The Mafia lord's Addiction

d taken together. Veronica's pulse was still racing from his touch, but the gravity of his words lingered. She had always

she whispered, her voice trembling sli

ightly around her arm, his

er to the moment. "No," she admitted, unable to look a

way of consuming people. It changes you, takes things from you." He paused, his voice darkening. "But I won't force you to stay, Ve

hering herself, then met his gaze with defiance. "Maybe you need to understand something, to

tained him. "I wouldn't want to control you, Veron

like a lifeline. In this world of blurred lines and buried secrets, the only certai

re entangled with him behind closed doors. She still had her investigations, her journalism work that allowed her a semblance of normalcy, yet Archie's wo

d to copy from Archie's archives. She felt a pang of guilt, but she justified it with her own need for safety.

nced at it, the message from

anor. There's somethi

only a moment before grabbing her coat, locking her apartment b

ates looming in the misty night air. The driver glanced at her as she stepped out, clearly un

them, and a tall figure appeared-Archie, dressed

e said, his voice softer than usua

lmost oppressive. The grandeur of the place was evident in every de

ked, glancing around, half-expectin

eached a small, concealed room at the back of the hous

ound books, a grand mahogany desk in the center. But what drew her attention were the photographs on the wall

epping closer to the photos,

rded. "This was my father's offi

ity overcoming her caution. "H

uite place crossing his face. "He didn't exactly pass it on. He wa

sing mafia lord she'd come to know, but as a man scarred by loss, his life shaped by

mured, reaching out to touc

because I want you to understand, Veronica. I didn't choose this lif

"I understand. But just because you didn't choose it doesn't m

around himself seemed to lower, just enough for her to glimpse the man behind the power. Without

s both of them had been holding back. His hands found her waist, pulling her close, his touch pos

breaths mingling in the quiet room, A

his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face. "B

st. She wanted to believe him, to trust that she could be something good in his

he whispered, voicing the fear that

whatever it takes to keep that from happening. You're mine, Veron

dangerous thing. She knew then that Archie's love, like everything about him, would be intense, consu

d of power, betrayal, and forbidden passion that she'd willingly stepped into, knowing there would be no turning back.