The Surrender of the Twin Dons Chapter 02

The Surrender of the Twin Dons Chapter 02

Luciana’s pov

The bedroom door creaked open.

Footsteps closed in.

Then came the scent—cold pine. Sharp. Unfamiliar.

Vincenzo never wore cologne like that.

Which meant…

I gripped the sheets and kept my eyes shut.

The blanket lifted, gently.

The next second, I was lifted too—steady, effortless.

“Luciana. Sleep at home.”

His voice was deeper than Vincenzo’s. Final. No room for argument.

I stayed in character.

I blinked awake, looped my arms around his neck, and purred as I always did. “Vincenzo… took you long enough.”

His body went rigid for a heartbeat.

When he spoke again, his tone dropped lower. “Waited long?”

“Mhm… headache.”

“I’ll have the housekeeper make you a sobering broth when we get in.”

He carried me out, muscles solid beneath his suit, stride controlled.

I buried my face in his chest and let the cold pine wrap around me.

“You smell… amazing tonight.”

“Yeah?”

“Better than your usual cologne.”

“You like it?”

“Love it.”

He paused mid-step.

The hallway was dim, lit only by sconces casting warm, suggestive shadows.

He dipped his head. A kiss—barely there—brushed the corner of my mouth.

“Good.”

Two days ago, I’d seen Salvatore Rizzo for the first time.

That was when I learned Vincenzo had a twin.

Rumor had it he ran things in Sicily and Lower Manhattan, rarely setting foot in Brooklyn.

Vincenzo seemed to fear the new Don. He’d never once mentioned him in front of me.

All evening, Salvatore hadn’t looked at me once.

Until introductions. Then, flat and cool. “Miss Neri. Beautiful name.”

I didn’t know why he’d agreed to such a twisted bet.

But I knew this—if I wanted out of these brothers’ game alive, Salvatore was my only way.

I needed him to want me and to offer his protection.

Instinct told me he wasn’t anything like Vincenzo.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Salvatore hooked an arm around my waist from behind.

He bent to kiss me. I laughed softly and turned my head. “Vincenzo… eager tonight?”

The kiss on my lips faltered.

“Use a different name. Okay?”

“What do you want me to call you?”

“Think about how you usually address me.”

“Your name… Mr. Rizzo… oh—and ‘Daddy’ once—”

The kiss turned searing and possessive. “Tonight, call me ‘Babe.’ You’ve never said it to me.”

“Babe?”

I opened my eyes, startled.

The next second, a kiss—deep, suffocating—swallowed me whole.

Salvatore pressed me against the mattress.

Only the bedside lamp glowed, washing the room in amber.

I reached up, tracing the ridge of his brow.

He tilted into my touch, letting my fingertips wander.

As I trailed lower, his silk robe slid off his shoulders.

It pooled on the floor, tangling with my ivory slip.

He leaned down, one large hand—knuckles prominent—clamping around my waist.

“Luciana.”

“Mm?”

I blinked up at him, dazed. Watched his Adam’s apple roll.

Then he drove into me.

A broken whimper escaped. Tears sprang to my eyes.

Before they could fall, his hot mouth kissed them away.

“Say it again.”

“Vin—”

A brutal thrust shattered my voice.

I looked up at him, teary, lip trembling.

“Forgot what to call me?”

He loomed over me, gaze dark with want. “Babe.”

I sobbed, nails digging into the tense muscles of his arm. “Babe…”

The world tilted.

My hair fanned out, strands brushing his abs—drawing a shudder from him.

Salvatore gripped my hips, control snapping.

“Luciana. Don’t stop.”

Another choked cry left me.

“Babe… Babe…”