Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

M assimo

I woke up the next morning with Sofia still in my arms, her dark hair spread across the pillow like a fan, her face relaxed and peaceful as she slept beside me. I felt an unexpected wave of pride and something deeper, something more dangerous, that tugged at my chest.

Last night had been… surprising.

Not just because of the way she had handled herself at the charity ball, but also because of the courage she'd shown in the face of Raffaele and his men. I'd expected her to wilt under the pressure, to rely on me to shield her, but she hadn't. Instead, she had risen to the challenge, meeting it with a fierce bravery that I hadn't seen in her before.

She had impressed me.

And damn if that wasn't a problem.

I watched her, the steady rise and fall of her chest, her lashes fluttering slightly as if she were caught in a dream. She looked so innocent, so deceptively fragile. I knew better now. Sofia was stronger than she seemed, and it made me want her even more. My arm tightened around her, pulling her closer, my hand splayed possessively against her back.

She was mine now, in more ways than one, and I wasn't going to let anyone take her from me.

A soft murmur escaped her lips, her eyes slowly fluttering open. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, before her gaze settled on me. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Good morning, bella ," I murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face.

She yawned, a small, endearing sound that made my chest tighten. "Morning," she replied, her voice still thick with sleep. "Did you sleep well?"

I chuckled softly. "With you in my arms? Better than I have in a long time."

Her blush deepened, and she bit her lower lip, clearly flustered. I loved that she still reacted this way, even after everything we'd been through together. It was refreshing.

As she shifted, the silky sheets fell away, revealing her bare back and the gentle swells of her bottom cheeks. My gaze roamed over her, taking in every inch of her body, and I couldn't help but notice a bright red hue still etched across her ass. The sight of it sent a rush of satisfaction through me. She'd still feel the belt today. I was sure of it.

"Looks like you're still a little red," I said with a teasing grin, trailing my fingers lightly over the tender skin. "No marks though."

She blushed furiously, her eyes widening. "I feel like there should be marks. That was a hard belting," she pouted.

I chuckled. "Don't worry, Sofia. I'll make sure I leave a few the next time you decide to be a naughty girl and need me to punish you."

She huffed, but I could see the corners of her lips twitching. "I'm not naughty."

"That's not true, my little fuck toy," I countered, my voice growing softer. "You took my cock in that sweet little ass so well that you made me come inside of it. Now if that isn't naughty, I don't know what is."

She blushed again and I reached out and traced my fingers down the line of her jaw.

"You're beautiful, la mia bambina. "

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, there was a tender silence between us. She reached up, brushing her fingers against my jaw, her touch light and hesitant. "I didn't think I'd ever feel this… this connected to someone," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "You're not the only one, bella ."

She giggled, the sound light and infectious, and I felt something inside me relax, a tension I hadn't realized I'd been holding onto. This woman, this girl who had come into my life so unexpectedly, was changing everything. She was making me want things I'd long thought impossible.

And that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

"Do you want breakfast?" I asked, breaking the moment before it could get too heavy.

She smiled up at me, her eyes bright. "I'd love that," she replied, shifting slightly to get more comfortable against me.

I grinned, feeling a surge of possessiveness course through me as I held her close.

"Good," I murmured, pressing a kiss to her lips. "Because I have a feeling that you're going to need all the energy you can get today."

She laughed softly, a beautiful, carefree sound that made my heart pound just a little faster.

"But I'm sore," she whispered against my lips.

"Good. That's the way you should be," I murmured, and just for good measure, I cupped my hand and lightly slapped between her thighs. She squealed and the sound was like music to my ears.

I pulled her into my arms and her stomach let out a small, adorable growl, breaking the comfortable silence between us. She blushed, laughing softly, and I couldn't help but grin.

"Sounds like someone's hungry," I teased, brushing a kiss against her temple.

"Maybe just a little," she admitted, her eyes sparkling. "I could use some fuel after last night's… activities."

I chuckled, my hand sliding down her back to give her a playful squeeze. "Let's get dressed and head downstairs. Alonzo should have breakfast ready by now."

She nodded, and I reluctantly released her, watching as she slipped off the bed. I couldn't help but admire the way she moved, graceful and confident, despite the blush that still lingered on her cheeks. She caught me staring and arched an eyebrow, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

"See something you like?" she teased, reaching for one of my shirts hanging nearby.

"More than like," I murmured, crossing the room to grab her by the waist, pulling her back against me. "But if we don't get downstairs soon, I might just forget breakfast altogether."

