Acquisition: A Just Business Mafia Romance Read online

  Acquisition

  A Just Business Mafia Romance

  Kiera Silver

  Calamity Jane Publishing

  Contents

  About This Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Sneak Peek: NEGOTIATION

  Sneak Peek: MERGER

  Sneak Peek: HOSTILE TAKEOVER

  Also by Kiera Silver

  Copyright © 2017 by Kiera Silver

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  About This Book

  Katie fell hard for Armo when he literally swept her off her feet and is happy with him until she learns the truth. Her boyfriend is a mob boss. After witnessing him commit a murder, she runs to protect herself and the tiny life inside her. When Armo finds her a year later, he acquires her again with ease, with plans to make her pay for her betrayal and for stealing his son from him.

  She can’t accept his lifestyle no matter how much her heart yearns for him, and she vows not to give in to Armo’s seduction this time—but resisting Armo isn’t as easy as that, especially since she still loves him. When the most vulnerable Moretti becomes the target of someone bent on revenge, she has to put her trust in Armo and embrace the darkness in which he lives to save everyone she loves.

  Negotiation, Acquisition, Merger and Hostile Takeover are part of the JUST BUSINESS Mafia Romance series. They may be read as standalones, but reading all in order will enhance your enjoyment. All include super hot sex, no cheating and happily-ever-afters.

  Chapter One

  “Happy anniversary, Katie,” Armo as he reached into his pocket.

  She watched from across an intimate table in the high-end restaurant where they were celebrating their sixth-month anniversary of the day Armo had literally swept her off her feet. She’d been running late for class and had jaywalked right into the front of his car. Of course he’d tried to stop, but had ended up bumping her lightly and sending her flying.

  When he had come to her aid, he’d lifted her into his arms as though she weighed nothing and placed her in the back of his car, insisting on taking her to the emergency room himself. Nothing had been broken, but by the time the doctor had cleared her to go, with Armo at her side the entire time, she’d fallen for her rescuer.

  Now, she tensed with anticipation as his long fingers drew out a velvet box. Disappointment surged in her chest a moment later when she realized it couldn’t possibly be the right size to hold an engagement ring. She managed to hide any sense of disappointment, knowing it was silly to feel that way. After all, it had only been six months, and while she was absolutely certain she was head-over-heels in love with Armo, and was pretty certain he felt the same way although they’d both avoided using the “L” word yet.

  She had held back for fear of spooking him, and she hoped that he had held back simply because he didn’t want to rush things. She would prefer he know his own feelings before she verbalized anything of the sort, and perhaps he knew that about her. He seemed to know her really well.

  “What do you really know about him?” Her sister’s words of concern flooded back to her suddenly, and she had to forcibly push away the memory of the conversation she’d had with Haley a few weeks ago as her elder sister had grilled her once again about Armo. For whatever reason, Haley had developed an instant dislike for him, and she was suspicious of everything he did. She found it irksome, but Haley was often a detail focused person, while Katie was more easygoing.

  When he set the box in front of her, she forced aside all thoughts that weren’t positive or happy as she opened the lid to reveal a gold and diamond-encrusted Cartier watch. She gasped slightly and ran her finger over the intricate design. “My gosh, it’s beautiful. Thank you, Armo.” Her fingers trembled slightly when she slid it from the box and wrapped it around her wrist, fastened the clasp with his help.

  He winked at her. “Now you have no excuse for being late.”

  She flushed slightly, though she knew that he was just teasing her. No matter how hard she tried, she seemed to be late everywhere she went.

  Something teased the back of her mind, and it brought a sharp spike of anxiety along with it, but before she could hold on to the idea germinating, it was gone. The waiter returned with their desserts, and Katie lost herself in the sensual pleasure of exquisite chocolate crème brûlée and the sexy man seated across the table from her.

  Later that night, after an evening at the theater, they returned to Armo’s condo. Technically, Katie still had a room at the college dorms, but she hadn’t been there in two months except for quick trips to drop off books or pick up other articles of clothing. Unofficially, she lived with Armo, though he hadn’t invited her explicitly to move in. He had simply started keeping her overnight, and then he’d given her a key and the code to his apartment complex’s entrance.

  It was a fancy place with high security, so the day he had given her the codes, she had known that she was something special to him. When she’d told her sister, Haley had called her a naïve fool and reminded her Armo could change the codes at any time, Katie had walked out, not wanting to engage in more debate about the man with whom she was involved.

  Now, she followed him up the wraparound stairs to the second floor, which was more of a loft, containing only the master bedroom and a large en suite bathroom, along with a small sitting area. Tonight, they bypassed the sitting area in unspoken agreement and entered their bedroom.

  As soon as the door closed behind them, she was unsurprised when Armo took her into his arms, his mouth devouring hers in a possessive, deep kiss. His tongue pressed through the seam of her lips, and she offered no resistance. A second later, he was tasting her as he drew her closer to him.

