Page 89 of Veil of Vengeance

“Oh my God. Eli, I'm really sore,” she complains, but pushes her ass into me. I kiss the side of her face.

“I’m sorry, ragazza mocciosa, you can’t blame me. You’re like a drug I don’t want to quit. I can’t quit, even if I wanted to.”

She moans as I slowly thrust my fingers into her. I speed up once I know I’ve hit her G-spot. Her hand snakes up and her fingers sink in my skull as she rides my hand.

“Are you going to come on my fingers like a good little whore? Hmm?” I ask. Her moans turn breathless and her body jerks twice before her pussy walls clench as she orgasms. I pepper kisses over her sweat-slicked face and down her neck, then slowly pull my fingers out of her once her breathing evens and bring them up to my lips, groaning as I taste her on my tongue.

“I love you,” she mumbles sleepily, and I go rigid for a moment before I relax as I realize that I’ve been waiting for her to tell me.

I watch her in awe as she drifts back to sleep, her small palm resting between her cheek and the pillow, long black hair splayed, and I have to muffle a laugh at the small snores that leave her parted lips. She always denies them when she’s awake, and I don’t argue with her because she gets mad about it. I kiss her forehead and decide to go back to sleep as well since I like it better when she’s awake.

CHAPTER 23

VALENTINA

Emiliano had some of his men set up a vanity table in his room for me, the dark wood contrasting with the lightness of the space. I’m facing the mirror, but my eyes are on the man I left my family for. His back is to me, and I can clearly make out the various tattoos from where I’m sitting. The two vipers’ tails wrapping around his arms and their tails reaching all the way up to his broad shoulders.

“Stop staring at me, or we won’t make it to dinner,” he warns. I bite back a smile when he turns around. He’s fixing the cufflinks that I got him, on the cuffs of his black shirt.

“Is that a threat or a promise?” I ask, dusting some blush on my cheeks. He looks up, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Was it a threat or a promise when I fucked you with the handle of my dagger last night? You tell me,” he counters, and my eyes widen, eyebrows rising to the middle of my forehead. Eli’s dimples make an appearance when he laughs at my expression.

“Do you have to be so vulgar?” I push my dangling gold earrings through my earlobe, muttering my disapproval. Emiliano comes to a stop behind me, his eyes on mine.

“Are we going to talk about what happened?” he asks. My throat tightens, and I can feel my nose tingling as my eyes sting with the threat of tears.

“I don’t think I’m ready for that… It feels like I’ve betrayed my sisters, my brother, and my mom,” I admit to him. His hand cups my chin, turning it toward him.

“Val, I know that you feel guilty for leaving them behind, and nothing I say will make that feeling go away, but I want you to know that I support you and will support you through whatever decision you make. No matter what…” Emiliano’s voice is hushed, as if he speaks too loud, the walls might hear.

“I’ll always come second, Eli, no matter what you want to believe,” I say. He shakes his head, his eyebrows furrowed, as if he can’t comprehend placing anything above me. Turning my head back toward the mirror, I brush my ponytail back. “The Camorra.”

Emiliano grips both my shoulders, the fabric of my pearly dress scrunching up under his large hands. He leans down, his breath fanning the shell of my ear.

“You will always be first. I risked everything to get you back, and I will risk everything to keep you by my side. You put me over your family, and I’ll put you over my oath to the Camorra.” His voice is convincing, and my eyes search his, my lips stretching in a soft smile when I find sincerity and love shining back at me.

EPILOGUE

EMILIANO

I’ve called for a meeting to talk about what will take place with the Outfit after the crashed wedding. Even though it has been a couple of weeks, the Outfit has yet to declare an all-out war for the death of their Capo and the breaching of their territory.

“Everyone, down to the fucking basement, now!”

All my men scurry down to make their way downstairs, but of course, some little shit has to disobey me. And I’m not surprised to see that it is Vincent Colombo’s spawn. I don’t have the time of day for his dumb fuck of a dad, and I sure as fuck don’t have the time of day for dumb fuck junior.

“Vince,” Romiro calls him over, and he walks over with a solemn look.

“I suppose there’s a reason as to why you thought it was a good idea to disrespect the Capo?” Romiro continues once he’s stood in front of us.

“I mean no disrespect to the boss's orders. There is something that cannot wait until the end,” he explains, and I narrow my eyes as I watch him. He’s fidgety, his legs shuffling, as if he can’t seem to stand without feeling the need to move. His eyes are frantically darting around the place, like he’s expecting something or someone. To do what? I don’t fucking know, but if my gut is right, I won’t like any of it.

“Spit it out, Colombo,” I demand.

He bristles before he whispers. “My uncles are preparing a coup to overthrow you.”

My hand snakes out and grasps his neck, his feet dangling as I pull him up directly in my face. His hands clasp over mine as he tries to pry them, and his legs flail a little as he continues to struggle. Even with his nails digging into my hand, I don’t budge.

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