Claimed by the Taurus: Spicy Astrology, page 1
Copyright © 2023 S.E. Isaac
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Cover design by: Monster in the Cookie Jar
Contents
Copyright
Blurb
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Sister Books
Blurb
Fast-paced, mafia romance.
Mia Caldwell has just made it to the big city-- Chicago. Grant it, it's not the Big Apple, but it's a hundred times bigger than the rinky-dink small town she's from. Her dream of escaping her hometown has finally come true. Life is good... or it was for the first twenty-four hours of arriving in Chicago because now she's knee-deep into trouble.
Nico Santoro is the Underboss of the Santoro Family. He's known throughout the city for his good looks, playboy charm, and his take-no-prisoners attitude. Whatever he wants, he gets with no questions asked; however, his luck is about to change. A feisty brunette just witnessed his guys and him commit a crime. Usually, he could toss a few dollars at the witness or threaten them, but not this woman. She's different. Everything about her is different and he may be in for a world of trouble if he doesn't do something about her soon.
Will Mia be able to escape the grasp of Nico? Or will she end up in his clutches... and heart?
***
Guided by the stars, these signs see the world through sensual eyes and animalistic desire. They’ve been known to rescue, stalk, discipline, and claim their perfect match. If you like billionaires, bad boys, mountain men, and more, you’ll find out who you’re most compatible with in 2023.
Spicy Astrology—a steamy romance collaboration featuring the signs of love
Chapter One
Mia
The wind whips through my hair the moment I step off the bus. It is filled with wintery chill and the smell of the city. A shiver runs down my spine from the coldness. My nose twitches from the stench, but I still can’t help the big smile that breaks across my face.
“You finally made it, Mia Caldwell,” I applaud myself.
“You going to move it or just stand in everybody’s way,” a man gripes behind me.
“Oh, sorry,” I apologize and quickly step to the side.
The rest of the passengers rush off the bus. They make their way to where our bags are and begin rummaging through the compartment. Not me. I’m too busy looking around at all the bright lights, people on the sidewalk, and the tall buildings surrounding us.
“Chicago,” I smile.
“Lady, you going to stand there all day, or are you going to grab your bag?” a familiar male voice asks.
My smile fades for a moment but then I think about how many odd and end jobs I had to do to save up enough money to move from Minnesota to Chicago. I earned my right to be here, in my dream city.
I turn and face the bus driver– Roy. He’s glaring at me. He had enough of my shit ten hours ago when I kept asking a million questions. I told myself to leave him alone but I couldn’t help myself. I was filled with too much excitement.
“Thank you for getting us here safely, Roy, ” I smile and then walk past him to grab my bag.
The other passengers have already grabbed their bags. My hot pink duffle bag is the only bag left. I grab it out from the compartment and make my way to the sidewalk.
I have a hotel rented for the night; however, after tonight, everything else will be on a whim. A very scary, nerve wracking yet exciting whim.
My parents are pissed at me for leaving. They expected me to just live out my days in our small ass town. My shot of going off to college was ruined by our family being pretty poor and unable to afford my tuition. Hell, it took me nearly six years to save up enough money to confidently move to Chicago.
I fish my phone from my pocket and pull up the address to the hotel. It isn’t anything fancy, but it looked a lot better than some of the other sketchy hotels I found online. It’s just a place to rest my head and catch up on some sleep. The bus isn’t the best place to sleep. I barely slept a wink because I was too busy worrying about how one of the passengers could rob me or cop a feel if I slept.
I shudder at the thought of those things happening and then look around at all the people passing by me. Any of them could be thieves or perverts. Or maybe even worse.
Get it together, Mia. You’re a lone female, at night, standing in the middle of a sidewalk! I yell at myself.
I hit navigate on my phone, memorize a few of the turns, and then begin my venture to my hotel. If I’m lucky, I’ll make it there in one piece… alive.
Chapter Two
Nico
“I appreciate the heads up. I’ll see to it that things are taken care of,” I reply into my phone.
The one phone call I never would have expected to take. My cousin, Adrianna– Godmother of the Romano Family– isn’t one to ask for favors. In fact, she’s usually the one people call to ask for help, not the other way around.
“Are you even listening?” Adrianna huffs.
“Sorry. What?” I ask, shaking away my thoughts.
“I was saying that I’m sorry to ask for a favor. Usually, I’d just hop on a plane and handle things myself, but Savio has this thing about me flying while pregnant,” she sighs. “He’s a real pain in the ass.”
“Cut the man some slack, cuz,” I chuckle. “He just wants what’s best for you and the baby.”
“Yeah. Yeah. You sound just like him,” she complains, making me laugh. “Look, I would have called your father to ask for this favor but I know he isn’t feeling too well and didn’t want to bother.”
