Page 25

Chapter 25

Massimo

"I'll ensure everything is ready for the morning," Zio Marco says over the computer screen for the virtual meeting we're having to finalize tomorrow's trip to Catanzaro.

"Thank you, Zio ."

His brows furrow with concern. "Are you certain about Gabe, Massimo? As Don, you should have your head bodyguard traveling with you."

I know that he's concerned for me both as Don and as his nephew. As my godfather, he and I have always had a close relationship.

"I need Gabe here in case Mancini acts against us again, or if Ivan and Sean get some idiotic idea to go for the family."

"They're not that strong to challenge us, but yes, they could be desperate idiots and try to pressure or sway your vote regarding the Chamber." He clears his throat, looking gravely serious. "Mancini is spreading word that you took his princess."

Nova is my princess .

The clench of my teeth is the only outward sign of my thoughts or emotions—and it’s too subtle for him to catch over a screen. "There's no evidence to support that."

My uncle's gaze is assessing. He's been the Don's consigliere—first my father's and now mine—since he was nineteen years old. "The other Dons will suspect. "

"Again, Zio , there's no evidence to support that I took the princess. And have I ever contravened a 'Ndrangheta decision before?"

"There's never been a decision like this before, Massimo." He huffs in frustration. "To have had Mancini, to have caught him red-handed... To have him in your clutches… I don't know how you did it, nipote ."

"Exactly. I let Mancini go when I could've fucking ripped him apart or let Vito have him for his sins against Eden. I'm respecting the vote, Zio ."

Well, pushing boundaries way the fuck out while I respect the decision that allows Mancini to continue breathing. For now.

A rare flash of enraged fury coats Marco's face; he's usually calmer and more controlled than me. "Silvestro and his kids are all fucking vile vipers."

That's what I thought, too—until the fog of rage and hate for Mancini and being duped by Lixin and Amazu, finally cleared enough for me to see who Nova really is.

"Mancini is spreading rumors that you kidnapped his daughter to violate and ruin her, Massimo."

I am, one hundred percent planning on being blessed with—not taking—Nova's virginity. I'd never violate or ruin her, though. Her consent will drive everything we do.

"I don't give a shit what Mancini is spreading, or what the gossipy assholes in the criminal underworld think."

He huffs in frustration again. "Your gruesome reputation in our world is well know, but yes, most will believe you wouldn't destroy a woman like that." He leans closer. "But Julien Moreau himself has added more to the bounty for getting Nova back."

My possessive anger bursts like a geyser, and I try to keep emotion off my face. "If he thinks Nova is ruined and no longer has her virginity, then why?"

"I can't say. My contacts are limited within the French mafia, and those I have talked to are mystified as to why the powerful French would align with a small-time fry like Mancini."

I grunt at his analogy of Mancini, but the same question has bothered me .

"The increased bounty…" Worry pinches Marco's face. "We're powerful in our territory, with many allies. But this will draw our enemies closer, giving them more incentive to strike at us. Men like Ivan and Sean could see this as their opportunity, especially since their factions are already within our territory."

Therefore we couldn't just kill them for trespassing—they could be the perfect snakes in the grass. And they could be motivated to get something over me to influence the Chamber's decision.

"This is why Gabe needs to remain behind, Zio . And why I'm insisting that our travel plans be so tight and short."

We're leaving tomorrow morning and will arrive in Catanzaro at six a.m. local time. The flight is twelve hours, and there's a nine-hour time difference; we'll sleep on the plane and then roll in just in time for the two days of meetings to start. It will be a grueling trip.

He sits back. "Anything else you need of me?"

"No, thank you, Zio . See you in the morning."

Now that my last work task is completed, I want to devote the entire evening to Nova. I power off my laptop and reflect on the progress I've made with her today.

After our breakfast and her powerful orgasm, I carried her upstairs and tucked her into bed. She slept soundly as I watched her over the security cameras and worked in my home office. When Jerome brought her to me for lunch, I sat her in my lap again to feed her, helping her conquer the demons in her mind so she could feed herself without needing permission. After we finished, I asked Nova to choose what we’ll have for dinner tonight. She hesitated, understandably, because this was something she’s never been allowed to have any control over.