"Fine, fine," she conceded, slipping into the oversized shirt, which hung loosely on her frame, the hem brushing just above her thighs. She buttoned it slowly, giving me a mischievous look.

"You're torturing me," I groaned, grabbing a pair of pants from the nearby chair, and pulling them on. "And I'm not sure if I love it or hate it."

"Maybe a bit of both?" she suggested with a grin.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Come on, let's go eat before I change my mind."

She slipped into a pair of my sweatpants, the waistband far too big on her, and I found myself enjoying the sight of her wearing my clothes, looking perfectly at home.

Once we were dressed, I took her hand, and we headed downstairs to the kitchen. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeted us, and I felt my stomach rumble in anticipation. Alonzo was bustling around the kitchen, his back to us as he worked over the stove, humming softly to himself.

"Good morning, Alonzo," I greeted, pulling Sofia closer as we entered the room.

He turned, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Good morning, signore Massimo, signorina Sofia," he replied cheerfully. "I hope you're both hungry—I've prepared quite the feast for you."

Sofia's eyes lit up, and I could see the delight in her expression. "It smells amazing, Alonzo," she said, smiling warmly.

" Grazie, signorina ," Alonzo replied with a wink. "Take a seat; it'll be ready in just a moment."

We sat down at the breakfast bar, the news playing softly on the television mounted on the wall. I poured Sofia a cup of coffee, my hand brushing against hers, enjoying the way she smiled at me over the rim of her cup.

But then, the news anchor's voice caught my attention.

" And in breaking news this morning, we have an update on the tragic incident at last night's charity ball ," the anchor announced, her tone serious. " Authorities have confirmed that the explosion was caused by a bomb, and suspicion is currently falling on the Russo mafia family. "

I froze, my hand stilling over Sofia's. She glanced at me, her expression shifting to concern as I turned up the volume.

" The bomb caused significant damage to the venue ," the anchor continued, " and early reports indicate that several individuals were injured, though no fatalities have been confirmed at this time. Authorities are investigating the incident as an act of organized crime, with particular focus on the Russo family, known for their connections to the Sicilian mafia syndicate. "

I felt a surge of anger rise within me, my jaw tightening as I listened. The Russos weren't at fault for this.

Raffaele Moretti was.

" There's more ," the anchor added, her expression grim. " In addition to the explosion, there are reports that sensitive data may have been stolen from the attendees of the event. Several sources have indicated that the Russo family might have orchestrated a sophisticated cyber-attack, accessing personal information, financial records, and other sensitive data. There are already reports of credit fraud and theft from bank accounts associated with several high-profile guests. "

Sofia's eyes widened, and she turned to me, her expression a mix of shock and concern.

" The authorities are urging anyone who attended the event to check their accounts and report any suspicious activity immediately ," the anchor continued. " We will provide more updates as this story develops. For now, back to you, Ricardo ."

"I don't understand it. Why frame them? What does he gain from pointing the finger in their direction?" I said, thinking out loud.

Sofia's brow furrowed, her expression thoughtful. "If everyone thinks the Russos are responsible, it shifts the focus away from him. But why would he want that? What's his endgame?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Raffaele's smart. He knows the Russo family is already on thin ice with the authorities. If they take the blame, it distracts everyone from his real operations. But more than that… it could be a way to weaken the Russos. Start a war between them and other families, or even between them and the authorities."

Sofia nodded slowly. "Divide and conquer," she murmured. "If he gets the Russos to take the fall, they become the primary target, and he gets to move in on their territory while everyone's busy dealing with them."

"Exactly," I agreed, my tone grim.

"But why go through all this trouble?" she asked. "Why not just strike directly?"

I shook my head, my jaw tight. "Because he wants chaos. He thrives on it. He's testing us, testing our alliances, seeing who will side with us and who will turn away. If he can destabilize things enough, he can swoop in and take control."

Sofia's expression darkened. "He's trying to play everyone against each other. So, what do we do?"

Before I could say anything, Alonzo set plates of food in front of us, a worried expression on his face. "Is everything alright, signore ?" he asked cautiously.

I forced a smile, trying to put him at ease. "Everything's fine, Alonzo. Just a little… complication."

I was about to speak when the news anchor's voice cut through the air again, a sudden urgency in her tone.

" We have just received breaking news from Naples ," she announced. " Authorities have launched a massive raid against another prominent crime family operating out of the region. The Amato family, known for their involvement in drug trafficking and smuggling operations, was hit early this morning in a coordinated effort involving local and federal law enforcement ."

