Luciano (Belles & Mobsters, #1)

by Eva Winners

Right now, I ached for him, needed more of him. His everything. I had never thought I could belong to someone so completely. But I was his—every piece of my heart, soul, and body. I was all his.

Had it really only been three months? It felt longer. I never expected to fall for him but here we were. I have fallen in love with my husband. It was a rough start—an unexpected start—but somehow it had all worked out.

He cost my mother and sister their lives, and then he used my wife like a disposable toy to get one over on me. She fucking knew it and played along willingly.

My father was the only person that firmly believed she was alive, and that she was innocent.

My queen wanted me as much as I wanted her. Her submission was fucking erotic.

My wife would be the death of me, and she wasn’t even in close proximity.

I fell in love with a true villain, and I learned my lesson. In the hardest way possible. I would never let another man in.

The moment she had another man’s child, our marriage was history. No, the moment you pulled the trigger, your marriage was history.

“I don’t give a damn about your friends, Luciano,” I spat out in disgust. “Any friends of yours are enemies of mine.”

“Smells like my wife,” he rasped. “I’m keeping these. I’ll wrap them around my dick later and jerk off thinking about you.”

I would never let them have her. I would kill every single member of the King family if I had to, but they would never have Grace. She was a Vitale now. She was mine.

Truthfully, all the heartache Luciano brought onto me was worth it because I had my son. He was my life.

Self-hatred filled me as I remembered that day when I pressed the gun to her head. The snowflake on her long eyelashes, love and fear mixing in those eyes. I loved my wife, even back then.

“No one touches what’s mine. No one looks at what’s mine. And Grace is mine, you motherfucker.”

“You touch another man… and you sign his death sentence. I’ll kill any man that you touch.”

“Next time I see any man touch you, I’ll cut off each one of his fingers,” he growled. “One. By. Fucking. One. And then I’ll slice off his hands. After that, I’ll gut him. Nice and slow.”

My heartbeat followed hers, beating only for her. Just like my life was only hers.

Deep inside, I knew without a doubt that Nonno knew Matteo was a Vitale. He knew he was looking at his grandson.

“Remember our talk, Gracy.” Nonno’s voice stopped the trip down memory lane. “You are strong.”

I sat up straight. “Maybe, but you tried to kill me three years ago,” I hissed under my tone. “Don’t think I’ll ever forget you’d just as easily kill me as you’d take me to bed.”

God, help me. I wanted him. Even after everything, I wanted him. I couldn’t let him destroy me. I barely pulled through last time. A child growing inside me was my saving grace. What would it be this time if I let him pull me into his charms again? I

“I will never have enough of you, wife.” His voice was low, husky, desire laced in every word.

“You are mine, wife,” he gritted as he pulled out and thrust back in. “Every breath you take,” he growled as he pushed back in, “is mine. And I’m yours.”

“Mine to fuck.” Thrust. “Mine to break.” Thrust. “Mine to save.”

Maybe another life, another time, we could have had a chance.

Nobody before him ever compared. And there would be nobody after him—ever.

“You are mine, Grace,” he growled into my ear. “You’ve been mine from the moment you took your first breath. And you’ll be mine when you take your last.”

Three years ago, I told my husband I loved him. He sent me away. Today, he gave me those same words. Now, I would run away.

“I swear, Luciano. You are the smartest, most brilliant man I know, but when it comes to your woman, you are blind as fuck.”

I didn’t deserve her. Grace should have gotten so much better than me, but she was my wife.

Grace never betrayed me. Matteo was mine. I hurt my wife and could have cost my son his life.

I might have sent her back into the vipers’ nest three years ago, but damn if I’d let her go back into it now.

“You were always so sentimental, Grace,” she mocked me. “It will be your downfall. That piano is worthless. Just like your little family.”

“My wife might keep things civil for your party, but I won’t have any qualms about ripping out your throat and seeing you choke on your own blood among your guests.”

“Grace Vitale,” I interrupted with a tight smile, speaking into the microphone to ensure everyone heard. “Not Romano.”

Yes, she is. I had been so consumed with revenge when I married her, I never took the time to get to know my wife. I kidnapped her, forced her to marry me, and then became obsessed with her.

From the short, tense interaction between her and her grandmother, it was clear she loved that piano. I would get that piano for her if it was the last thing I did in this life.

“Thank you for letting me play for you.” Grace’s soft voice boomed through the microphone. “My grandmother decided generously to have my mother’s piano transported to my husband’s place instead of burning it to ashes.” She paused, letting the meaning sink in. “Isn’t that wonderful? We should give a round of applause.”

“You lay a finger on her,” I gritted, “and there is nowhere on this Earth you can hide. I’ll burn this world down till I get my hands on you and kill you, you fucking piece of shit.”

“Luciano Vitale will destroy you,” Ella hissed. “Neither you nor Marco King were able to find us. Grace’s husband did. He will find her and kill—”

“Nobody touches my woman,” I hissed, cutting his cheek open. “Nobody touches my family.”

Fuck, I kept showing my ruthless side to my wife. It wasn’t exactly a way to get her to stay with me.

“It’s okay, tesoro,” I murmured. “I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

“Roberto is dead, so are his father and grandmother. Matteo is safe, so are you.” He leaned forward and placed a kiss on my lips. “I love you, Grace Vitale.”

“Yes, I emptied all the bullets. The gun was empty.” He lifted my hand to his mouth. “Grace Vitale, I love you. I loved you back then, and I love you now.”

“I was furious, thinking you chose your uncle over me. I was blind, not seeing the real you, but I still loved you. I wanted all of you. There hasn’t been a woman for me since you left.”

“My wife.” Yes, I was his wife. He was my everything. “My strong, brave wife.”

“I loved you,” I told him simply. “And I still do. I didn’t betray you. I’d never betray you. But I can understand your anger. My family cost you a lot.”

“I know, my little Ghost, because I’m the Ruthless King.”

just found out you were The Ghost a few days ago.” He pressed a feather-light kiss against my mouth. “My little criminal.”