Valentina pov
Later that afternoon, I threw my makeup bag into a satchel. I couldn’t bring much when I ran, but I would take my very favourite things, like the Mama earrings Mama left me.A photo of me, Gia and Rebecca at CN Tower. The leggings that fit my legs and ass perfectly. And, of course, my passport and money.“This is a bad idea,” my sister, Rebecca, said. “How are you going to live?”“Forget about that, how is she going to escape Papà and the guards?” Gia turned the page in her magazine, barely paying attention. “You’ll never even reach the street, Tina .”“Yes, I will.” Two years ago, I discovered the cameras didn’t cover one sliver of the stone wall surrounding our house, so I chipped footholds into the stone, which allowed me to come and go as often as I dared. It was how I snuck out to lose my virginity to David last November.My sisters didn’t know this, however. That escape route was too dangerous for anyone but me. Gia made a noise in her throat like she didn’t believe me. “Papà’s going to be totally pissed when you’re caught.”Bag packed, I went and sat on the bed next to them. “I hate to leave you both, but I have to do this. I cannot marry some stranger and become A MAFIA WIFE, trapped at home with a zillion kids while my husband fucks a mistress on the streets.”“The Morreti's are loaded,” Gia said. “I Googled them. They live in a castle, Tina . An honest God castle. And the son is a total snack. I don’t know what you’re bitching about.”God, Gia was so spoiled. She had no idea how bad it could truly get for mafia wives. “Mama gave up her modelling career for Papà and she always regretted it. You don’t remember her as well as I do, but I can’t give up the chance at a normal life. Not for any amount of money, It’s not worth it.” “I understand,” Rebecca said, always the level headed twin. “And I don’t think you should agree. The man who came here, his father? They call him IL DIAVOLO.”THE DEVIL, I could well believe it. No one rose to the top of the Calabrian mafia without being evil and terrifying. Rebecca touched my hand. “I have a thousand dollars saved up in my room. Do you want it?”I felt like crying. Again. I threw my arms around her. “I can’t take your money, Rebecca. You might need it someday. But it’s very kind of you to offer.”I had five thousand plus some gold coins in my satchel. It wouldn’t last long, but it would be enough to disappear. I hoped. Next I hugged Gia, who embraced me almost reluctantly.“I’m just going to see you again in an hour or so when Papà’s men drag you back inside,” she said.“Well, in case you don’t, please give me a hug.” That got Gia’s arms to tighten ever so slightly. “Good luck, Tina .”“I love you both. Use these next two years to figure a way out. He won’t marry you off before you’re eighteen.”“He might,” Rebecca said. “Gabriella Pizzuto’s father arranged her marriage when she was only thirteen.” Gross. I stood and grabbed my satchel. “You can both come with me, you know.”Gia frowned. “That would only make it easier for us to be caught. Besides, they won’t hurt us in retaliation.” I hoped that was true.Women and children were supposed to be off-limits in any mafia conflict, but I would never forgive myself if either of my sisters were harmed because of me. “Convince Papà to honour his word about allowing you each to go to college.”“Go,” Rebecca urged. “It’s dark enough now that you won’t be seen.” She was right.I needed to get going. The guards were eating dinner foronly another twenty minutes. I looked at my phone on the dresser. Not taking it with me felt very strange, but it would be too easy to find me if I kept it. I needed to leave it behind, as I always did when I snuck out.After opening the window, I took the rope I kept under my bed, secured it to the bedpost, and unrolled it over the windowsill. I tossed my satchel to the ground and then climbed down into the yard.My sisters watched me safely descend before pulling the rope back up. I blew them a kiss then sprinted for the trees. Papà had no idea David existed, so I’d start there tonight. In the morning I would come up with a plan. Perhaps I’d go to Vancouver Or Colorado.Somewhere I could hike and seek, I couldn’t stand being cooped up inside, not since I’d accidentally locked myself in a closet as a girl. It had taken four hours for someone to find me, and I was nearly catatonic with fear by then.After that I hated the indoors, and Mama used to let me follow her outside to her gardens. She grew vegetables and flowers, and it always seemed like everything around her was beautiful.Ever since then, I’ve loved dirt and rocks and fresh air. First I had to escape the estate. Then I would need to stay hidden, change my name, and never contact my sisters. I couldn’t allow Papà to find me, not until the threat had long passed. Still, I could do it. No, I had to do it. I had to leave all this behind and become my own person. Find happiness for myself, as my mother had urged me.Never settle, Valentina . Be your own woman. She said those words when I was a young girl, and I hadn’t understood them at the time. But I did now...and I would follow her advice.I followed the well-worn path to the wall and into the trees, where the cameras couldn’t see. I chucked my satchel over the wall first, then I used the footholds to climb up.At the top, I threw my legs over and held on with both hands so I could jump the rest of the way down.Except fingers wrapped around my legs, startling me. They didn’t let go. I kicked hard. But it did no good. The hands only tightened. “Stop it! Let me go.”