The Power of a Woman: A Mafia Erotic Romance (33 page)

Mick ran his weathered hand over his face, showing his defeat. He didn’t need to say anything, Carlo already knew. Everyone knew that the man never asked a question he didn’t already have the answer to.

“I’d hoped this visit wouldn’t be necessary, but it seems I’ve been let down. I’ve given you both”—he pointed his aged finger at both my dad and Mick—”enough rope to handle this on your own, but it seems as though you’ve used it to hang yourselves with it instead. This is business, and in this age, it’s in our best interest to legitimize our business dealings in New York before we’re wiped out completely.”

“We were fucking played…and our own fucking children were used against us,” my father growled in a whisper to Mick, earning him a nod in return.

Carlo glanced around the table before settling his gaze on Stefan with a smile. “This is a new age, my friends, and we need new blood—
young
blood—to take us into the future. I’m taking a protégé, as you Americans say. And Stefan Giannotti has agreed.”

Mick turned to Stefan, and with a curled top lip. “No offense, Don, but has my son ever mentioned to you that up until his brother died, he had no interest in this business? He had no interest in
this
family? Isn’t that right, Stefan? Why don’t you let the man know what you said to me before leaving for school all those years ago…”

Stefan glared at his father before letting his smile take over his lips. “He already knows, but if you’re seeking to hear my words again, then by all means, I’ll say it. I had no interest in being a soldier in this family. Nico wanted that. He would’ve been happy with any role he got in this business. However, I never cared to answer to a line of people ahead of me. And now…I don’t have to.”

“You selfish son of bitch.” Mick nearly came out of his seat, but stopped when Carlo stood, the legs of his chair sliding slowly against the hard floor. The ominous sound caused everyone at the table to stop what they were doing and turn their attention to the man standing at the end.

He pressed his finger against the table to drive his point home, and bored his eyes into Mick. “Never question me. Stefan was asked what authority he had to call this meeting, and I’ve come to explain. End of discussion.”

Mick reluctantly agreed with a simple nod of his head. “If you don’t mind me asking, Don…where does that leave us? Where are we left in this family?”

Carlo rose to his full height, straightening his back, and smiled down the table toward Stefan and me. With his hand in mine, Stefan stood as well, pulling me up with him. That left only the three—four including Sunny—of us on our feet while the others looked up at us from their seats.

“I have studied real estate,” Stefan began, making eye contact with each and every person in the room. “I know the market, I know the business, and I know what it takes to be successful…in
everything
I do. No longer will we be dealing our business underground. It’s time to look up, in the sky. Why run this city from the sewers when we can be ruling it from the top of skyscrapers and glass buildings? Why have the masons and the unions in our back pocket if we’re not utilizing them? This is motherfucking New York, and it’s about time we take our city back. The feds have nearly decapitated us in our own back yard. It’s time we cut them off at the knees and make them bow to us like they once did. We used to run this playground, and somewhere along the way, we’ve given up our sandbox. And I say no more.”

Mick began to clap dramatically—slow, heavy claps that echoed in the room. “You sound like a true politician, my son. Too bad you didn’t go down that path. But what’s this?” He waved his hand at the two of us standing side by side. “Huh? You go and marry an Albanese because one family isn’t enough? You need them both?”

“I married her because I
love
her. It’s not about the power I
gain
by it, but about what I
do
with it. Get your head out of your ass and stop being a spiteful prick.” Stefan turned his attention to the rest of the room. “Now, is there anything else that needs to be said before I take my wife home?”

No one spoke up; instead, the sounds of everyone’s chairs sliding against the floor filled the room. I glanced up to Carlo, and found a satisfied grin on his face as he studied me next to Stefan. He slowly moved around the table, our gazes locked the entire time until he came to stand at my side. He bent down and pressed a kiss to my cheek, before saying, “Fate una bella sposa, congratulazioni.” Even though I’d been well aware of how much my life would change from that moment on, it was his words of congratulations and that I made a beautiful bride that really solidified it. My own father could barely look at me after finding out about my marriage to Stefan, but here was
the
Godfather giving me his blessing.

The tables have turned.

After kissing Stefan’s cheeks, Carlo met up with his men on the other end of the room and vanished without a word, as if saying, “My business here is done.” His acknowledgment of Stefan and me, and the way the others were discounted, was evident of Stefan’s new position in the Mafia. And that had not gone unnoticed.

Mick glared at Stefan before turning to Vinny, muttering under his breath something I couldn’t distinguish. But I assumed it had something to do with leaving since they both turned their backs on us and exited after Carlo. That only left Stefan and me in the room with my father, Vito, and Sunny. I caught Sunny’s attention, to which he gave me a short nod, remaining silent in the shadows like always. Vito hadn’t said a word since walking into the room, and moved toward the door the same way he came in—only difference, was instead of riding high on his horse, he sulked with his shoulders drooped.

That’s what defeat looked like on an old man.

My father stood in front of me and reached out to hold my hand. I could tell by his weakened eyes that he’d been let down, but they also spoke of something else—loneliness. I knew this wouldn’t be easy on him, but I couldn’t very well stay in his house for the rest of my life. And I’m sure he never truly expected me to. The man had to learn how to take care of things on his own, or at least meet a woman. We all knew no one could fill my mother’s shoes, but he didn’t deserve to be unhappy, either.

“I came here thinking I would hear news about Matteo, but nothing was even said about it. All you did was throw your secret wedding in my face and strip me of everything.” He kept his voice low, but not to prevent anyone from overhearing. It was because he’d been too overpowered to provide anything else.

