Corrupting the Innocent

CORRUPTING THE INNOCENT P. RAYNE Copyright © 2023 by Piper Rayne Incorporated All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover Designer: Emily Wittig Designs Line Editor: Joy Editing Proofreader: My Brother’s Editor About Corrupting the Innocent Sofia Moretti For years, I’ve harbored a secret love for my best friend’s older brother. Yet, he’s never shown any sign of sharing my feelings. My fantasies will remain just that though—fantasies. For two reasons. The first being he’s arranged to marry the cunning and cold-hearted, Aurora Salucci. The second being that Antonio always does what his duty demands, and if his father wants him married to Aurora, he’ll marry her. Now, I’m forced to watch her parade him all over the Sicuro Academy, our private college for mafia children, as my feelings of loneliness grow. I do my best to push Antonio from my mind and when another man shows me interest, I hope he’ll help me move on from the man that will never be mine. Turns out it doesn’t quite work that way though. Antonio La Rosa My life has been a series of duties—to the mafia, to my father, but never to myself. That’s why my father arranged my engagement to Aurora Salucci. We’re a good match as far as mafia politics go but it leaves a lot to be desired for me. She’s nothing I’ve ever wanted in a wife with her hard edges and being about as malleable as granite. Then there’s Sofia Moretti, my little sister’s best friend. I never looked at her with anything other than sisterly affection, until recently. Now, she consumes my every thought. My every desire. Her innocence beckons me, and I yearn to be the one who taints it. But I have a duty. And that duty means prioritizing my family’s needs above my own. And right now, the family needs me to uncover the traitor plotting against us. Little do I know, the enemy is closer than I ever imagined. AUTHOR’S NOTE Trigger warnings can be found on our website. These warnings contain spoilers. CLICK HERE FOR WARNINGS CONTENTS Playlist Italian Crime Families Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Epilogue Acknowledgments About P. Rayne Also by P. Rayne Playlist Here's a list of songs that inspired us while we were writing Corrupting the Innocent. You can follow the playlist (and us) on Spotify using the QR code at the bottom. Out of Control by She Wants Revenge Stupid Girl by Garbage Team by Lorde Haul by Christian Löffler, Mohan #1 Crush by Garbage Bullet with Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins The Perfect Drug by Nine Inch Nails Pretty When You Cry by Vast This Mess We’re In by PJ Harvey, Thom Yorke Violet by Hole The Boy Is Mine by Brandy, Monica favourite crime by Olivia Rodrigo Luck Be A Lady - Frank Sinatra Sicuro Academy – Italian Crime Families Southeast Territory Specializes in counterfeit rings and embezzlement schemes Antonio La Rosa (next in line to run the La Rosa crime family) Northeast Territory Specializes in running weapons Marcelo Costa (head of the Costa crime family) Southwest Territory Specializes in drug trafficking and money laundering Dante Accardi (next in line to run the Accardi crime family) Northwest Territory Specializes in securities fraud and cyber-warfare Gabriele Vitale (next in line to run the Vitale crime family) 1 SOFIA I’ve never wanted to strangle anyone, but the last ounce of my willpower is stopping me from launching myself across the limo and wrapping my hands around her pretty little neck. It’s bad enough we traveled here together, but watching Aurora Salucci cuddle up to the man I’ve secretly been in love with my entire life is pure torture. “How am I ever going to survive this?” my best friend, Mirabella, mumbles beside me. We’re stuck with a front-row seat directly across from her brother, Antonio, and his new fiancée, Aurora, driving from the airport to the Sicuro Academy after the four of us went home to Miami for the week-long break between semesters. I turn to her. “At least you’ll be in New York with Marcelo,” I whisper. Mira squeezes my hand. Mira is to marry Marcelo Costa and go live with him in New York because he’s the head of the Costa crime family and they control the Northeast section of the country. I, however, will be stuck in the Southeast, where Mira and Antonio’s father is head of the La Rosa crime family and my dad is a capo. Since Antonio is next in line to run the empire, seeing him with Aurora is a permanent part of my future. Antonio and Aurora were arranged to be married by their fathers—announced to everyone during the Christmas break. Merry Christmas to me. Why not put coal in my stocking too? It’s been less than two months since the official announcement and I’m already sick of her baby talk and public display of affection. And it’s not only because she has Antonio. It’s also because she’s a class A bitch. A real mean girl. And I don’t say that lightly. I’m pretty easygoing and get along with almost everybody. But growing up, Aurora was always jealous of Mira because her dad was head of the family, so she tormented her relentlessly. Even went so far as to put a picture of a