Ryder

 

“All right, all right, settle down,” Ryder said after playing the tape recording of his mother’s confession to the room full of senior Rainieri family members, who were now all muttering under their breath about what they’d just heard. “So now you know. That’s why my mother fled the country.”

 

“We have to find her!” one of the older men, Tommy’s younger brother, said, banging his fists down on the boardroom table. “This cannot go unpunished.”

 

“It’s not. She will be alone for the rest of her life, cut off from the dynasty she thinks she built. That’s more than enough punishment for her, believe me.”

 

The room exploded into noise again, various members of the organization arguing with each other about the best course of action. Ryder cleared his throat, and the room fell silent again, waiting on his every word. “That’s my decision. You can either honor it or get the hell out. Meeting adjourned.”

 

He exited the boardroom, feeling a little high on the power that he’d so successfully exerted over the other men in the business. They respected him now. They knew he was the rightful leader, especially after they learned about Giovanni’s crimes.

 

Adriana was waiting for him outside of the boardroom, an anxious look etched across her face. “Well?” she asked in a hushed tone of voice.

 

“It’s done,” Ryder replied, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her away from the boardroom door.

 

“So it’s over? They’re really going to trust you as the leader and…. and nobody has a problem with me as your number two?” Adriana asked, scratching the side of her face.

 

“First things first, you’re not my number two,” Ryder said sternly, even though he regretted taking that tone when he saw how Adriana’s face fell in disappointment. “What I mean is, we’re equals. If I’m number one, you’re number one. I can’t do this without you, Adriana.”

 

She brightened up then, smiling shyly at him before leaning in to kiss him. “Well, as long as you’re still number one in the bedroom,” she said with a mischievous smirk.

 

“Some things never change.” Ryder rubbed the side of Adriana’s cheek before reaching around to spank her ass.

 

Adriana squealed under her breath, looking around to make sure that nobody saw that interaction. “You know, I’m not so sure about that anymore.”

 

“About what?” Ryder asked, confused.

 

“What you just said. About things never changing. You proved that sometimes people can surprise you.”

 

“How so?” Ryder reached down to take Adriana’s hand, and led her out of the office for their lunch break.

 

“Well, for instance,” Adriana began, dropping her voice as they passed a clump of Rainieri employees, who all nodded in deference to the both of them, “you surrendered control—to Giovanni, in the woods, when you were afraid that he was going to kill me. You were willing to give up the company if it meant keeping me safe.”

 

Ryder was quiet a moment, letting Adriana’s words sink in. He stared at her, trying to memorize every last detail of her face, before leading her in the direction of their town car. “You know, some things are more important than power.”

 

“Like what?” Adriana asked, even though the warm, triumphant look in her eyes suggested that she already knew the answer.

 

“Love,” Ryder replied, leaning in to kiss her again. “It’s love.”

 

With that, the new king and queen of the Rainieri family business began their reign, loving each other as fiercely as they fucked, treating each other like the master and mistress they truly were.

 

THE END

 

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