Chapter One

Serafino

I stood back in the shadows as I watched yet another party unfold on the ground floor of what had been my childhood home. The celebration was all thanks to my mafia family gaining the upper hand against one of our rivals, the O'Malley Irish mafia, after their don, Sean, had been executed.

The victory wasn't half as sweet knowing I hadn't contributed to Sean's death. Maybe then I would have been in a more festive mood. Instead, while our enforcer had exacted revenge by killing Sean in the name of love, I'd been busy drinking whiskey and snorting coke, and sharing whores with my brothers, Evander and Alessandro.

That there would be repercussions from the O'Malleys didn't concern me. I looked forward to their vengeance. I was running on dregs and not even sex and drugs could diminish the void gaining a foothold deep inside me. I needed adrenaline, something to refuel my existence and make me feel alive again.

My other brother, Ethan, the Agostino don and the man I now served, stalked past in his gray Armani suit. His wife, Sabrina, clung onto his arm, her long, silver-blonde hair swept up into an artfully messy bun. She was gorgeous in her dark blue gown that was modest at the front but dipped low at the back. Little wonder Ethan's dark eyes shone with devotion while she smiled up at him as though he was her whole world.

He probably was.

Something between envy and distaste curled deep in my belly. I'd never experienced love with a woman, nor did I expect to. Why would I hand my heart over to the hands of a female only for her to crush the life out of it? Better that I used and abused women who expected nothing less from me.

I loosened my ruby tie before glancing at my gold Patek Phillipe watch. It was almost 10 p.m. The latest high class whores should be here soon to entertain the single males and probably some of the married ones. Not that Ethan would partake, he was beyond happy with his wife, and their recently born son.

My nephew. I might kill without flinching, but the little cherub already had me wrapped around his little finger. Though my brothers had always been my family, along with the men who made up our mafia family, little Pietro had managed to soften the edges of my hardened heart like nobody else ever had.

I sniffed. Whatever. The kid might have gotten under my skin, but nothing could change my most fundamental side. Perhaps a sex show would bring me out of my moroseness and get my blood pumping hot through my veins.

I glanced around at the guests who were already drunk and high, with trays of champagne and coke floating around for whoever wished to partake. My nose twitched. As much as I'd love to lose myself in chemicals, I wanted to keep alert. Who knew when the Irish mafia would next attack to avenge their don?

We'd already lost two soldiers, we weren't about to lose any more.

Despite the men Ethan had stationed around the house—and the bedroom upstairs where he and Sabrina's tiny son was asleep in his cot—I was aware of the increased danger.

I wasn't sure whether to congratulate or bare my teeth like a rabid dog at Valentino when he stepped through the crowd like a conqueror, his girlfriend at his side. I had to hand it to him though, she was a looker. With her inky black hair piled up on top of her head with long strands flowing around her face, and her sleeveless white dress hugging her slender curves, she looked like a princess, not the abused, former lover of the Irish mafia don.

That Valentino was now fully recovered shouldn't surprise me, not with his fortitude and strength. Except, I'd seen him lifeless like a vegetable, had seen his vitality slowly draining away—not from bullets, but from the deep, profound love he'd found with Chantilly and then imagined he'd lost.

Love really was a fucked up emotion.

I managed a tight smile as they looked my way. Chantilly's gold-brown eyes widened, as though recognizing my menace. But then, she'd be familiar with that vibe after being with Sean and now Valentino. Then he bent and murmured something in her ear and her gaze softened before she smiled back at me, unaffected now thanks to her lover's support.

Valentino nodded my way, his dark stare that locked with mine vastly different to the empty one I'd once known. My breath hissed. He really had changed.

If a woman could do that to someone like Val then maybe I wasn't a total lost cause. I deflated a little. I'd already acknowledged I'd never give a woman that kind of power over me. I was self-destructing fast enough without handing someone the ability to piss on my inner fire.

Valentino might be happy now, but he'd be destroyed when Chantilly turned on him.

When, not if?

I ignored the cynical voice inside my head and nodded at a waiter. He hurried to the bar to retrieve the aged whiskey he knew I enjoyed on the rocks. Champagne wasn't my drink of choice. Not ever.

A minute later I held a crystal tumbler in my hand, absently swishing the amber liquid inside before I took a deep swallow.

It wasn't until a lone woman stepped through the crowd that my entire body tensed and my breathing quickened, my attention centering exclusively on her. Holy fuck. She was drop-dead gorgeous, her long claret-red hair pulled back at the sides in a diamond clip while the rest cascaded down her bared back.

