Page 48 of Unspoken Ties

His name slipped from my lips in a breathless whisper as our bodies moved in sync, lost in the throes of passion. Each thrust brought me closer to the edge, his name becoming a mantra onmy lips as I wrapped my legs tightly around his waist, pulling him even deeper into me.

His teeth sank gently into my shoulder, the mix of pain and pleasure making me cry out in delight. A soft growl escaped his throat as his pace increased, his body tensed and I knew then that he was close.

Closer and closer we danced on the precipice, the coil within us winding tighter and tighter until it became unbearable. His thrusts were unrelenting, pushing both of us towards a climax that was rapidly approaching.

“Liria,” he groaned, the sound filled with raw desire. His fingers tightened on my hips as he kept driving into me, each thrust more powerful than the last.

“I’m... I’m...” I couldn’t finish my sentence as pleasure washed over me in waves.

“Come for me,” he commanded.

His words tipped me over the edge and I screamed in pleasure as my orgasm tore through me. I felt every inch of him as he continued to move within me, riding out my climax and pulling gasping breaths from my lips until he followed me over the precipice. His body tensed, and with a final thrust, he was spilling himself inside me, my name a feral growl that reverberated around the room.

Our bodies remained intertwined, pulsating from the aftershocks of our shared climax. He held me against his chest, our bodies slicked with sweat and the remnants of our coupling. The smell of sex and Ettore’s cologne hung heavy in the air, a heady scent that was intoxicating in its own right.

With a contented sigh, Ettore rolled over, pulling me along with him so that I was sprawled across his chest. His heartbeat thrummed against my cheek, a rhythmic lullaby that threatened to lull me into sleep. His fingers gently traced patterns on my back, a comforting act that further solidified my relaxation.

Three words hung heavy on my heart and tongue, but I couldn’t seem to speak them. What if Ettore didn’t feel the same way?

I was happy like this. And maybe one day he’d have those feelings for me, too.

Chapter twenty-four

Ettore

Iwatched Liria’s naked, sleeping form. She was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. Her dark hair spread out around her like a halo, catching the soft glow of the morning sun that slipped through the cracks in the curtains. Her skin, smooth as silk and kissed by the soft rosy blush of sleep, looked ethereal in the dim light.

A single sheet was draped across her middle; on one side her shoulder was bare, the delicate curve of it highlighted by a ray of sunshine filtering in through the window. On the other side, her slender arm lay thrown carelessly above her head, fingers curled into a loose fist against the pillow. I watched as every breath she took made her chest rise and fall gently, a peaceful rhythm that matched the steady beat of my heart. I reached out to trace the line of her collarbone with my fingertips, barely making contact, not wanting to disturb her slumber.

It was a shame I had to leave this sight and go into the dark underbelly of the world I ruled. I had a lot to do today as a Don, and as much as I wanted to stay in bed with Liria, that workneeded to be done. Especially since part of it involved protecting her and our child.

Our child.I hadn’t expected to be a father so soon, and I hadn’t expected to feel so elated about it. When we entered into the arranged marriage, the child was simply part of the agreement, an heir to continue the Moretti legacy. But now it feels like a piece of Liria and I, something I must protect no matter what it takes.

I brushed a stray curl off her face gently, beaming at her relaxed features. A sense of tranquility washed over me as I watched her dream, her lips twitching slightly into an almost-smile. My hand instinctively hovered over her belly, protectively shielding the tiny life that was growing there.

With a soft sigh of resignation, I forced myself to rise from the bed. The rustle of the sheets caused Liria to stir slightly, her brow creasing in a small frown before it smoothed out again. I paused, holding my breath as if my very breathing would wake her. When she appeared to remain asleep, I let out the breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding and rose from the bed.

I tiptoed around the bedroom, taking care not to wake her as I dressed for the day. The soft glow of the morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as I slipped on my clothes and reached for my phone. I made my way to the living room where Hugo was patiently waiting for me. With a baby on the way, perhaps it was time to increase her security detail to two guards instead of one.

After briefing Hugo, I headed down to our main warehouse to get paperwork done for the day. Many people wouldn’t associate paperwork and the Mafia, but there were documents that needed to be completed. Signing fake invoices, forging documents, and general things like paying rent on our businesses.

After a painstakingly long day of the boring work, nighttime finally rolled around. Tonight was the night my friends and I were going to get some answers out of Jules Gervase, and I had been itching to do it as soon as possible. I needed to eliminate any threat to my wife and unborn child before it could take root.

As we made our way down to The Rusty Anchor bar, the pungent smell of saltwater and fish filled our nostrils. To the side of the docks, which were now quiet at nighttime, stood a solitary building. The bar’s weathered walls and rusted metal roof bore witness to years of enduring storms and braving the elements. The owners had never bothered to update it, because their clientele was sketchy and didn’t care about looks.

“This area is such a piece of shit,” Felix said as he parked the car in the gravel lot, his gaze sweeping over the rundown bar and the dilapidated warehouses that clustered around it.

“We have a warehouse in this area,” Vincenzo reminded him dryly, his dark eyes narrowing slightly in the dim lighting of the car. “I manage it.”

“It’s just for storing guns and shit, though,” Felix retorted, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. “No one cares if it looks like crap.”

Ignoring their banter, I stepped out of the car, my hands brushing over the icy cold metal of the car door. My gaze was fixed on The Rusty Anchor. It was a place where men who lived on the edge of society gathered. Men whose lives were filled with crime and deceit, much like our own.

We weren’t even sure if Jules was in there. If he was, he was sure to run, so we might have to start a fight. And in an establishment like that, a fight can go one of two ways. Option one: no one gives a shit. Or, option two: the man has friends, and they join the fight.

I really hoped it was option one.

“Vincenzo, Felix, you stay outside,” I motioned for Emilio and Rocco to follow me into the bar. The scent of stale beer and cheap whiskey hit us along with the dim, unwelcoming light as the door creaked open.

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