22. Ezra

Chapter twenty-two

Ezra

The morning light filters into my office through the window. I lean back in my chair, fingers tapping absentmindedly on the armrest, while Elio stands at attention across from me.

“Any news on the infiltrator’s identity yet?” I ask, my voice low, and controlled.

Elio shakes his head. “Nothing concrete yet, Boss. We’ve turned over every stone, but there’s no solid lead. I’m still digging, but it seems to be taking time.”

I frown slightly, pondering his words. He’s been thorough, I know that much. We’ve investigated the guards—everyone came out clean. No connection to the infiltrator.

Whoever that guy was, he was highly skilled to have made it past security on his own. We reexamined the CCTV footage, and it was all there—he moved through the mansion like a ghost, dodging the guards as if he knew the layout by heart.

If it’s up to Elio, he’ll keep searching for every little thread, but time is something we don’t have.

I sigh as I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling of my office in the mansion, my mind already running through the scenario for the hundredth time. The more I think about it, the clearer it becomes.

The infiltrator was only a distraction. He’s definitely connected to Russo and Smerti. They’ve done a good job of making the attacker untraceable. I bounce my feet as the chair swivels slightly.

I’d do it the same way if I were pulling the strings— send a small pawn to create chaos, and shift the focus from the mastermind. Matteo's betrayal had been a perfect example of that misdirection.

Staring back at Elio, I wave my hand in a disapproving manner. “No need to keep digging, we’re wasting time and resources chasing shadows. Whoever went after Raven was a small-time pawn. Our focus should be on the one behind it all—Smerti.”

My words are firm—no need for distractions. If we’re going to take down the snake, we need to go for the head.

Elio hesitates for a moment, then nods once, “Capito (Understood).” He knows I’m right.

Elio’s phone rings then and he steps aside to take the call while I flip through the month’s ledger. After a minute of sibilant whispers and a series of nods, he tucks the device into his jacket and turns to me with a smile.

“ Buone notizie, Capo! (Good news, Boss!)”

I arch a brow. “ Cosa (What)?”

“I just got off the phone with Susan, the chairwoman of the Federal Communication Commission…” he begins. I smile, having an idea where this is headed.

“Okay?” I clasp my hands on the table.

“The scandal with Russo has blown over. The photo of him at Club Serenita is finally buried,” he announces, his voice light.

I chuckle heartily and give an approving nod. “You’ve done well, Elio.”

Thanks to Elio's relentless efforts and our well-placed media ally, my standing in the community is back where it needs to be, and my business will keep thriving in the shadows.

Just as I’m about to move on to other business, there’s a knock at the door.

“ Chi è (Who is it)?”

“ Don, sono io, Lorenzo (Don, it is I, Lorenzo).” The voice on the other side of the door filters into my ear.

Elio walks to the door and opens it. From where I am seated, I can see Lorenzo, a guard, standing with a brown-haired man outside the door.

“ Ho portato il dottore (I have brought the doctor),” he informs me.

I frown at Elio, who glances at me. “Dr. Taylor?”

Elio rubs the back of his neck, looking a bit uncomfortable.

“I called him,” he admits. “After the bullet wound... I just wanted to be sure everything’s healing right. I know Raven did her best, but this isn’t just a cut this time. It's a bullet wound.”

I stare at him for a moment, processing his words. My instinct is to shut this down—tell him it’s unnecessary—but I can see the worry etched on his face. Elio's always been cautious, the one to cover all bases. He called the doctor out of concern, not because he doubted Raven's skills.

I hold back a sigh. Elio’s always been the careful one. It’s why he’s lasted so long by my side. I give him a slow nod. “Fine. Let him in.”

The doctor, a tall man with greying hair and a calm demeanor, enters the room carrying a black bag. He gives me a respectful nod before getting right to work, checking my blood pressure, asking about pain, and all the necessary routine checks. His hands are cold, clinical, and efficient. It’s nothing like the way Raven handled me, though.

My gaze instinctively falls to my wrist, where the IV Raven had removed two days ago used to be. I can’t stop thinking about her touch, the way her fingers would linger, her brow furrowed in concentration, and the small, unintentional smiles she’d give when she was satisfied with her work.