I frowned, my attention fully captured by the television. Sofia leaned forward, reaching for the remote, her expression serious as she turned up the volume.

" This is the second high-profile raid in less than twenty-four hours ," the anchor continued. "Sources say the raid is part of a larger crackdown on organized crime across Italy, spearheaded by a newly formed task force led by prominent political figures, including Senator Giovanni Ricci. "

Senator Giovanni Ricci. The name made my blood run cold. He had been at the charity ball last night—the same man I'd seen speaking quietly with Raffaele Moretti, looking far too comfortable for my liking. I had noticed them exchanging words but had been too preoccupied with the chaos to think about it.

Sofia glanced at me, her brows knitting together in concern. "That's the man Raffaele was speaking to last night, isn't it? Senator Ricci?"

I nodded slowly, my mind racing. "Yeah, it is. They were having a conversation before everything went to hell."

She turned back to the television, her eyes narrowing as if trying to piece something together. "Why would Raffaele be talking to a senator who's now leading a task force against organized crime?" she murmured, more to herself than to me.

My thoughts were already heading in the same direction. "It doesn't make sense," I muttered. "Unless…"

"Unless Raffaele is working with him," Sofia finished, turning to face me. "Think about it, Massimo. If Ricci is spearheading this new task force, and Raffaele was speaking to him so freely, maybe Raffaele's been playing a different game all along."

I felt a knot form in my stomach, the implications of her words sinking in. "You think he's… what? An informant? A rat?"

She shook her head. "No, not just a rat. What if Raffaele is more than that? What if he's leading this task force, using his connections in the underworld to bring down rival families… including yours?"

I frowned, my mind racing. "But why? Why would he go after his own kind?"

Sofia's expression turned thoughtful. "Maybe he's making a play for power," she suggested. "If he's the one feeding the authorities information, he can take out his rivals without ever getting his hands dirty. He can control who goes down and who stays in play. And if he's tight with Ricci, he could be manipulating the law to do his dirty work."

I stared at her, considering the possibility. It made sense. Too much sense. "If that's true… if Raffaele is behind this task force, he's been setting us up from the start," I said slowly. "Making us look like the villains while he pulls the strings from the shadows."

Sofia nodded, her eyes sharp and focused. "And it explains why he framed the Russos for the bomb. He's pitting everyone against each other while he stays above suspicion. But it's more than that—he's making a move to clean up the underworld in his own favor, leaving him as the last one standing."

A wave of realization hit me, my pulse quickening. "If Raffaele's got the authorities in his pocket, he could take us all down—one by one."

Sofia's gaze was intense, her mind clearly working as quickly as mine. "But he hasn't made his move against you directly yet," she pointed out. "Which means he's still planning… or he needs something else from you."

Before I could reply, my phone rang again, breaking the tense silence between us. I glanced at the screen—another call from Leo. I picked up, keeping my voice steady. "Leo, what is it?"

"Boss," Leo said, his tone urgent. "We've got a situation. Our shipment—guns intended for the Middle East—was intercepted by the port authorities. Someone tipped them off, and they've confiscated everything."

My grip tightened on the phone. "Damn it," I muttered, glancing at Sofia.

"What do we do, boss?" Leo asked, tension clear in his voice.

"Keep a low profile," I ordered. "I need to think. We can't afford any more surprises."

I ended the call, my mind whirling. Sofia's theory was starting to make sense. If Raffaele had been playing us all along, then this was just the beginning of his plan.

"Looks like you were right," I said quietly, turning to Sofia. "He's using Ricci's task force to take us down, one piece at a time."

Sofia nodded, her expression serious. "Then we need to figure out his endgame—and fast. If we don't, we might be next."

I took a deep breath. "We're not going to sit back and let him come for us," I promised. "If Raffaele wants a war, he's going to get one. But this time, we'll be the ones setting the rules."

She smiled, a fierce determination in her eyes. "I'm with you, Massimo," she said. "Whatever it takes."

The look in her eyes caught me by surprise and I reached out, needing to feel her hand in mine. My heart swelled as I stared back at my girl.

No.

As I stared back at my queen .

I t was time to come up with a plan.

I sat at the head of the long mahogany table in my private study. Leo and Stefano, my most trusted men, were on either side of me, their expressions focused and serious. Sofia sat across from me, her eyes bright and her jaw tense.

We needed to figure out what Raffaele and Senator Ricci were planning, and fast. Time was running out, and I couldn't afford any more surprises.

