HIS TEMPTATION

The city feared two names above all others. Luca Moretti. Marco Bellini. Inside the East Side headquarters, Luca Moretti sat behind his massive oak desk. As Capo of the East, he controlled thousands of men and millions of dollars. Ruthless. Calculating. Unshakable. Men twice his size trembled before him. The office door opened. Marco Bellini walked in without permission. Luca looked up from his paperwork. "You're either here with a problem or a death wish." Marco smirked and dropped into the chair opposite him. "I need a favor." Luca laughed. "That already sounds expensive." Marco's expression turned serious. "It's Sofia DeLuca." The amusement vanished from Luca's face. He leaned back. "No." Marco narrowed his eyes. "You don't even know what I'm going to ask." "I know exactly what you're going to ask." Silence filled the room. Marco's jaw tightened. "I want her." Luca sighed heavily. "Forget it." "I'm not asking you to arrange a date." "I know." Marco's eyes darkened. "The DeLucas took everything from me." Luca knew exactly what he meant. The woman Marco had loved. The woman whose death still haunted him. The woman Marco believed the DeLuca family had murdered. Every day since then, revenge had become his only purpose. "I want Sofia DeLuca as my wife," Marco said coldly. Luca stared at him. "To punish her family." "Exactly." "Not because you love her." Marco laughed. "Love?" The word sounded foreign coming from him. "I want the DeLucas to watch their precious daughter become a Bellini." Luca stood and walked toward the window. "This is a terrible idea." Marco remained silent. "She's already promised." Marco's face hardened. "To who?" "Matteo Russo." Marco cursed. The Russo Underboss. Powerful. Respected. Dangerous. An alliance had already been arranged between the DeLucas and Russos. Sofia's future was decided. "Then the engagement ends." Luca turned sharply. "You think it's that simple?"