Chapter 30

VALERIO

‘ I could do this for hours, make love to you for days, non-stop,’ I whispered into her neck as I drove into her.

She was up against the bathroom tiles in my villa suite, her head back and her tawny hair wet and plastered on the white and gold marble.

Tits heaving, one of her peaks in my mouth as I suckled with abandon.

One thigh canted over my hip as she angled herself so I’d drive deeper, piston with everything my taut body was ready to give, everything she needed.

Her hands clutched at my shoulders as she moaned, every soft sigh driving me, energizing me, lifting me into ecstasy.

Outside, it’d been storming, the weather kicking up a fuss.

Inside, however, our passion and desire had been ratcheting higher by the minute.

We’d come in from a swim, where we’d fooled around in the ocean, kissing, exchanging erotically charged banter, touching, stroking, taking each other’s pulse.

With her, I was so present.

She had me tapping into all my body’s sensations—sight, sound, scent, and taste—which only heightened my need for her.

We ran home when lightning struck the ocean in the distance, crackling from the storm clouds rolling in.

We’d run to the shower, where I now stood as my woman drove me wild under the flowing water.

Her hips swirled, rotating her pussy, twisting my cock, squeezing tight, ripping along my length.

I grunted, inhaling with a sharp hiss as bliss began to build impossibly higher at the base of my spine.

I was about to blow. Hard.

‘ Leone , come for me,’ she breathed in my ear. ‘ Sono tua . I’m all yours.’

I sliced my eyes at her, pushing her hands to the tiles. Splaying her so she was open to me, driving into her as she wrapped both thighs around my waist.

So fuckin’ sensual.

I loved how Chiara gazed at me. Her eyes were the most inquiring and bottomless I’d ever seen. She approached the world with transparency and honesty.

No subject was forbidden between us in and out of the bedroom: She encouraged me to divulge every piece of my life and my past sans judgment.

That openness extended to the bed: She’d limited sexual experience, but I felt free to share all my fantasies and desires with her without fear of judgment or recrimination.

It made our fucking and lovemaking that much more wild yet so profoundly emotional.

Like it was now.

Poignant, touching, visceral.

Also untamed, scorching, in all angles and positions.

Her neck arched, her arms tightened as I moved my lips over hers, pumping and penetrating.

So deep, so good, so tight.

I pulled my mouth from hers and shoved my face in her nape. ‘ Belleza ,’ I grunted as my entire body spasmed.

Cumming in waves of unleashed passion, thrusting on and on as water sliced over us, only adding to our heat.

She, too, thrust those crimson tresses back and moaned, ‘ Leone !’

She gave a series of guttural groans as she bucked her way through era bliss.

I was here for it.

She slumped on me, almost slid off me, ready to hit the shower floor, done, spent, finished.

With a growl, I lifted her into my arms.

She wrapped her thighs around my waist tight as I carried her to bed.

Still wet and dripping, we glided onto the duvet.

I was still hard inside her, and I made sure not to lose the connection as I shifted to her side, one thigh over me.

Her head buried in my chest, my hand stroking her back.

My heart was full to overflowing.

Hell fuckin’ yeah.

‘ Dimmi ,’ Lorenzo stated, seated across from me in the villa’s office.

Outside the window, I spotted our women heading to the beach beyond the gardens, carting a picnic basket, swim bags, and a baby in a covered bassinet.

I chuckled at the sight of Mauri tagging along, tasked with hauling chairs, umbrellas, and towels.

The fucker appeared miserable, and I smirked at the thought of his fate for the day.

Beach babes and an infant. He deserved it, for the man needed to get addicted to the idea of a family of his own.

I turned to Lorenzo, Alessio, and Vitto.

‘It’s been a shit show. But I think we’re on the last leg with the Tirones.’

I gave them a rundown of the facts so far.

‘Mauri and I have set the stage for the Tirones’ downfall.’

In recent years, the balance of power in the Neapolitan crime world tipped toward the Calibrese family due to my brother Lorenzo and Aunt Bianca’s efforts and our legendary ruthlessness under our Omertà oath. It’s this influence we used to gain leverage over Tirone’s partners.

