I wait for her reply, my eyes trained on her with my breath in my throat. Because this would be very different if feelings were involved. Gia is a servant girl who works in our household, sweet and hardworking, I liked her a lot. She is paid very generously and could quit and decide to do something else if she wanted, but for now, she works for us and Tommy might as well be a prince, living the life of a man with the world at his feet, as much as it looks cute on the soap operas I was fond of watching, it wouldn’t fly well in our life. One day he would be expected to marry for the good of the family, as a made man, duty came before all else. I didn’t want to see her hurt. Gia shook her head, the universal sign for no her eyes trained on her hands. I stared at her, trying to find any form of deceit. I relaxed a fraction. Though she might say that for now, it’s quite easy to confuse sex and feelings, especially for women. I didn’t want to say this but what choice did I have?

Niko caught one of my legs and yanked me to him. A sob ripped out of my chest even as my belly tightened. “This was meant to be a punishment” he states as he cupped me between my legs, heat rose from my chest up my face and I know he felt how damp I was. “You liked the pain?” “I don’t” I shook my head trying to get away from him. I didn’t want him getting any ideas. Christ, the throbbing pain on my ass, I knew without a doubt that my skin would be red right now. “Shhh…only pleasure now…” he trailed off as his thumb found my clit stroking in tight circles tension coils in my belly, my walls clenched. He drops three slaps in rapid session on my pussy, nowhere as hard as he smacked my ass a moment ago but I felt it. I groaned, my back leaving the bed as my head fell back. How I felt it. At this point, my entire body was a bundle of sensations. I was strung tighter than a guitar string. He slipped two fingers into me and I whimpered, he thrust once, twice and curled them upwards,

“Good afternoon daughter” she says without looking at me. Keeping my gentle smile in place, I crossed to the other side of the room. Spine straight, in a fashionable white suit and icy blue shirt that matches her eyes, I nearly jumped back when she when she scanned me from head to toes with said icy eyes. Without blinking she asks. “How are the children?”“Fine, fine, down for a nap” I answered with the first thing that came to mind. And a total lie. Pushing back the chair opposite hers and unfortunately with my back to the door I sit, “If I’d know you were coming I would have tried to keep them awake a little longer so they can see their Nonna” Unsure if she bites my act, she inclined her head “That’s is quite alright, another time”“Of course.” Another smile, I fixed myself a cup of tea, silently berating Maria for not urging out some wine for me, and I needed something to do with my hand. That fine, i cradled it in my palms. We sit in tensed silent for long minutes.

I think it would be interesting.The business was not my cup of tea, but each to their own Vanessa is always complaining about how women are given less of a voice, about our anatomy, our person, and our choices, I think she would be firmly on Marina’s side. I miss Niko's response to which Danilo inclined his head. “I’ll look into it” When he sets off probably to do just that I clicked my glass against Niko’s glass of scotch “I thought you didn’t like to get involved with other family's business?” it sounded like he just asked Danilo to spy on them.His eyes on the teardrop diamond sitting on my collarbone, snapped to mine “In other territories, whatever happens in my city is my business”I see. I swiped my tongue over my teeth, “If she is making a bid, will you support her though she is a woman?” He shook his head once, “The timing isn’t ideal”For a power struggle in one of the lower families while Valentina’s presence kept everyone on their tip toes. “And if she manages to win?

*** The presentation was rather straightforward, less dramatic than I expected, Maria had brought my son forward and I took him, holding him to my chest in the center of the room, Niko stood at my side beside him was his uncle Matteo and Valentina. Tommy stood at my other side. The capo said five words “Angelo Marino Salvatore, my heir” Soft applause followed and I returned Angelo to Maria’s waiting arms, she had explicit orders to take him directly to our rooms, to get changed as they were already fed and, then bed. Rico is to stay up with them since the girls are tied up at the moment. I considered hiring contracted staff but outside, especially here in the mansion… my husband said and I quote ‘make do’ So far so good. The Brodetto di Pesce a native Italian seafood stew was delicious but I couldn’t bring myself to enjoy it, not with Valentina sitting at our table, after the whole wine ordeal I considered moving her to another table, let someone else deal with her for the