wrack my body until my muscles hurt, until my throat hurt, until everything hurt, but nothing as much as my heart. Was this it? The end of every dream I had?

I needed to call Lily, to tell her I wouldn’t give her up.

I understood him. He had to consider only the Famiglia. But I didn’t have to.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Do you still want to run away?” Yes, more than anything else. “It would mean war. You said it yourself.” “I don’t care. I would risk war for you.”

“I won’t lose you, Lily. I won’t allow anyone to hurt you. I swear it.”

“I need you,” I gasped against his mouth.

This is so sad I hope it’s not their last time together

loved him. How could I live without him, without this?

I should have never come to Chicago. Watching Lily stride down the aisle toward Benito, I felt like someone was squashing my heart under a boot.

And then my feet started moving, my hand going for my gun, my temples pounding with anger. I had to push through the crowd, and ignored the mumbles of protest. I couldn’t let that fucker Benito have her. Lily was mine, and would always be mine. If that meant a fucking war, then so be it. I’d spend until the end of my days hunting Russians and Outfit bastards if that meant I could keep her.

“No, I can’t.” I took a step back. I needed to get away, out of this room, needed to find Romero and tell him that I couldn’t survive this marriage, that I wanted only him, that he’d always been the one I wanted and would keep wanting him till the day I died.

I stumbled away from him. What if he called for help? What if someone saw what I’d done? I’d stabbed my own husband.

Good let him die

“You are my best soldier. The Famiglia needs you, and I don’t trust anyone with Aria as I do with you,” Luca said. He put a hand on Romero’s shoulder. “War has been inevitable for a while. I won’t end your life to postpone it for a few fucking months. We’ll stand together.”

Yessss Luca come through

“I always thought that I’d be the one to start a war between the Outfit and the Famiglia. Kudos to you, Romero, for proving me wrong for once,” Matteo said grinning. “I thought that too,” Romero said.

The look in his eyes made me realize that it was worth it. Love was worth risking it all.

“When we’re back in New York, what happens then?” “You move in with me.” He paused. “Unless you’d rather stay with one of your sisters.” I shook my head. “I don’t want to be away from you again.”

A few days ago I’d thought I would lose her forever and now she was mine.

That was why I knew Lily was the one.