Ti Amo (Battaglia Mafia Series) Read online

  Aroused even more by her sweet cries of surrender Giovanni endured the tightness in his groin. He would resist. For the moment he intended to apologize to her slow and sweet. And Mira gasped louder and louder. She grabbed the top of his head and shot upright, while pressing his face against her gyrating center. He pierced her cunt with his tongue as she hissed then shook through her first climax of the night.

  “Stop. Stop. Stop. I’m done.” She panted and fell back to the bed. Giovanni’s gaze lifted, and his tongue continued with its figure eight swirls. Her gorgeous breasts heaved and fell with each staggered breath. He was pleased by the bliss on her face. Giovanni eased up on her, covering her body with his as he sucked on one nipple then the other.

  “Baby, please let me catch my breath,” she protested, pushing at his shoulders. She looked up at him with such love he regretted being cross with her after dinner. Whatever her reasons were for lying to him he’d forgiven them. He accepted that he wasn’t an easy man to love or trust. He accepted that there were rules in their life he’d have to teach her and not expect her to know. She was after all his and soon she’d be his wife.

  “Turn over to your side, Bella. For me.”

  He lifted. Mira did as he requested. Giovanni parted her thighs and entered her once more while he drew her snug into his chest. He kissed her shoulder enjoying the warmth from being inside of her. Mira exhaled deeply, her pussy walls constricted drawing him deeper. She rotated her hips to match his rhythm as he moved in and out of her slowly.

  “Ti amo, Bella,” he rasped against her ear. “Don’t come. Not yet. Just control yourself and let me have you. My way.”

  She nodded her compliance. Her knee bent to allow further access. She reached behind her, touching his face. He grabbed her hip instructing her on the ways that pleased him the most. Soon his passionate demands of her body caused him to roll her over to her belly. She buried her face in her pillow stifling the passionate cries that she held in her throat. Parting her legs wider with his knees he pumped away grunting into her ear as his powerful frame pressed her deeply into the mattress. He grabbed her wrists holding them above her head as he eased in and out of her. The strokes were tender yet forceful ones, and she finally lifted her head sighing with pleasure from the way he loved her.

  Putting the side of his face to hers as he thrust into her from behind with maddening frequency, he pummeled her hot wet center with his jerking cock. She dropped her head in submission and he lifted on his knees pulling her hips upward so he could take her fully. Holding on to her hips he went in and out with meticulous precision causing her inner walls to clench and seize him tightly. “Not yet, Bella. Hold on!” he grunted.

  “I-I-I can’t,” she stammered.

  “You can!”

  They both struggled to keep some sense of control because of Eve. The baby could possibly hear them with the door to their connected room open. Lifting her hands to the headboard, she gripped it to silence it from banging against the wall.

  Mira was holding on to control by a fraying string. His thick hardness rocked in and out of her to the point she thought her pelvic bone would crack. None of it was about pain, just glorious motion that had her emotions reeling. Her inner muscles squeezed his shaft and she heard him groan and grunt, but the rhythmic motion of in-and-out never ceased.

  “I can’t,” she gasped. Ready to unleash she vibrated all over with tension. He spanked her on the left cheek and the sting rippled through her vaginal walls making her clitoris quiver.

  “You don’t give orders, Bella. I do.” He chuckled going still, then moving again. Was he punishing her? He was. God help her it was the best torture of her life. Mira could barely breathe or think past the pleasuring strikes of his ramming cock.

  The spanking stopped and his hot, damp, hard body dropped on her back. He kept moving, rolling his pelvis against her ass with his cock buried deep into her.

  “Are you mine?” he groaned against her ear.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  “Il tuo piacere é il mio,” he breathed. Your pleasure is my pleasure is what he whispered to her. “Apri le gambe,” he rasped. Spread your legs, he said to her. Mira parted her legs and he lay on her, thrusting in and out. His grunts announced his rapid descent into the earth shattering orgasm that was pent up like a raging storm inside of them both. “Now Bella, now…” he panted. And she gripped tighter to the headboard concentrating on the swirl of delicious currents rippling through her pussy. When neither could stand it any longer, they climaxed in unison. Giovanni eased out of her, and she rolled over.

