Marrying the Mob Prince

Evie

I’m grateful that my husband is punctual.

T: I’ll be home in ten minutes.

T: You better be kneeling.

In the weeks since Tony moved in, hardly a day went by that he didn’t fuck me senseless, and my work had suffered because he was all I wanted to do.

I’d never been in love before.

I was unprepared for the desire blossoming within me, needing him every hour, the throttling arousal with his gentle touch, and putting his happiness first.

I saw children in my future. I hoped someday he would change his mind. I loved him so much that I wanted the proof of our love carried from generation to generation, so that the man I’d grown to admire never truly disappeared.

I knelt several feet from the entrance, wearing a silk thong and nothing else. My body hummed as the door swung. Tony entered in slate gray pants that hugged his athletic thighs and ass and a fitted white shirt that strained over a muscled chest. He reamed someone out on the phone.

“Che cazzo dici? Vai a prenderlo in culo.”

He stabbed at the screen, ending the call.

I recognized dick and asshole, which spoke volumes about my progress with learning Italian.

He shuffled through the mail, stepping around me as he continued into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the dishwasher and filled it from the sink. After he set it down, he faced me.

His greeting was a rough growl. “Did I say you could move?”

Tony’s haughty disapproval tingled my skin like feathers. I sucked in my bottom lip as he approached. His hand skimmed my hair. Then it dipped. His coarse touch lit me like fireworks, even though it suggested he hated me.

He grasped my chin. “I’m not in the mood for backtalk.”

“Sorry, sir.”

“I’m pleased you followed my directions. It’d be such a shame if I had to punish you for mouthing off.”

I grinned. “Well, then I wouldn’t be me.”

“You like being my toy, don’t you?” His sultry murmur stroked between my legs. “You want to be tossed around, used for my pleasure, and fucked. You know it makes me crazy. You like it when I lose control. It turns you on.”

“It does.”

Hunger gleamed in his gaze. “Are you hoping that I’ll come inside you?”

“I want to give you everything.”

“I know. I see your beautiful heart.” His fingers tangled in my hair, caressing. “I knew you were a good girl when I saw your photo. It was wrong…Fuck, it was so terrible of me to pick you. I thought I’d play with you and get you out of my system, but I can’t. You’re mine.”

“I love you, too.”

“You better be sure, because I’m not letting you go.” He cradled my jaw, his voice softening. “You’re one hell of a drug.”

A hot ache grew in my throat. I wrapped my arm around his leg and leaned against his thigh. He brushed my hair until the sweet moment passed, and then his grip turned fierce.

He pinned me over the coffee table.

His seductive smile seemed to penetrate me before he wedged himself in my mouth. His head tilted back, rapturous. The sight made me ravenous for his attention between my legs. He granted my silent wish, pushing my thighs apart to lick me while he thrust in my mouth. When his breath hit my pussy, I surrendered.

Later, I melted into a pool of bliss on our bed as Tony disappeared into the bathroom. His muscular frame slid in and out of view as he washed his face. He mopped his neck as he reentered the bedroom, the mouthwatering image of his briefs stretched over his glutes dragging me from the sheets. Still drunk on a post-orgasmic glow, I stumbled into his walk-in closet.

“Um-I was thinking we could go out tonight.”

Tony zipped his pants. “What did you have in mind?”

“There’s this Thai restaurant downtown that looks awesome.”

He frowned. “I thought you hated Thai.”

I shrugged. “I’ve been having cravings.”

Earlier today, I’d scrolled through a social media post. I clicked on the link, and it brought me to the gallery of appetizing images. Suddenly, an intense yearning for condensed milk, black tea, and coconut assaulted me.

His brows pinched as he tucked in his shirt. “I’ll get a reservation under a fake name.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I crossed my fingers. “It’d be nice if Christian and Jennesy came, too.”

“Are they a thing now?”

“This would be their second date. She’s actually sneaking out to see him.”

“Ah. Well, I’ll see what I can do.”