To some, the progress might look like baby steps, but I innately knew these were mammoth ones for Nova. She obviously didn’t trust me yet, even though she was letting me touch her—which made me want to grin like a fucking psycho. But I'm making headway, and the 'Ndrangheta meeting couldn't come at a worse time.

Not only because I didn't want to leave Nova, but because of Mancini's threat and the Chamber still needing to resolve the urgent matter regarding expanding the membership .

Dom was still vehemently opposed; the rest of us weren't thrilled, either, mainly because increasing to a seven-member ruling body complicated things. But the fact remained that the Serpents were just as strong—if not stronger—than the Fire Clan. We couldn't kick someone out just because the power balance had shifted; that would lead to chaos and instability with the constant change—because power in our world is always in flux. But we couldn't ignore it, either, since Ivan had made a public stand.

A knock pulls me from my ruminations of the Chamber. Gabe opens the door, then Nova steps into the office.

I smile, standing from my chair. She's quiet as she studies me, but her chin is up and her shoulders back—it's not the curled-inward protective posture, nor is she the demure meek princess Mancini tried to showcase her as.

Gabe leaves us alone, closing the door behind him. I come around my desk and lean against it.

She's beautiful.

Pure.

Too damn good for this world, or even for me.

I push the thought away and wait in the silence. She hasn't told me, but I suspect one of her hard-learned lessons was to keep her mouth shut unless spoken to. I'm determined to unravel the training and conditioning Mancini did to make her the meek, obedient Mancini Princess. I want her fire and fight.

The silence stretches on—she's had years of enduring the harsh lessons—but like it has since I met her, that spark of fight flares in my presence.

"What?" Her tone isn't exactly snarky, but it isn't subdued and soft-spoken, either.

I smile at her fire. "How was your afternoon?"

She shifts her weight between her feet, clearly uncomfortable with putting herself and her needs at the center. She doesn't trust that I won't use this against her.

"Your library is beautiful. I read all afternoon." Her brows pull together .

"What is it, princess?"

She bites her bottom lip.

At the sight, I'm whisked back to this morning, with her straddling my lap. She had bitten her lip the same way as I edged and denied her the orgasm she was chasing. That vivid memory and the whimpering sounds she made make my cock jump.

"You can speak freely, Nova." I choose my words carefully, making sure it doesn't come across as a command.

She huffs a small breath and then asks, "Why do you have all those psychology books in the library?"

"Do they interest you?"

Her soft brown eyes, big and innocent like a doe's, meet mine. Inside them, I see a flash of hope that's banked quickly.

I hold my hand to her, hoping she takes it as an offering rather than a command to come closer.

She slowly approaches me, and I settle my hands on her hips. She shivers but doesn't step back.

"I bought the books for my sister-in-law Sophie, but haven't given them to her yet."

"She likes that subject?"

I drag my knuckle down her cheek, happy to see her coloring isn't the paleness anymore. The rest and food—and orgasms, hopefully—are doing her good.

"You remember me mentioning Sophie's passion project of Hope's Legacy?" When Nova nods, I continue, "The women and children have experienced a lot of trauma." Nova's eyes simmer, and I can see the torment from the trauma she herself has survived. "Sophie wants to better understand how to support them. Her strength lies in the business side of things, but she wants to deepen her understanding of trauma so she doesn't unintentionally cause more harm."

"She sounds like a wonderful person. And what a wonderful passion."

"What's your passion, princess?"

Her chin falls. "I…I don't have one. As the Mancini Princess, my purpose is to serve whoever my father sells me to through marriage."

Like fucking hell that will happen.

I don't second guess what's happening here or that it's happened so quickly—at least for me—but I have no intention of letting Nova go. Ever .

I'm powerful, but more than that, I'm strategic and cunning. My plan to get everything I want is crystal clear; all I need to do is implement it.

Using my finger, which wears my Don's ring, I tilt Nova's face back up.

She will not wilt and hide…she will not bow to anyone—not even to me. She's meant to be an equal, my equal, and I'll transform this princess into my queen yet.