  Sweating, she turned over and he again positioned himself on top of her, his flaccid cock pressed between them, their chests heaving and releasing breaths in unison. He moved her hair from her face. She smiled up at him. “I thought you were mad at me?” she said, sucking down deep breaths.

  “No. Never. I was disappointed.”

  “Because I lied?”

  “Don’t lie to me. No matter what it is, I want the truth between us. Only the truth.”

  “I’m sorry sweetheart.” She touched the side of his face. “I called Kei because I needed to tell him about us. I owe him my life, Giovanni. Do you understand? He’s my friend. We can trust him.”

  “He’s your ex-lover. There is no place in our lives for him. Do you understand?”

  “But?”

  “Do you understand?” Giovanni said, his gaze hard, and his tone insistent.

  “Yes.”

  He lowered his face to her chest. She stroked the top of his head and ran her other hand down his back. “You’re right. Lies are not who we are. Whether small or big they can destroy us. I swear to you I won’t lie to you again.”

  “Ti amo,” he said sleepily.

  “Ti amo,” she said stroking his hair.

  Chapter Nine

  Mira expected to find her at the breakfast table, but Catalina never arrived. Franco joined them and said it was a woman issue. Mira doubted it. In fact something about Franco’s smug grin at that table set Mira’s teeth on edge. She couldn’t quite determine the reason. After seeing Giovanni off to his meetings, she and Eve went in search of Catalina. Mira waited patiently for an answer. Several minutes passed before she knocked again.

  Her hand rose to repeat the action and the door opened a crack. “Yes?”

  “Are you okay? You didn’t come down for breakfast.”

  Catalina opened the door and walked away. Eve, at her mother’s side, pushed the door all the way open. Mira hesitated but entered and closed the door. Catalina wore a thick pale green robe with her hair finger combed into a messy braid. Balled up wads of tissue were littered over the bed covers and dresser. It was evident she’d been crying.

  “I saw Franco leave for work after breakfast,” Mira said. She could see little of Catalina’s face because of her refusal to make eye contact. Eve hurried over to Catalina and held her arms up. When Catalina reached for her she tossed the loose tendrils of hair from her cheek and Mira got a good look at the bruising near her left eye. Was Franco insane?

  “He came in late last night and left early, which is just fine with me.” Catalina said dryly. She bounced Eve on her knee and then hugged her. Mira was at a loss as to what to say. She knew Giovanni wouldn’t tolerate his sister being abused. Laying a hand on Catalina was an act of suicide.

  “How long has this been going on?”

  Catalina kissed the top of Eve’s head. Her niece rested the side of her face against her chest, snuggling comfortably in her lap. Without looking up she answered. “Yesterday, before dinner. First and last time the bastard will ever put a hand on me.”

  Mira moved closer. “Giovanni finds out about this, and he’s a dead man.”

  Catalina ran her hand over Eve’s soft locks that were pulled back by a flowery headband. “Giovanni, Domi, Lorenzo, Nico, hell even Carlo would go crazy. No one can know,” she said without looking up. “Thank you for covering for me yesterday.”

  “I wasn’t sure w
hat you were hiding, I prayed it wasn’t this.”

  “I mean it, Mira. You can’t tell anyone.”

  “I can’t keep this from him. I won’t do it. That asshole needs to be out of here tonight. I’ll talk to Giovanni and make him understand. Every problem in this family does not have to be dealt with by violence.”

  Catalina wept. Eve reached for her face touching her cheeks. “Nippy?” Eve said.

  Mira immediately went to her side to comfort her. “Sweetie we can’t keep this from them. The man attacked you and that’s never acceptable.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “Then help me.” Mira said.

  Reaching for the box of tissues she gave Catalina a few. She wiped at her tears and collected herself. “I’m stronger than this. Franco said things. I can’t. I just can’t talk about.”

