Stolen Bride's Veil: Carelli Family Mafia, #2

By Heather West

Stolen Bride's Veil is book 2 of the Carelli Family Mafia trilogy. Book 3, Stolen Bride's Vow, is available everywhere now!

THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF HER.
I TOLD THEM TO TRY AND STOP ME.

HER: The daughter of the mob boss. In other words, strictly off-limits.
ME: The man hired to protect her… and the father of her baby.

Pia's father is not a man to be messed with.
He's killed before and he sure as hell isn't afraid to get his hands dirty again.
But when Pia's life is threatened by a masked man with bad intentions, I get called in.

My job is simple: don't let anybody touch her.
But simple doesn't always mean easy.

Because the mafia princess is begging to be bent over and held down.
That body needs a man to show her how to use it.

And I'm just the guy for the job.

Because when I go to claim a woman, I don't do things halfway.
Pia won't just be my plaything.
She'll also be the mother of my child.

That is, if her father doesn't kill me before our baby is born.

I crossed the line – I know that.
But I'll be damned if I let this old man take me away from my new family.

He can try to marry her off to someone else, or to keep her away from me.
But I'm coming to claim what's mine.

My bride.
My baby.
Our freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sopris Page Press
• Release date: Aug 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386064930

Book preview

STOLEN BRIDE’S VEIL: A Mob Romance (Carelli Family Mafia Book 2)

By Heather West

THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF HER.

I TOLD THEM TO TRY AND STOP ME.

HER: THE DAUGHTER OF the mob boss. In other words, strictly off-limits.

ME: The man hired to protect her... and the father of her baby.

Pia’s father is not a man to be messed with.

He’s killed before and he sure as hell isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty again.

But when Pia’s life is threatened by a masked man with bad intentions, I get called in.

My job is simple: don’t let anybody touch her.

But simple doesn’t always mean easy.

Because the mafia princess is begging to be bent over and held down.

That body needs a man to show her how to use it.

And I’m just the guy for the job.

Because when I go to claim a woman, I don’t do things halfway.

Pia won’t just be my plaything.

She’ll also be the mother of my child.

That is, if her father doesn’t kill me before our baby is born.

I crossed the line – I know that.

But I’ll be damned if I let this old man take me away from my new family.

He can try to marry her off to someone else, or to keep her away from me.

But I’m coming to claim what’s mine.

My bride.

My baby.

Our freedom.

Chapter 1

It took hours for him to get to her. Too many hours, much too long. The whole drive was agonizing. He was worried, imagining every scenario possible. In most of his visions, she was hurt or in danger in some way. Which meant he needed to get there fast.

What if it had somehow all been a setup? What if they were just trying to get him out of the way so they could get to her. Though the they in that case would have to be Matteo because obviously the guys who tried to kidnap her wouldn’t have known when he was coming to kill them.

Maybe the timing was a coincidence but she was hurt for some other reason, in some other way. Maybe her car had broken down and she was stranded on the side of the road. Maybe the guys he killed had somehow alerted their boss before he knew it and while they were dying, someone was being sent to hurt her. A little payback for taking his guys out?

If he was lucky, she wasn’t in danger at all. She was just missing him and wanted him. But when was he ever lucky? She hadn’t texted him in all these weeks, so why would she now all of a sudden? That would be too good to be true.

No. He tried to picture her in some sexy outfit, posing seductively on her bed, texting him because she was wet for him. But that image quickly vanished and was replaced with the sight of the fear in her eyes as her kidnapper tried to pull her away. He’d never forget that look. It haunted his waking and sleeping hours when he wasn’t with her. When he didn’t know for sure she was safe. He always pictured the worst.

Even though he’d driven as fast as possible, as fast as was safe after just committing a double murder, it wasn’t fast enough. He thought about texting her back or calling, but without knowing the situation, he didn’t want to do that, or give anything away. If she was in danger, her phone might be compromised. Better her attacker think he wasn’t going to show up than to know that he was on the way.

He hated to think she was sitting there with her phone, waiting for his response that wasn’t coming, but it was safer this way. He could explain everything when he had her in his arms. When she was safe.

Finally, her house came into sight. This part, he needed to play carefully. He couldn’t just barge in there and up to her room. Luckily, he had the excuse of needing to talk to Matteo and report in anyway. He’d do a little reconnaissance before going in to make sure she was there.

He turned into the driveway, but didn’t pull up to the house. He got just close enough to see that a dim light was on in her room. It was late, though. It could be some sort of night light left on. Didn’t really prove anything.

He’d planned to install a tracking app on her phone. While he was protecting her, it wasn’t necessary, and he hadn’t had the chance to do it before he left. But he would now. Next chance he got. That way, he’d at least always know where her phone was.

Lateness was on his side, though. Matteo would be up, waiting for him to come and give his report, but the other staff would be sleeping.

But that wouldn’t help him now. He parked and walked up to the garage, peaking in to see whose cars were there. Matteo’s day car was there. And so was Pia’s Jaguar. So she was most likely here. The only way to make sure was to text her or go to her room.

He took a chance and sent a text. Where are you?

That, at least, wouldn’t give anyone any information except that maybe he would be on his way soon after she sent the text.

In my room, she said back quickly. Where are you?

He ignored her question for now. Are you okay?

I don’t know.

Are you alone?

Yes. Kinda.

What the hell did that mean? How was someone kind of alone? Well, she was here and didn’t seem to be in any immediate danger. She’d know soon enough that he was here.

He knocked on the front door and waited. Matteo greeted him and ushered him inside.

Is it done? Matteo asked.

Yes. There were two men. One was her attacker. Both are dead.

Matteo nodded. Any problems? Any worries?

None. He would leave out the man in the robe who may have seen him. It wasn’t a big enough deal, and he wasn’t sure enough to worry anyone. He really doubted that dude would do anything anyway.

Matteo clapped a hand on his shoulder. Knew I could count on you.

Thank you.

I’ll let you know when I have your next mission.

Ryder nodded. It’s late. Do you think I could grab a shower and crash in the guest room for a few hours?

Of course.

Appreciate it.

Ryder shook