Dr. Taylor checks my pulse, his fingers pressing lightly against my wrist. “The wound’s healing well,” he says, breaking my thoughts. “No signs of infection. Whoever fixed your wound and stitched you up did a fine job. Guess that’s why you haven’t bothered to call me until now, huh?”

I just grunt in response, barely listening. My thoughts are elsewhere. Usually, Taylor would have something negative to say about my blood pressure. But as I think back, I slowly realize that I’ve not had those nightmares in a while. The nightmares were the major catalyst for my blood pressure.

The memories are hazy and distant. I can’t even pinpoint when I last had one. Maybe it was a month ago, around the time Raven started staying in my room.

The doctor clears his throat, stepping back. I know he notices the unusual stability in my BP, but he doesn’t mention it. “You’re in good condition, but I’d advise taking it easy for a while longer. Let your body heal properly.”

I nod, barely paying attention, as he packs up his tools and leaves with Elio following behind him. The door closes, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I stare out the window, bringing a hand to lightly brush the underside of my chin as thoughts of her overwhelm any other.

Raven. She’s been keeping to herself since taking out the cannula from my wrist. She’s been withdrawn. I imagine her sitting alone in that room, and suddenly, it hits me—she must be feeling isolated, cut off from the world. Perhaps the freedom I gave her had the opposite effect? It’s supposed to make her happy…to give her a sense of freedom.

I furrow my brows at the thought, fixing my eyes on nothing in particular. Perhaps she’s just getting used to it? Maybe if I let her go again, she’ll feel less depressed? Or what if I try something else? But what?

Then, it clicks —Harper— Raven’s best friend. I remember seeing all those messages on her phone, frantic texts asking where she was. Raven never got a chance to respond and she must miss her best friend.

I push myself up from the chair and move towards the wall painting by the shelf. I take the painting off the wall and stare at the safe tucked behind. My fingers move swiftly over the combination lock, the numbers falling into place like muscle memory. Then the door clicks open, and I pull out her phone.

I press the power button, and the screen comes on. The phone takes a while to boot before displaying the missed calls and unattended text messages. If there’s anything I know about women, it’s that their best friends can make them happy.

My steps are quick when I make my way back to the chair. I assume my prior position on my chair and open the bottom drawer of the desk, where I find a burner phone. Clearing my throat, I punch Harper’s number into the burner phone, and a slight, odd sense of satisfaction fills me.

I’m nodding at both phones in my hand when Elio steps back in.

“Boss, I wanted to update you about the merchandise…” he stops once his eyes land on both devices in my hand. “Isn’t that…Raven’s phone?”

I glance at the mobile phone, then back at him. “It is.”

He raises a brow. “You want to….you want her to call someone?”

“On the burner phone,” I reply plainly. The phone is masked and completely secure. It would be difficult for even 911 to trace.

Elio studies me in silence for a moment, his gaze flicking between the phone and me. Then he cocks his head, slitting his eyes at me. “You like her, don’t you?” He folds his arm across his chest, waiting for an answer.

I meet his gaze but say nothing. That can’t be true. But then, I can’t deny it either.

He leans back slightly, crossing his arms. “You know that’s dangerous, right? Getting attached. Emotions like that... they cloud judgment… lead to mistakes.”

“Raven is innocent, and you know what we say about innocents,” I say, despite knowing that making her happy doesn’t have anything to do with our mantra for innocents. But Elio needs to know that. “Plus, I know better than anyone else that such emotions are dangerous in our world.”

My chest tightens when an image of Vittoria pops up in my head.

Elio’s expression is blank, but he doesn’t press the matter any further. Instead, he unfolds his arms and says, “The heroine merchandise for the Vincezi family is set. Came to receive the go-ahead for transportation.”

I nod, leaning back in my chair. “Good. Then proceed,” I say, with a wave of the hand.

With a sidelong glance, he turns to leave the office, still clearly skeptical of my earlier denial.

Once he’s gone, I push the thought out of my head and make my way to the bedroom. When I reach the door, I push it open without knocking. Raven is sitting on the bed, her knees tucked to her chest. Her head turns to me as I step inside.

“Are you okay?” I question, lifting a brow at the odd way she’s sitting.

“I’m fine. How are you feeling?” she asks.