  Katie wrapped her arms around him for a moment, holding Armo tightly, before her hands started to roam over the hard planes and angles of his body. She helped him shed his dinner jacket and tie, and then her nimble fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt. She stripped it from him less than a minute later and buried her face against his chest.

  Katie moaned as she inhaled his scent, finding it as intoxicating as ever. He was pure male, with a sharp tang of cloves from his cologne. His aroma was unique to him, and it never failed to make her heart rate increase.

  A laugh rumbled through his chest as his fingers went to the zipper of her dress, pulling it down to the middle of her back before he started pulling the red garment down over her breasts and pushed it past her hips. “I see you’re still smelling me.”

  She giggled, embarrassed by his teasing. “I remain unapologetic. You smell good.”

  As the dress pooled around her feet, he put his hand under her chin and angled her head upward again, claiming her mouth for another deep kiss before he spoke again. “I’m not complaining, believe me. I’d rather have this than you running away screaming or ask me to take a shower every time we’re near each other.”

  “I don’t mind if you want to take a shower whenever we’re together, as long as you let me join you.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “I could wash your back and your front too…”

  He bit back a groan of desire, his expression betraying his indecision for a moment. Finally, he sighed and shook his head
. “No, I don’t have the patience for that tonight.”

  She spent a moment peeling off her bra in what she hoped was a sexy fashion before replying. “I enjoy the attention you give me as well, love…r.” She’d almost said love, tacking on the “R” at the last moment. She didn’t think a casual endearment like that would send him running, but she was trying to be cautious. She didn’t want to jinx the relationship or rush Armo into something for which he wasn’t ready. She knew theirs was the longest relationship he’d ever had, so she felt it prudent to proceed delicately.

  Haley, on the other hand, would have steamrolled her way through the relationship by now, establishing all future outcomes and forcing him to choose a path. Since that wasn’t Katie’s style, her sister accused her of being weak-minded. Haley didn’t understand how strong she had to be to withstand the temptation to throw herself into his arms and confess her deepest feelings. Her sister could never appreciate that subtlety sometimes required an inner core of steel to maintain, and that waiting to know the outcome was torturous.

  She shook her head, trying to force Haley from her thoughts, and returned her focus to her lover. He had removed her panties and garter belt by now, but had left the thigh-high stockings and high heels.

  He lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the bed. “This brings back memories,” he quipped. She laughed, holding tightly to him as he laid her on the bed, forcing him to come down with her, though she suspected he had planned to anyway. “You do like to sweep me off my feet.”

  “At least this time I didn’t hit you with a car first.”

  She allowed a moment of seriousness, staring deep into his eyes for a second. “It wasn’t the best thing ever, but I’ll never regret the result.”

  “There’s my silver-lining Katie,” he said affectionately. “Your optimism is always so refreshing, if a bit bewildering at times.”

  She rolled her eyes. Armo claimed to be a pessimist, always prepared to see the worst in people, but she’d never seen that side of him. She liked to think that maybe she brought out a different side of him, but it was just as likely that he was simply maintaining a front to fit in better with his brothers. Larenz, the oldest of the triplets, was severe and stern, and she could see that both Armo and Dante tried to imitate their brother at different times, albeit unconsciously. She was certain they would be embarrassed if anyone pointed it out.

  Armo started with her mouth, kissing a line down her body as his tongue flicked out to trace her skin, and he paused to nibble on his favorite places. She squirmed when he took one plump nipple into his mouth, sucking hard enough to send a jolt of mild pain through her. It didn’t detract from the pleasure, but it was a new reaction.

  She soon forgot about it as electric sparks shot down her body, following in the wake of his tongue as he made his way to her pussy. He spent a few moments torturing her first, pressing kisses up and down her thighs, and even behind her knee, before nibbling his way back up the ever-increasing sensitive flesh, until he was hovered over the heart of her, but still not touching. With a small sob, Katie buried her fingers in his hair and dragged his face closer to her slick folds, needing to feel his tongue inside her.

  With a chuckle of satisfaction, he gave her what she was silently demanding as he let his mouth cover her flesh, his tongue slipping between her lips to explore her slit. She whimpered and thrust against his face as he began to move his tongue up and down in maddeningly slow motions before slowly homing in on her clit, which he traced in slow and careful circles. She hovered on the edge of climax in no time, because he knew exactly which places drove her wild.

  She let out a moan of protest when he brought her right to the edge, but lifted his head before she could go over. “You sadistic bastard.”

  Armo laughed, unbothered by her words. “I love your pillow talk, baby.”

  A second later, he shifted their positions to arrange them both so that his cock was angled against her opening. He rubbed the head against her wetness before he began to slide inside. A jolt of desire surged through her, and she marveled again at the sensation of skin against skin. It was a new experience for both of them, since they had only recently begun to forgo condoms, once she had started taking birth control pills the month before. Sex with Armo was amazing with a condom, but with no barriers between them, it was even more fantastic. She couldn’t explain why or how the absence of one thin latex barrier made such a difference, but it certainly did.

