Page 43

VALENTINA

The room is quiet, the first rays of dawn filtering through the heavy curtains, casting a soft golden glow over Luca’s sleeping form.

He’s on his back, one arm draped lazily over his chest, the other resting beside him.

The sharp planes of his face are softened in the early light, his dark lashes fanned against his cheeks.

He looks peaceful, a stark contrast to the raw, relentless man I know when he’s awake. But as my gaze drifts lower, over the broad expanse of his chest, the ridges of muscle down his stomach, and finally to the thick outline beneath the sheets, a different kind of warmth spreads through me.

I bite my lip, sliding carefully out of bed, letting the sheet pool at my waist. He doesn’t stir as I settle myself beside him, leaning over to press a soft kiss to his chest. His skin is warm under my lips, and I let them trail lower, teasing, testing, until I feel his breathing hitch slightly.

“Valentina…” His voice is rough, low, still thick with sleep, but he doesn’t open his eyes.

“Shh,” I murmur, letting my lips continue their journey downward. I tug the sheet back slowly, revealing him fully, hard and heavy against his stomach. The sight alone makes my breath catch, heat pooling low in my belly.

I glance up, but his eyes are still closed, though his breathing is uneven now, his chest rising and falling more rapidly.

Smiling to myself, I wrap my hand around him, stroking him slowly, deliberately.

He groans softly, his hips shifting slightly, and I lean down, letting my tongue flick over the tip, tasting him.

“Fuck,” he mutters, his hand twitching against the bed, but he still doesn’t open his eyes.

Encouraged, I take him deeper, my lips sliding over him, my tongue tracing every ridge and vein as I move. His groan this time is louder, his hips bucking slightly into my mouth, and I grip his base, holding him steady as I hollow my cheeks and take him further.

“Valentina,” he growls now, his hand finding my hair, tangling in the strands as his eyes finally open. They’re dark, heavy with lust as he looks down at me, and the heat in his gaze makes me shiver. “What the hell are you doing to me?”

I pull back just enough to smile up at him, stroking him slowly as I murmur, “Making you feel good.”

His jaw clenches, his fingers tightening in my hair as I take him into my mouth again, working him with my lips and tongue. His control slips quickly, his hips moving in time with me, his groans low and guttural as I suck him harder, faster.

“You’re too fucking good at this,” he mutters, his voice strained. “Do you know what you do to me? How crazy you make me?”

I hum around him, the vibration making him curse, his grip on my hair almost painful as he thrusts into my mouth. I let him, relaxing my throat, taking him as deep as he needs, my hands stroking what my lips can’t reach.

“Fuck, Valentina,” he groans, his head falling back against the pillow, his chest heaving. “You’re going to make me?—”

He doesn’t finish, his body tensing beneath me as he spills into my mouth, his release hot and thick. I swallow every drop, my tongue flicking over him one last time before I pull back, pressing a kiss to the tip as his grip on my hair loosens.

He looks down at me, his eyes blazing with a mix of satisfaction and something darker, more possessive. “You’re going to pay for that,” he growls, pulling me up onto the bed and flipping me onto my back.

I don’t have time to respond before his lips crash into mine, and I know the morning is only just beginning.

Luca’s kiss is searing, his lips claiming mine with a hunger that makes my head spin.

His body presses me into the mattress, his weight heavy and grounding as his hands slide up my sides, gripping me like he can’t get enough.

My breaths come in shallow gasps as he pulls back, his eyes dark and blazing with intent.

“You think you can get away with that?” he growls, his voice rough and commanding. His hand tangles in my hair, tugging my head back slightly so I can’t look anywhere but at him. “You think you can take me in your mouth like that, make me lose control, and I’ll just let you go?”

I shiver beneath him, his words igniting something deep and primal inside me. “Maybe,” I tease, my voice trembling but playful.

His lips curl into a dark, wicked smile. “Wrong answer.”

In one swift motion, he grabs my thighs, spreading them wide as he positions himself at my entrance. I’m already soaked, my body aching for him, and he doesn’t waste any time. With one hard thrust, he’s inside me, stretching me, filling me completely.

I cry out, my hands clutching at his shoulders as he pulls back and slams into me again, his movements unrelenting. “Fuck, Valentina,” he groans, his head falling to my shoulder for a moment before he looks at me again, his eyes burning with intensity. “You feel so goddamn good.”

“Luca,” I gasp, my body arching into him as he sets a brutal pace, each thrust harder, deeper, dragging against every sensitive spot inside me. The sounds of our bodies colliding fill the room, raw and primal, and I can barely hold on, my mind hazy with pleasure.

“You’re mine,” he growls, his hand sliding down to grip my hip, holding me in place as he pounds into me. “Say it.”

“I’m yours,” I cry, my nails digging into his back as he drives into me harder. “Only yours, Luca.”

“That’s right,” he mutters, leaning down to nip at my jaw, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin just beneath my ear. “This pussy belongs to me. No one else will ever have you like this. No one else will ever hear the way you scream my name.”

“Only you,” I moan, my voice breaking as the tension builds low in my stomach, coiling tighter with every thrust. “Oh, God, Luca?—”

“That’s it,” he growls, his thrusts growing faster, more frantic, his grip on me tightening. “Come for me, Valentina. I want to feel you fall apart around me.”

His thumb finds my clit, circling roughly, perfectly, and the combination is devastating. My body clenches around him, my orgasm slamming into me with a force that leaves me breathless. I scream his name, my nails raking down his back as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me.

