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“I’ve managed to uphold the power my family wielded before they were cruelly taken from me,” I said, my words edged with determination.

“Are the Kotas and Gekas families still loyal to the Boscos name?” Nikolas continued, his gaze steady and unyielding.

I wasn’t surprised by his focus on those particular families.

The Kotas and Gekas were woven into the fabric of the Boscos lineage through my mother’s side.

My uncle, my mother’s eldest brother, sat at the helm of the Kotas family, a patriarch with a commanding presence.

My great-uncle Nimo had once led the Gekas family before his marriage.

His wisdom and influence were legendary.

In our world, familial connections forged by marriage or birth held an inviolable sanctity.

The Boscos family was renowned for upholding these bonds with unwavering loyalty.

Uncle Nimo, in particular, had been a vital pillar during my rise to power.

As one of the biggest investors in the Boscos empire under my leadership, he had guided me with a steady hand, filling the gaps in my knowledge that my father, taken too soon, hadn’t been able to impart.

“Yes, they’re my extended family, after all,” I answered. “And, with my impending marriage to Cali, those two syndicates and territories that they rule will now be loyal to the Vitalis family, as well.”

“I’m glad we can depend on their partnerships,” Laya remarked. “This only adds to the strength of the power we’re creating.”

Cali flicked a lock of her hair over her shoulder and shrugged, her pendant swinging against the silk of her dress.

“That’s good,” she murmured, voice hushed. “Nothing in our world is certain. The more people we have behind us, the better.”

I studied her, wondering what she meant.

Instead of prying, I tucked the question away for later.

I sensed she was referring to the protection of having multiple allies standing behind you. The world we lived in was violent and dangerous, spilling blood to sate their hunger for power. Trust lived on a knife’s edge here, and reputation turned on a whisper.

Even murder.

We were all well aware of that fact. Each of us sitting at that table had experienced a great loss, except for Constantine.

I studied his tiny body, in awe that he had no idea what kind of life he’d been born into.

As the son of a Vitalis sister, he was a tiny human in great danger and would grow to be a man with great power.

Either way, seeing how his parents adored him, I knew he would grow up knowing he was loved. My parents had instilled that same sense of adoration in me, and not a day went by that I didn’t miss them tremendously. Constantine would no doubt love his parents as vehemently as I had loved mine.

I was certain they would safeguard one another against any violent plots our enemies might be planning.

I looked over at Cali, my heart skipping a beat at the sight of her. I planned to protect her just as fiercely. Nobody would ever get near enough to her, or our future children, to harm a hair on their heads.

“We’re looking forward to you joining our family, Leon.” Laya smiled over at me before glancing at her sister.

They beamed at each other, seeming to engage in a silent conversation with just their eyes.

I loved the closeness they shared. It told me that Cali was capable of understanding the importance of family.

It showed me that she would take the responsibility of being a wife and mother as seriously as it warranted .

“Calista chose well.”

“Thank you, Laya,” I said. “I’m honored to become a member of the Vitalis family, and I vow to you that I’ll take excellent care of your sister.”

“I have no doubt,” Laya replied. “Even though she’d argue she can take care of herself.”

“I would agree wholeheartedly,” I said, quickly glancing at Cali. She was clearly enjoying the conversation, smiling mischievously to herself. “But I’m available should she require assistance at any time.”

“You really are the perfect choice if you understand that,” Laya observed.

Under the table, Cali grabbed my hand and squeezed, the feel of her bare skin against mine sending my cock twitching and throbbing all over again.

I couldn’t wait to get her alone.

But hours later, after everyone had gone to bed and the house had fallen dark and quiet, the disappointment I felt that I hadn’t been able to do that without being completely obvious was hanging over me.

Lying in the dark guest bedroom, I longed to feel her against me again. Her beauty was unsurpassed, her sensuality unmatched by any previous lover. She left me beyond satisfied and in a state of constant hunger, the contradiction of the state of my body keeping me unsettled.

Soon, she’d be in my bed every single day.

I wondered if the intensity of my passion for her would wane after she was readily available to me. I suspected with a delicious dread that it would only further fuel my desire .

My hunger for Calista was going to kill me.

But oh, what a way to go. I chuckled to myself as I heard a knocking sound coming from the wall behind the fireplace in the corner.

