𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛

58

Kailani sat on the edge of the bed, her mind still tangled with the remnants of the nightmare that had shaken her the night before. The dim light filtering through the curtains did little to soothe the unease that lingered in her chest. Her fingers brushed against the soft fabric of the dress he’d chosen for her, a silky, navy-blue piece that clung to her figure in all the right ways and a matching pair of lingerie under it.

The door opened with its usual creak, and Salvatore’s towering presence filled the room. He was dressed in his signature black, the half-mask hiding the lower half of his face as moved toward her with that unnerving silence, his gaze never wavering. She felt his eyes travel over her body, taking in every inch of her. It wasn’t long before his large hands were on her, the leather of his gloves cold against her warm skin as he slowly dragged his fingertips up the length of her spine.

With deliberate care, he grasped the zipper of her dress, pulling it up with a slow, intimate motion that made her shiver. His fingers lingered at the nape of her neck, gently brushing her skin before he leaned in, his lips ghosting over the curve of her ear. The heat of his breath sent shivers down her spine. "Perfect," he whispered, his voice thick and possessive, his thick accent making his voice even deeper, the one word hanging in the air between them.

He stepped back, his huge hand trailing down the back of her thigh as he moved toward the door. Wordlessly, he extended a gloved hand, and she took it, her own, delicate as he led her out.

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

The drive to the restaurant was a different kind of torment. Salvatore sat next to her in the back of the sleek black car, his hand resting on her bare thigh, fingers inching higher beneath her dress. The city lights blurred past the windows, but her focus was solely on the way his fingers moved, teasing her skin with every shift of his hand. His eyes were down, glued to the Mj Swarovski and Diamond Studded Notebook on his lap , as if he wasn’t paying attention, but every subtle squeeze and graze of his fingers said otherwise. The slow circles he traced along her inner thigh had her clenching her legs together, but that only earned her a firm grip—his hand tightening with silent warning. She wasn’t allowed to hide from him, not even for a second.

They arrived at the restaurant, an exclusive, high-end place where mafia bosses brokered deals over expensive wine and gourmet meals. Paparazzi were already swarming outside, they had gotten word that Kailani was going to be there, and little did she know that she was currently the talk of the world, the biggest headline everywhere.

Salvatore stepped out first, his men opening the door for him, his imposing figure commanding the attention of every camera, every onlooker. Then, he reached for her, pulling her to his side, his hand possessively sliding around her waist.

As they walked past the cameras, his fingers dipped lower, boldly slipping between the cheeks of her ass through the thin fabric of her dress, pressing against her intimately. Kailani stiffened, her face flushing, but Salvatore didn’t let up. His fingers dug deeper, making sure she felt him, marking her in front of the world. The flashes of cameras went off wildly, and the photographers couldn’t get enough of the sight—Salvatore Russo and his woman, the mystery no one could crack.

Inside the restaurant, the dim lighting and the soft murmur of voices did nothing to ease the tension. The moment they walked through the doors, the staff greeted Salvatore with deep respect, bowing slightly, their eyes darting nervously to Kailani but quickly averting. His grip on her never loosened, and his fingers stayed low on her body, as if he had no intention of stopping his possessive touches just because they were in public.

They were led to a private section, Kailani's long hair bouncing behind her with every step and in the exclusive section of the restaurant were several other mafia bosses who were already seated. Each one of them rose as Salvatore approached, shaking his hand with a mixture of fear and admiration all uttering the same words "Capo" "Don" "Boss" all of them having an accent a bit similar to Salvatore's . Kailani’s heart raced as they all turned to her, their eyes filled with curiosity, admiration, and something darker. But Salvatore pulled her closer, his hand squeezing her hip in a way that made her legs tremble as they all saluted her "Donna" they all greeted at the same time, their voices blending together as they looked down in respect.