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He halted at the end of the parking lot, then lowered the window.“Hey, Smitty, I’ll take Ryah home.”I waved at my bodyguard.“That’s fine. I’m right behind you.”Rocco nodded and turned on to the road, saluting his security detail parked in a black suburbanacross the street.My father, Luciano Conti, was one of four mafia bosses in Philadelphia. Urbano Andrisani,Eduardo Cerullo, and Galil De Bello were the others. We had bad blood with the De Bello’s.Rocco and I have been in each other’s lives since we were babies.He often stared at me from across the room with disdain in his eyes. I asked him if he hated mebecause I was half black and half Italian.He said, “No, but the sight of you pains my eyes.”I assumed I didn’t appeal to him. That statement made me loathe him even more. I always hatedhim. Mostly because he tortured me when we were kids.Over the years, we learned to tolerate each other. We’ve changed schools five times in the lastthree years. Rocco stayed in trouble. He took over whatever new school we attended. The jocks andthe faculty despised him. The last two transfers happened because students were afraid of me. Or,should I say afraid of my family. This time, I used my mother’s last name, Soloman, to keep peopleoff my trail.“Rocco, we should discuss the next school we’ll attend.”“We can stay. You finally have friends.”“I would’ve lost those friends if you would have outed me.”His eye twitched. That meant he’d lose his shit in any second.“What?”“Stop hiding who you are. Tell them your father’s name and gauge their reaction. If they walk outof your life, they were never real friends. High school will end in a couple of years. Let’s make thebest of it.”The smell of copper mixed in the air with his addictive cologne. Staring at his bloody knuckles, Ireached for his hand. He flinched. My fingers brushed across his skin.“You don’t have to come to my rescue all the time.”“Ryah, you know I do. Rich pricks make my blood boil. The next time you hit me like that, you’lldrop to your knees and suck my hard cock. Because baby, that shit turns me on.”I retracted my hand. “I’ll bite it clean off.”He rubbed his dick. “Keep talking. Better yet, beat me off so I can relieve this stress that’smounting.”“Never.”He kept his eye on the road and smirked.“What will you do about Drew threatening to tell his father? The judge.”“He’ll be handled.”Silence fell between us.“There will be other guys, Rocco.”“I know. As long as they understand your virginity is to remain in tack.” He shrugged as he rolledto a stop outside the wrought-iron gates of my community.“Who I give myself to is none of your business.”“Oh, it is, Mafia Princess.” He chuckled, punching in the security code on the keypad.

“We’ll double date.”I folded my arms and arched a brow. “There’s no need for us to double date.”He hopped out the car, walked to my side, and opened the door. “I have to keep them in check.”Rocco extended his hand. I refused to take it. Gathering my belongings, I stepped past him towardthe front door.“I’m not your sister. Save your double dating for her.”His cleats thudded the pavement behind me.“Can’t do that. Breann will never be allowed to date.”I opened the door as I smacked my lips. “We aren’t friends. We aren’t anything.”Mom peeked up from her book. “Rocco, haven’t seen you around much.”She stared at him through her long, dark lashes.“Mom, please don’t humor him.” I kicked off my sneakers next to the gray sofa.He kept his head low and hands tucked behind his back. “Ms. Soloman, I could drive Ryah to andfrom school every day.”Her lips parted, and I threw a hand in the air.“No, you won’t. I’ll see you in school.”He leaned against the pale blue archway, unmoved by my comment. His thick strands fell on hisforehead.“Are you hungry, Rocco? I cooked grilled salmon for dinner.”“He was just leaving.” I narrowed my eyes at him.“I could never turn down one of your meals. I’ll wash my hands and meet you ladies in thekitchen.”Rocco winked at me before vacating the room.My core tightened. Don’t give into his charm, Ryah. He’s a cunning werewolf. Who will devouryou if you let him. Rocco never hid who he was from anyone. He owned his identity. And embracedhis future. He would become the mafia boss of the Andrisani crime family.I dropped my bag and pom-poms on a nearby orange chair.“Mom, why are you encouraging him?” I whispered, scurrying behind her into the kitchen.“He has it bad for you.”Tossing my head back, a loud chuckle followed by a snort left my throat. “He doesn’t. Roccowon’t ever settle down. At sixteen, he has more girls crowded around him every day than a famousHollywood actor in his prime. Besides, he’s not my type.” I lathered my hands with soap under thehot water in the kitchen sink.Silence fell around the room. Rarely was mom silent. After drying my hands, I slid into one of theplush, white and gold chairs that matched the marble counter. Our kitchen was renovated every threeyears on dad’s orders. Nothing too good for Philly’s top gourmet chef.I know you’re still wondering about my parents. I’ll get there soon.“You’re dropping the subject?”She stepped over, planting her lips in my golden-brown coils. “Yes. You’re young. I want you tolive your life. Be happy.”I released a labored sigh. “Thank you.”“Ms. Soloman, may I have a glass of red wine with my meal?”Rocco appeared, flashing his white teeth. The overhead ceiling lamps drew attention to hisreddened, tanned face.“No.” Her eyes widened. “What happened to your face?”