‘Recently, we’ve sent subtle messages that anyone with a deal with Tirones is an enemy of the Calibreses. The whisper warfare is working. Some of his existing business associates have got cold feet, and Claudio has been strung out on several transactions.’

‘Good work, Lorenzo drawled.

I shook my head. ‘It’s still not enough. We must cut Claudio off at the legs. His entire network has to be brought down. We must break up his operational capabilities and links to the mafia network from the top to the bottom.’

Lorenzo grunted. ‘If his deals are being cut off, he’ll run to the top-tier Dons for cover or to seek new loans. I can work on sending word to them not to engage.’

Alessio jerked his chin. ‘That includes any suppliers he’s had dealings with in the supply of illegal weapons and distribution of narcotics. I can handle the supplier tier.’

Vitto stretched his legs out. ‘I’ll manage the dealers. The streets no longer count; trendy clubs, bars, and restaurants are their new playground. Won’t be a hardship.’

Lorenzo gave our youngest sibling a narrowed look. ‘Don’t rack up too high of a credit card bill, fratello . The last one was fuckin’ ludicrous.’

Vitto grinned, arching a brow. ‘You gotta be a player to play.’

‘Bullshit,’ Alessio grumbled, slapping the back of Vitto’s head. ‘ Che bruta !’

‘Enough,’ Lorenzo gritted. ‘Let’s stay on track with Rio’s shit.’

‘Shit show is the way to call it. Claudio’s focus on money laundering with my woman’s business as the conduit has to stop,’ I growled.

‘What’s he trying there?’ Lorenzo demanded.

‘Turns out he’s been selling specific masterpieces multiple times, often without ever leaving the free port. These cross-border dealings through various intermediaries or shell companies have created a complex web of transactions, obscuring the funds’ origin and increasing the artwork’s apparent value. He’s laundering, on a massive scale, exposing Chiara to serious charges were the op to be cracked by the authorities.’

‘ Fotto, ’ Alessio growled.

‘Exactly. I propose we track his comms to detect likely information and actions of interest. Let’s also ID a criminal outlier that is a kingpin, someone we can use in a sting to turn the tables on him.’

‘Sounds good. What do you need from us?’ Lorenzo murmured, popping a grape from a fruit bowl on the table into his mouth.

I nodded. ‘Once Mauri returns from escorting the women to the beach, we’ll jump into the dark web where I believe Claudio is making deals with individuals. We’ll ID a big whale he’s working with. Then I might need your help to snare him. This means either cash, connections, or goods from Lorenzo are needed to get the job done. Plus some protection, Alessio, when shit gets real.’

‘Do it,’ Lorenzo rasped. ‘I’m keen to wrap it all up. In the next three months, we must be out of Italy in a complete divestment. I mean, all gone, apart from this villa we can maintain as a holiday home. I can’t let any of us tarry in Naples. Our business here is done.’

For the last few years, we’d been enacting strategies to help us break free from all our previous illicit operations.

Together, we’d crafted a plan to shape our families’ futures, those of our women and children, investing in the security and safety of those we would one day love and cherish.

Once the Tirones were off the slate, apart from my woman, we’d have nothing holding us back from seeking safety in a new home that welcomed us.

Or so I hoped.

The following day, we were having lunch on the terrace when Chiara’s phone buzzed on the table, interrupting the peaceful hum of conversation.

The sea breeze carried the scent of grilled meat and rosemary through the air, and for a moment, I didn’t think much of it.

When I glanced at my woman’s face, I saw the color drain from her skin as she peeked at the screen.

I put down my fork and straightened in my seat as Chiara stood and moved away to answer the call.

I reclined in my chair, eyes on her as she engaged in a whispered, hurried conversation.

It was when I tagged the unmistakable sound of Claudio’s shouting through the speaker, his fury spilling through the device, accusations flying like blades, that I knifed up.

Chiara’s hand trembled as she tried to respond. ‘Claudio, please, I’ve been unwell. I couldn’t make the transfers. I—.’

Another tirade cut her off, and her body tightened, her eyes squeezing shut as if to block out the venom he was spewing.

I was on my feet before I even realized it.

