Twisted Loyalties (The Camorra Chronicles 1)

I rubbed him through the thin fabric, feeling him grow even bigger. I tugged at his waistband, wanting to see him in all his naked glory.

And for the first time I didn’t care how it would make me look that I wanted a man, that I felt lust and acted upon it. I curled my fingers around his shaft, feeling it throb. It felt hard and hot, and yet smooth. Marvelous. Every inch of him.

I ran my fingers up and down slowly, but Fabiano gave a thrust of his hips. I peered up.

“Leona, I’m in no state of mind for the soft approach.”

I tightened my hold and moved faster, but eventually let him take control as he closed his hand over mine and thrust his hips in rhythm with his strokes. New blood dripped from the wound over his ribs but he didn’t seem to mind. I raised my gaze from our hands moving together, to his face. Hunger and need. And that gentler emotion that scared me shitless, but that scared him even more. I knew that now.

When he tensed and his release took over I watched his face in wonder, hoping for a revelation, and he looked marvelous, but not unhinged. Still in control, even now.

I think I love you.

His eyes peeled open, and his emotionless mask slid over his features as we stared at each other. He took my hand and led me toward the shower.

I followed even as I said, “Fabiano, we can’t.”

He ignored my protest and pulled my dress up over my head, then removed my underwear. “You said you needed a shower.”

I gave up on protesting and slipped under the warm stream with him. His hands slid over my slick skin, and his lips found mine. Blood tinged the ground pink. He peered down at me, as the water plastered his hair against his head. “Do you still think I want to degrade you?”

I flushed, wanting to forget my words from that night. He had given me pleasure with his mouth, but it was different. “No,” I said quietly.

“Good.” And then his lips were back on mine and I let him pull me out of reality as his warmth surrounded me. I placed my palm over his heart, feeling its beat. I wanted it to beat only for me. His fingers curled around my hand and he pulled it away. Away from his heart, and raised it to his lips for a kiss. I pressed my forehead against his shoulder.

This was enough.

Chapter Seventeen

I stifled a sigh when a knock sounded at my door. I had to leave for work in a few minutes and had no time for a talk to my father. Since Mom had moved in with us two days ago, our already strained relationship had taken a nosedive toward worse. He only wanted money from me anyway. That was the only reason why he even let me and Mom stay with him. But I didn’t have much money. I’d given almost all of my savings to my mother, so she could pay part of her debt to the Camorra. And it still wasn’t enough, which was why she was out on the street selling her body again.

I opened the door.

Dad was deathly pale, sweat coating his forehead.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, even though I had a sinking feeling that I knew. There was always the same thing wrong.

“I’m in trouble, Leona.”

“You always are,” I said, reaching for my backpack to head out but Dad gripped my arm. “Leona, please. They will kill me. He will.”

I froze. “Why would they do that?”

“I’m owing too much. I can’t pay them. I’m a dead man if you don’t help me, Leo, please.”

Leo. That was a name he’d called me when I’d been a little girl, when he’d still occasionally been a decent father.

He’s not your business. That’s what Fabiano had told me, and after the last days of my father treating my mother like shit, I wanted to agree with him.

“How much do you owe them?”

“I don’t know. Two thousand perhaps. I don’t know! I lost track.”

How could he lose track of his debts? I closed my eyes for a moment. The remaining money was supposed to get me into college, to buy me a future, and again my father ruined it. I turned and took the money from its hiding place beneath the carpet, and held it out to my father. He didn’t take it. “I can’t bring them the money. They will kill me before I can hand it over. Leona, you must go for me.”

I could go to Fabiano, and give him the money. Of course he wouldn’t take it. He would gladly kill my father. He had done enough for me already. “Where do I need to bring it?”

“It’s called the Sugartrap. That’s where Falcone and his Enforcers hang around most days.” He gave me the address, then clutched my hand. “You have to hurry. Perhaps they already sent someone out for me.”