Alessandro's POV The dim light in the room flickered above me casting long, dark shadows over the polished wooden table.I leaned back in my chair as I slowly twirled the whiskey in my glass. My face had an unreadable expression and my heart was hardened.From across the table, Jared sat stiff and alert. His sharp eyes were watching me carefully.After a while, I turned to him."So it done?" I asked him.My voice was calm and firm and was without emotions.Jared nodded his head."Yes, everything is as you wanted. The meeting would be by midnight as you asked," He answered.I hummed in approval and placed my glass on the desk and it made a soft click sound.Midnight was usually the best time for me to work. It was quiet with everyone asleep and it affords me the chance to work in the shadows unseen.Jared shifted slightly in his chair, I saw his hesitating and I knew he had something to say. I gave him a questioning look."Yes, do you have something to say?" I asked him."You are sure
Sophia's POV. I sat outside my house, waiting for Ray to get there. I had to take Father's clothes and some food to him but I had no money on me to take a taxi. Ray's car was my only hope to get to the hospital. He blew his horn when he got to the gates and I rolled my eyes at his obnoxious behaviour. There was more than one reason why Ray and I could never be together again, despite what I promised my father.I grabbed my bags and headed outside, Ray opening his car door to let himself out. He reached for the bags but I withdrew, keeping them out of his reach. “I just want to help, Sophia, nothing more. You are overreacting. Come on, let me help you with the bags.”“Just open the door for me, Ray. The bags are not that heavy and I can carry them.”He stood there staring at me for a full minute and I met his gaze squarely. When he realized that I was not backing down, he held open the back seat and I dropped the bags in there. “I got you something to eat,” he broke the silence aga
Sophia's POV.I sat frozen in my seat where I was seated close to my father as Ray's words rang in my head.I should meet up with Alessandro and fix a day when we can talk and call all deals off.My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse.It had been two weeks since I last saw Alessandro, two weeks since I shattered his heart and mind and now I was supposed to face him again?Ray kept on talking and yapping about logistics and how we should meet in a public place and all but I was not listening anymore. My mind was filled with different emotions and thoughts as a feeling of dread settled in my stomach."You are quiet," He observed."But you will do it, won't you?" He asked.I swallowed hard and looked at my father who was staring at me with expectations in his face."Yeah, I will do it." My voice came out smaller than I had intended.It wasn't a lie, I was going to do it because I had no choice but that didn't mean that I was ready to do it.---It took me a week before I fina
Alessandro's POV. “What?” I exploded, letting my hand on Sophia's arm fall away. “You are getting married to Ray?” I was getting fed up with the drama surrounding Sophia and her father.“No, wait. Alessandro, it's not what you think. How could you tell him that, Father?” Sophia asked Marcus, who was glaring at me from his pitiable state.“Because it's true. You promised me that you would marry Ray so, what is this criminal doing here?” Marcus questioned.Sophia shook her head vehemently to challenge Marcus' claim. “No, Father, you made me promise to marry Ray and I agreed just so you would feel better. I don't want to marry Ray, Father.”“What are you. . .” he coughed, cutting short his words briefly. Marcus' was not looking good, more like a living ghost. But I didn't really give a damn. Sophia was never getting married to Ray, not while I was still breathing.“Change of plans,” I announced and yanked Sophia by the hand, pulling her to myself. She fell against my chest, gasping when
Sophia's POV. I gritted my teeth as Alessandro's grip on my wrist tightened.The words he had spoken earlier still rang in my ears.He was not going to let me go nor was he going to annul the deal and worse, he going to take me back with him.I was furious with him. Furious that he was using my father's mistakes against me and that he still had his grip over me. But then, I was also angry with myself because deep down, I knew that a tiny part of me wasn't against the idea of going back to me instead, I was fighting myself not to feel happy about it.Gosh, I had missed Alessandro, I missed him so badly but then...I turned to glance at my father who was looking both guilty and terrified.Was this why he was insistent on me marrying Ray? Because he knew that Alessandro was already in trouble. Trouble that he had orchestrated with Alessandro's enemy. That was why he was talking about security and all because he knew that Alessandro was in danger.My father bent his head in shame. I gu
