Love Unleashed: A Mafia Billionaire Romance

By Matilda Martel

Leo Moretti always gets whatever he wants. No questions. He’s his father’s son and the blood in his veins is enough to make people fear the consequences of disappointing him.
Except Alia de Alba. ⁣
⁣
Alia’s bold, beautiful and audacious. Her refusal has him on edge. When she turns down his marriage proposal, he incurs her wrath by playing the hero and manipulating her into marriage.
 She wants to make him pay, but his hotness makes it hard. He swears they’re soul mates but fears she loves someone else. ⁣
⁣
Can Leo win her heart?  ⁣
Of course, he can. Leo Moretti always gets whatever he wants 
This slow burn turned torrid affair includes one Sassy Latina, one hot Sicilan mafioso, love, lust, sexy times, various Pavarotti references, kidnappings, mobsters, two people who fall madly in love and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Trigger warning: this novella is for mature readers. It includes sexual content and narratives of past violence (not sexual violence)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matilda Martel
• Release date: Nov 29, 2023

Matilda Martel

Matilda loves many things---her husband, dachshunds, cats, the two terrible Chihuahuas who live with her, Paris, New York, a few select friends and family, Nutella, books, lots and lots of books, and writing sweet, steamy romance for nerdy girls-- because that's who I am.If you like your romances steamy but sweet. Sexy, but on the shorter side. With smart and sassy heroines who fall for soulful Alphas- then you might like my books.I write A LOT of OMYW, cause that's just my bag. But no matter what kind of story it is, my ladies are always adored and my endings are always HEA.Please head to my blog: www.matildamartel.com, to learn what's in the final stages and will be coming out soon!Want a free Ebook? Join my mailing list to get my monthly newsletter at : www.matildamartel.com/mailinglist/

Book preview

ONE

LEO

I wasn’t expecting to take over so soon. My old man was a giant. The King of Manhattan. He was beloved by his allies and untouchable to his enemies. We thought we’d never lose him. So, we never saw it coming.  

No one suspected he was sick. Always fearful of showing weakness, he kept it to himself until it was too late. In the end, all he wanted to do was return to Sicily and live the rest of his days in the tiny town where his mother was born. 

That was a year ago, and I’ve been head of the Moretti family ever since. That’s a huge deal---I’m responsible for everyone in my world. Not just the people who bear my name. And I’m in charge of making sure everything we built doesn’t end with me. 

This isn’t what I wanted. This is what I was born to do, and I know nothing else. 

There’s no sense in sugar-coating my life. I’m immersed in violence and immorality and walk through the underbelly of society. I work with the worst kind of people who would like nothing more than to cut me down and steal my empire. 

But I won’t let that happen. I’ll stay on top. I’ll protect what’s mine, and I won’t sacrifice the most important things in life. 

Today, I cement my alliance with two Brooklyn families. This is monumental. I was born in Brooklyn, and we still control the neighborhoods just across the bridge. But most of it is run by Russian Bratva and the Mexican cartel. This move is unprecedented and will have lasting consequences.  

I tread this ground lightly. 

I’ve considered every possible scenario and taken every precaution. Everyone has something to lose and plenty to gain. Our motives are more than business. For the first time, I’ve allowed my personal life to seep into my work. It’s more than seeped---it’s flooded. This deal will not only bring allies, but it’ll also bring me her.  

And I can’t live without her. 

She would be the crown jewel of any man’s collection, but I don’t want to put her behind glass. I want her by my side, in my bed, riding my cock every fucking night. Because that’s exactly where she belongs. 

Look at her, Lorenzo. She’s magnificent. I watch the object of my purest and filthiest desires march across the dance floor, leading a young man by the tie.  

She’s an incurable flirt---Alia de Alba knows she’s a beautiful woman. Her confidence and vanity are unmistakable. Beauty like hers demands attention, and she’s had mine since the moment I first laid eyes on those dark eyes and full cherry lips.  

This is my woman. No doubt about it. 

Perched high in the VIP lounge, I watch her like a hawk surveying its prey. She knows how much I love to watch her, and she loves to put on a show. Her hips sway with the beat of the music, and my eyes fall out of my head watching that sweet round ass showcased in tight jeans. Each cheek is an apple taunting me for a taste. 

As she approaches the center, she pirouettes on her stilettos and rolls her body in an obscene gesture that she will never do again outside of our bedroom. I give a long hard look at my bodyguard, Vito, and he reads my mind. That kid she’s with needs to go. 

No one dances that close to my woman. 

She’s beautiful, Leo. But Yuri tells me Alex won’t budge. He suspects he’s got other plans for her. Lorenzo takes a sip of champagne and then pushes it away. 

Why are we here? We should prepare for both to play hardball. Now is not the time to indulge in your obsession. He sits on the couch across from me and shakes his head with distaste. 

This isn’t our scene. We outgrew this years ago. But one of the three men who follow her tipped me off. This is the perfect opportunity to ogle my beautiful girl before making my final offer. Watching her puts things in perspective. 

"Alex has plans? What plans? Alia is mine. If he had plans, why did he offer her to Yuri? Unless they want a war, they’ll give me what I want." My patience runs thin. I make my demands and let my brother digest my words---everyone wants something. Something precious. We can leave this meeting happy men or leave as enemies. 

And what if he says no? Alex wants this alliance, but something is holding him back. And I don’t think it has anything to do with his sister’s well-being. Lorenzo snaps his fingers to bring my attention back to him. I can’t make myself stop watching her. She’s already replaced the kid with some other handsy bastard. Looks like Vito’s got his work cut out for him. 

Leo, you’re my brother. You know I love you, and I mean no disrespect, but why chase after a girl who doesn’t want you. Alex tells me she’s in love with Yuri Ivanov. He means no disrespect but wields a dagger into my heart. 

Yuri doesn’t want her, and I don’t think she knows what she wants. She just can’t handle his dismissal. It’s a stubborn fixation. No more. As soon as I utter the words, I know he’ll throw them back my way. 

He raises an eyebrow, and I lift my hand to shut him up. 

And no, that’s not me. I know Alia and I are meant to be together. I know it like I know you’re my brother---like I know my name is Leonardo Moretti. I am my father’s son, and I will get what I want, little brother. And there’s nothing I want more than her.

I scratch my beard and take a final sip of champagne. Fucking Alex is just trying to up the ante. Since when does that bastard have a problem bossing his sister around? If he wants to marry Yuri’s sister, he’ll need to turn Alia over to me. End of story.

He takes a quick glance at his watch. Get a last look. We need to leave.  

I peer over the ledge and watch her pouty expression grow more intense as she leads a long line of lovesick men to the bar. I’m sure they’ll fight tooth and nail to be the one to buy the underage girl a drink. Fat chance. I’ve tipped off every bartender in lower Manhattan not to serve her anything unless I’m with her.  

This needs to happen. I can’t bear another night without her in my house. No one can love her like me. I know she’ll be a pain in the ass. Things might not go smoothly at first. I expect tantrums and disobedience, but she and I are soul mates. 

Soul mates will eventually gravitate towards one another. All I need is time to make her love me.