I tracked to her side within seconds, taking the phone from her hand.

Her eyes flew to mine, blinking, filled with shock.

I bent to rage whisper in her ear. ‘I won’t let him speak to you this way. Not now, not ever.’

Twisting from her, I growled into the speaker in a lethal roar between gritted teeth.

‘Claudio, va fa napole . Go to hell. Leave your sister alone. You want to threaten her, you go through me first. Try this shit again and sei morto, even if you are her fratello .’

His cry of fury was fuckin’ unmistakable on the other end, but I didn’t give him a chance to respond.

I hung up, tossing the handset onto the nearby table before pulling Chiara into my arms.

She was shuddering, her body tense against mine, shaking under the stress of everything she’d been carrying—the stress, the guilt, the fear for her brother, Aldo.

In recent days, he’d vanished, disappeared to the U.S., and left her to deal with the fallout.

Now this.

‘He’s blaming you for Aldo, isn’t he?’ I murmured into her hair, feeling her nod against my chest.

‘Also for the lack of funds in our accounts. I had no way of moving any money while I was unwell,’ she muttered, jaw clenched, fire flashing in her eyes.

I sighed, kicking myself for not keeping up with her obligations.

Still, Claudio’s bullying was not going to fly with me.

Her familiar wildfire fury was rising. ‘Claudio says no one will touch his deals now, that he’s drowning in loans, and it’s all my fault. He claims he’s been trying to find me at the gallery and home to hand over whatever cash I have. Fuck him!’

Her brother losing his shit at her was driving her, me, to the edge. Lesser men had died for lesser evils.

I gritted my teeth to stop myself from whirling away, finding the fucker, and putting out his lights.

For good.

Claudio was a coward—blaming her for everything that had gone wrong, refusing any accountability, without the integrity and insight to understand the toll this whole mess had taken on her.

She didn’t need this shit to threaten her current health, to take her recovery backward.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

Pulling it out of my pocket, I jolted at the notification onscreen.

With a growl, I tapped on it, and the screen unfurled with live video footage of an unmistakable figure attempting to crash through Chiara’s front door with a machete.

‘The fuck?’

‘Rio?’

I turned to face her. ‘Got a notification that Claudio is trying to enter your front door.’

Chiara’s eyes widened.

‘Stay with Mauri and Mrs Venetio. I’m going to your place,’ I rasped, gazing into her eyes. ‘I’ll see whether I can catch him before he causes further damage. I’ll also get as many clothes, shoes, and bags as possible. You’re staying here for the conceivable future.’

She nodded, her expression fuming with frustration, and I kissed her forehead before grabbing my keys.

Half hoping I’d find Claudio somewhere along the way so I’d give him my brand of common freakin’ sense.

When I arrived at her house, the sight that greeted me made my blood boil.

It had taken over an hour to get there, and the journey was hampered by traffic, reckless driving, and wild motorcycles and scooters.

Time enough for some severe damage to be done.

The front door was ajar, and the wood splintered near the lock.

The interior was messed up when I pushed it open like a storm blew through.

Furniture lay overturned, papers scattered everywhere, drawers pulled out and emptied.

I walked through the chaos, my pulse pounding in my ears.

The bastard must’ve come here looking for money or something he thought Chiara was hiding.

His rage had caused him to rip apart her closet, and I found most of her remaining clothes in shreds.

I wanted to tear him apart.

I grabbed a duffel bag from her closet and packed what I found still intact—clothes, a few personal items, anything she might need—but I couldn’t bring her back here.

Not until this mess with Claudio got handled.

I drove to the boutique she’d mentioned once—a place she liked, somewhere exclusive. I had a fair concept of the styles she preferred, the softness of the fabrics, and the colors that made her feel comfortable.

I stalked into a boutique I’d seen shopping bags from.

The polished floors and high-end display were a world away from the chaos I’d left behind.

The shop assistant eyed me with curiosity, but I didn’t care. I was on a mission. I picked out everything she might need—dresses, shoes, even some skincare products she loved—and wrapped them up before heading back to the villa.

When I returned, Chiara sat on the terrace, working on a canvas.

