His Jailbird: Mafia Made, #3

By KL Donn

From USA Today Bestselling Author KL Donn comes the Mafia Made series, featuring novels from Award-Winning Author E.M. Shue. His Jailbird is book 3 in the Mafia Made Series.

Protecting and serving was his duty. But the mafia is in his blood.

Domino Cardarelli swore to protect the innocent. Even if that meant crossing every drawn line to do so. His loyalty now lies with the Morello family.

Until his father calls.

Asking the son he hasn't seen in far too long for a favor. Protect the girl he saved from a possibly heinous fate years ago.

Nicola Salvatore was stolen, then sold, then arrested. Her life has been a series of tragedies since the day she was conceived. On her eighteenth birthday, she's released from juvenile detention and into the custody of the son of the man who bought her four years ago.

Mysterious and deadly, Nicola unexpectedly falls in love with her solemn protector.

Domino is so focused on keeping his charge safe, conquering her past demons because he's fueled by rage on her behalf after learning not only what she's had to endure over the years, but she still fights with in the present, that he doesn't even realize he's fallen in love with her until it's too late.

After revenge is had and justice is given, is Domino all Nicola is going to want in the end?

He's only ever had one job: Protect and Serve.

Until his little jailbird.

 

This is a mafia, age gap romance with aspects of human trafficking, child abuse, and violence. Proceed with caution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: KL Donn
• Release date: Jun 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393235453

Book preview

Prologue

NICOLA

14 Years Old.

K neel, Nicola, my adoptive father barks his command at me.

Surveying my surroundings, I meet the eyes of each impeccably dressed man as I stand in the center of the room. They circle me like vultures, and I get the distinct feeling that I’m on display.

What’s happening? I mumble. A strike of fear nearly overtakes my body. I’m not stupid. I spend a lot of time getting into enough trouble to recognize it.

I said kneel, he snaps, and grips the perfect braid the maid wove in my hair only a few minutes ago and tugs until I fall to my knees.

Tears spring forward, but I refuse to allow them to fall. I won’t show weakness. Not here. Not for this man. Not ever.

The bidding will start at 250,000 euros. I stare in shock at the man who brought me to his home when I was four. The man I’ve called father since I was five. The man who taught me to ride a bike and kick high on the swings. The man who was supposed to protect me, and suddenly, a sick sort of sense is made as I watch these men raise their hands as the number climbs and climbs.

Please don’t do this, I beg. My sharp nails dig into the palm of my hand so I don’t cry. I refuse to show any weakness.

I’m ignored. Merely a pawn in this room of sick men looking for something I’m either too young to understand or don’t want to face.

Sold! he cheers, and I don’t hear the final amount because I’m trying not to vomit on the beautiful rug beneath my knees.

A rug that supported me as I played with Barbies and cars. Twirled in pretty dresses and danced until my legs felt like jelly. A carpet where I had playdates and drank tea with my mom.

Mom.

Where is she in this? Does she know he’s selling me?

As I’m gripped by the elbow and dragged out of the room, I see her, and she smiles. At first, I think it’s for me, but then Father comes out behind me and announces an astronomical number, and I’m suddenly reduced to nothing.

Nicola, meet your new master, Santo Cardarelli. I’m too stunned to speak as I stare at the man in front of me with his cold eyes and emotionless face.

They’ve just sold me to the devil.

CHAPTER 1

Domino

PRESENT DAY.

Staring off into the Ionian Sea after Natale took Posy inside, I expect peace and quiet for the rest of my evening. Since leaving the United States, I’ve been the security that the Morello family has needed for their return to Italy. I’ve done everything they’ve asked of me and more.

But I’m restless.

The more I watch Natale and Posy, the more I crave what they have. Posy has been my priority for months, and she’s the only one who matters to Natale, the sole son to Capo Morello. While the Morello family was in the USA, my own father kept their name feared and their organization running smoothly here in Sicily until they could return.

During this time, I went against the grain and became a cop. A damn good one too. But one whose buttons were pushed one too many times until I finally quit when Posy’s father and partner and a few other officers tried to silence the young girl’s suffering. Natale went to hell and back for Posy, and when I was forced to arrest him, I knew I was done.

Leaving the force and joining the Morello family in my home country was the best decision I’ve ever made. It’s uncomplicated here. I know the good from the bad, the right from wrong. And I know that Posy Morello is the only person I am responsible for.

As the sun sets, I sit in the lush grass overlooking the sea and try to ignore the vibrations of my phone in my pocket. For ten minutes, it’s been going non-stop, but there comes a point in a man’s life where he just needs to shut the world away for a few minutes.

