𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛

•63•

Kailani padded softly down the grand staircase, the scent of freshly baked cookies clinging to her fingers as she held the plate in her small hands.

The house was quiet, but she knew Salvatore was somewhere nearby. He always was, and even when she couldn't see him, she could feel him—his presence was never far from her. Today had been a good day, and the idea of surprising him with something as simple as homemade cookies had brought a smile to her face. She had spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen, finding comfort in the normalcy of baking, her hands moving rhythmically as she mixed, kneaded, and shaped the dough.

She thought she’d find him in his study or perhaps one of his quieter rooms, the ones where he sometimes took her for more intimate moments. But as she wandered through the mansion, following her instincts, she found herself drawn to a different part of the house—the basement.

Salvatore’s “man cave” was more than just a typical basement; it was a dark, luxurious lair where he often met with his closest confidants, his mafia brothers. She hesitated as she reached the heavy wooden door leading to the room. She hadn’t expected anyone to be around tonight—certainly not his friends. But the faint sound of male voices reached her ears, laughter mixed with low conversation.

Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t meant to interrupt him, especially not with guests over, but she had come this far, and the cookies were for him. Taking a breath, she gently pushed the door open, peeking inside.

The room was dimly lit, the soft amber glow of red overhead lights casting shadows across the walls, up-beat russian music playing. Salvatore sat in the center of a large leather couch, his massive form dominating the space. Around him were five other men, all of them lounging casually in various chairs, drinks in hand, their deep voices rumbling as they discussed business. The moment she stepped into the room, all conversation came to a halt, the men's eyes shifting towards her.

Salvatore's gaze was immediate, his dark eyes locking onto her with that intense, possessive stare she knew so well. His friends followed his line of sight, their curious expressions shifting as they took in the sight of Kailani standing in the doorway, a plate of cookies in her hands, her innocent eyes wide with surprise.

She hadn’t known he had company, she whimpered and took a step back. Heat flooded her cheeks as she realized she’d walked in on something private, but Salvatore didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed pleased. His lips curled into a subtle, almost predatory smile but to everyone else apart from her his face still looked stoic, but she noticed it, the mask he usually wore was off, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest of the couch.

“Kotonok,” he murmured, his voice low and commanding. The way he said her name sent shivers down her spine, an invitation and a demand all in one. “Come.”

She hesitated for a second, but his gaze never left her, and she couldn’t deny the pull he had over her. Slowly, she stepped into the room, her bare feet making soft sounds against the floor as she walked toward him. The other men watched her with interest, their eyes following her every move as if she were a curiosity on display. Her long hair bounced behind her, her short skirt lifting slighting with every step. Salvatore’s hand reached out the moment she was within arm’s length, his fingers brushing her waist before pulling her onto his lap effortlessly.

She settled against him, the plate of cookies balanced precariously on her lap as she glanced at his friends, unsure of what to say or do. But Salvatore didn’t give her time to overthink. His hand slid up her thigh, shamelessly possessive, his touch sending a wave of heat through her as he gripped her firmly, making it clear to everyone in the room that she belonged to him.

One of the men, a tall, lean figure with sharp features and slicked-back hair, raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly. “So, this is the infamous nevinnaya donna,” (innocent donna) he remarked, taking a sip of his drink. His voice was smooth, tinged with amusement as his eyes flicked between her and Salvatore. “Heard a lot about you, bella.” (pretty)