She glanced up as I walked toward her, confusion flickering in her eyes when she tagged the packages in my grasp.

‘Rio, what’s all this?’

I set my haul down and crouched in front of her, holding her hands in mine, shaking my head, still in disbelief. ‘Chiara, someone broke into your place,’ I rasped. ‘It’s trashed. I’m not taking you back—not now.’

Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening. ‘What? My villa? Who—?’

We locked eyes.

I didn’t need to say the name. We both were clear about who was behind it.

‘I got you some things,’ I continued, nodding toward the bags.

She slipped her hands from mine, gave me a curious look, and bent to her knees.

Her cries of delight a few moments later were my just reward.

‘ Grazie, bello ,’ she said, rising to kiss me.

‘I didn’t want you to go back and see the mess,’ I rasped into her mouth, my chest in a burn of need for her. ‘I’ll deal with his shit later. But damn, you deserve better than that.’

‘Who deserves what?’ Lorenzo drawled, strolling onto the terrace with his baby in his arms.

‘Chiara deserves to know a life of peace,’ I growled to my brother.

I filled him in as he settled in a lounge across from Chiara and me, and he fed a bottle to his offspring. ‘I want my woman as far from her shit stain fratello as possible.’

Lorenzo burped Gianni, his massive hands patting the tiny form as the infant snuggled into his chest. ‘ Che peccato that your brother sucks , but you have to be safe, Chiara.’

My woman cursed, running a hand through her hair. ‘Fuck, Naples hates me.’

‘Language, leonessa ,’ I teased, trying to lighten the mood. ‘We have a child in earshot.’

‘ Stronzate ,’ she flung at me, tongue in cheek, her eyes dancing.

Lorenzo laughed out loud, startling his little one, whom he comforted with more pats and kisses.

For a moment, I had a thought, staring at Gio. I wanted one of them soon, my loins tingling.

Damn. A few months ago, fatherhood was the furthest thought on my mind.

Now, with a beguiling woman and a baby in sight, I contemplated my own family.

Fuck me.

‘This place is not conducive to our survival,’ Lorenzo rasped. ‘Let alone bringing up a family if you’re fighting or trying to keep off the mafia.’

Beside me, Chiara sighed, her eyes soft as they lit on the bubba.

‘Is that why all of you except Valerio live in Sydney?’

The brothers nodded.

She turned to me as I stroked her arm. ‘Tell me about Sydney. I want to know all about why you love it so much.’

I arched a brow in surprise. ‘Would you come if I asked you to?’

‘Where you are, my heart is too,’ she whispered.

Pleasure bloomed across my chest, and I leaned in and kissed her. ‘Sydney is bliss. We still love Naples, but we’re safer on the other side of the world. As you shall be, too. How about Galleria Gisela?’

She shrugged, giving me a coy look. ‘What’s stopping me from reopening it in Sydney? Gisela is my mother, and her soul will come with me wherever I go.’

I slid an arm behind her head, letting her luxurious tawny hair fall over my shoulder, massaging her skull, something we both loved. ‘Then allow me to tell you all about the city in the sun down under.’

As I waxed lyrical about Sydney, she purred, rolling her head around my trailing fingers all over her scalp, sending her into bliss.

‘Get upstairs, you two, you’re ready to fuck,’ Lorenzo clipped, gazing at us and our love with part affection, part irritation. ‘Let me take Gio out of your lecherous aura and back to his mum. Who I hope is still napping so we can all get some freakin’ kip. Damn, babies are a sleep suck.’

My brother rose, his slumbering baby snuggling closer into his nape as he strode away.

My eyes followed him, leaving, envying, wanting what he had.

I sliced my eyes to Chiara, who had eyes on me.

We locked gazes, and I stuck a tongue into my cheek. ‘I want children,’ I rasped so deep my chest rumbled.

‘With me?’ my woman said, all husky and sensual.

She stroked my jaw as she spoke, and I leaned into her touch. ‘Only with you. This is what I want for the rest of my life.’

She rose and extended a hand.

I took it, and we took to the stairs toward my suite, my cock twitching, body thrumming, heart pulsing.

With love, only love for her and the future we hoped for.