The Mafia's Stripper Bride

LIA'

nths

io who had called me here, saying he needed to discuss something important, I couldn't shake

er wrapped around me like a vice as

that fateful night I robbed him b

ipping at the club, using the riches I stole fo

ed off my shoulders. I was free from the world of stripping

by the excited shrieks and laughter erupting

g about you!" Candy bounded over in a cloud o

ing from the tattered sofa to squeeze my arm affectionately

p and looped her arm through mine. "For real, Nat. The client

gate sisters in this harsh life. Despite the heavy makeup and skimpy ou

familiar sights and sounds and smells of the dressing room. As s

!" Candy retorted with a wink, swatting me playfully on

notion. As if any of us had delusions about the uglines

en't been the same around here without our star attraction working the pole." Her fa

d out more, kept in better contact after leaving so abruptly.

rything that went down, I really needed some space, you know? To ge

We got it. That night was dope, you got the mone

r Gio, slipping inside without my usual getup, I immediately fel

ite a patron either - just a ghos

gaze landed o

es on display. But I could feel the intensity of his stare following my m

etending not to notice him. Surely there was no way he cou

punishing grip. I gasped and whipped around to face the man who had haunted

s...or that sinful voice, no matter how hard you tried to disguise

een through my lame attempt at a disguise and recognized me. My pulse t

saying." I stammered, trying to pull free of his iron grip.

eyes glittering like shards of Arctic ice

eizing my lungs.

on my face. With a sharp tug, he yanked me flush against the hard w

a," he growled against my racing pulse. "I'm going to take

battered body from years of mob beatings filled

his iron grip. "Don't you dare touch him. It'

me towards the back hallway. But I managed to b

n help me. Well he's the

anting like a wolf "Gio! Gio! W

yebrows. "Natalia? What the hell? I didn't

knees. "He knows I was the one who drugged and robbed him. He

e me a name or some

teeth was chattering so badly at a spee

ean Leandro?" He never seemed

looking for, even though I k

"And he recognized me, Gio. We have to give

, I'm not the one who robbed him. Just pay the ma

w dangerous he is - if we don't pay him he'll kill my dad! If

te!" Gio wheeled on me, sweating heavily. "There ain'

"Are you kidding

g to pretend he was

us out for," I hissed. "This was a 50/50 split, remember? So yo

ng spittle. "I already spent my cut, you

? So he's leaving this all on me. After everythin

ut, hands trembling with rage,

g for me, leaning by the do

nd over my mouth to muffle my screams for help. Ignoring my frantic attempts to

. I whimpered and shrank back against the shelves as he loomed

a," he sneered, caging my body with his arms. "I always co

ok my head, too t

a grin, devoid of any humor. "Don't worry, piccola

r like a caveman. I screamed and punched his muscular back as he carried me out the rear exi

he opposite door as the vehicle peeled away. Leandro simply studied

a lethal tone. "My men have orders to terminate your fat

ipping my mother's locket for dear life. Oh god,

oit. But all I saw was uncompromising power, arrogant dominance and a palpable darkness to make even hardened

is way - this man was a danger personi

nvulsive swallow. "W-wha

n the terror lighting my eyes. Then, almost too casuall

e, by the time I'm done with you, your heart won't

rror. His wife?? No, this couldn't

ng through me like a razor. "And I'm going to take great pleasure in utterly ruinin

completely at this sadistic man's mercy with no escape plan a