Page 21 of Depths of Hunger

Renzo’s frown deepens. “Set up a meeting. I’ll fix it.”

Colucci looks like he wants to argue, but he nods instead. Renzo’s authority is absolute, even in the face of chaos.

“Any other business?” Renzo asks. The assembled guests remain silent. “Meeting adjourned.”

I wait silently as the men file out, leaving only Renzo, Angelo, Paulie, and me. Angelo breaks the silence first.

“She did better than I expected,” he says begrudgingly.

I shoot him a cold look. I’ve had enough of his attitude, and I’m about to say something when Renzo’s voice booms in my head,Not now. I glance at him, but I swear Renzo didn’t open his mouth. I swallow hard. What the fuck is going on with me? There aren’t any answers, but I know I need to fix it. I can’t have a mental breakdown, or Renzo will just have me killed.

“Angelo, you will be courteous to Mia as my wife, and my second. Show her the respect she deserves, or I’ll replace you.” Renzo turns and walks toward the exit and I follow. The chill of the night seeps back in as we step outside. A steady rain has begun, cold and relentless. I slip into the limo, taking my place beside Renzo with Angelo on the side opposite us.

I can’t look at any of them, so I watch the rain streak down the window, feeling the weight of tonight settle on my shoulders. I’m not sure how much longer I will have to keep this up, but for now, I have no choice. Part of me wants control; wants to run the family on a permanent basis. I would be willing to do it with Renzo but the rest of me knows that will never be possible. Renzo isn’t going to share. Pity. We would make an excellent team. Instead, I have to come up with a plan. A contingency for my continued existence.

Chapter

Ten

As we make our way toward my house, Angelo’s phone rings, and he answers it with a quick, “Yo. Yeah, it went fine.” There’s a long pause, and I strain to listen. Thanks to my heightened senses, I can hear more than humans. He’s talking to my lawyer. Not good. Why didn’t Federico call me directly?

Angelo’s frown deepens. “What? I can’t hear you. Hello? Can you hear me?” He pulls the phone away from his ear, staring at the screen before putting it back. “Hello?” Still nothing. The call must have dropped because the phone rings again. “It’s Federico,” Angelo says, his expression tense. “He wants to know about one of the Carabinieri on your case.”

Turning to the front, Angelo lowers the divider. “Paulie, pull over. I need to take this.” Paulie glances at me in the rearview mirror, awaiting my approval. I nod, and the car slows to a stop on the side of the road. Angelo gets out, leaving the door wide open as he steps onto the sidewalk, the freezing wind rushing into the car.

Beside me, Mia shivers. I want to reach out, pull her close, and warm her with my body heat, but now is not the time. She’s still angry with me for leaving her in the wine cellar. If she knew how close she came to being bitten—and possibly killed—she’d be a lot less angry.I’ll make it up to her tonight. I’ll make sure she gets the release she deserves, and I’ll have my fill of her in every way. Blood rushes south at the thought. Tonight, I will fuck my wife until she forgets everything else. Until she can’t walk.

Her scent engulfs me, pulling me into the memory of her skin beneath my hands. I want to squeeze her perfect ass and her soft breasts. I want to press her against the wall and take her hard, my hands on her hips, my mouth on her nipples. I’m already hard, thinking about all the ways I will take her. Mia is more than just a wife; she’s a challenge… and I always rise to a challenge.

She shivers again, and I know her nipples are puckered beneath her dress. It would only take a moment to have her soaking wet and ready for me. I’ve thrown her into the deep end of my world, and she’s handled it beautifully.

“You did well back there,” I comment. Mia’s a force to be reckoned with and I am impressed. She’s smart, quick, and unpredictable. I need to be careful with her. The thought only turns me on more. I want to bend her to my will. My pretty little wife.

“Thank you,” Mia says in clipped tones. “Paulie, please close the door. I’m cold. I have no interest in sitting here freezing my ass off while Angelo takes his call,” she says, her voice dripping with annoyance.

She’s pissed, and I can’t blame her but now I can’t resist her pull.

I put my hand on her thigh and slide my fingers under the hem of her dress. She glares at me, defiant. “You’re angry with me, gattina. That’s good. I can think of several ways to work off that anger.” My fingers trace her inner thigh, and the heat radiating from her sears my fingertips. She clenches her legs shut, but I shake my head.

“Mia, gattina, you will obey me. We both know you want me to touch you, to make you wet.” My voice is low and firm.

“Fuck you,” she spits, her eyes blazing with anger.

I smile. The flecks of gold in her eyes shine when she’s angry. “Yes, you will. And you’ll do it exactly how I say. Right now, I say open your legs for me, my little tiger.”

Her glare intensifies, but I part her legs and slide my fingers overher clit through her thong. In seconds, I feel her heat and hear the quickening of her pulse.

“Damn you,” she grinds out. She’s fighting me, but she’s also opening up, tilting her hips to give me better access. Her coat slips, revealing hard nipples straining against her dress. I move her thong and stroke her bare pussy.

Meeting her gaze, I try to suppress my amusement. I love it when she’s angry, when she fights back. It makes every touch, every moment of dominance, even sweeter. I tweak her nipple hard, relishing her sharp intake of breath. She is already drenched. For me.

Paulie grunts as he steps out to shut the door, but there’s another sound—a metallic click. My senses flare, and just as I register the cocking of a gun, the squeal of tires pierces the night. I react instinctively, shielding Mia with my body just as gunfire erupts. Bullets rip into the car, tearing through metal, glass, and flesh.

Pain explodes in my chest, sharp and relentless. I collapse over Mia, my body shielding hers from the barrage. I feel the hot sting of bullets lodging deep inside me. Fuck. This is bad. Dying now would be more than inconvenient; it would be catastrophic. I’m immobilized, my strength draining with each passing second. I can’t move, can’t speak. My body shuts down, plunging me into a state of forced stasis.

“Renzo? Renzo!” Mia’s voice is frantic, and I feel her trying to push me off. She manages to slide out from under me and frantically checks my pulse, but she finds nothing. “Renzo,” she cries, her voice breaking.

I’m in stasis already, but that has never affected my hearing. The fright in her voice tears at me, and I curse my helplessness. For the first time, I realize Mia cares. My wife—my human wife—actually cares if I live or die.

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