Luca Vitiello
by Cora Reilly
Self Published
Book 1.5 in the Born in Blood Mafia Series
I was born a monster.
Cruelty ran in my veins like poison. It ran in the veins of every Vitiello man, passed on from father to son, an endless spiral of monstrosity. A born monster shaped into an even worse monster by my father’s blade and fists and harsh words. I was raised to become Capo, to rule without mercy, to dish out brutality without a second thought. Raised to break others. When Aria was given to me in marriage, everyone waited with baited breath to see how fast I’d break her like my father broke his women. How I’d crush her innocence and kindness with the force of my cruelty. Breaking her would have taken little effort. It came naturally to me. I was gladly the monster everyone feared. Until her.
Age Recommendation:
18+
Genre:
Dark Romance
Mafia
TRIGGER WARNING
Memories of child abuse, and main character losing virginity young. If triggering, do not read.
Luca Vitiello by Cora Reilly is a re-write of her Bound by Honor book, but this time from Luca's point of view.
So if you have read my reviews on this series, you will know that Aria and Luca are NOT my favorite couple. Aria is too submissive, and I was never able to get over the fact that Luca cheated on Aria. And two days after their wedding no less. So I wasn't sure if I was going to attempt to read this one, but in the end, I decided to go for it, because I wanted to know what was going on in Luca's head - specifically when it came to the cheating. And sadly, it was incredibly predictable. And not because this is the same story as Bound by Honor in a different POV, but because I just KNEW that Luca's cheating would be "smoothed" over with the readers with the whole "I was imagining my wife" thing. Ugh. I was hoping there would be something redeeming in this book for Luca, and there wasn't. I was still left with the same lukewarm feels for this couple. Oh well, I guess.
I think if you like this series, and you like Aria and Luca, you will like this book, but otherwise, don't waste your time.
Aria making breakfast
Luca: “Attack me, but try not to cut yourself.”
Aria: “Won’t you get a knife too?”
Luca: “I don’t need one. I’ll have yours in a minute.” Luca: “You are far too beautiful and innocent to be married to someone like me, but I’m too much of a selfish bastard to ever let you go. You are mine. Forever.” Matteo: “You’ve got your Aria expression on again.”
I frowned.
Luca: “What the hell is that supposed to be?”
Matteo smirked.
Matteo: “It’s a mix of protectively murderous and dreamily reverent.” Luca: “I really hope you have your eyes firmly focused on your future wife,”
I muttered. I knew Matteo would never hit on my wife, but I still hated that he saw her this scantily dressed.
Matteo: “I can’t process your words, the blood has left my brain,” Luca: “Your marriage to me shackles you to the mafia. Blood and death will be your life as long as I live,”
Aria: “Then so be it. I’ll go where you go, no matter how dark the path.”