Sophia's POV. I couldn't help staring at everything in awe. “Sophia, you've been staring long enough. Say something, anything,” he prompted me and I noticed how tense his posture was. He was actually anxious about what I would say. “Is this it? Is this all of it? Am I supposed to be impressed or something?” I remarked, brushing imaginary dust off my shirt. “You don't. . .you don't like it?” He was surprised and the only problem was that I did like the painting studio, maybe even too much.The studio was the definition of perfection, my own heaven on earth. I was surrounded by artwork that dated back to before I was born. Just being in the presence of such genius was enough to prompt inspiration to paint. The inner me was screaming and jumping with ecstatic joy but Alessandro could not know that or he would think he had found a way to win me over.“It's nice, I guess,” I faked a yawn, slapping a hand over my mouth. “Can I go to bed now?”“To bed?” He checked the time on his watch
Sophia's POV. I clutched my phone tightly in my hands and my knuckles were almost turning white. How in the world did Laura know I was here? I had only spent one night here and she already knew? It felt suspicious. It was either she was monitoring me from outside, or she had someone in Alessandro's house."I hope you understand that I do not make empty threats," Laura's voice came in again."Please Laura," I whispered, my voice raw with emotions."Please, just give me a week, I swear, I will figure something out, I will look for a way out, please, don't do this," I begged her as my body trembled.On the other end, I heard Laura sigh but there was no sympathy in her voice."Fine! One week Sophia, just one week, and if you stay there even a minute more, I will hand over the evidence to the enemy without a moment" She replied."Yes, I understand, thank you so much," My stomach twisted.The call ended with a sharp click but not before I heard Laura's mocking laughter.I stood there, fr
Author's POV. Sophia swallowed hard as she did not know what to answer Alessandro. How was she going to tell him that she did care that was why she had been acting the way she was to him."Well, I guess you don't have any answer to that," Alessandro snickered.Sophia swallowed hard because of the lump in her throat. She knew he was hurting which was why he was acting that way towards her but she still had to try even though he believed that she did not care for him."Alessandro, it's..." She tried explaining but he cut her off."I don't know why you are suddenly acting like you care when you won't so please leave me alone if you don't have anything meaningful to say and stop toying with my emotions," Alessandro said and walked away.Sophia almost crumbled at the weight of his words and actions but she refused to break down."No, I will not be weak at this point. I will not allow him to intimidate me into not stopping him," Sophia decided.She concluded that she was going to stay back
Alexandro’s POV. I didn’t hesitate the moment Laura told me it was Ray. Sophia had been missing for over twenty-four hours, and every second that passed felt like a knife to my throat. I barely heard myself as I barked orders, my voice colder than the steel of my gun. “We’re moving now.” The police, already prepped as backup, moved with us. Time was slipping through my fingers like sand, and I was starting to lose it. Hours had passed since Sophia’s disappearance, and every lead we chased led to a dead end. We had searched every possible location—his old warehouses, his usual spots, even places that felt like a stretch. Nothing. The frustration in the room was suffocating. I could see it on everyone’s faces—the officers shifting on their feet, checking their phones as if the answers would magically appear, Laura, biting her nails, her eyes darting between me and the door. “She’s been missing too long,” Laura whispered, her voice trembling. “If we don’t find h
Alessandro's POV. I located Laura and headed straight to her. She was staying in a hotel not far away from my house, which made it easier for me to reach her. Upon reaching the hotel, I met with a receptionist who was reluctant to give me Laura's room number since I didn't have an appointment. I urged her to call Laura, which she eventually did. Fortunately, Laura agreed to let me see her and without hesitation, I headed straight to her room. As I entered, she was sitting on the bed with a smirk on her lips. I let out a low growl and marched up to her. I grabbed her arms and lifted her off the bed, making her frightened. "Where is she?"I demanded, my voice filled with rage. "Where is who?"She looked at me in confusion. I tightened my grip around her arms and yelled, "Where is Sophia? She has been missing since the day I went for a shipment! I have looked everywhere for her, but she is nowhere to be found. I don't know why I think you have something to do with that!