  His pace started out slowly and carefully, but he soon grasped her hips and began to thrust more forcefully. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and clung to him, meeting each thrust with a rise of her hips, desperate to feel all of Armo inside her. It was always like this, whether they made love slowly or simply had a quick fuck. There was always a desperate need for each other. The heat and hunger between them never seemed completely satisfied, no matter how many orgasms they had. She hoped that it would always be that way.

  She cried out his name as she came, her pussy convulsing around the length of his shaft. A moment later, Armo’s cock twitched as he spilled his release inside her, and his fingers dug almost painfully into her hips for a moment as pleasure coursed through him.

  They rocked together as her heart rate slowed, and the blissful aftermath left her a shuddering mass on the bed. He collapsed atop her, though careful to support his weight, before rolling over to lay beside her.

  Their gazes locked for a moment, and she was awed by the tenderness she saw in his.

  “Katie?”

  “Yes?” She was strangely breathless for a moment as the mood seemed to change, going serious. For just a second, she was convinced he was on the verge of telling her his feelings, but she could see the moment when he changed his mind. His expression closed slightly, and though he sounded basically the same, there was a definite difference.

  “I think I’m going to have that shower now. Do you want to join me?”

  Disappointment filled her, which she struggled to hide as tears pressed against the back of her eyes. She refused to let them fall, especially with him watching. Instead, she shook her head. “I should, but I’m just too tired now. You wore me out.”

  He winked at her as he rolled out of bed, and she moved just enough to cover herself with the sumptuous bedding. She would probably leave makeup on the pristine white pillowcase, but it wasn’t enough to motivate her to slide from the super-comfortable bed.

  She needed sleep, and she soon succumbed, even though she would have preferred to fall asleep in Armo’s embrace. She knew that wouldn’t happen tonight, because he had made the effort to distance himself again. It was a frustrating cycle, but at least she was sure there would be less time between his next attempt to confess how he felt. He would withdraw for a few hours or days, but then he’d warm up again, and eventually, he would hover on the edge of confession once more.

  She would wait for him. She loved Armo, and she was even more convinced now that he loved her as well. She just had to be patient and allow him to find his way.

  Chapter Two

  She was late. That was the first thought that popped into Katie’s mind as soon as she woke up the next morning. She glanced briefly beside her, seeing a faint indent in the pillow, but able to judge from the temperature of the bedding that Armo had left a while ago. That didn’t surprise her, since he often had early mornings, and she liked to sleep later.

  A quick glance at the clock told her the alarm hadn’t even gone off yet, so she wasn’t in any danger of being late just yet. It was a strange thought to wake up to, but she shrugged her shoulders as she got out of bed and walked into the bathroom, assuming she had been dreaming about being late. It was only after she’d adjusted the water of the multi-head shower and climbed into the soothing warmth that she realized exactly where her brain had led her.

  She was late.

  Not late for class, her period was late. For just a second, panic squeezed her chest in a vise, and she let out a small whimper. It took a couple
of deep breaths to calm down, and the reminder that she had recently started taking birth control, so that was probably making her cycle erratic. She would just pop by the Student Health Center after class to make sure, but she doubted there was any real reason to worry.

  The rationale should have been reassuring, but she was still on tenterhooks while she dressed for the day and made her way to the university. The rational explanation didn’t quiet the voice of doubt and panic inside her. She and Armo had never discussed having children. They were nowhere near that point in their relationship, and it would be terrible timing. If she was accidentally pregnant, would he think that she had done it on purpose?

  She shook her head, discarding the thought almost as soon as she had it. Armo had seen her take her pills more than once, in fact, just about every night, he was there when she took the pill before bed. She knew she hadn’t missed any, and she was certain he would believe her when she told him that.

  More than likely, she was freaking herself out for nothing, but deciding impulsively at the last minute that she needed to know right then, she turned away from the building housing her Econ class and headed toward the Student Health Center instead. Since she didn’t have an appointment, she joined the walk-in line and signed in, and then sat down in the uncomfortably rigid plastic chairs that passed for a waiting room, opening one of her textbooks for her next class.

  Studying proved impossible while thoughts exploded in her head. Scary thoughts. Thoughts of a future that was bereft of Armo. The idea of being a single mother terrified her, especially since she was only twenty-one.

  Her own mother had raised her and Haley singlehandedly, having gotten pregnant with Haley at sixteen, and they had all survived the experience, but it had been hard. It had been especially hard until Muriel had managed to claw her way through night school to become a nurse and stop cleaning other people’s houses. Haley had already been in junior high at that point, but Katie had still been a grade-schooler, and while their financial life had improved, she’d still seen not enough of her mother and too much of her bossy older sister.