“NOT A CHANCE, VALENTINA .” No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. How had Morreti found me here? It was impossible.I struggled to get away but my arms weakened and I was quickly forced to let go of the wall. I fell into a hard, male chest, arms folding like steel bands around me. “Get your hands off me. I’m not going with you.”He didn’t budge. “You are coming with me. Even if I must drug you to do it.” I gasped. “Drug me? Is that what you Italians do to unwilling women?”His lips met the edge of my ear. “I could not say, There are no unwilling women in my life, Valentina .”Was that...sexual? My mind remained confused, but my body must have been on board because it went up in flames. I was close enough that I could smell him lemon and mint and maybe green apple and my nipples tightened. I shut my eyes, humiliated. Why was I having this reaction, especially when this man wanted to kidnap me and force me to marry his son? Using all my strength, I bucked against him. “GET OFF ME, YOU DICK.”He gave a soft chuckle. “Drugs it is.” I tried to push away to see his face.“No, please. Don’t…..” A sharp prick in the back of my neck was followed by a cold rush in my veins. “What was that? Are you serious….?” And the world went black....Valentina POVThe dream wouldn’t let go. As I struggled to wake up, my brain felt as if it was swimming through molasses, sticky and thick. Where was I? I heard murmurs and a rumbling underneath me. Was I in a car? My body felt heavy and my limbs were cement. I couldn’t seem to open my eyes.What was my problem?Then I remembered. The wall, Morreti , the needle. Shit! He drugged me. That asshole. I concentrated on my breathing and willed the drugs out of my system. I needed to fight whatever was happening to me. “Good. You are awake.” I would have started if I’d been capable of moving my limbs. Was he spying on me while I slept? Just my luck to get kidnapped by a murderer and a creeper. Great, I was on a mattress, the sheets crisp and cool beneath me. “You...kidnapped...me,” I forced out. “And...drugged me.” Large fingers brushed the hair off my face. “I retrieved my son’s fiancée by any means necessary. Let that be a warning to you.” A tiny shiver went through me. None of this ma
VINCENZO POVI heard the bedroom door open and my body went on alert. I didn’t want to admit it, but I had been listening for any sound of her back there. Eager, like a schoolboy. I shook my head, disgusted with myself. Even if I weren’t too old for her, she was engaged to my son. I needed to pull my head out of my ass.All my men turned to watch as she picked her way to an empty seat, her tits bouncing with each step. Long legs and shapely hips, with waves of blond hair that reached down her back, and a face that could make angels weep. DIO, SHE WAS HOT.When I looked away, I found Marco smirking at me. Had he read me so easily? When my father died and I became the CAPO ten years ago, I appointed my cousin my right-hand. In fact, there was no one I trusted more. We’d grown up together, killed together, and risen through the ’ndrina ranks together. But that didn’t mean he had the right to smirk at me. “You have something to say to your capo?” I asked him. He didn’t appear chastised
VINCENZO POVShe swallowed and focused on the scenery. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived at my home, Castello di Morreti (Castle of Morreti's). I loved every bit of the estate the olive groves, vineyards, farmland and pasture but I couldn’t appreciate any of it at the moment And this only increased my fury. When the car stopped in front of the stone entry, I didn’t move. “Leave us,” I told Marco and my driver. The doors closed and Valentina jumped, a frightened little rabbit. I angled toward her slightly. “Do you know my favourite part of owning a castle?”“No,” she said, her voice breaking.“Not even a guess?”“The turrets?” Smirking, I got out and came around to her side. Once I pulled her from the car, I leaned down. “My favourite part of this castle is the DUNGEON.” She gasped. My patience thinned, I didn’t give her a chance to run. Instead, I hauled her over my shoulder and started walking toward the back entrance that led below ground. She instantly began thrashing, her legs