  When Franco came to bed in the middle of the night, he had the nerve to demand sex from her. It was awkward, and he couldn’t finish. She only complied to keep the peace until she could think of what to do to get out of this mess and not put Dominic in danger. She believed Franco’s threat. He’d tell Giovanni about her affair, and her life would be ruined. Franco was right. She was like her mother. A whore. She never wanted her brother to see her as one. “He knows about me and Domi, Mira.” Catalina confessed. Father Michael told her confession was good for the soul the last time she went to mass. Why did her confession make her feel ten times worse?

  “Knows? How is that possible? You ended it before the wedding.” Mira took hold of her chin and Catalina was forced to look her in the eye. “You and Domi did end it right?”

  “We’ve been sleeping together, even after the wedding.” Catalina said softly. “But we agreed it had to stop. It doesn’t matter anyway. Franco said he was defrauded because I wasn’t a virgin when we married. He’s right, I brought this on myself.”

  Mira sighed.

  “I love Domi. I never stopped loving him. You were right, I shouldn’t have married Franco,” she said her bottom lip quivering as she held Eve to her chest inhaling the fragrant beauty of her wild curls.

  “Sweetheart. None of this gives Franco the right to hit you. If he did it once, he’ll do it again.”

  Catalina passed Eve over to Mira when she rose. She wiped the tears on her cheeks. “I understand, but if Giovanni finds out that Domi and I have had this affair it will destroy their bond, Mira. I’ll lose my brother, and it’ll be much worse for Domi.”

  Mira watched Catalina pace the floor. She felt helpless. “What’s your plan? Live a lie?”

  “No!” She whirled around. “I’ll convince Franco to give me the divorce. I’ll find a way to beat him at his own game.”

  Mira shook her head in disbelief. “He hit you, and if any of these men here see that bruise on your face, you won’t be able to conceal these secrets. Honey, makeup is not going to work. You can’t hide in this room.”

  “I can if you help me,” she returned to the bed and lowered to her knees.

  Mira looked down at her as Eve leaned over in her lap reaching for her aunt again. Catalina kissed little Eve’s hand and looked up at Mira pleadingly with tortured soulful brown eyes and tears glistening on her lashes. “Help me keep it from Giovanni and Domi until I deal with Franco.”

  “No.” Mira said. “Absolutely not.”

  “I have to do it this way. Franco told me flat out he’s in it for the money. My papa left me plenty in a trust. I inherited it all on my 21st birthday. Giovanni has to turn it over to me in a few months. He kept it out of my dowry, and I know Franco wants it. You can talk to Giovanni and have him release my money to me.”

  “Then what? You pay off Franco, and Giovanni sees the dissolution of your marriage along with your trust. Do you think he would let Franco walk away with your money?”

  “He will if we make him believe it’s what I want. I see you with him, even when he’s mad he can’t resist you. You can convince him of anything. That’s the power you will have as his donna. When he marries you, your word is as powerful as his on matters of the family.”

  “I won’t manipulate him.” Mira said.

  “You’ll do what you have to do to keep our family together. I saw it yesterday when you covered for me. Before long you will belong to our world, and you will understand the complicated things we have to do for these men. The men we love.”

  “No.”

  “Yes! Help me.”

  Paying off a wife, beating jerk like Franco was not a solution. Helping her do this behind Giovanni’s back was an even worse idea. “There has to be a better way than blackmail and extortion. Let me talk to Giovanni.”

  “You do that and you destroy our family! You didn’t see what losing you did to him. We didn’t think he would come back after what happened to Uncle Flavio. In a few days he’s like a new man because of you. That’s how strong of an influence you have over him.” She rose. “I can’t let you gamble with Domi’s life.” She started pacing again. “The best case scenario is you convince Giovanni to let Domi live. It won’t matter. He’ll strip him of everything and banish him from the family. That’s like putting a target on Domi’s back. Some hot head from any one of those families could take a shot at my Domi, and he would have no protection. I beg you. Please.”

  “Fine, we come up with another plan. The bribe isn’t going to work Catalina. We have to expose Franco.”

  “How?” Catalina asked.

  Mira sighed. “Where did he go last night when he missed dinner? The truth.”

  “To her. Whoever she is.”