"Alright," I began, tapping my fingers on the table, "we need to understand the connection between Ricci and Raffaele. What do we know about Senator Ricci's background?"

Leo, ever efficient, was the first to speak. "Senator Giovanni Ricci is a career politician. He's built his reputation on being tough on crime, especially organized crime. He's got a clean record—at least on paper—but he comes from old money, tied to a few questionable investments. He's ambitious, with his eye on a bigger political prize. Some say he's aiming for a ministerial position, maybe even higher."

Stefano nodded, picking up where Leo left off. "Ricci's had a lot of support from the public, especially after a personal tragedy last year. His cousin—a distant relative, but still family—was murdered in a mafia hit. It made the news, a lot of press coverage. Ricci played the grieving family angle pretty well and even turned it into a crusade against organized crime."

Sofia leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "And Raffaele? What's his angle?"

I sighed, my eyes narrowing as I thought about Raffaele Moretti. "Raffaele is a snake," I muttered. "He's always been good at playing both sides, manipulating everyone around him. He's smart, ruthless, and patient. If he's working with Ricci, it's because he sees an opportunity. He doesn't care about cleaning up crime—he wants power, and he'll use anyone he can to get it."

Sofia's eyes flickered with understanding. "So, if Ricci lost a relative in a mafia hit, that could be his motivation. Revenge. And Raffaele… he's feeding that need for vengeance, making Ricci think he's helping him clean up the city while really only taking out his rivals."

"Exactly," I said, a grim smile tugging at my lips. "Raffaele's using Ricci's personal vendetta to his advantage. If Ricci can help take out the Russos, the Amatos, and maybe even us, Raffaele gets rid of all his competition without getting his hands dirty."

Leo leaned back in his chair, frowning. "It makes sense. But why frame the Russos for the charity ball bombing? Why go through all this trouble?"

Stefano crossed his arms, thinking. "Maybe he wants to pit us all against each other," he suggested. "If the Russos think we're targeting them, and we think they're targeting us, everyone's distracted. Meanwhile, Ricci's task force takes us out, one by one."

I nodded. "It's a smart move. Clever. But it's risky. If any of the families catch on to what he's doing, it could blow up in his face."

Sofia's gaze sharpened, and I could see the spark of an idea in her eyes. "Maybe that's where we can hit him," she said slowly. "Use his own game against him. Make him overplay his hand."

Leo looked at her, curiosity in his eyes. "What do you mean, Sofia?"

She sat up straighter, confidence growing in her voice. "If Ricci is working with Raffaele because of a personal vendetta, he's emotionally invested in this. We can use that. Make him think he's getting closer to his goal, feed him just enough information to make him believe he's winning."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And how do we do that?"

Sofia smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "By giving them what they want… or what they think they want. We can plant evidence that leads Ricci and his task force to another family, someone outside our circle. Make it look like they're the ones responsible for recent hits, the ones threatening his crusade."

Leo nodded slowly, catching on. "If we can control the narrative, we can control their next moves."

Stefano smirked. "And when they're busy chasing ghosts, we can focus on taking Raffaele down."

I felt a surge of pride at Sofia's quick thinking. "It's risky," I admitted. "But it could work. If we're careful, we can turn their own strategy against them."

Sofia leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "And while they're distracted, we find out exactly what Raffaele's planning next and cut him off at the knees."

I grinned, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Alright, then. We play this smart, and we play it fast. Leo, Stefano, get our people on it. I want every lead, every possible angle. We don't leave anything to chance."

They nodded, standing up to leave the room, but Sofia remained seated, her gaze focused on me. I could see the determination in her eyes, the fierce intelligence that made my blood hum with excitement.

It also made my cock hard as a fucking rock.

"What are you thinking, bella ?" I asked, leaning closer.

She smiled with a confidence that made my heart race. "I'm thinking… it's time I took a more active role in this. I'm not going to sit back and wait while you fight this battle alone. I want to help."

I chuckled softly, admiring her spirit. "You've already helped more than you know," I replied, reaching out to take her hand.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'm serious, Massimo. I'm in this with you. Whatever it takes."

I nodded, my smile widening. "Good. Because we're going to need every bit of help that we can get. And I have a feeling you're just the person we need to tip the scales in our favor."

"Okay. Good. Because I have an idea," Sofia grinned.

"Then let's hear it," I leaned in, meeting her sparkling gaze. Her bravery shone through, and I couldn't be prouder.

My queen indeed.