She pushed the door open, flipped the switch next to the door, and then closed it behind her. There was a different feel to the apartment, and her heart started to race.

  “Hello?” she called out, expecting the echoing silence that usually greeted her.

  Instead, she heard light footsteps. A light flicked on in the living room. She drew in a breath to start screaming even as her throat tightened, and then she saw who was standing just ten feet from her.

  “Damian?”

  He was just as tall, rugged and handsome as he had been six months ago, but he’d grown out a light beard, and his hair was a little longer. He still radiated that same intensity, and she had a powerful memory, all through her body, of what it had felt like to feel him slam into her like it was where he’d always been destined to be.

  “Hi, Piper,” he said. His voice was light, soft, and she knew somehow that he was keeping it that way on purpose.

  “What are you—Why are you—?” She was stuttering like a fool, and she hated it.

  She took a deep breath, but the question wouldn’t come to her lips. She wanted to run to him, kiss him, wrap him around her like the protector she knew he was—but she also knew that her pregnant belly was obvious now. And she couldn’t take another step towards him until she knew what he was going to say about that.

  “What am I doing here?”

  She nodded. At least he was able to speak.

  “I’ve... I don’t want this to sound creepy, okay? Or at least, I’m hoping you can overlook the creepy factor.” He took a deep breath and took one step closer to her.

  She tried not to match it, either with a step forward or a step back. Impartial, that was her.

  Don’t lie to yourself, Piper.

  She gave her inner monologue the finger and waited for him to continue.

  “You were clear that you didn’t want anything more to do with me, after—what happened. So I wanted to give you space. But despite what was said, I didn’t truly believe that the Santiagos wouldn’t use you to get to me. So I—I kept an eye on you. Not constantly—I wasn’t watching you sleep or anything—but I watched out for you. I kept tabs, I guess.”

  “And?”

  He was right, it did sound creepy, but she forced herself to breathe through the ick factor and focus on the caring that was hidden in those words. For a man like this to make sure she was safe showed something about how he felt for her. As far as he had ever told her, the only ever person he watched out for was his sister.

  “Wait, I made it clear that I didn’t want anything to do with you?”

  His face twisted for a moment before he smoothed it back into its typical, calm expression. “That last night that we were together. I quite literally made you sick.”

  Piper was not a contract killer; she didn’t know how to hide all of her emotions behind a wall and pretend they didn’t exist. Her confusion showed, whether she wanted it to or not.

  “What are you talking about?” And then it hit her. “You’re talking about when I started vomiting.”

  He blinked hard, and she was sure that she’d startled him somehow.

  “Yes?”

  The uptick that made it into a question surprised her as well. She laughed; she didn’t mean to, but the sound bubbled out of her before she could control it.

  “I was—Morning sickness doesn’t happen just in the morning, and you laid your arm over my stomach, and it just happened.”

  He went quiet, his eyes finally gliding down to focus on the roundness under her breasts. “It’s... mine?”

  “Yes,” she said. It took a major effort of will not to add “you dolt,” but she pulled it off.

  “I... assumed it happened after you got back.” He was perfectly still for a long moment, and she wasn’t sure what to do or say. “Why didn’t you say something?”

  That was a very good question, and truthfully, one she had been dreading.

  “I wasn’t sure until—until we were at a spot where things were happening fast, and it was messy. I didn’t think you should be distracted when you—” She realized that he’d been so careful with his language, and that was smart. The odds of someone surveilling her apartment were vanishingly small, but still. “You were busy.”

  “And that night?”

  Now, she felt anger running through her. “When was I supposed to say something, between retches? And you were gone before I had even caught my breath.”

  He still hadn’t moved. “And you decided to keep it, even though it was mine.”

  It was her turn to blink too fast. “Yes.”

  “Why?” There was something in that sound, a pain that had been buried for a very long time.

  There was only one answer. She hadn’t realized it until he left, and then she had no way to tell him.

  “Because it’s yours.” She took a long, deep breath, then said the rest. “And because I love you.”

  He rocked back on his heels like she had slapped him. Her heart sank. It was too much to hope that he felt the same way, but all the times she’d allowed herself to think of this moment—which had been far more often than she’d thought was healthy or sane—he’d walked to her and pulled her into his arms.

  Sometimes he had kissed her; sometimes he’d laid his hand over the swell of her belly with a quiet kind of possession that made her heart sing. Intellectually, she’d always known that his complete indifference, or even total disdain, had been possible. She just wished it wasn’t like that.

  “It’s okay,” Piper said as quickly as she could get the words out past the lump in her throat. With all the mental preparation that she had done for how this could go, she’d never imagined being so sad. “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way. I just... You asked, so I needed to tell you.”

  “No, it’s not... That’s not it.” He looked like he was wrestling with something deep inside of him, and she didn’t know what it was.

  She tried to watch and let it be, but the words wouldn’t stay in her head.

  “Why did you come here tonight?”

  Why had he come into her darkened apartment when she clearly hadn’t been home? Why had he waited for her? What had he thought would happen when he did this?

