One
Crystal Sinful All Rights Reserved Copyright © 2025 by C Sinful Writer.
Trigger Warning: This content is intended for mature audiences only. It may contain material that could be offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, abuse, and extreme violence.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, downloaded, distributed, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, whether it is electronic or mechanical, now known or starting now invented without permission in writing from the publisher. My books all have registered numbers; lawful action will be taken if anyone should steal my writing.
Virelle
“V, are you leaving already?” Emma sounds mildly annoyed on the phone.
“Yep, pulling out now. How’s it been with your dad?” I ask, curious. Honestly, I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that she found him after all these years.
“He’s amazing,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “Wish I’d known him sooner. He runs this security company—though I swear there’s something more. He’s… powerful like a ‘mafia CEO with a personal espresso machine’-powerful. Also… he’s younger than my mom. Does that make her a cougar or a predator?” She chuckles.
I snort. “I mean, yeah… depends who’s asking. Anyway, I’ll be there by eight. Gotta focus on the road, love you.”
“Love you, drive safe!”
I hang up, shaking my head. Emma and I grew up across the street from each other. Her mom did her best, but she had men rotating through like it was a drive-thru. Emma’s dad? Total mystery until her mom passed and she finally found him. They talked for months before she packed up and moved to New York. Now I’m on my way to join her—for a fresh start and some much-needed distance from my ex. Toxic doesn’t even begin to describe that disaster.
I almost miss the turn and swerve last second, cutting off some angry guy in a Prius who blares his horn like he’s trying to summon Satan. I flip him off out the window with zero regrets and punch in the gate code Emma gave me.
When the wrought iron gates swing open, I realize this place is… massive. The driveway curves like a movie set, and the landscaping is so perfect it makes me want to apologize for existing.
Me: I’m here!
Emma: Coming now. Don’t trip—my dad has a ton of security. It’s a little awkward at first!
I step out of my Cadillac SUV, shut the door, and suddenly Emma’s barreling into me with a tight hug. It’s the longest we’ve ever been apart, and I missed her like crazy.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with sun-kissed blonde hair walks up and starts pulling my bags out of the back without a word.
“Lu will take your stuff to your room,” Emma says, grabbing my hand and dragging me forward. “Dad’s in a meeting, but you’ll meet him soon. And FYI—my uncles are intense. Well, except Matteo. He’s the fun one. Maybe you two can hook up?”
“Absolutely not,” I laugh. “I’m not using your family for rebound therapy.”
“Suit yourself. He has great bone structure,” she teases with a wink.
Inside the house, the air smells like fresh espresso and leather. We step into a living room that could host a royal wedding, and I hear laughter and deep voices speaking rapid Italian.
Four men turn toward us at once. It’s like stepping into a cologne commercial for dangerously attractive men with potentially criminal bank accounts. One of them, with dark hair and darker eyes—definitely related to Emma—locks eyes with me. My breath hitches.
Emma beams. “V, these are my uncles: Federico, Giuseppe, Matteo… and my father, Dario.”
“Emma, breathe,” I whisper, trying to match her energy. “You’re making me feel like I’m on The Bachelor: Mafia Edition.”
Dario steps forward. He’s calm, controlled, and absolutely magnetic. “I’ve heard a lot about you, gattina,” he says with a small smile.
I swallow, hard. “N-nice to meet you. I’m glad Emma found you.”
Before Dario can respond, Matteo jumps in with a grin wide enough to qualify as a red flag. “Dio mio, Emma! A little warning next time your friend is gorgeous enough to cause international incidents!”
Dario smacks him upside the head. “Don’t even think about it.”
Matteo clutches his chest. “What? I was being friendly! Look at her. She’s like… dangerous sunshine.”
I laugh in spite of myself. “I’m not interested.”
“Ouch.” Matteo winces dramatically, like I shot him with Cupid’s arrow in reverse. “Straight to the heart. I like her already.”
Giuseppe shoves him. “Ignore him. He’s been hit in the head too many times.”
Federico gives a curt nod, clearly the serious one. “Welcome.”
Dario’s eyes linger on me just a second longer before turning to his brothers. “I’ll see you all at the casino.”
“Boring,” Matteo mutters.
“You’re pushing it,” Giuseppe says under his breath.
Matteo leans toward me and whispers, “Save me from my uptight brothers. One dinner. No pressure.”
I give him a playful smile. “We’ll see. Don’t hold your breath.”
“Already holding it,” he teases, then follows the others out.
Once the men are gone, it’s just Emma, me, and Dario—who suddenly feels ten times more intense without his loud brothers around.
“Lunch is in the garden,” he says, his voice low and smooth. “I have meetings all afternoon, but make yourself at home, Virelle.”
The way he says my name… yeah, I’m definitely hallucinating.
“Thank you, Mr. Cattaneo,” I reply with a polite smile.
“Dario. Or just sir,” he adds with a glance back and then disappears down the hall.
Emma chokes on a laugh. “Okay… what was that?”
I blink. “I think I just got called ‘sir’ by your hot dad.”
“I noticed,” she smirks. “Let’s go eat before you pass out from the sexual tension.”