“Fuck, that’s it,” he groans, his hips snapping against mine. “So fucking tight. So perfect.”

He thrusts into me one last time, burying himself deep as he lets go, his body shuddering against mine. His groan is low and guttural, his grip on me bruising as he spills into me, filling me completely.

We collapse together, his weight pressing me into the mattress as we both struggle to catch our breath. His lips brush against my temple, soft now, almost tender, and I feel the tension in my body melt away as he holds me close.

“Wow,” I laugh. “I could do with some food.”

“Let’s go.” He chuckles. “So could I.”

We dress and get down to the dining hall. The estate feels almost foreign without the lingering, spectral presence of Donna Maria. After everything that happened, she’s been exiled, a kind punishment given the extent of her treachery.

Candles flicker on the grand table, their golden glow dancing across the polished mahogany. The plates are laden with roasted meats, fresh pasta, and vegetables tossed in olive oil and herbs. A tower of tiramisu sits proudly at the center of the table.

I sit between Luca and Marco, the chair to my left conspicuously empty.

Donna Maria’s absence is a quiet reminder of her banishment—a weight removed but a shadow that lingers.

Across from me, Dante is laughing over some story about a mishap at one of the Salvatore warehouses, his gestures exaggerated to amuse Leo, who giggles uncontrollably beside him.

Luca’s hand is on my thigh.

He placed it there the moment we sat down, and it hasn’t moved since.

The heat of his palm seeps through the thin fabric of my dress, his thumb tracing lazy circles that send shivers up my spine.

I glance at him, but he’s the picture of calm, his expression unreadable as he listens to Marco discuss future plans.

“...so the coastal routes are secure,” Marco is saying, his voice steady. “With the Rossis out of the picture, we can expand operations into the northern territories without much resistance. We’ll need to strengthen our foothold there quickly to avoid any power vacuums.”

Luca nods, his gaze sharp. “Start by establishing connections with local authorities. A few well-placed incentives will ensure our influence spreads smoothly.”

The conversation flows around me, but I can barely focus. Luca’s fingers tighten slightly on my thigh, and I stifle a gasp, grateful for the hum of voices masking the sound. My cheeks burn as I stab at the roasted vegetables on my plate, willing myself not to squirm under his touch.

“Valentina,” Marco says, drawing my attention. “What do you think?”

I blink, startled. “About what?”

“The charity initiative,” he says, a hint of amusement in his tone. “Luca suggested you spearhead it. Something about education and resources for underprivileged families in the city.”

I glance at Luca, who meets my eyes with a small, knowing smile. His hand gives a gentle squeeze, as if to say you’ll be brilliant.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “I’d be happy to take the lead.”

Dante raises his glass, grinning. “To Valentina, the Salvatore queen and her grand ambitions!”

The toast is met with a chorus of agreements and the clinking of glasses. I blush, ducking my head as Leo raises his juice box in imitation, his face glowing with pride.

The moment feels surreal, this strange blend of family and power, love and violence. For the first time in a long while, I feel like I belong.

But then, the door opens.

A guard steps inside, his face pale and drawn. He moves swiftly to Marco, leaning down to whisper in his ear. The change in Marco is immediate. His jovial expression vanishes, replaced by a grim determination that sends a chill through the room.

Luca notices too. His hand leaves my thigh as he straightens, his attention now fully on his brother. “What is it?”

Marco’s reply is low, meant for Luca alone, but the tension in his shoulders tells me enough.

“Excuse me,” Marco says, rising from his seat. His tone is polite, but his movements are clipped. He gestures for Luca to follow, but before he can leave, Luca motions for him to stay.

“Say it here,” Luca commands, his voice like steel.

Marco hesitates, his eyes flickering toward me and Leo. Then he sighs, his face tight. “Sofia has been kidnapped.”

The words hit me like a physical blow, my breath catching in my throat.

“What?” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the sudden silence.

Marco’s gaze is steady, though his expression is pained. “One of the guards caught word from the southern territory. She was taken earlier today, likely by remnants of the Rossi faction seeking leverage.”

My hands tremble as I grip the edge of the table. Sofia. My best friend. My sister in every way that matters. The thought of her in the hands of those monsters is unbearable.

“They won’t hurt her,” Marco continues, his tone measured but grim. “Not yet. They’ll want to use her first.”

“For what?” Dante asks, his voice dark.

Marco glances at me, then back to Luca. “For her connection to Valentina. They’ll want to draw us out.”

Luca rises slowly, his movements deliberate, and the room seems to shrink under the weight of his fury. “They’ve made a mistake,” he says, his voice low and lethal. “They think they can use her against us.”

I stand as well, my legs shaky but steady enough. “We have to do something. We can’t just sit here while she?—”

Luca turns to me, his eyes dark and intense. “We will. But we need a plan.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I force them back. There’s no time for weakness. Not now.

Marco clears his throat, drawing our attention. “I’ve already started gathering intel. We’ll need to move quickly if we want to ensure her safety.”

Luca nods, his jaw tight. “Then let’s move.”

The room erupts into activity, the warmth of the dinner forgotten as the cold reality of our world crashes back in. But as the others move to action, Luca steps closer to me, his hand brushing mine.

“We’ll get her back,” he says softly. “I promise.”

I nod, my resolve hardening. Whatever it takes, we’ll bring Sofia home.