Tony’s lack of enthusiasm wilted me a little. He clearly had no interest, but at least he was trying. I wrapped my arms around him and kissed the skin above his unbuttoned collar. He endured it but didn’t reciprocate. Then he disengaged from me.

“I’ll let you know soon.”

He pressed his lips into my cheek, the imprint of his mouth burning me. Then he left me in a breeze of vanilla musk.

I returned to bed in a fog, texting Jennesy.

Me: Double date is on.

Jennesy: Yasss! Where?

Me: I was thinking Thai.

Jennesy: What? You hate Thai!

Me: I know…but I have this craving for coconut and noodles. The other day I ate pickles and chocolate cake. Together. LoL.

Jennesy: Wow.

Jennesy: Are you pregnant??!

Shit.

* * *

I might be pregnant.

The test I bought from Target shortly after that conversation sat on the counter, taunting me. If Jennesy’s suspicions were right, it explained the bouts of nausea followed by an insatiable appetite, my missed period, and the strange cravings.

I paced the bathroom, sweating.

What if the result was positive?

Excitement shot through my nerves because I’d imagined this ever since Dad’s lawyers shoved the prenup in my face. I had prepared for it before we’d said “I do,” but now I pictured our children’s features and obsessed about the details. Would they have his hollowed gaze? Or my hooded eyes? No doubt, dark brown hair. Tall and wide, or more willowy, like me? Olive skinned or pale?

I checked the test again.

A faint line joined the solid one already etched in the window.

Holy fuck, I was carrying Tony’s child.

An explosion took place in the pit of my stomach.

Isabella would be ecstatic. She’d demand to be involved, and I’d appreciate the company. I didn’t have a mom to bombard with questions. My heart fluttered as I pictured a whirlwind of events-ultrasounds, the baby shower, pushing a stroller in parks, Tony and I holding our newborn, Tony rocking her to sleep.

My enthusiasm shorted out.

Tony would be pissed. He didn’t want kids and had told me so, repeatedly.

He also said he loved me.

That didn’t mean he was willing to forgo his lifestyle to run to doctor appointments and change diapers. He might walk out on us. My mother had professed to love me before she vanished. In my world, people rarely stuck around. Men made promises and broke them. Jennesy was living proof. I liked to think Tony wouldn’t abandon his child, but how could I be sure? He’d shot down trying for a baby, and now it was happening, six months into our flimsy marriage.

Devastation wracked my chest.

I loved him.

I loved his baby, but would our relationship survive?

* * *

I quietly lost my marbles at dinner.

I pretended to hate the Thai iced tea, which I could no longer drink, and avoided Jennesy’s probing gaze. She’d sent me several demanding texts after I ghosted that conversation-Holy fuck, you’re pregnant?! I was kidding. If we locked eyes, I’d start crying, or she would make an overture, and I’d blurt the truth to a horrified Tony and Christian.

Keep it together.

I focused on our surroundings. Black-and-gold stenciled palm leaves flared on the bar’s backsplash. Potted, leafy plants stood in every corner. We sat beside a purple wall glowing with Thai letters, shadowed in darkness. A single LED candle glowed in the middle of the rustic table, illuminating our faces and not much else.

“Good choice, T.” Christian flipped the menu, apparently impressed. “This looks amazing.”

Jennesy leaned into his side. She’d pulled out all the stops tonight. She’d tamed her messy curls into waves that brushed a classy, black cocktail dress. She kept batting her eyes at Christian, who flashed a dimple in her direction.

Tony had said little since we arrived, his fists clenched, watching the glass as though he expected an invasion. He tore his attention from it to peer at me.

“You couldn’t wait to come here. Now you’re picking at your food?”

I set my fork down, trying to settle my nerves. In ninety minutes or less, I’d tell him he was a father. I avoided Tony’s gaze and stared at my lap.

“Sorry. I guess I’m not feeling well.”

His stare drilled into me. “Do I need to hand-feed you? Because I don’t mind giving our friends a show.”

My cheeks blazed.

He glared at me until I pushed a tiny ball of rice past my lips and chewed, grimacing.