  He took a long breath that sounded tight and maybe even a little bit afraid. “I had to see. I was sure it—that it wasn’t mine. But I thought, what if it is?”

  She let the hope surge through her. It might be dashed in a moment, but she had to let it be there. She didn’t have a choice; it was that strong. “And now that you know?”

  And then there was the moment she had let herself dream of, when she’d allowed herself to dream.

  “I wanted it,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I’ve always wanted it. From the moment I saw.”

  And then he stepped fast across the floor—she couldn’t call it a run, she didn’t dare—and he pulled her into his arms, pulling her face up to his for a vicious kiss that was full of want and a need for something so much more than just her mouth and her body.

  She responded in kind, meeting every single motion of his lips and tongue. His hand stroked the curve of her belly, then slipped up to cup her heavy, swollen breasts, then swung down again to stroke what was now his. As soon as he had touched her, he’d claimed her. She knew it, inside and out. She would go anywhere and do anything he wanted.

  “Mine.” He snarled into her mouth and pushed her backward; it took her only a moment to realize that he was leading her towards the bedroom. “You’re mine.”

  “I’m yours,” she responded through the kisses.

  “Forever. I’m keeping you forever.”

  “Yes,” Piper said, with no hesitation. “Forever sounds perfect to me.”

  Thanks for reading ANDREI! I hope you loved this bad boy mafia romance. If you are in the mood for some more deliciously dark romantic suspense, check out The Dirty Dons Club: A Dark Mafia Romance Box Set!

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  Get ready to meet:

  SERGEI

  A devil like me belongs nowhere near an angel like her. Naomi was an innocent club girl. Hardly worth my time. But I needed a release, and so I claimed her the only way I know how: utterly and completely. And then I forgot about her. But she’s back now—back in my underworld, back in my enemy’s sights…and back with my accidental baby.

  LUCA

  She didn’t have my money. So I took her instead. One way another, this debt is getting settled. Even if I have to claim her precious little body to make that happen. But when taking Anna causes more problems than it solves, I’m forced to answer one crucial question: How far will I go to protect my newest possession?

  VITO

  She’s drowning in the darkness. I’m here to pull her deeper. My name is Vito Romano. I am everything they say I am: a killer, a criminal, a beast. Until I met her. I told myself I was rescuing Tammy. But we both know the truth: I took her to ruin her.

  NIKOLAI

  I didn’t plan to buy her. But once I had a taste, I couldn’t let go. Gabrielle is too pure to be up on that auction stage. But soon enough, I end up owning her. I’ll show her that even though there is pain in the darkness… It’s also full of pleasure. As long as she obeys me.

  ADRIK

  I put my hands on her body. Nothing will ever be the same again. Taylor saw me kill, and now I have no choice but to guarantee her silence. By any means necessary. From witness to fake wife in the blink of an eye. But when I begin to doubt she’ll keep up her end of our dark bargain, I make my final move… And put a baby in her belly.

  Get this bad boy bundle if you’re ready for the midnight thrill of a lifetime! Click here to start reading!

  Here’s a sneak preview of Book 1, SERGEI:

  “Everything alright?” I ask. I'm in the VIP, so I have to lean in and ask loudly if I want the patrons to hear me. There are five people in the booth, four guys and one woman, the men dressed up in expensive-looking designer suits and the woman in—well, less than that.

  “That’ll be all,” one of the men says to me. Forties, maybe, with really good hair and teeth, and the watch on his wrist looks ridiculously pricey. He hasn’t given me his name but he’s been flirting with me all night. He motions me over.

  “I've never met you before. I come here a couple of times a month,” he says over the thump of the music.

  “We must have missed each other.”

  “Too bad. I would have loved to get to know you better. Here.” He hands me a tip. I open my palm and it’s a hundred-dollar bill. My eyes widen and I look back at him. “Hold on to that for me, ‘til next time.” He winks at me and I smile back.

  Embers is a high-end night club in Midtown. Our clientele is mostly rich suits, their business partners, and the beautiful women they pay to keep around. I’ve been a bottle girl here for a few months and this nightlife gig isn’t half bad. Better than I expected, at least. Especially when guys are forking over Benjamins because they think I’m cute.

  The outfit does help, to be fair. Our uniform is tight, shimmery black dresses with plunging necklines and short hems. I think it’s good with my hair, which I cut a while ago into a longish bob. The waves are natural but before work, I give them a little extra bounce with a curling iron.

  One of my co-workers, Diana, is standing against the bar. I say hi and head around to the other side to restock my tray.

  “Guess who just got a hundred-dollar tip,” I tell her, with an excited little shimmy of my hips. Diana grins, leaning forward with her elbows on the bar.

  “Very well done, Naomi," she says. It makes me laugh. She sounds like an elementary school teacher, which is the absolute opposite of her personality. "Was he hot?"

  “Who?” I ask demurely, smiling but eyes down as I rinse a glass out.

  “He was,” she squeals, almost bouncing up and down.

