Page 4 of The Temptation

“Thanks,” I reply, running my fingers through my thick, dark hair.

This is the first real home I’ve ever had. Growing up, my mum moved us around constantly, and there were plenty of nights when I wasn’t sure if we’d even have a place to sleep. That kind of instability leaves a mark on a kid. As soon as I could afford it, I bought this place.

Joining the Cosa Nostra was one of the best things I could’ve done. It made me see that my struggles didn’t define me. I always believed I had the power to change my mother … to get her on the right track eventually, but I was wrong. I’d soon learnt I had the ability to change myself and my circumstances, though. I haven’t looked back since.

Becoming part of the ManciniFamigliagave me purpose, and a family that cared about me just as much as I did them.

For the first time in my life, I had somewhere safe. A place where people had my back. I was surrounded by a group of men who understood the weight of survival and the rules that come with it. In the streets, no one cares about you unless you’re useful.

The Mafia gave me the kind of stability I never knew as a kid, and maybe that’s why I clung to it so tightly. It wasn’t just about power or money; it was the only constant I’d ever known.

In a world full of chaos and broken promises, it was the one thing that never wavered, never walked away or let me down. It wasn’t love, but it was loyalty, and for someone like me, that was everything.

Lucia follows me into my bedroom so I can pack some clothes. When I exit my wardrobe with a suitcase in hand afew minutes later, I find her lying on top of the covers on my bed, her arms and legs spread wide, like a starfish.

It’s an image I don’t want or need in my head.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I bark with way more venom than I intended.

“Your bed is so comfortable,” she says, scissoring her arms and legs back and forth like she’s making an impression of a snow angel in my doona.

In all fairness, I don’t know if it’s an innocent move or part of a calculated plan, but the fact that my cock seems to be enjoying the sight of her on my bed means I need to shut this shit down immediately.

I drop the suitcase in my hand and stalk in her direction. “Get off,” I grumble, reaching for her arm and lightly tugging on it.

“Hey,” she replies, abruptly sitting up and shrugging out of my grip. “What’s your problem?”

“Get off my bed; I don’t want you on there.”

Her face rears back in shock as she stares up at me. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack.”

Her eyes narrow to slits as she shuffles to the edge of the mattress. “You don’t have to be such astronzoabout it. It’s not like I’m contaminated.”

“Go and wait for me in the main room, and stay the fuck away from my dog.”

I stand there, waiting for her to give me more lip, but this time she doesn’t. When her face drops, and she starts moving towards the door, I feel like the biggest bastard alive.

As soon as I’m alone, I reach down and snag the pillow her head was just lying on. When I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply, the sweet coconut scent of her shampoo overwhelms my senses.

The slight thrill I feel from being able to smell her onmy pillow infuriates me so much that I hurl it across the room in anger.

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath as I sink down onto the side of the bed and bury my face in my hands. I’ve had to endure some pretty tough times in my life, but this is one task I’m not sure I’ll get through unscathed.

Dante has warned me to stay away from Lucia, and the consequences that come with breaking his trust will be dire.

If I lived in a different world, one where time and circumstances didn’t have such a tight grip on me, I’d be all over a woman like Lucia Rossi. She’s got a fire and resilience that draws me in like nothing else. But she’s young, too innocent, and untarnished by the darkness I carry.

I’ve never known what it’s like to be loved by someone without them expecting something in return. There’s a part of me deep inside that’s fractured and broken beyond repair.

Lucia has this sparkle and light that someone like me will only tarnish over time. She deserves a love that’s pure, untainted … something real. She deserves more than I could ever give, and that’s the hardest part to accept.

Chapter 2

Lucia

Have you ever looked at a man and thought,I’d like to cook for this guy for the rest of my life? No? Well, I have. It’s the first thing that entered my mind the second I laid eyes on Romeo De Luca, my brother-in-law’s underboss. It was closely followed by a silent ‘Hot Damn’.