Sweet Temptation

by Cora Reilly

My baby girl had cried all night, but now slept soundly in my arms.

Daniele clung to my leg, looking confused.

It was the first time he’d sought my closeness si...

“Gaia never took care of him,” Mia muttered. She, too, hadn’t forgiven my late wife.

know it’s not a good day to discuss matters, but my uncle Felix approached me.”

“What is it?”

“If I didn’t know of the circumstances of your wife’s death, I wouldn’t have broached the subject today. It’s disrespectful.” Luca only knew what I’d told him.

“We can’t wait the expected year. My grandchildre...

“My uncle Felix has a daughter who isn’t promised. She could become your wife. A union between Philadelphia and Baltimore would solidify your power, Cassio,” Luca said.

“If we weren’t childhood friends, I would have relieved you of one of your fingers for that tone,”

After yet another night full of screaming, I called Felix in the morning.

“Of course. Giulia is very caring. We could set up the wedding for early November, a day after Giulia’s eighteenth birthday?”

“If Cassio wants a lady, he should stop robbing cradles,” I muttered. Mom gasped, clapping a hand over her heart like I would single-handedly put her into an early grave. Dad tried to mask a laugh by coughing.

Mom wasn’t fooled. She pointed a warning finger at him.

“Talk some sense into your daughter. You know Cassio. I always told you to...

“She’ll not only become my wife. I need a mother for my children. You realize that, yes?” “Giulia is a very caring and responsible… woman

“Fuck it, Faro. Put that down,” Cassio said sharply, making me wince.

“I’m sorry, sir,” I blurted. My proper upbringing be damned.

Then realization settled on his features.

As far as first impressions went, this could hav...

She touched her bangs with shaking fingers, a blush creeping over her cheeks. She must have heard everything we’d said.

“I have two small children who need taking care of. Daniele is two, almost three then, and Simona will be ten months when we marry.”

“Can you show me photos?” she asked, surprising me.

I took out my phone and showed her my background: a photo taken shortly before Gaia’s death, but she wasn’t in it. Daniele was cradling ...

“They are adorable. And how cute he’s holding her.” She smiled at me then became serious. “I’m sorry for your loss. I—”

“Do you always dress like this?” I motioned at her attire.

“Elegant dresses, fitting for a woman. I expect you to dress more elegant in the future. You have to convey a certain image to the outside. If you give me your measurements, I’ll send someone out to buy you a new wardrobe.”

“Will I meet your children before we marry? Or see your mansion?”

“No. We won’t see each other until November, and you will meet Daniele and Simona the day after our wedding.”

“Don’t you think it would be good if we got to know each othe...

I considered asking her to start the pill because I didn’t want any more children,

“What did you say? The girl looked like she was going to cry.”

My brows drew together. “Nothing.” “I doubt it, but if you say so.”

Dad tried to intimidate my future husband with a dark look,

but a sheep didn’t become a predator by wearing a wolf fur, and Dad had never been more than prey among the blood-thirsty monsters in our circles.

I held out my hand, but Faro didn’t take it and only politely inclined his head.

“Maybe this was a mistake, and I should cancel our agreement.”

Cassio moved in front of Dad, staring down at him with a look that turned my stomach.

“We shook hands on the engagement, Felix. We settled matters with Luca. Everything is agreed upon. Given that we decided against a separate engagement, that makes Giulia my fiancée, and I’m telling you now tha...

“I have no intention of canceling our arrangement. I was only making a point.”

What point?

The message was clear: from this day on, Cassio would lead the way.

I squatted in front of Daniele. He was staring down at the iPad, watching a series he liked.

His hair was tousled in the front and knotted in the back, but he refused to let Sybil comb it. I hadn’t had the patience to hold him while she did it.

“Daniele, I need to talk to you.” He didn’t look up. I reached for the iPad, but he twist...

His small shoulders rounded in. It was his only reaction. I grabbed the dev...

“Soon someone will move in with us. She’ll be your new mom. She’ll take c...

Daniele’s face scrunched up, and he threw himself at me, pummeling my legs with his little fists. “That’s enough,...

“That she is, but I’d still feel like I was manhandling her. You can’t honestly believe she will come willingly into my bed. Perhaps she will submit because she knows it’s her only option, but that’s not willing. I have a daughter, Luca, and I wouldn’t want her to be with a man thirteen years her senior.”

“You will present sheets after your wedding night, Cassio.”