He gawked at me. “You okay?”

I forced my mouth to smile.

It turned out that I hated Thai. Coconut still knotted my stomach and the nauseating smells from the kitchen didn’t help. I’d nibbled on the corner of the spring roll served with a peanut dipping sauce, but that was all I could stomach. I probably came off like a high-maintenance wife to everybody but Jennesy, who at least suspected the truth.

“Planning anything for Mother’s Day?”

Alarm shot up my spine, but Christian’s question was directed at Jennesy.

“I’m sure the club is doing something. They’re always good about keeping me involved.” Jennesy’s smile glowed with happiness, and then it flickered out like a light. “It sucks that you can’t come home,” she said to me. “Ben misses his auntie. Maybe one day.”

“Evie will have to walk over my corpse on her way there because I’m never allowing her to go to the MC again.”

“T, lighten up.”

Tony swiveled his head at Christian, sneering. “Wasn’t it a few weeks ago that you mentioned I was too lenient on Evie?”

Really?

“All right. Fine. I wouldn’t like my wife visiting the club either. No offense, hon,” Christian added as he winced at Jennesy. “I don’t trust the MC.”

“They have no code,” interrupted Tony savagely. “Or honor. They’re lawless beasts with no respect for themselves, their women, or their property.”

Jennesy made a thoughtful sound. She didn’t look put off, but it’d lowered her spirits. Then Christian took her hand and whispered in her ear. Her googly-eyed stare returned. Jennesy’s grabbed his tie and tugged him closer. Her saucy reply was lost to me, but Christian laughed heartily.

A wide grin cracked his handsome face.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I felt terrible about suggesting this date. I was a voyeur to Jennesy’s budding romance with Christian, especially since Tony didn’t even want to be here. He tensed when people approached. After several failed starts at conversation, I gave up and eavesdropped on Christian.

“Four brothers. One girl,” explained Christian, digging into his Pad Thai. “I’m the oldest. I started working at fourteen to help provide.”

“Fourteen? Wow.”

“Yeah.” His chest expanded in a gigantic sigh. “Never finished high school.”

“I did, but I dropped out of college. And not to help out the family. I was naughty. Got pregnant out of wedlock.”

“Where is the dad, if that’s not too private?”

“He died before Ben was born. His handle was Crash.”

The name strangled me. Fuck-I’d never told her about the circumstances involving Crash and Tony. I grimaced at Jennesy, and she stared at me, head-cocked, unaware she’d crossed the line.

Christian choked on his beer. Tony’s attention snapped to Jennesy as though yanked by an invisible wire.

“Your boy’s father is Crash?”

“Yeah. So?” Jennesy spooned her noodles as Christian shot Tony a ferocious stare. “We had a brief fling.”

Astonishment touched Tony’s face, and then he bristled. “You hooked up with that scumbag?”

I sank my nails into his thigh.

Christian growled a warning.

Tony ignored us, eye-fucking Jennesy.

Her brow was high and rounded as she returned his glare. “Not that it’s any of your business, but he seemed like a decent guy. It’s not like the club has a lot of variety.”

“I’ll say.”

I grabbed Tony’s collar. “Enough.”

He ripped away from my touch before addressing Jennesy in a deadpan. “I apologize. I’m still raw from being kidnapped and tortured by your baby daddy. ‘Scuse me.”

He stood, bumping into the table. Drinks wobbled in his wake. Christian steadied his bottle, his cold eyes following Tony.

I was mortified. “Sorry, Jennesy. I should’ve warned you.”

Jennesy swallowed, nodding.

I felt bad about leaving her, but Christian had already wrapped his arm around her. He murmured something that made her lean her head onto his shoulder and smile.

I followed Tony to the men’s bathroom. I slipped behind him and locked the door. Tony leaned over the sink, splashing his face. The water ran from the faucet but he didn’t seem to notice. He stared into the mirror.

I shut off the spigot.