Quickly, I grabbed my gun, alarm rushing through my veins in an instant. As the head of a syndicate, I was always on the verge of awareness, and this was why. My enemies could strike without any notice at all, at my most vulnerable moment.

That was why vulnerability wasn’t an option for me.

Ever.

When the panel beside the fireplace creaked as it swung inward, my finger snapped onto the trigger on instinct.

My breath caught in my throat. A pale rush of hair brushed into view, and my heart slammed against my ribs.

When Calista’s face appeared through the narrow opening, my jaw dropped.

“Cali!” I cried.

She lifted her hands as if in surrender before dropping them with a smirk. “Easy there, Rambo. It’s only me.”

My pulse throbbed in my temples as I eased off the trigger, engaging the safety with a soft click, then laid the gun on the nightstand.

Flames flickered across her skin as I turned back to her, still unsettled with shock.

“Relax,” she said, fully entering the room.

The faint sound of her bare feet touching the rug heightened my senses.

“Obviously, I’m not a threat. ”

“It’ll take a minute for my heart to stop racing,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair.

Her chin lifted, defiant and sly.

“Let’s get it going faster,” she said. “Undress me.”

Her demand made my cock spring to attention.

I wanted—needed—to taste her again, to chase her curves with my hands. But after a few weeks of letting her lead, the urge to take control flared. I closed the distance.

She stared up at me, her deliciously puffy lips enticing me. The room was dimly lit, the glow from a single candle casting flickering shadows against the walls and bathing her beautiful skin in an eerie glow.

“Undress me first,” I demanded.

“My pleasure,” she whispered, lifting the hem of my T-shirt and pulling it over my head.

She let it drop and ran her hands over my bare chest, sliding up to my shoulders and down my arms. A shiver ran up my spine at the velvety touch of her fingers on my skin, the smoldering desire in her irises leaving me breathless.

“I didn’t think we’d get any time alone together,” I admitted.

She brought her lips close to mine, the words falling from her mouth with a smile.

“Did you think I could resist coming to visit you, knowing you’re only a few rooms away?”

“We should be quiet,” I said.

“I’m not sure that’s possible,” she replied as her lips brushed against mine and she pressed her body against me.

“Let’s see.” I grabbed two handfuls of her sweet ass, lifting her and carrying her to the bed. I dropped her on it, delighting in the gasp that escaped from her lips. Her hair fell around her beautiful face, leaving her looking like an angel lying before me.

Cali lay back against the cool sheets, my body humming with anticipation as I trailed my fingers along the inside of her thigh, my touch featherlight. The air between us was thick, charged with an unspoken promise, and when she looked up at me, the hunger in her gaze sent a shiver down my spine.

She was wearing nothing but a short, loose black dress, the skirt riding up over her hips and revealing her bare pussy to me.

“You little vixen, you don’t have any panties on,” I said, drinking in the delicious sight of her.

I loved watching her like this—lips parted, chest rising and falling with shallow breaths, her skin flushed with heat.

She was stunning, spread out before me, waiting, wanting.

Her scent was intoxicating, warm, and inviting, and I reveled in how her muscles tensed as I traced slow circles along the sensitive skin of her hip.

“Why bother?”

Her smile was sexy and playful. Seeing her lying on the bed, so wantonly open, her sex on full display for my gaze only, left me trembling with desire for her.

I sank to my knees between her thighs, unable to wait another second to taste her.

I kissed the inside of her knee, then lower, dragging my lips along her thigh in a path that made her tremble.

I was in no hurry, savoring the slow descent, teasing her with my deliberate pace.

My hands slid up, strong and sure, pressing against her thighs to hold her steady.

Cali let out a sigh, her thighs quivering, her fingers threading into my hair as she arched toward me, silently pleading.

My mouth landed on her mound, my lips lightly engulfing her vulva before I pulled back, teasing her.

“Leon!” she exclaimed.

“Patience,” I whispered against her skin.

Cali let out a breathless sigh, but it turned into a gasp as I nipped at the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh.

I could hear her breath catching, her moans warm and teasing, sending sparks of anticipation racing through me.

I was close to her pussy—so close—but still taking my time, reveling in the power I had over her body.