Gio nodded gravely, his eyes narrowed as if honing in on a distant threat. “Francisco constantly tried to sabotage me in the months after the attack. Every business I audited, every investigation I started, he tried to overrule me and make me look inexperienced.”
Ana’s heart raced.
Was it even possible?
Had Grandfather wanted control of the Family’s future badly enough to kill the old Boss? It seemed too horrible to comprehend–a crime far worse than any insult he could issue. But Gio’s parents were fairly conservative leaders, inoffensive to Grandfather’s way of thinking. What would Grandfather have gained by murdering them?
Gio seemed to think so as well. “Francisco got on well with my parents. They always catered to everyone’s opinions and valued their support, even if it meant stalling progress. So I can’t imagine him wanting to get rid of them, only to be saddled with me for a Boss.”
Ana silently agreed though she remained perturbed. Power games were different in the Family. Here, when people’s ambitions rose high, it could lead to explosive results. Even murder.
Her husband was no exception, even with his lofty ideals. She thought back to Gio’s lethal expression the night of Jon’s execution…and then glanced at the clean shirt he wore now.
What other punishments had Gio dealt out since that night? Had his meetings last night been purely about business, or something more gruesome?
Ana shuddered.
Gio was right, though. Grandfather had too much to lose by killing Gio’s parents. They had promised Antonio the Capo title in Pittsburgh and Gabriella’s hand in marriage. Grandfather would have risked losing all that with their death.
“I didn’t say all this to worry you.” Gio searched her reddened eyes. “Just to say that Francisco’s words are worth shit. Don’t let him or Marta fuck with you.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. “T-thank you.”
Morning light poured in through the windows, growing in intensity as time passed.
As her tears faded, she began to pull away, feeling like a sullen child cradled in his lap. But Gio roughly tightened his embrace. The pull of his soft, protective eyes, his warm, hard body, and that heady scent were too tempting to resist. If he wouldn’t let go, then neither would she.
Morning came and went. If he had work to do or meetings to attend, she didn’t ask.
Didn’t care to ask.
All she wanted was for time to freeze in its steps as they sat here together.
Gio hesitated when her hands trailed low, perhaps worrying about taking advantage of her emotional state. But when she desperately whispered that she’d missed him inside her, all polite control vanished as he ripped down the zipper of her dress.
Kissing him hotly, she released his cock.
And sank down over him.
Shivering with the need coursing through her, gripping her in its madness, Ana’s head fell back as she issued a low moan. The ends of her long hair grazed his thighs.
Every part of him was clothed while she sat half-naked, her dress bunched around her waist. But shyness was far from her mind, not with her body screaming in satisfaction as they finally came together. His steely arms flexed around her hips, and his strong legs tensed beneath her ass.
“Fuck. That's it…want me,” Gio growled, nipping her throat, the swells of her breasts.
Maybe she should feel shy now, she thought, as he intently watched the way her body undulated above him. Her hips rolling and grinding. But it only emboldened her, knowing she’d reduced such a controlled and dangerous man to his most base senses.
His face was carved out of stone…as if he were flying and being flayed alive all at once.
“Gio,” she cried.
And then he took over, done with her motions.
With sharp, punctuated thrusts, he hit so deeply inside her that it felt as though he’d meld into her body forever. Burning every part of her. The sensation and the knowledge of his possession tipped her under.
Until one thought remained.
Mine.