“The man ruined my life.” Tony gripped the edges of the sink so hard, I worried it would break off. “He’s the reason I spent a year trapped in hell with no hope of surviving. Or escape.”

“I thought you said the MC kept you captive for a few weeks.”

He ignored that, rubbing his arms. “It sickens me that a piece of him is still alive.”

“Tony, that baby is the sweetest thing in the world. He’s nothing like Crash. He’ll never be like him.”

“He’s growing up in a clubhouse, Evie.”

“Jennesy is an amazing mother. She’ll be out of the MC before long.” My pulse hammered as I approached a subject close to my pregnancy. “Two loving parents make all the difference.”

“You mean like we would be?”

We will.

My mouth opened, but I couldn’t tell him that in a bathroom. Tony’s faint smile suggested he was on to me, and he sighed.

“Evie, a baby is just a baby. It can’t fix me.”

“When did I ever say you needed to be fixed?”

Tony stepped away from the sink with an electrifying look that sent a jolt through me. He slipped his hands into my hair, undoing my curls as he smashed his mouth to mine. Heat rushed where he kissed me. He lingered, eyes closed as though savoring the moment. Wet heat lashed the seam of my mouth, and I moaned.

He pulled away with a growl. “Let’s leave before I bend you over the sink.”

My heart pounded an erratic rhythm as we returned to a more cheerful Jennesy, who might’ve been coming on too strong. She pawed at Christian’s chest and found every excuse to touch him. He was sweet about it but kept his hands to himself.

We got through dinner without another outburst. Tony ordered a chocolate mousse cake for us to share. When the check came, Tony thrust his credit card at the waiter, ignoring Christian’s wallet.

“Thanks, T.”

“No worries.” Tony patted his arm. “You’ve put in many hours watching this one, and I know she’s a handful.”

“Hey.”

Christian winked at me. “I’ve learned a lot about jewelry.”

“But I’m no further in my Italian lessons. You should hear about the casserole incident.”

“What, did she screw up ziti?”

“Not exactly.” Tony grinned, giving my cheek an affectionate pinch. “She tried to insult me in Italian and failed miserably.”

Christian’s smirk fell from his face. He pushed his chair back. Hairs on my neck rose with a tingling awareness as a man made a beeline through the restaurant. Christian reached into his jacket, whipping out his gun.

A deafening bang rang out, cratering my eardrums. A powerful hand landed on my spine and shoved, knocking my chin onto the ground.

“Stay down, Evie!”

I did. I flattened my palms on the tiles as the stampede of feet pounded the floor. Gunfire cracked. Pained screams. Jennesy and I joined hands under the table until it flew away from over our heads. Wood crashed in front of our faces. Gunshots slammed into the booth. Dishes shattered. Gunpowder stung my nostrils.

Then it was over.

The smoke cleared as boots hammered the ground. A thunder of motorcycles fled as the sirens approached. A desperate gasp bottomed out my stomach.

I scrambled out from cover.

Two men sprawled on the floor, unmoving.

Next to them, Christian.

No. “Christian?”

He lay still, gasping. Red blossomed from a hole in his chest. I stared, my body stiffening as Tony knelt beside him, packing his wound with a tablecloth.

Jennesy knocked me aside as she dove to him, jarring me awake. I sprinted to them and grasped Christian’s hand as Jennesy helped Tony stanch the bleeding. My gut clenched as blood welled around their fingers. Shaking, I grabbed my phone and called 911. I choked on my words as crimson soaked through the fabric in seconds.

“Christian,” Tony pleaded, his bloody hand cupping his face. “You’ll be all right. Help is coming. Don’t die on me.”

“It’s fine. I’ll see my wife.”

“Fuck off with that shit! You’re not going anywhere but the hospital.”

The moment seemed suspended in time. With every half second, Christian faded. His lungs rose and fell slowly. His forehead smoothed. His skin paled. The fingers clutched in my grip slackened.

“Christian! Christian,” shouted Tony, his scream ripping through me. “Don’t give up. You saved my life.”

Christian’s lips twitched as he gasped for air.

“Don’t waste it.”