She’s right. My father has been in and out of the hospital for heart problems for the past few months. Two weeks ago, he was rushed to the hospital and has been there since, leaving me in charge of the family.
“No worries. I know you would have respected the food chain,” I tease. “Hard to believe you’re like forty years younger than him and in the same position.”
“Yeah. Who would have thought life would be this fucked up?” The sadness in her voice has me instantly regretting my fucked up choice of words.
We’re about the same age. Grew up around the same kind of lifestyle. The only difference is I’m an underboss and she’s a godmother. But that’s what happens when your father– the godfather– and his entire regime get whacked, in one night. An instant promotion. The hard way.
Fuck, I groan at the thought of my Uncle Marco being killed in cold blood and Adrianna having to pick up all of the pieces.
“Don’t be such a fucking sissy, Nico. It’s been three years already,” she scolds me as though I’m a child.
“Hey, you aren’t the boss of me,” I reply playfully.
“A good thing too. Or I’d put your ass to work,” she laughs.
“Yeah. Yeah. I hear ya,” I chuckle. “But don’t worry about this Bosko guy. I’ll see to it personally.”
“I knew I could count on you, Nico. If you ever need the favor returned, I’m good for it.”
“I have no doubts.”
“Ciao. Ciao.”
The call ends and I look at the phone display in disbelief. She is the only person besides my father, my mother, and my baby sister, who can get away with hanging up on me. Anyone else would have hell to pay.
“Everything good, Boss?” Basque Casserino, my top enforcer and best friend, asks. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised.
“Yeah. Adrianna needs a favor. Where’s Tech?” I look around the room at the other guys.
“Tech is probably down in his lair, Boss,” Carlile, one of my father’s caporegimes, speaks up.
“Gregg, give him this and have him locate the guy by the time this meeting is over.” I hold up the paper I used to jot down notes while talking to Adrianna. Gregg walks across the room and takes the paper from me.
“You got it, Boss,” Gregg replies, before heading off to find Tech.
“Alright,” I say, leaning back in my chair and clapping my hands together. “Now on with business.”
Chapter Three
Mia
“It’s just one night. It’s just one night,” I chant, looking around the inside of my room.
The pictures online were definitely misleading. There’s crappy drywall patchwork all over the walls. Cigarette burn marks in the thin, dingy, floral comforter. Half of the sink is missing… literally. It looks like a damn T-rex took a bite out of it. And, the shower curtain is also missing.
“What the hell have you gotten yourself into now, Mia Caldwell?” I curse, dropping my bag onto the wobbly table with my phone on top of it.
For years, I had dreamed of living in a big city. Having the world at my finger
I glance around the room again and a groan escapes me. My shoulders slump in defeat as I close the door and lock it with the shifty-looking chain lock.
“It’s just one night. How bad can it be?”
It was meant to be a rhetorical question; however, a loud thud sounding from the room next to mine told me that the universe was giving me an answer.
I take a few steps closer to the wall, carefully listening in. It sounds like furniture is being thrown around. A man is shouting. I can’t make out what he is saying but I can definitely tell he is angry beyond words.
“Zero manners,” I huff, turning to walk toward the bathroom. A woman’s screams yanks my attention back to the wall. Before I know it, I’m running over to the door, unchaining it, and bolting out into the hallway.
My fist bangs against the door next door. I anxiously wait for someone to open the door. Clearly, I hadn’t thought any of this through. I should have called the police or at the very least the front desk.
The door finally flies open. The smell of stale cigarettes, booze, and other atrocious scents strikes me. My stomach knots and I fight the urge to vomit.
“What the hell do you want?” a man growls in a thick European accent.
I take in his appearance. He looks to be in his forties and life has not been kind to him. His black hair is thinning. Frown lines and wrinkles cover his face. He looks like hell.
“I’m in the room next door and–” My words come to an abrupt halt when I see a woman laying on the floor behind him. The man looks over his shoulder and then back at me. He grins evilly as he takes hold of my arm, yanks me inside, and shoves me inside the room with one fluent motion. The force is so great it sets me off balance and I fall to the floor.
“Hey!” I scream. “Have you lost your damn mind?”
“Aren’t you one noisy bitch,” he curses.
“If you let us go, right now, I won’t call the police,” I lie. As soon as I can get to a phone, I’m calling the damn cops. This psycho needs to be locked away. Forever.
The man stares at me as though contemplating my words but deep down I know he has no intentions of letting the woman or me go. The look in his eyes I’ve only ever seen in movies. Maybe he’s drunk or high? No sober person would look like this, right?
Doesn’t matter, I shake away my thoughts of him and turn my focus to the woman.
I look down at her and brush her red hair out of her face. My body relaxes when I see her chest slowly rising and lowering.
