Page 7 of Claimed by The Italian

“No. I’ll protect her. She’s only safe with me,” I growl. I stare Bianca down. “Let them try and cross me, I’ll rip them apart. I’m not a violent man, Bianca, you know that. No matter where our work has led us, I’m not a killer or a savage. But if they threaten her again, even in jest, then they’re inviting me to do something I don’t ever want to do.”

“Have some sense,” she begs me. “I’m scared, Lorenzo. Their family...they’re powerful. Just as powerful as ours. And we don’t have anything we can use against them. They have the power, they are holding our money, and now you’ve pissed them off.”

“They’ve pissed me off and trust me, my wrath is more to be feared than theirs,” I growl. I pour two glasses of whiskey and push one toward Bianca. I sip it, allowing the fire to rush through my veins. Bianca picks up her glass but just stares at it.

“When did you stop trusting me?” I say. “I’ve always taken care of this family. You said it yourself, our parents trusted me to be in charge. I’ve never put you in danger before. But Bianca, you know exactly how to take care of yourself. And even if you didn’t, I’m here to protect you too.”

Bianca arches an eyebrow. “You know what, little brother? I don’t think you care about me anymore. You don’t care that your recklessness is going to affect me. If you did, you’d get rid of her. But you care more for her after a day than you ever will about this family.”

She doesn’t get it. She doesn’t understand how Lydia is the only woman to ever make me come alive. She’s the heat in my veins. She makes me want to live a new kind of life. For over twenty years, this has been my reality. At seventeen, I became a mafia boss when our father was killed. I’ve carried this burden for a long time. I’ve never taken a lover. I’ve never even looked at another woman. So how can she possibly understand what Lydia means to me? How can she understand the things I crave from her after forty years alone? Bianca has never known that kind of loneliness.

“Believe what you want,” I growl. “You can leave whenever you want, Bianca. This is my house. It’s in my name. I built this empire and I’m not about to destroy it. But if you don’t believe in me then maybe you don’t belong here anymore.”

Bianca stares at me in shock. I don’t think she ever expected me to put my foot down with her. She’s always been able to do whatever she wants, swanning around like she owns the place but not having a single ounce of real power. Now she can know for real where she stands. She doesn’t call the shots here, I do.

Scowling at me, she knocks back her whiskey and then throws the glass at the wall callously. I don’t flinch as it shatters into a million pieces, as does my relationship with my sister. She walks out of the room and I calmly sip my drink. She’ll forgive me someday. But right now, she’s not who I’m focussed on.

I have to see Lydia.

I have to have her.

My fists are clenched at my sides as I make my way to her room. I want to sweep her up in my arms and kiss her. I want to slam the door shut behind me and rip her clothes off until she’s naked in front of me. I want to worship her body and fuck her until she screams my name. I’m filled with a type of energy I’ve never felt before. This sexual awakening inside me is bringing out an animal, desperate for her body, needing her more than anything else in the world.

Her room is in sight. I don’t bother knocking. I throw open the door and find her standing in the middle of the room, brushing out her hair as she stands in her underwear. She turns to me in shock.

“Lorenzo…”

My name on her lip is too much for me to handle. I move to her and grab her, pulling her body against mine.

Then cash my lips against hers.Chapter FourLydiaHis mouth is hot and wet on mine. I let out a moan, unable to control myself. He’s giving me the kind of pleasure with one kiss that I’ve only ever dreamed of. This feels right. This feels like it was meant to happen.

I suddenly don’t care that I don’t know a thing about him. I don’t care that we only just met. All I know is that this kiss was meant to happen. Someday I’ll look back on this moment and know it was the start of something amazing. I wrap my arms around his neck and he kisses me hungrily, growling as he presses close to me. I can feel his member pressing against me and I realize how much I want to give everything I have to this man. I decided, in this moment, that I’ll give my innocence to Lorenzo.

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