Tonight has been one of those times.

What? I bark into the device.

Is that any way to greet your father? Santo Cardarelli. My father. A stubborn son of a bitch.

Sorry, Papa, how are you? Stubborn or not, he is one of the best men I know. He is always sacrificing for his family and those he considers so.

I have a rather large favor to ask of you, son. He’s finally bringing my mother over from America. Now that her husband and all five of her children are here, she wants to come home too.

How can I help? I feel certain this is going to bite me in the ass.

His hesitation confirms it. Do you remember a few years ago when I mentioned that auction and how I thought the man was going to sell his daughter?

I have to think back. I told you to let the police handle it. He clears his throat. You didn’t do that, did you?

I bought her. He exhales loudly.

That was… I have to count backwards in my head. Four years ago, at least. What on earth did you do with her?

I kept her. Pride laces his words.

She’s not a dog. Rubbing my head with my other hand, I know he’s leading up to something. I wish he’d get to the point already.

Then I lost her. Maybe she is a dog after all. Don’t they run away a lot?

I know I’m going to regret asking this. Then what happened?

Well, I found her again. After she tried to steal my car. He’s amused now. She’s a bit of a troublemaker.

Why, Papa, would you do this to yourself? I have a feeling I already know the answer.

What the hell else was I supposed to do? Allow a child to be sold to men who would use her body until she was a shell and then toss her into the sea? Besides, I was bored. Do you know how quiet the island was after Natale went crazy? That boy silenced everyone. That doesn’t shock me. Even for as young as he was, the kid killer contained a rage unlike anyone I’ve ever known.

Break this down for me, Papa. What do you need? I hope to hell he doesn’t need a babysitter.

My flight to get your Mamma leaves in an hour. I need you to pick Nicola up tomorrow and stay with her until your mother and I return. Babysitting.

Does Mamma know you’ve collected a stray for all these years? I already know the answer.

Yes, and she loves the girl, and they chat weekly. They’ve been wonderful for each other. I need you to keep her out of trouble, Domino. When I return with your mother, Nicola had better be there to greet us. There’s a warning in his tone.

I’ll do what I can. Where am I picking her up? I frown when he doesn’t immediately answer me. Papa?

Palermo Detention. Silence greets me.

Of fucking course she is. What did she do?

A fight at her school. She broke another girl’s nose. I don’t know whether to laugh or scold the man. She’s had a tough life, Domino, much like Natale’s Posy. She needed me as much as I needed her. Be kind to the girl, son. I hum my agreement. One more thing, Oh lord. Tomorrow is also her eighteenth birthday. I don’t want you to take her out or anything, but ordering dinner, getting a cake, it wouldn’t hurt.

Now I have to throw her a fucking birthday party? Christ, this just keeps getting better and better. When do you return?

A couple of weeks. The Palermo house is where we’ve been staying since the Morello’s return. I’d like it if you stayed there until we arrive. Meeting your mother might overwhelm her.

Already dreading his request, I still promise, I’ll keep her safe until your arrival.

Hanging up after wishing my father a safe flight, I dread the drive to Palermo. Not because it’s boring, nothing in Sicily is, but because this girl is trouble and not what I want or need right now.

Standing from my spot on the grass, I give one last look at the beautiful sea before heading inside to speak to my capo and make a call to the only person I trust to help me find a replacement to protect my current ward.

I don’t know why but I feel as though things in my life are about to change drastically.

CHAPTER 2

Nicola

Crushing the paper bag to my chest, I wait for the last door to slide open, and I gain my freedom again. For the past six months, Palermo Detention Centre has been my life. I screwed up, lost my temper, had another hissy fit, and broke a girl’s nose. It was my last straw. The law decided I was a problem that needed to be confined.

After Santo Cardarelli bought me four years ago, I ran away. I lived on the streets for a few months, stole to survive. When I tried to steal the wrong man’s car, it turns out it was Santo’s.

He wasn’t mad. Didn’t turn me into the police. I waited months for the punishment after that, but it never came. When I finally relaxed enough to listen when he spoke to me, I realized he wasn’t a terrible person. He was pleasant, kind of funny, and intense. I never understood what he did for a living, but I knew other men feared him.

The girl I hit? It was because she made a reference of the disgusting kind about Santo and me. I couldn’t let that go. She deserved so much more than what I gave her, but I’m the one who was punished.

I promised Santo that after this—I stare at the cold, grey walls of my prison—I