His blue eyes fell on me. My heartbeat thudded my chest.“Ryah, slapped me twice.” He grinned.Mom folded her arms. “Did you provoke her?”He threw his hands up like he was surrendering. “No. I was defending her honor.” He sat acrossfrom me.“Let’s just say, I wasn’t a fan of her ex-boyfriend. I roughed him up.”She stared at me. “You hit him because he defended you?”“That’s not what happened. Yes, it’s true Drew was pushing his luck, but I could’ve handled him.Rocco almost told him who my father was. So I smacked him.”“Ryah Conti,” she roared. “I swear, you have your father’s temper.”“Yup, your daughter’s very feisty. Not to worry, Ms. Soloman. She’s the only girl who could everget away with laying a hand on me.” His tongue slid across his lower lip, reminding me how hard hiscock was in the car. Sick, twisted bastard.No girl dared to step out of line with him. They’d be dead if they attempted to hit him. His cousin,Scarlet, was an enforcer for his family. She wouldn’t hesitate to cut a bitch’s throat.Mom walked over to the warmer. “Maybe you should miss cheering at the game this weekend,Ryah.”I leaned over the counter. “You’re dead,” I mouthed.“Princess, is that a threat?” he whispered.“Ms. Soloman, we need Ryah at the game. Builds morale for my teammates.” He never tore hiseyes from mine.I felt like French fries sitting under a heating lamp. Like I said, he was cunning.“Fine. No hanging out. Come straight home after the game.”I shoved my fingers into my coils. “Yes, ma’am.”Mom placed our plates in front of us. Rocco sat up straight holding a pleasant good boy kind ofsmile on his face.“Thank you,” we stated respectively.Her strong cheekbones lifted. “You’re welcome.” Her low brown ponytail fanned across her backas she bounced out of the kitchen.He was beautiful as a boy. And even more handsome in a sinful kind of way as a teenager. I couldonly imagine how devilishly gorgeous he’d become once he turned twenty-five.Sliding my fork through the flaky salmon, I peeked across the counter. “Drive me hometomorrow.”“You asking or telling?” He shoved a forkful of broccoli into his mouth.I swallowed hard. “I’m telling my friends who I am in the morning.”He nodded. “It’s for the best. Remember, I’ll still be your friend.”I tilted my head to the side. “We’re not friends.”“You’re right. I’m the mafia prince and you’re the mafia princess.”A smile spread across my lips. “Yeah.” In certain settings, I enjoyed the look on people's faceswhen they learned I was Luciano Conti’s daughter.“Saturday night we can practice shooting in my dad’s gun range.”“Now you’re talking.”Later that night, I stood in the oversized bathroom, staring at my honey brown oval face. I tappedthe tip of my pointy nose and puckered my pouty pink lips. I loved my almond shaped eyes and thickbrows. My breasts had to fill in before prom. Please, Lord!