I sense something else in her voice, but I can’t decipher it, so I give it a rest. I don’t want to probe, not when I can sense that her demeanor probably stems from her short taste of freedom.

As I walk over to her, I hold up the burner phone. “Here,” I say, my tone warm. “You’ve helped me out in more ways than one, and I want you to know I appreciate it. You can contact your best friend.”

She looks at me, suspicious at first, like this is some kind of trick. I can see the hesitation in her eyes– the way she’s trying to play it cool. But when I gently place the phone on the bed beside her, her expression changes. A spark of something —relief, maybe? Joy?— flickers across her face.

Suddenly, she jumps off the bed and throws her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug.

It catches me off guard, but I brace myself and revel in the feeling of her soft body against mine. Her embrace is taut, almost desperate, and I wrap my arms around her, pulling her even closer.

“I know this is only a small gesture, but I hope it shows you I do trust you,” I say, meaning every word.

“Thank you,” her voice is muffled against my chest.

I bury my nose in her hair and restrain a groan at her scent. Fuck. If I don’t pull back, there’ll be something else I’d rather bury in her. And I don’t think she’ll appreciate that now.

When we pull apart, I find myself unable to take my eyes off her face, her brown eyes entrancing me completely. I hold her gaze, taking in the soft curves of her face and the glint of happiness that shines through her eyes, when I realize I like seeing her this way— happy.

There’s a crinkle in the corners of her eyes that makes me break out in a smile, too. Just when I smile, she averts her gaze, but I catch the slight blush creeping up her neck. Hmm. Maybe she’ll appreciate some dick after all.

“Look at me, Raven,” I murmur, my hands grazing her chin.

The softness in her eyes fades at my words, slowly being replaced by what seems to be raw, undeniable hunger. The air crackles thickly between us as I lean in closer and place a kiss on the sensitive spot on her neck.

Her breath hitches, and she arches her back, instinctively rubbing her clothed breasts against my chest.

Fuck .

I don’t waste any time as my hands roam her body. She lets out a small whimper and I draw in a breath at the sound, suddenly finding the fabrics on her skin a nuisance.

“Lift your arms,” I say, firmly, pulling away.

She glances at me and obeys without question, her submission filling me with more need for her. Almost immediately, I reach for the hem of her yellow shirt and pull it over her head in one go.

Tossing the fabric aside, I go for her brown shorts and also fling them on the ground when I pull them past her feet.

With that out of the way, I inch closer to her, my hands lightly tracing the curve of her back. Her eyelids flutter shut at the movement. I chuckle, slowly unhooking her bra to place a quick kiss on the top of her breast. Then I take a step back to admire the perfection that is her curves… to admire her.

I start from her face but don’t get past that when I see the slight curl of her lips. My eyes zoom in on her lips when she teasingly runs her tongue over her bottom one, her eyes raking my form.

Fuck. The act plunges my senses into overdrive. If she keeps doing that, I might just skip the foreplay.

I yank her waist closer to me, and a small yelp leaves her lips. In a blink, I capture her lips with mine, my tongue swooping in to slowly ravage the taste of her delicious mouth.

Below, her hands undo my belt, and I can’t help my groan as she slides my pants down, her fingers taking hold of my dick.

“Fuck.” I break the kiss breathlessly as she begins to stroke my hard shaft. My cock pulses with growing need and hunger, her steady pace driving me damn near the edge. I want her now.

In one swift move, I push her onto the bed. She gasps as she lands, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth. Naughty girl . I smile, wasting no time in taking off my shirt and pants.

“Don’t move,” I tell her, as she props herself up with her elbows to watch me, her perky breasts bouncing slightly as she breathes heavily.

I feel her eyes trailing down my exposed body while I walk to the closet, my dick dangling between my thighs, proudly erect. I walk into the walk-in closet and retrieve a bag from the closet before making my way back to the bed. When I drop the duffel on the bedside table, Raven is already staring at me with a raised brow.

“What’s that?” she asks, curiosity lacing her voice.

“Do you trust me?” I counter-question, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her body tenses for a second, her eyes darting between me and the leather bag. After a brief pause, she nods eagerly.