I touched his face to offer as much support as I could. No matter how much I wanted to be on top or how much power I sought, it didn’t take away the fact that this was my father—the first man I ever loved. And I never wanted to see him to down and overwhelmed.

“Matty is safe, Daddy. I promise you that.”

“So you know where he is?” His eyes lit up with hope.

“Yes, I do. But don’t ask me for the details. He’s not held against his will. He went on his own accord. And he won’t be gone forever. I promise you, when he comes back, he’ll be a better man. I just ask that you trust me with this.”

His gaze fell to the floor as he took a step back. “You’ve taken everything from me, Jordana. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

I stepped into him and took his face in my hands, forcing him to meet my eyes. “I’m the woman you raised me to be. You didn’t raise a fool, or an idiot. I learned how to take charge by watching you…and I’ve been taking charge right in front of your eyes ever since Mom died. I was there to take care of the house, and to pick up after Matty for most of his life. And that’s what I’m doing now. I’m taking care of the bigger house, and I’m still taking care of my brother.”

He pressed his forehead to mine before leaning back and kissing it. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of you. But it’d be a lie if I also didn’t say I’m disappointed. However, I’m not disappointed in you—but in myself. I guess I should thank you for looking after things while I couldn’t. I just hope you haven’t bitten off more than you can chew.”

“I haven’t, Daddy.”

“And if you have…you know where to find me.” He kissed my forehead once more before meeting Vito at the door, Sunny following behind as they walked out.

I turned to Stefan, and the smile on his face eased my racing heart.

“You ready, my love?”

“Beyond ready.” I took his hand and followed him out to the empty parking lot. I stared at him questioningly when he opened the passenger door to my car and gestured for me to get in.

“Did you really think I’d let you follow me? I had someone bring me here tonight so I could drive you home for the first time.”

Home
. I loved the sound of it. Because for the first time in my life, it wasn’t my father’s house. It was
my
house…
my
home with
my
husband.

“Here we are,” he said as the elevator came to a halt and the door opened. He carried me over the threshold and into his penthouse—
our
penthouse. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to saying that. When we stepped inside, I noticed the fireplace going and tiny candles placed along every flat surface throughout the space. Calla lilies, orchids, and roses adorned several table tops, making the room warm and romantic.

“Oh my God, Stefan.” I gasped as released his hold on me, setting me down to stand on my own two feet. “This is just…wow. I never expected…” I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. His romantic gestures left me speechless.

The smell of something sweet filled the room and glanced around to find where it’d come from.

“Chocolate?” I asked, staring at him in anticipation with wide eyes.

“It is your favorite, right? Well, one of them.” His mouth twisted into a wicked grin as he winked at me, letting his intentions be known. It was yet another side to this man that I’d come to not only love, but also adore.

“Imagine what we could do if we joined my two favorite things…”

The softness of his eye was lover-like, but his fisted hands told me something different. They showed me a man threadbare with hunger, eagerness ready to rip him in two. I knew this was part of Stefan’s heritage, just as it was part of mine—hot-blooded Italian. The backs of his fingers lightly skimmed across the skin on my collarbone, yet he never removed his burning gaze from my face.

“So soft,” he whispered to himself as he brought his face close to mine.

His lips trailed down the side of my neck, his tongue softly licking my skin as he went. He made it to my shoulder and pressed a feather-light kiss to my beauty mark he’d recently become obsessed with. Then he flicked it with his tongue before continuing his way down to my breasts.

My body hummed in pleasure as he slowly and methodically worshiped every inch of me. I sighed and restlessly shifted where I stood, letting him know that I needed more.

“I want to fuck these tonight,” he said while cupping both breasts in his large hands. It wasn’t a question; there was no doubt in my mind that he had full intention of following through.

His eyes flared with lust, and my belly burned with need. He touched himself over his slacks, grabbing his erection. Flames of hunger and sparks of electricity shot through me, my skin burning everywhere his intense gaze touched. Without warning, his fingers circled my upper arms as he pulled me into him. A throaty growl escaped him and sent waves of need down my spine right before his mouth melded to mine. It wasn’t a kiss, but fierce possession. Ownership.

Heat rushed over me like molten lava, blossoming and bursting into volcanic flames at my core. His lips crushed mine, his strength enormous. I wanted us skin against skin, desperate to feel my body pressed into the heat of his. My breath slammed in and out of me, mixing with his frantic breathing. His kiss was hungry and savage, devouring me…taking, rather than asking, as if his need knew no boundaries. His arms locked me into him with such force I felt every muscle, every beat of his heart, every breath in his lungs. He tasted of lust and promised desire. His mouth was hot velvet, his tongue dueling with mine, a tango of need and heated desire.

A tidal wave swept through me, carrying me up…higher and higher until there was nowhere left to go. It left me free-falling, imploding, coming undone and frayed. I moaned, opening my mouth wider to allow him full possession of me. He responded to the noises I made by growling against my lips.

And just when I thought the world couldn’t spin any faster, he pulled away, breaking the spell. “I won’t let this happen here, in the middle of the foyer. Not to mention, I have a surprise waiting for you in the bedroom.”

“What did you do?” Giddiness and excitement filled the void his passion left behind.

“Go see, Tesero,” he said, giving me a pat on my ass. He led me down the hall with one hand settled on my lower back. I slowed my gait to allow him the opportunity to open the bedroom door, knowing that my surprise was more than likely in his favor, too.

“Are you shitting me right now?” My hand flew to my mouth, making my words muffled and unclear. In the middle of the room sat a Vi-Spring bed topped with a white, lacy down comforter. I threw myself on top of it, letting the cushioned lambswool, mohair, and cashmere-filled mattress engulf my body. “Do you even know how much a bed like this is?”