I knew a hooker when I saw one, but her profession was made even more obvious by her black, lace eye mask that enhanced her startling green eyes, her matching stockings and tiny silver-sequined dress that clung to her svelte body, and her little silver clutch that would hold all the tools of her trade.

Less was more worked like a charm on her.

I only hoped she'd left her condoms behind. Our physician would have stringently checked her for any diseases even before she'd stepped through the door. It was why we nearly always called in escorts from the high class agencies we owned, it was safer that way. It also guaranteed those women used birth control.

My cock hardened as she sashayed across the floor like a superstar, captivating everyone. Any other woman might have tottered awkwardly in such high, spiked heels.

I registered Alessandro and Evander's interest, their relaxed postures suddenly as taut as mine, their curiosity ignited. No one burned hotter and brighter than me, I was doused by her radiance, a proverbial moth drawn to her flame.

That I was ready to snap and snarl like a rabid dog at anyone showing any interest in her left me frowning. My ribs squeezed tight as I sucked in a breath through clenched teeth. What the fuck was wrong with me? I had no right to feel anything. She was a hooker; she fucked men for a living. She belonged to no one except the green bills men gave her.

I released a heavy breath. I was experiencing nothing more than lust at first sight. I had no reason to fear that any woman, including this one, would lead me around by the dick, one that was presently thick and hard with my interest piqued like never before.

So why did my legs seemingly move of their own volition when Evander, my half-brother and the underboss of our mafia empire, approached her? Sucking down the last of my drink, I deposited the glass onto a waiter's tray, then adjusting my tailored black jacket, I stepped faster toward her, cutting off Evander's advance and reaching for her hand.

She stilled, her lips parting as I raised her soft hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. "I'm Serafino," I announced huskily. I wasn't known for my small talk.

"Delilah," she said with a smile, her brilliant green eyes alight with interest. "You're one of the Agostino brothers I was sent here to pleasure," she added, her voice soft and musical.

She had a slight, lilting accent. French? All I knew for sure was that she was flawless. I managed to nod in response when my brother stopped beside me, his smile wicked as he focused on Delilah.

"I'm Evander, another Agostino brother." His dark, styled hair gleamed under the lights. "I'm looking forward to your...company."

I inhaled sharply, not bothering to return his quick, quizzical glance. Not even when I realized I was still holding her hand. I also wasn't known for my physical affection. I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles before I reluctantly released my hold.

Evander cocked a dark brow at my possessive touch. Clearing his throat, he scanned the crowd then asked her, "You're alone?"

She nodded, her heady scent that drifted my way reminding me of dark plums and rare orchids, of temptation and forbidden secrets. I drew in a deeper breath even as she conceded, "There were meant to be three of us, but my coworkers were a little...intimidated." She blinked, her long lashes concealing her emotions. "Word has it you brothers can get a little hot-blooded."

Roughly translated, a little violent. None of us had gentle natures. Even Evander, who still believed in love, wasn't tender when it came to sex.

My brother smirked. "And yet here you are."

Her returned smile was hollow. "All I care about is my bank account. As my two co-workers aren't here, I expect to be paid triple for my services."

I couldn't help but bark out a laugh. She was fearless, I'd give her that. That she didn't try to pretend money wasn't what lured her into the sex industry made me respect her even more.

My dick thickened and I almost groaned at the increased pressure. It'd be so easy to free my straining shaft and fuck her in the middle of the crowd. But first I'd push up her dress and go down on her, fucking her with my tongue and fingers until her knees buckled as she orgasmed hard.

It wouldn't be the first time I'd enjoyed public sex. My single brothers and I reveled in a little exhibitionism. Perhaps that was why I couldn't have anticipated a prickling of resentment as Evander's gleaming stare looked her up and down.

"That can be arranged," he said with a half-smile.

Alessandro joined us then, his neat, designer stubble a sharp contrast to his twisted needs. "What can be arranged?"

Evander winked. "Alessandro, you took your sweet time." He nodded at the beautiful redhead. "This is Delilah, one of the women we've been waiting for." He smirked. "Since she was the only woman to show up, she wants a pay rise."

"Does she?" Alessandro asked. His hard stare glittered. "Likely worth it," he conceded.

I bristled as she smiled at him, my hand clenching as I shoved back some darkish strands of my shoulder-length hair. No doubt my irritation shone in my eyes as I caught her stare and asked coldly, "How much for a night alone with me?"