  “Then that’s it. We find out who she is and play the same game. Giovanni won’t tolerate him cheating on you and disrespecting his house.”

  Catalina laughed. “Are you kidding? All of them are cheaters! Even Gio!”

  Mira flinched. She would never tolerate Giovanni cheating on her. He said he hadn’t been with a woman since they parted. It was hard to believe a man as handsome, with the appetite for sex that he had would abstain. Even if he didn’t, she wouldn’t blame him. But there would be no way in hell once they were married she’d stand for him stepping out on her.

  Catalina shook her head apologetically. “When you disappeared he had other women. At least he respected what you had not to bring them here. He was too surly and out for revenge for any of them to have meaning. But eventually they all stray. Every man does. My papa and uncles were notorious for doing it.”

  “Every man doesn’t. Your brother will never cheat on me. He lives by this code, and he just wouldn’t do it. If he does, it’ll be the end of us because I won’t live in that kind of marriage.”

  Catalina shrugged. “So what if Gio doesn’t cheat on you? He sure as hell can care less if Franco cheats on me. It’s not something that’s an unforgiveable sin.”

  “It is if he came into this marriage to steal your money while he had another woman on the side. Giovanni would be furious. He wouldn’t tolerate the insult. Right?”

  “But what of my actions?”

  “If we stay a step ahead of Franco, he may see the wisdom in keeping your indiscretions with Domi a secret. Get dressed and let’s fix your face. We’re going out.”

  ****

  “Is this everything?” Giovanni asked flipping through the documents in the folder. He glanced over at Dominic. His consigliere nodded. “So this man she thinks is a hero, her savior, is a criminal?”

  “He’s connected.”

  “To the fucking Triad? Why didn’t I know this?” Giovanni asked.

  “I doubt she knows, Giovanni. When she and Fabiana were here, Mancini was their sponsor. Nothing with the buildings or deals they were making were tied to Hyogo.”

  “She think’s this man saved her life.”

  Dominic cut his gaze to the window. “He did. I have no doubt that Fish would have killed her if Kei Hyogo hadn’t staged her death. The Americans believe she’s dead. There is no witness protection program. Not sure how he convinced her to go on the run, but he did it without the
F.B.I. or any American agency.”

  “The fucker was playing us all along. He knew who I was. He set it up to keep me from her.”

  Dominic nodded. “He’s also calling in old favors. I think we have a snake in the garden.”

  Giovanni’s gaze cut sharply over to Dominic. “For who? Her? Me?”

  “It’s a rumor. An assassin is on his way to bring her home. Others are talking.”

  His fist clenched. Giovanni knew there was something about Kei he didn’t trust. His confidence seemed misplaced. Mira believed he was looking out for her best interest. He was working in his own interest.

  “Shall I go to America and handle this personally for you?”

  “No. Call our cousins in America. Pay him a visit.”

  ****

  Mira was surprised that Italians celebrated the commercial aspect of Christmas. Catalina even suggested they go in search of a live Christmas tree. They travelled out near Mt. Vesuvius and found an acre of land roped off with trees lined up for sale. Eve clapped and stood in front of several in awe. Nico, her protector, matched the toddlers step for step. With his dark shades and concealed weapon, he was both serious and watchful of those around Eve. They looked a sight to the father and son managing the sales, she being American and black with her blue eyed baby and the addition of tall surly looking men who appeared powerful enough to crush bricks with their own hands.

  However, Mira enjoyed the freedom. To be out in Italia among people and the country’s beauty once more revived her. She’d been confined behind doors for two long. So she and Catalina took a stroll through the lot in no hurry. She touched one tree and then the next with their escorts stomping through the maze of trees like they were part of the secret service.

  “This one. What do you think, Mira? This is the tree.”

  Mira stared at the tall green fir with long branches and a bushy circumference. During the holiday’s Fabiana would insist on decorating their trees based on the color theme of her upcoming fashion line. It would always inspire her. Her throat nearly closed with emotion as memories of Christmas with her friend surfaced. They loved the holiday, and even when she was living with Kei, she and Fabiana spent the entire Christmas day together.