Hearts Vow

Heart’s Vow Mafia Brides Book 1 Rogue London Contents Acknowledgments Heart’s Vow Playlist 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 About Rogue London Also by Rogue London Red Hot Romance Copyright © 2023 by Rogue London and Red Hot Romance, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, but not limited to, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author. [email protected] This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, locales, and events are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, and events are purely coincidental. Acknowledgments They say it takes a town to raise a child. For an author, it takes a community of talented individuals. In my case, I have a tribe that helps me, and without them, getting my work out there would be a nightmare. My publishing family at Red Hot Romance, Maren Smith, Rayanna Jamison, Maggie Ryan, Robin Smith, Stella Moore, and Allysa Hart. You are the best and I’m so grateful to get to work with you all. Deborah Apodaca, an amazing woman that I’m so blessed to have in my life. I first met Deb when I wrote my Angels and Demons Series as Skylar West. She gave me wonderful reviews, so naturally, I reached out to her. We became fast friends, and the rest is history. My writing bestie, Ann Jensen, with whom I write a sexy hot Masters of Midgard series. She invested hours of her time helping me layout and shape this new series and is always there to help me smooth out my rough edges and remind me who I am. Skylar, not my alter ego, but my youngest child who is a huge supporter of me and my work and helps me creatively. My Street Team… Cathleen Sarna (Cat), Imari McClure, and Dorothy Nunamacher, Alexis Lopez-McNelis for not only reading and sharing their thoughts on my work but also promoting and sharing on their social media. I have a special lady, Nicole Austin, who is my number one cheerleader and always brightens my day when I get down. She sends books to my team for me and helps my wonderful PA Deborah with contests. And lastly and far from the least, my amazing ARC team who reads my work and shares their reviews with the world. Thank you all! xo Heart’s Vow Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xRbnP2dor4L1M7CNjaF1C?si=c2cfd477614b43f3&fbclid=IwAR3Bs2JsmskwvKietuHIFbDa5KRhpoPuZm-j5aDkWZcymAWu2D7ekWxB3rs&nd=1 Castle by Halsey Dirty Thoughts by Chloe Adams You Don’t Own Me by Joan Jett Before you go by Lewis Capaldi Heart Attack by Demi Lovato Boss by Tony Effe Control by Halsey Monster by Skillet Pain Three Days Grace Cage the Beast Adelitas Way Give your heart a break by Demi Lovato The Monster by Eminem & Rhianna Part Goddess part Gangster by Madalen Duke Destroyer Of Monsters and Men Freak but When it ends its not streets Midnightdrives No Regrets by Wayne Murray, Timothy Fleet, Lana McDonagh Chapter One Romeo Beside me, Massimo, my best friend and consigliere stood as still as a statue. The only giveaway that he was on high alert was his eyes, which constantly roved through the room, taking in every detail and assessing every potential threat. Lined up at his side, stood our five brothers. Not that we were all related by blood. My father brought Massimo and his two brothers, Antonio and Gaetano, to live with us after their parents died, taken out by a warring mob. That was a long time ago, before my youngest blood-brother, Vincenzo, was born, completing our family. Even as my mother held Vinny in her arms while we crowded around to see the newest member of the family, I could sense the bond between us all, and I was not the only one. “Lucky number seven,” my father proclaimed proudly. “A band of brothers!” This nickname for our family tribe became a title of fear in the larger la familia, of which the Vitales were in the top tier. We were lucky in our education by my father, who never mistreated us and allowed our roles within the family dynamic to organically happen. My brothers and I were raised with love and respect by both our parents, and no one would dare question our toughness, as we were the undisputed heirs to my father’s kingdom, with a role to play within the family. Now I stood on the precipice of matrimonial bliss, the first of us to take a wife. Bliss was doubtful, as this was a business arrangement and experience had showed me that marriages within the mafia were based on roles, not love and happiness. I didn’t expect home-cooked meals or terms of endearment from my new wife, only that she perform her duties as Mrs. Vitale. Obedience was key in my world as it could be the difference between life and death. Failure on Vittoria’s part to fall in line would earn her punishments over my knee as I seared the lesson into her flesh with my hand. Somehow, I doubted she would be a willing participant and would have to learn the hard way. Her father’s words played over in my head as we waited to see Vittoria Calogerà, my fiancée, make her appearance. “You’ll have to watch her like a hawk, Romeo, as she is cunning, my daughter.” A boast disguised as a warning. As the old man continued with an extensive list of her transgressions — interrupting himself now and then to remind me these were only the events he knew of—and finished up with the security measures he’d taken to control her, my disdain had more to do with his leniency than her willful behavior. No wonder the Calogerà