Thank God, I say to myself.
“Now I have two kurwas,” the guy laughs.
“Kurwas?” I repeat, looking up at him.
“Whores,” his grin widens.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
“Why are all women giving me headache today?” the man asks, pinching the bridge of his nose. “It is like all cities are cursed for me.”
I bite back the urge to ask him what the hell he is talking about. It doesn’t matter what he’s talking about because the guy is clearly a psychopath or some washed-up thug. Maybe both. Speaking to him will only make the situation a thousand times worse for the woman and myself.
“That damn Godmother. This is her doing. She cursed me!” he slams his fists against the wall, startling me.
The woman jolts in my arms and her eyes fly open. My heart nearly jumps out of my chest. I clutch my shirt with one hand while still holding the woman with my other arm.
They’re both going to be the death of me at this rate, I mutter to myself.
“Dupek! Dupek!” the woman screams, sitting up and pointing at the man. “You are horrible man!”
I have no idea what dupek means, but if given five guesses, I’m sure if I guessed asshole, I’d be correct. It’s the disgust in the woman’s tone that makes me think asshole. She doesn’t sound scared like I thought she’d be once she woke up. She sounds royally pissed off and out for blood.
The man paces in front of the door. He mutters a lot of words in a foreign language while glaring at the woman occasionally.
“He is a very bad man,” the woman whispers to me. Her accent is as thick as the man’s accent. Russian? Polish? I can’t quite place it.
“What?” I ask softly with my eyes glued on the man.
“He kills women.”
“What!” I shriek, gaining the man’s attention. The woman pinches the back of my arm. I bite my bottom lip and fight the urge to scream bloody murder from the pain.
“What did you say to her?” the man growls.
“I said nothing. She is scared of how you look,” she attempts to lie.
The man rushes over to us. He grabs us both by our collars, shouting in the foreign language. I’m too scared to even attempt to push him away. All I can do is stare into his fierce, wide brown eyes.
I want to go home, I whimper silently.
The sound of loud banging on the door startles all three of us. The man turns in the direction of the door. A scowl is etched on his face. He releases the woman and my shirt and then stands tall.
The banging increases. Whoever is on the other side of the door is really angry and wants inside. This poor woman and I are screwed. Whether it's with the whacko who is currently in here with us or the lunatic outside the door, we will probably end up dead.
I grab the woman’s arm and urge her to follow me. We crawl to the side of the bed farthest from the door. If nothing else, at least this will put some distance between us and them, buying us some time. If we are lucky, a fight will break out and we can make a run for it.
“What do you want!” the man demands, unlocking the door.
He doesn’t get a chance to open the door himself. Whoever is on the other side, throws open the door. The man staggers back, crashing into the tv. Men in nice suits file into the room. The door closes behind the fifth one. All of their eyes are on the man. No one pays attention to the woman and I huddled in the corner behind the bed.
“We’ve been looking for you, Bosko,” a man says in a deep smooth voice. “We are here on behalf of The Godmother herself.”
The Godmother? What the hell have I gotten myself into? Out of the pot into the frying pan.
Chapter Four
Nico
“Godmother?” Bosko rolls his eyes. “She’s is no kuma. She’s just a bit–”
He doesn’t get a chance to finish his sentence. I punch him in the face. He staggers back but Tommy and Eddie grab Bosko, holding him upright.
“She is The Godmother. You will address her as such or not fucking speak,” I growl, narrowing my eyes in on him.
Bosko mutters several things in Polish. A few of them I understand. Others I don’t, nor do I give a shit. I’m simply here to pay a favor for Adrianna.
I hold the phone up and look at the screen. Adrianna looks unamused.
“Want him sent back to you? Or want to watch?” I ask.
“Will save money on shipping if you just take care of it,” she laughs.
My cousin is just as crazy as her father was. No hesitation. No remorse. Just down to business and life moves on. Something I can admire because it’s exactly how I am.
“Fast? Slow?” I question.
“Surprise me,” she smirks, leaning back in her chair.
I flip the camera around on the screen and hand the phone to Vinnie, who is standing to my right. He takes the phone and points it at Bosko. I hold out my hand. Liam places a knife in my hand.
“No! No! You can’t do this!” Bosko panics.
“Cover his fucking mouth,” I order.
“You’ll have to kill them too. You–” His words are interrupted by a blue handkerchief being shoved into his mouth. His eyes widen and his shoulders slump in defeat.
He probably realizes that no matter what he says, no good will come from it. After all, The Godmother herself has sent another mafia to collect a debt he owes. He must have thought he was free and would never be found since he was no longer in New Jersey. Fucking moron. This is the twenty-first century.
“Bosko. Bosko. Bosko,” Adrianna sighs. “You really are a piece of shit.”