  I laugh. He probably was, depending on your definition of the term. Although, for Diana, a guy is only as hot as his net worth.

  “Older. A suit. He’s been flirting with me all night.”

  “Give him your number,” she says.

  “I have a fiancé, Di.”

  “He doesn’t know that.” She flips her long, blonde hair over her shoulder. “Besides, even if he did, he probably wouldn’t care.”

  I nod, smiling because I don’t like to judge. “I would.”

  She shrugs. “And that’s why my boyfriend put down the money for a condo for me, myself, and I, and yours drives a 1993 Camry.”

  I raise my eyebrows. “Boyfriend?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “He likes when I call him that. It’s nicer than what he actually is.”

  “Which is what?”

  Diana grins again, then looks down at her nails which are perfectly manicured. Her ‘boyfriend’ probably pays for that too. “A chump.”

  It's not hard to see why a man would spend his money on Diana. She is gorgeous, a busty blonde with a beguiling smile. ‘Dating’ men she meets here at the club when she is supposed to be working is her M.O. She is ruthless. None of them ever lasts longer than three or four months—plenty of time for her to rinse them for everything they are willing to hand over and move on to someone else. Funnily enough, they always chase after her even after she’s run her game. The girl is intoxicating, I guess.

  “Is he here tonight?” I ask.

  “I told him to stop coming. I don’t want him to distract me during work.”

  “Distract you from what? Pouring Jaeger bombs? Is that difficult?” I ask, giggling.

  She scoffs. “Of course not. It's just hard to flirt with other guys when the one who thinks he's your boyfriend is watching."

  I laugh and shake my head. She’s a lot to handle, but I honestly learn so much from her about how to handle myself around here, even if what I learn isn't particularly good. It certainly isn’t for the faint of heart. I wouldn’t call myself a prude, but some of the stunts she pulls make my jaw drop.

  I’m drying a few glasses off when I hear Diana say hi to someone. Angie, another bottle girl comes up to the bar, holding her empty tray to her chest.

  “Hey, Ange,” I say. Angie smiles at me across the bar. She’s a tall brunette. Tonight, her hair is gathered away from her face in a high ponytail that makes her already-stunning bone structure even more arresting.

  “Having a good night?” she asks.

  “Angie, can you please tell Naomi to get the number of the hot businessman who has been flirting with her all night?” Diana interrupts.

  “Angie, please tell Diana that serially dating guys from work is a bad idea.”

  Angie looks from Diana to me, then back to Diana. “She’s right, Di. Where are your manners?”

  “She’s just jealous that my current man is a catch,” Diana teases smugly. “Well, catch-and-release, I guess.”

  “Current man? Do these guys know how fast you cycle through them?”

  “They’re aware of the risks. I make ‘em all sign a waiver before they get on the ride. Besides, who was the last guy you dated, Miss Love Doctor?”

  “No, no, no. That’s different.”

  “How?”

  “They mean more to me than money and a couple of months of fun,” she says.

  “If you’re looking for love, honey, you’re looking in the wrong place. This is Embers, in case you’re lost.”

  Angie shakes her head. “You don’t know that. You never know where love can find you.”

  “If love is here, then it’s definitely lost,” Diana snorts.

  “With that stank attitude, you’re probably right.” Di pretends to be offended as Angie looks at me. “Still, stank or not, Diana might be right. You should get his number. What could it hurt? Nothing wrong with a new friend, right?”

  I balk. “What? No. C’mon, Ange, don’t team up on me.”

  “You’ll hate yourself for not doing it. You don’t know. He might be the one.”

  “He’s not the one, because I already found the one. I’m engaged, remember?” I protest. I would hold my hand up to flash the ring but I don’t wear it while I'm working—availability, or at least the illusion of it, gets the tips. My fiancé, Jeremy, laughed at me the first time I went to him after work and told him that I was sorry for being friendly with customers because it felt like cheating. He likes that they can all look but they can’t touch and I get paid for it.

  “You don’t need to do anything with him. Just make him think you will and he’ll hook it up for you,” Diana quips.

  “Oh please. How long would that last?”

  Diana shrugs. “A little side dick is good for the soul,” she says. All three of us laugh, although I know she isn’t really kidding.

  They don’t like Jeremy. My first night here, he picked me up after my shift and met both of the girls. Angie was polite to his face but told me later that she thought he wasn’t in my league. Diana straight-up told him he was lucky I had such simple tastes.

  I don't feel like I have to defend what I have with Jeremy. It works for us and that is all that matters. I will not be seeking out any ‘side dick,’ no matter how good it may or may not be for the soul.

  Regardless, duty calls, so I load my tray and we disperse. I walk back over to the booth and start refreshing glasses and clearing away empty bottles as I ask around whether everyone is okay and if they need anything.

  The guy who’s been putting the moves on me all night motions me over again.

  “Anything I can do for you?” I ask. I have to lean down to talk to him and, as I do, I see his eyes settle on my cleavage.

  “Here,” he says, holding out another tip. I take it and feel something strange. Wrapped in the bills is a card. His business card. “I want to see you again.”