Page 29

Rafaele

Six months later

I t’s been six months since I painted the streets red, six months since I tore the world apart to find Nora. The aftermath wasn’t easy. The massacre I orchestrated left scars on the city—on me—but it also solidified my place. Il Mietitore isn’t just a name anymore. It’s a legend. And now, the legend has taken a queen.

Il Mietitore and his wife. The very mention of us strikes fear into our enemies and commands respect from our allies. Leo has finally come into his own. My brother, once uncertain and full of doubt, has become everything I hoped he could be. He’s earned the trust of the famiglia and, more importantly, mine.

With the family stable and power firmly in our hands, I’ve decided it’s time to focus on what truly matters: my wife. Nora has been everything—a mother to our daughter, a homemaker, and still managing her studies. But she’s also the woman who owns my soul, and I’ve neglected her in ways I vowed I never would.

As I sit in my study, the low hum of activity in the house a comforting backdrop, Paolo walks in with his usual smirk. “Everything ready?” I ask.

He nods. “The cabin is prepped. And don’t worry, Lucia and I will hold down the fort here.”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning back in my chair. “Lucia is staying here with you, hmm? Should I be worried about scandalous behavior in my house?”

He rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny it. “She’s a handful, but I can handle her.”

“You sure about that? I’ve seen how she looks at you, Paolo. Don’t break her heart—or I’ll break you.”

Paolo grins but doesn’t respond, choosing to leave with a wave instead. I stand, brush off my jacket, and head upstairs to find Nora in Aurora’s nursery. The sight of my wife stops me in my tracks. She’s rocking Aurora, humming softly. Our daughter’s dark curls frame her cherubic face, her blue eyes drooping with sleep. She’s perfection, a mix of my fierceness and Nora’s softness.

Nora glances at me and smiles, her love shining through the exhaustion. “She’s almost down.”

I step closer, resting a hand on her shoulder.

“She’s ours,” she whispers, kissing Aurora’s forehead before gently laying her in the crib.

As she straightens, I pull her close. “I have a surprise for you.”

Her brows knit together in curiosity. “What kind of surprise?”

“You’ll see. Come.” I lead her downstairs and out to the car. Her hand tightens in mine, her gaze searching mine for clues, but I say nothing. The drive is short, but her curiosity only grows. When we pull up to the secluded cabin, she gasps softly.

“Rafaele…” she breathes out.

I open her door and take her hand, guiding her inside. The air is filled with the scent of fresh wood and lavender, and the space is warm and cozy. A fire crackles in the hearth, and a bottle of wine sits waiting on the counter.

“You’ve been a mother, a student, and a homemaker,” I say, turning to face her. “And I’ve been a father and a capo. But we’ve forgotten to be something else: husband and wife.”

Her eyes glisten, and she steps closer, resting her hands on my chest. “Rafaele…”

I silence her with a kiss; her lips part beneath mine, and I deepen the kiss, savoring the way she melts into me. My hands slide down her back, pulling her closer, and I feel her soft curves press against me. The warmth of her body, the faint scent of lavender still clinging to her skin—it’s intoxicating, a reminder of everything I’ve been missing.

I scoop her up into my arms, her soft gasp making my chest tighten with need. “No interruptions,” I murmur against her lips, carrying her to the bedroom. “No famiglia. Just you and me.”

Her fingers tangle in my hair as I set her down on the plush bed, her eyes heavy with desire as they meet mine. “Just us,” she whispers, her voice trembling with anticipation.

I trail my hands over her sides, letting the straps of her dress fall, revealing her bare shoulders, the smooth expanse of her skin illuminated by the firelight. I take my time, kissing my way down her neck, my lips lingering on the spots that make her sigh and tilt her head back to give me more.

“You’re everything,” I murmur, my voice thick as I slide the dress lower, baring her completely to me. “Everything I’ll ever need.”

Her cheeks flush, but there’s no hesitation in her as she reaches for my shirt, unbuttoning it with trembling fingers. I shrug it off, letting it fall to the floor, and then I press her back against the mattress, covering her with my body, our skin-to-skin contact sending a jolt of electricity through me.

My mouth moves lower, teasing her breasts, my tongue circling one hardened nipple before sucking gently. Her moans fill the room, soft and breathless, and her hands grip my shoulders, urging me closer. I trail kisses down her stomach, pausing to press my lips against the smooth curve where our daughter once grew.

“You’ve given me everything, amore,” I murmur, my hands sliding down to part her thighs. “Now let me give you everything.”

I kiss her inner thigh, savoring the way she trembles beneath me, her anticipation palpable. When I press my mouth to her slick folds, she gasps, her hips lifting off the bed. I take my time, my tongue tracing every inch of her, tasting her, worshiping her. Her hands tug my hair, her soft cries filling the room as I work her closer to the edge.

“Rafaele…” Her voice breaks as her thighs tighten around me. “Oh god… I?—”

“Let go,” I murmur against her, my tongue circling her clit, my fingers sliding inside her, curling the way she likes. “Come for me, Nora.”

Her body tenses, and then she’s shattering, her cries of pleasure echoing in the quiet room. I don’t stop, drawing out her release, savoring every shudder, every gasp, until she’s trembling beneath me, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts.

I rise over her, kissing her deeply, letting her taste herself on my lips. Her hands slide down my chest, unbuckling my belt, and I groan as she pushes my pants down, freeing me. I position myself between her thighs, the tip of my cock brushing against her slick heat, and I pause, looking into her eyes.

“I love you,” I whisper, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “Sempre. Always.”

Her eyes glisten as she cups my face, her voice steady and sure. “I love you too.”

I push into her slowly, inch by inch, groaning as her body stretches to take me. She gasps and digs her nails into my shoulders, and I still, giving her time to adjust, savoring the feeling of being completely connected to her.

“Move,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “Please, Rafaele.”

I obey, pulling back before thrusting into her again, setting a slow, deliberate pace. Her moans spur me on, and I grip her hips, angling her just right, hitting that spot that makes her cry out my name. The rhythm builds, faster, harder, our bodies moving in perfect sync, the heat between us spiraling out of control.

“You’re mine,” I growl, my voice rough as I thrust deeper. “Always mine.”

“Yes,” she gasps, her nails raking down my back. “Always.”

Her body tightens around me, her moans growing louder, and I feel her shatter again, her walls clenching around me as she screams my name. The sensation sends me over the edge, and with one final thrust, I bury myself deep inside her, my release crashing through me as I groan her name, my body trembling from the intensity.

I collapse beside her, pulling her into my arms, our breaths mingling as we come down from the high. She rests her head on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns over my skin.

“No interruptions,” she whispers, her voice soft and content.

“No interruptions,” I agree, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Not tonight.”

The crackle of the fire in the hearth fills the quiet, its warmth a gentle reminder of the life we’ve built together. With her in my arms, nothing else matters. She is my sanctuary, my strength. She’s the warrior who brought me back from the darkness, the savior who healed wounds I didn’t know I had, the mother of my daughter.

But above all else, she is mine. Forever.