I break out in a grin, swiftly unzipping the bag and taking out a blindfold. Then I climb onto the bed, briefly dangling the thin leather material in her face before carefully tying it around her eyes.

“Are you good?” I ask, when I notice her slowed breathing.

“Other than the fact that I’m now blind?” She giggles, which elicits a smile from me. “Yes, I am.”

“Good girl,” I purr.

Lifting her legs up, I place them on my right shoulder before reaching for the waistband of her panties and taking them off. “Spread your arms and legs for me, Raven.”

My chest swells with satisfaction when she opens up her limbs, spreading widely for Daddy.

I push myself off the bed, savoring the sight of her laid out before me, inviting and expectant.

My fingers find the leather cuffs. With deliberate care, I secure each of her wrists and ankles to the bedposts, watching her chest rise with a quiet, controlled breath. She remains silent, anticipation thick between us.

I reach for the bag and take out a ball gag, a paddle, and a vibrator. I lay them neatly, side by side on the sheets. Then I get onto the bed, settling myself in between her legs once again.

Grabbing the ball gag, I grip her jaw and hover the leather over her mouth. “Open.”

Her breathing grows uneven, her lips parting slowly. As she does, I slide the smooth black ball between her lips and secure it behind her head.

My chest swells with pride as I take in the bound young woman before me, my perfect hostage.

My hands trail down her stomach to her dripping core, lightly brushing the sensitive fold. Her muffled whimpers and the sight of her helplessness send a surge of heat through me.

“You’re so damn wet,” I growl, slipping a finger inside her. Her hips buckle as she tries to grind against my finger but the restraints hold her in place.

“Stay still, or you’ll regret it,” I warn, wiggling the tip of my finger in her pussy.

She stills for a minute but starts moving again despite my command. My eyes narrow as my patience snaps, and I grab the paddle.

“I told you to stay still,” I growl against her navel.

With my free hand, I press down on her pelvis, applying gentle pressure before bringing the wood down to her vulva. I aim for a stinging impact, not enough to cause real harm, but just enough to elicit a sharp jolt of pain that travels her body. The sharp crack echoes through the room, and she cries out behind the gag.

“Good girl, you like when I spank you,” I murmur, striking her again. Her body tenses with each hit, her skin reddening. Her moans are a blend of pain and pleasure, her pussy clenching as she writhes beneath me.

“Hmmmmm…” Her muffled moans only make my desire burn hotter. Her body jolts with each strike, her loud groans dying down. With one last smack to her right thigh, her body quakes briefly, and I watch as her arousal pools on the sheets beneath her.

Setting the paddle aside, I bring my fingers together and slap her perfect ass, hard. She squirms, her moan breaking free, louder this time.

I retract my hand and take up the light blue vibrator next. Crawling back into bed, I ease myself in between her legs.

Her smooth, clean-shaven pussy, exposed and irresistibly inviting, makes my mind spin. I breathe slowly, steadying myself with both hands on either side of her body, sinking into the mattress.

Leaning forward, my tip brushes against her already wet entrance as I press a kiss to her lips. Her body trembles beneath my touch, so responsive, so eager.

I loosen my hold on her hips, slowly savoring her luxuriously tender skin under my fingers.

I hear her moan behind the ball in her mouth. She arches her back, and pushes her hips forward, slowly moving her waist and tugging against the binds in an attempt to grind against me.

I smile against her skin, resisting the urge to just give her what she wants. “I want to feel my dick inside of you again, but not yet," I murmur, against her neck, in a low, husky tone.

She groans, pushing back into the bed and adjusting slightly so my tip wedges inside her slick pussy.

Fuck!

I shut my eyes involuntarily, reveling in the feel of her warm sex as her hips start thrusting forward desperately. Before she can get too far, I pull out of her.

“Umph!” Her disappointed whimper sends a shiver through me, but I’m in control here.

My hand trails up her body, cupping one of her breasts, the soft weight filling my palm. Without warning, I give it a firm slap, eliciting a low gasp from her.

“Patience, baby girl,” I reprimand sharply.

Her nipple, already hardened, reacts instantly to my touch. I lower my head, teeth grazing over her left nipple before sinking down with a bite. She lets out a sharp gasp as I tug roughly with my teeth.