It looked like a pair of peaches sat front and center on my chest.It still bothered me that Rocco hated looking at me. Pointing my nose upward, I blinked away hiswords. I love me just the way I am. Little chest and all.“Good morning, Smitty,” I grinned, rushing out the house toward the black Escalade.He held the rear passenger door open. “Morning to you, Ryah.”I slid across the warm cream leather seat. Mom left an hour before me. She had a large lunch toprepare at our restaurant Vega in downtown Philly.In this life, bodyguards were like a second skin. They sat outside our house around the clock. Wedidn’t leave the house without our security detail.Smitty hopped behind the steering wheel, then backed out of the driveway.“Are we stopping at the bagel shop this morning?”“No, I’ll eat at school.” My fingers skated across the phone screen.Me: Genevieve, tell the girls were meeting in the lunchroom. I have something I want todiscuss over breakfast.Genevieve: Are you ok?Me: Yes, I’m fine.Genevieve: Ok, see you in a sec.I stared out the window, pondering on what they’d say.Think good thoughts, Ryah.Mom’s birthday was a month away. I wondered what dad had planned.My family’s dynamic was unique, to say the least.Time to tell you how my parents met.Dad’s driver was parked in front of his favorite restaurant. As he stepped out of the truck, he sawMelanie. She hurried across the crowded crosswalk and dipped into a restaurant on the opposite sideof the street. Luciano entered the building as Melanie walked into the kitchen.“Sir, would you like to be seated?” the hostess asked.“In a moment.” His eyes were trained on the kitchen door.She emerged tying an apron around her waist.“I’d like to be seated in her section.” Luciano pointed at the woman bouncing toward a couplenearby.The hostess grinned. “Sure thing.”Luciano kept Melanie laughing each time she came to the table. He didn’t ask for her phonenumber that evening. He offered the hostess one hundred dollars if she’d divulge Melanie’s schedulefor the following week.My aunt Minka was the hostess who gave him the information he requested. He made a point toeat dinner at the family eatery on her shift for a month. Luciano finally asked her on a date. Hewould’ve never hesitated to ask her out if he wasn’t promised to another woman, Rosetta Vitale.Whom he’d met several times over the years. Never once did sparks fly between them. Their fathersmade a deal. They were to enter an arranged marriage, uniting their families. They’d become the mostpowerful mafia family in Philly.He fell hard for Melanie. Letting her go wasn’t something he was willing to do. Luciano fulfilledhis commitment and married Rosetta.“He never lied to Melanie about his situation.And that was the moment his double life began.“He told Rosetta he’d never leave Melanie,” Aunt Minka said.

Dad admitted living between two residences was taxing, but worth it so he could spend time withhis family. Mom and me.I was dad’s only child and if I chose, I could run his empire one day.A particular time stood out in my childhood. One I’d never forget. I remembered bubbling withexcitement about how many gifts I received that year. I was ten. Mom had never been to mystepmother’s castle. I shared a video with her showing off all my presents surrounding the massiveChristmas tree. Rosetta threw herself in dad’s face. Stroking his cheek with her huge wedding ring onfull display. Mom didn’t lose her shit in front of me. Later that evening, she told dad they needed timeapart. That fiasco carried on for a month. Looking back at the situation, I could understand why momwas upset. Rosetta had the life mom wanted with dad. She had his last name and mom didn’t. ButMelanie had his heart. Rosetta would kill to have his love and affection. I meant that literally.