Alessandro's POV. My mind was a whirlwind of different emotions. I could not think. I was scared. I needed to know where Sophia was and Mary was not giving me a reasonable answer. I went to my study and began to think of who could have kidnapped her. I called Mary in again to question her. "Mary, think, who do you think would have taken Sophia?" I asked her. Mary shivered in fear. I knew she thought I would be angry with her, though I was, but I didn't want to take it out on her. I knew how stubborn Sophia could be, so I was sure that it was Sophia that put her up to it. So, Mary related everything that happened again. How she and Sophia split up so that Sophia could stop me. But then, she waited for her for close to an hour, but she didn't find her. It was when she heard a gunshot that she became scared and she ran back home. I believed that it was during the time I was shot that Mary ran back home. But what about Sophia? I could not eat, I could no
Alessandro's POV. The moment the words left my mouth, everyone was shocked. My men were surprised and I could see Jared pleading with me silently with his eyes, but I shook my head. This was for the best. There was no need living such a dangerous life and besides, we were already outnumbered. If we wanted to remain alive, this was the only way. "Wow!" Angelo exclaimed. He was actually not expecting me to agree to his request so he was shocked. "So this is all there is to the great Alessandro?" He started mocking me immediately he got his composure back. "I do not have the time for this Angelo, I have already agreed to your request so let me and my men go!" I gritted my teeth in anger as I spoke but Angelo did not acknowledge what I said. He only waved his hands in the air as if to wipe away my words. "You know, for someone clearly under my mercy, you have quite the guts," He teased. "But then, I'm not surprised, you are still trying to show that you are not weak w
Alessandro's POV. I continued looking around as I walked cautiously with Jared beside me. Something felt off about the whole thing but since I was already here, it was pointless to turn back. We got to the dock where the people were already offloading the shipment. It was hard drugs that Angelo was supposed to get but I decided to take it from Angelo just to prove who the mafia king is. "Are these everything?" I demanded in a rough voice. "Yes sir, they are all here," The loader trembled as he spoke. I could not blame him, many people who have heard of me or come across me all know who I was so he had every right to be afraid. "Alright! You may go!" I said to the loader He bowed his head and quickly turned the boat back. "Check it," I instructed Jared. I knew the loader would not dare try to decieve me which was why I did not bother checking it in his presence. Jared went on my knees and opened the shipment, he counted and saw that they were complete. "It's
Sophia's POV. My eyes widened in shock as I could hardly believe what Ray was saying. Priest? Marry? What the hell was going on? What was this sick bastard thinking? I started struggling to speak. He saw that I wanted to talk. "You want to say something?" He asked. Since my mouth was taped, I could only nod. "Then promise me that if I remove the tape that you will not shout," He said and I nodded again. "Alright," He looked at me suspiciously and the removed the tape from my mouth. I exhaled deeply and began to breathe fast. "So what is it you wanted to tell me?" He inquired. "I need us to talk Ray," I told him. "Talk about what?" Ray asked. "This whole marriage thing, you can't force me to marry you," I said. "Why? Force? No, have you forgotten that you already promised your father that you will give me a chance? And besides, we were already engaged before the whole Alessandro issue came up," He replied. I blinked at him surprised that he seem to have f
Author's POV. Few days later Alessandro decided to go and collect the shipment. He knew that Sophia would want to try to stop him so he made all his arrangements secretly. He acted like he was going out on a normal walk but Sophia knew better. She begged Mary to to help her so she could follow Alessandro. "But you know it's dangerous, Alessandro would not be happy if he discovers that you followed him," Mary tried to dissuade her but Sophia's mind was already made up. "I know Mary but I have a bad feeling about this. Alessandro is getting himself into trouble and I can't sit back and watch so I have to do this," Sophia explained to Mary. "So what will you do when you get there? Do you think you would be able to stop him?" Mary asked her with worry evident in her voice. "I don't know for now but I will know what to do when I get there depending on the situation," Sophia tried to convince Mary. Mary knew that there was no use trying to stop her. "You are as stubborn a
Author's POV. Ray forgot to tell Marcus something so he decided to come back to the hospital. Immediately he got there, he saw some men in black marching out of the hospital. He recognized them as Angelo's men and he quickly rushed inside. He got to Marcus room and saw him all bloodied and battered. He did not need any explanation to guess what had happened. He quickly called the doctor for help dashed out of the room. He came out just in time to see Angelo's men about to enter their cars. "Hey! Stop!" She shouted and they stopped. "Yes?" Fowler asked looking menacingly but Ray was not intimidated. "What did you come to do here?" Ray asked them. "None of your business!" Came the sharp reply from Fowler. He was about to enter the car again when Ray held his hand stopping him. "Calm down, I know you came to deal with Marcus and honestly, it's none of my business what you do to him or with him," Ray explained himself. "So why are you questioning me?" Fowler asked l
Author's POV. Marcus jaw tightening in anger and his hands clenched tight that his knuckles were almost turning white. "Ray, whatever it is you are planning do not do it! Don't do anything stupid that would hurt my daughter!" Marcus warned but Ray only looked at him and scoffed. "You did the wrong thing first by allowing that useless bastard Alessandro to take her with him," Ray retorted. "I already told you that she would be coming back soon so you don't have to do anything!" Marcus tried persuading Ray, but he would not listen. "You don't understand that the thought of her staying in the same space with that psycho is enough to make my blood boil so I will not sit down and let him take her sway from me," Ray insisted. "Ray! Listen to me at least!" Marcus pleaded in a desperate voice. "There is nothing you are going to say that would make me change my mind or stop me from what I am going to do so stop wasting my time and give me Alessandro's address now!" Ray demande