“Hmmmm…” A throaty moan escapes through the gag, a sweet sound that washes over me. My tongue flicks over her right nipple next, as my palm rubs against her clit vigorously until she’s a quivering mess.

She arches her back in that way that tells me she’s already close. But we’re just getting started, I think proudly. I need her to beg for her release.

I pull back, just enough to make her feel the loss of my touch. A soft ‘tsk’ escapes my lips.

“Don’t do anything I don’t tell you to do, tesoro (sweetheart),” I say, authoritatively, leaving no room for disobedience.

Her breath quickens when I plant a soft trail of kisses down her stomach, stopping just at the top of her pussy.

Her muscles tense beneath my touch, a fine tremor running through her body as she slightly curves her back. Her goosebump-covered thighs twitch. In one quick snap, I undo the ball gag. She inhales shakily as I toss it aside.

Without sight, she’s completely mine to control. But her mouth is her gift— I love to hear her talk while I fuck her.

“I have a little surprise for you,” I whisper, a playful grin spreading across my face, and I switch on the vibrator in my hand. A thrill runs down my spine as I teasingly trace the length of her pussy. I watch her bite down on her lip, a sultry attempt to stifle a moan.

“You feel that?” I ask, softly, my voice laced with amusement.

She nods once.

I reach out to squeeze her left breast firmly before delivering a sharp, stinging smack. The slap echoes in the room, and she cries out, her body jerking in response.

“Use your words,” I remind her, “and call me Daddy.”

The sound she makes—a mix of pain and pleasure—sends heat rushing through me.

“Yes... Daddy,” her voice trembles, a mix of submission and desire.

“Good girl,” I say, my fingers tracing the spot where my hand left its mark. “You take it so well.”

A smirk tugs at my lips as I observe the suspense eat her alive. I notice it in the tremble of her legs and the way her body leans toward me, craving the release I’m not ready to give her yet.

Her breath is ragged, her lips parted as she struggles to maintain control.

Slowly, I push the tip of the vibrator into her. “Be honest with me, Raven…” I say, “…does this feel as good as my dick?”

She moans, her body trembling beneath me, her walls clenched tightly around the dildo.

Impulsively, I pull it out when her response lingers. “I asked you a question,” I groan.

“Yes—no, no, it’s not,” she stutters, shaking her head in protest.

“Oh, Raven,” I murmur against her neck. My lips graze the skin there, causing goosebumps to race across her skin. “You just might pay for that mistake.”

With that, I thrust the vibrator back into her dripping hole, wildly pumping in and out. A string of curses leaves her lips, fueling my desire as I push deeper. I relish the surprised squeal that escapes her, making my hardness throb.

“Shit! It’s fucking deep!” she gasps, her breath hitching.

“I know,” I reply, a wicked smile forming as I pick up the pace.

I watch her body tremble, turning into a beautiful, writhing mess of pleasure. Each gasp, each desperate buck of her hips against my hand, reveals just how close she is to release.

But I won’t let her go there just yet. With a deliberate slowness, I pull the vibrator out from within her. The slick, glassy rod glistens with her juices, tempting me to take a taste. Instead, I drop the device on the bed.

“Daddy...” she gasps as her head turns limply from left to right, her tone dripping with need. “Please, just let me c—”

“Shh,” I hush her with my hand, slowly rubbing circles on her pink clit. "I warned you…your body doesn’t get to act unless I say so, which means you won’t cum until I allow it," I growl, lowering my head to her pussy.

My tongue reaches out for a lap, the sweet taste of her arousal exploding in my mouth.

“Baby, you taste like honey…” I pause to say. Two fingers easily slide inside her, curling to hit her sweet spot. She bucks against my hand, desperate for release, but I don’t let up.

I slap her inner thigh, a sharp sting that makes her cry out. “Stay still.”

My fingers push deeper, faster, thrusting inside her while I suck on her clit. Her body shakes, her moans turning frantic as she teeters on the edge of orgasm.

I stop again.

She cries out in frustration, an action that makes me smile. “You’ll cum when I decide you’ve earned it,” I whisper, pulling my fingers out of her dripping pussy.

I sit back on my heels, my chest purring in admiration as I admire her form: her body writhing, flushed with arousal, her pussy soaked and swollen.