CHAPTER TWO

RYAH“ALL RIGHT, RYAH, WE’RE here.”His voice pulled me back from my thoughts. Parked near the front door of the school, he glancedover his shoulder. “See you soon.”“See you inside, Smitty.” I smoothed my dark plaid uniform skirt under my bottom as I climbedout of the truck. The harsh wind swept through my coat. Was the gray sky a reflection of what was tocome? A small smile crept across my face. Smitty would park the truck then patrol the school toensure my safety like he did every day.It didn’t matter that some of the richest kids in the country attended Prestige Academy. Hisresponsibility was to keep this rich kid safe.Smitty kept his distance throughout the day, giving me a sense of normalcy.Pinching the burgundy pea coat closed, I nodded at fellow classmates as I entered the building.My heartbeat thudded against my chest. The realization of the conversation I’d have in a fewminutes crept along my skin like snails.I glanced up and down the desolate halls before hanging my coat in my locker.Rocco’s words played on repeat. Stop hiding who you are. If they walk out of your life, theywere never real friends.Head held high, I strolled into the cafeteria under the monstrous skylight. “Hey, girls.” I waved enroute to the food bar.They smiled, waved back, and tossed their perfect hair over their shoulders in unison. Maybe myclick was a little vain. The girls sat at the long white table clad in their uniforms. We were a diversebunch. I was mixed. Genevieve was black, Yareli was Russian, and Faith was Hispanic. I liked oursmall circle.I peeked at the students who sat scattered around the lunchroom. Their eyes fell over me as theyheld in-depth discussions, possibly about the ordeal that occurred in the shadows of the parking lotlast night.If they weren’t chatting about that, then it was how Rocco and I were some secret pair. Thefuckers needed to get a life. But that wasn’t what high school kids did. They pried in others' business.I halted at the breakfast bar, overflowing with a variety of healthy and not so healthy foodchoices. I threw an orange, an apple danish, and a carton of apple juice on my tray. Scrambled eggsand pancakes wafted in the air. I couldn’t eat a massive meal this morning. Not before my importantconversation.“How did practice turn out after I left?” I placed my tray on the table, sitting across from the girlswith my back to the wall.Not a chance I’d sit with my back to the window or anyone unless my bodyguard was close. Welived a dangerous life. We didn’t have to. Or did we? Mom could’ve vanished again with me in tow.Granddad told her to leave dad. I laughed inside. Mom thought she could walk away from one of themost powerful men in the world with his child.fucking hilarious. Well, she tried.Dad learned our whereabouts in two days. He assigned guards to watch over us in a small town inGeorgia. Dad waited six months to make a move. Guess he worked his charm on mom, because hebrought us back to Philly a few months later. She was Luciano’s obsession.Not sure I’d want to be a man’s undoing. His destruction. His everything.“Earth to Ryah. Did you hear what I said?” Genevieve poked her head in my line of sight.I blinked twice. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Staring at Rocco again, I see.” Yareli shook her blonde tresses.He snapped his fingers. “Tell them,” he mouthed.Hmm, I wonder what his lips taste like. Probably like sin. I decided to find out.Those perfect pink lips would devour mine before the year ended.“She said a few of the guys ran to Drew’s aid after you left with Mr. Delicious.” A wide grinflashed across Faith’s tanned face.“Hand in hand,” Yareli chuckled, before sliding a spoonful of oatmeal into her mouth.“Did you fuck him?”I cocked my head to the side. “Genevieve, I didn’t. He’s fucked most of the girls in this school.Except you three.” I bit into the danish.Faith tapped her milk carton on the table. “And why is that? You said you didn’t want him.”Genevieve rolled her eyes. “Of course, she wants him. We’re Ryah’s friends. That makes Roccooff limits.”“Let’s discuss our friendship.” I ignored her statement.“Listen, girls. My last name isn’t Soloman.” Their confused eyes stared back at me.“I share my dad’s last name. My father is Luciano Conti. An alleged mafia boss of Philly.”Faith laughed. “Alleged my ass. He’s a mafia boss.”“My father is a businessman.” I sipped the apple juice.“That’s why you hang around Rocco.” Yareli’s gray eyes widened. “His dad is also an allegedmob boss.”“Rocco and I have known each other all of our lives. And we’ve always attended schooltogether.”The dark knight sauntered toward us.“Look, if you guys don’t want to be my friends I understand,” I lied. It felt like cotton blocked mythroat.Rocco sat beside me and draped his arm loosely over my shoulder.“Hey ladies, how’s it going?”“Morning, Rocco,” they stated dryly.“Why did you lie?” Genevieve gritted out.Anger danced in her dark eyes. Her chestnut fingers curled on the table.My eyes skated over her as a devious smirk lit my lips. She better calm down. I don’t want tohurt her.“Usually, when I introduce myself as Ryah Conti, people run the other way.”“Not me. I ain’t never leaving you.” Rocco arched a brow, looking down on my friends.It was the sweetest thing he’d ever said. My lips smashed his cheek.I sat back. “Wherever you’ll be, I’ll be.”Rocco’s gaze swept over my lips. His tough guy exterior disappeared momentarily. “You betterbe, Princess.”My brows lowered. “Fuck you, Rocco.”“Not yet, but soon.”I scooted to the left. He snatched my waist, pulling me close, attaching our hips.“Are you guys sticking around or leaving?”The bell rung.They hopped up and the blue chairs flew out from under them.“I need to think about it,” Genevieve said, clutching her books to her chest.

Yareli’s brows rustled together. “Ryah, I need time to think it over.”“Guess it’s just us,” Faith grinned.She leaned over the table. “My father’s an alleged cartel boss in Mexico. Guess it just leaves usrebels.”Genevieve and Yareli’s mouths dropped open. They didn’t say another word before they vacatedthe lunchroom.“I understand how hard it can be to make friends. Lucky for me, no one knew about my dad untilnow.”Rocco stood, pulling me with him. “Faith, you’re welcome to hang out with us Friday. We wereinvited to a killer party.”“This is my first time hearing about it.” I walked between them after we exited the lunchroom.“Your mom grounded you last night. I figured I’d tell her I’d drive you home after the game andwe’d chill at the party for a cou

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