VALENTINA POVThe implications was clear that Vincenzo Morreti was no stranger to cruelty. That he would gladly use a person’s weakness against them. Jesus, What a prize. Before I could comment, we entered the castle. A small room led into a kitchen, which was surprisingly modern for a place with an actual dungeon. “I’ll have Zia bring up hot tea,” Dimitri said as he continued into the house. “That’s my aunt. She lives with us and does most of the cooking.” Calming down, I began to look around curious about this different type of prison. The contrast with the dungeon was startling. What I could see was light and airy with gleaming wood accents and light plaster walls.Huge oval windows were framed with tasteful draperies and tile covered the floor. It was even nicer than our home in Toronto. Surprisingly, I didn’t see any security cameras. That was the information I stored away for future use. “This is my wing of the house,” Dimitri said. “My father stays on the other side.” Tha
VALENTINA POVLight filtered into the room, streaks of blinding sunshine that roused me from a fitful sleep. I could barely bring myself to open my eyes. All night I had tossed and turned, convinced myself that the lock on my door would mean nothing to anyone who wanted to enter. Namely, someone with bright blue eyes and a nasty disposition who liked to kidnap and drug young women. The only way I’d been able to relax was knowing Dimitri slept a few doors away. I rolled onto my back and studied the plaster ceiling. If I were going to find a way out of this, I couldn’t stay in bed or hide in this room. I had to get out and explore, look for weaknesses. Try to come up with a plan to escape. Even if Dimitri had resigned himself to this marriage, I certainly hadn’t.Thankfully, the bathroom had been stocked with every toiletry I might possibly need, mostly high-end Italian brands we couldn’t get in Canada. The closet and wardrobe were full of clothes, from yoga pants to designer dresses
Valentina POVOur last stop was the vineyard, where vines stretched as far as the eye could see. The estate grew Gaglioppo and Greco bianco grapes, which they blended to make red and rosé wines. They also made nigredo, a grappa flavoured with licorice and I quickly discovered this was my very favourite thing on earth from now on.“Easy, signorina ( miss),” Vincenzo, the vintner, said as I took another swallow. “The Morreti grappa is to be sipped.”“Canadians are quickly becoming like Americans,” Dimitri teased, mimicking someone guzzling a drink. “More, more, more.”“Stop dragging Canadians,” I told him as I shoved his shoulder. “We are nicer than Italians.” Vincenzo chuckled, but shook his head. “You will not like how it tastes coming back up, signorina.” I waved that comment away. “I never throw up after drinking. We Romanos are made of sterner stuff.”Vincenzo and Dimitri exchanged an amused look. “No doubt you are, bella,” Dimitri said and held up the bottle. “Would you like ano
Vincenzo POVI came into the kitchen the next morning at my usual time. My son was there with Zia, but Valentina was still absent. She’d been too ill from grappa to eat with us last evening and apparently was not yet awake. I didn’t like it.Dimitri and Valentina seemed happy yesterday in the tasting room. Unable to help myself, I’d watched the security footage, soaking in the way she smiled at him. Studying the curve of her lips when she laughed. It was clear she liked my son, and I told myself that was a good thing. A sign of their future together, a team working toward the common goal of the future success of the Morreti family.I kissed Zia’s cheeks and made a cup of espresso. Dimitri was on his phone, scrolling through videos of some kind. He’d gone out last night for work and, from the looks of it, was only getting home. “Rough night?” I asked.Out of respect, he put down his phone and gave me his full attention. “No. I was at the club until around three. Then we had a shipment
Vincenzo POV“How about this?” I said. “I will give you the satchel if you choose a suitable wedding dress.”“Really?”“I never go back on my word once a deal is made.”“Fine.” She answered too quickly and now I was the suspicious one. What was she planning? My friend Celestina would provide enough choices for Valentina to find a dress she liked. There would be no way around it. I held out my hands. “See? That was not so difficult.”“I want a phone.”“No.”“Why not?”“First, because you haven’t earned the privilege. Second, it isn’t safe. If you need to make a call, Dimitri or I can help you. Until you learn our rules and willing to abide by them, it is too risky.”“I need to call my family.”“I will think about it.” Her nostrils flared and I could see how she struggled not to lash out. After a long second, she asked, “And how am I supposed to earn these privileges?”“By doing what you are told. Stop fighting me and the marriage to my son. Accept your fate, Valentina .” Gracefully,