She quietens, visibly relaxing against the bed as my thumb lightly grazes her clit. Then I withdraw my hand from her slickness, the action eliciting a loud ‘pop’ sound.

Shit. Could she be any wetter?

I position myself between her legs, gliding my cock along her thighs and toward her entrance in a slow, teasing motion. As her wetness coats the tip of my dick, the pleasure wraps me completely.

Gripping her hips, I pull her closer to me and finally slam into her in one wild but fluid motion. The sensation overwhelms me as I bury myself completely inside of her. I groan in pleasure when her heat envelops me completely. Then I begin my pace. I thrust into her slowly at first, savoring every reaction, every moan that leaves her lips.

“Not yet,” I murmur, teasing her while keeping the pace languid, even though all I really want is to fuck her hard and fast.

Her body trembles, breaths coming in ragged gasps. I feel her nails dig into my skin, her desperation growing with each passing second.

“Please...” she begs, her voice raw and desperate.

“Please, what?” I ask, inhaling shakily as I feel myself teetering on the edge of control.

“Please fuck me faster already!”

In that very moment, the final thread of restraint snaps as I slowly pull out of her.

I hurriedly uncuff her feet and curve her legs to each side of her head, completely exposing her pussy. She strains but quickly adjusts.

This position drives me nuts. Holding her legs, I slide my cock in and slam into her.

Her cry of pleasure is music to my ears as I thrust into her with wild abandon, no mercy in my movement, just like she asked. I feel her pussy tighten around my hard member, urging me to give her more.

“Fuck yesss…” Raven mewls.

Groaning, I grip her ankles tighter, holding her in place as I plunge deeper until my hips meet the back of her thighs.

“Fuck, you drive me crazy,” I growl, my voice low and primal as I lose myself in the tightness. Her head tilts back, her mouth falling open as the sensations overwhelm her.

“Don’t stop, Daddy…” she cries out, the desperation in her voice edging me on.

I quicken my pace, the sound of my flesh slapping against hers filling the air. Somehow, she bounces her hips, matching my every thrust, her body welcoming me deeper.

Goddamn!

Her body shudders as she surrenders to the pleasure, her pressed breasts bouncing with every thrust.

“Just like that, baby,” I urge, my breath coming in uneven gasps as I drive her closer to the brink. I can feel the heat rising, a feral need clawing at my insides. I’m lost in the primal urge to take her completely, to mark her as mine.

“Don’t hold back, Daddy,” her voice is thick with lust. “I need to feel all of you!”

Her words ignite a fire deep within me, sending a surge of possessiveness rushing through my veins.

I grip her wrists, thrusting into her with intensified ferocity. The sensation of her pussy tightening around me drives me wild, and I can feel myself teetering on the edge of release.

“Tell me how it feels,” I demand, my voice low and husky.

“It feels incredible!” she cries, her body arching into me. “I’m so close!”

“No. Don’t you dare cum unless I give you permission.” I slap one of her thighs, slowing my pace just a little bit.

“Ezra, please!” she cries.

“Please, what?” I growl ferociously.

“Please let me cum! I can’t anymore!” she rambles.

At last, when I sense she can’t take anymore, I lean in closer. “Then surrender to me,” I whisper, thrusting deeper into her, my body maintaining a relentless rhythm. “Cum for me, Raven. Let me feel you.”

With a few more thrusts, she shatters around me, her body convulsing in a wave of ecstasy that ripples through us both. Her cries of pleasure resonate in the room, and I can’t help but follow her over the edge, my control slipping away like a threadbare garment.

When her pussy tightens around my cock, I feel myself lose all form of control. I let out a groan as I cum, her insides milking every single release of mine. The intensity leaves me breathless, my body convulsing as I collapse against her.

Gently, I pull the blindfold from her eyes and run my fingers through her hair, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

“You did so well, baby girl, ” I murmur, my voice rich with warmth and affection.

She gazes up at me, exhausted yet sparkling with pleasure and satisfaction. I can’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“More,” she whispers, her voice soft but laced with hunger, already craving more. My surprise turns into a deep glimmer of pride.

I can definitely take her a few more times.

I let out a low, throaty chuckle.

“Oh, baby, this is just the beginning.”