Nicole. This is going to be awkward. A hot shirtless man with a body like that teaching me how to cook. How can I concentrate? How will I survive burning the damn food? "Nikki?" Leo walks into the kitchen followed by the two men. One of them sporting a wide smirk and the one behind them having a calm look. He holds himself so well. He is everything on my dream guy list minus the anger problems. That is one awful flaw that I wish I could erase with a snap of my finger. "Whatever he said is not true, I will start the food" I turn around the stove and stare at the metal not knowing what to turn or switch on. What food do I even want to cook? Tara knows everything. She works like magic with this stuff and boom, food is ready. I never took my time to learn. Blame it on laziness, I would always go for snacks and I was fine. Until now."You need help?" his voice murmurs behind me as he cages me between the cooking stove and himself. Why is he this close? "Mmh" I worriedly clear
Nicole I open the door and like today morning, Leo is leaning against the wall but this time he is with Luca. My brother has his fists clenched and his enraged gaze is directed at the man behind me. Don't tell me they heard everything. That will be so embarrassing, I just professed my love to Alessio in there."Let's go" I mumble taking his hand before they start their rant and he quietly follows. It must be hard for him. One of his best friends is hurting his sister, but he can't react in a bad way because he will hurt her too. The car ride is silent. My eyes remain on the moving buildings while my brother grips the wheel with enough force that would break a neck. He is mad as hell and I hate to think that it's all because of me. "Fuck" Leo forcefully hits the steering wheel making me violently jerk from my seat. Thank God for the seatbelt around my waist. Does this idiot want to kill us? "I'm sorry you have to go through this" he hoarsely mumbles taking in deep breaths.I do
"Are you ready?" Leo asks assessing my outfit with uncertainty. He didn't expect me to wear the dress Alessio sent while going with someone else, right? "Yes, so much ready" I exclaim but his hard stare shows just how much he is not impressed. " It's a ball, Nicole, dress code matters a lot in these types of events" I look down at my black jean shorts, and a red crop top, and on top of it is a big camouflage jacket that also belongs to him. When I add my black army boots to the look, I appear so hot and badass. "Who cares Leo?" I nonchalantly murmur, tucking my gun at the back of my shorts "I'm driving," I say, snatching the keys from his hands and dashing to the door before he could object to it, or say something else about my dressing. "Wait Nicole, Alex is picking you up" My brother rushes after me and just to his luck, a blue sports car with extremely loud hip-hop music, roughly comes to a stumbling stop two steps away from me. Well, this will be the most romantic date I wil
Nicole. Shit, Alex. I hurriedly wash off the blood from my hand and walk out ignoring the sore gash. Unfortunately, as soon as I open the door, a strong force roughly pushes me and I hit my head on the wall behind me. Fuck. I grip the affected area, repeatedly blinking to gain back my sight because all I see are fucking stars. The impact I hit the wall with is so severe it makes my head hurt. "Bitch, you thought I wouldn't get you" Ernesto sneers turning me around to face him. He instantly slaps me hard and I slip on the hard marble ground groaning n pain. Bitch busted my lip. "Where are your puppets now, huh?" he crouches next to me and I quickly sit up, trying as much as I can to hold in the pain. At least he offered pain endurance lessons during our training. Ernesto grabs my chin so hard that I feel his nails digging in my flesh, and direct my head to him. He likes it when people keep eye contact when he is conversing with them. To show him that he can go to hell, I spit
Alessio. "I need to tell you something boss" Luca whispers staring warily at Leo who is strangely beside me. He told me his sister would be here on a security detail but I haven't seen her. "Is something wrong?" I ask a little more dismissively as my eyes roam around the room. I need to find Nicole before Ernesto lays his eyes on her. We both know he will do something that won't favor her or me. "Yes, they have a target on you again" he whispers but I don't find shock in his words. Someone always has a hit on me and it's no longer news. I need to put these fuckers out before they could cause more harm. I haven't thought about the fact that I almost became a father and they knew it before I could. I can't afford to bring a life in this damned world, yet. Fuck! the thought has never even crossed my mind until that night. I can't see myself taking care of those little ones. Not now and definitely not in the future. "Who is it now?" I ask in a bored tone. Apart from Ernesto, I don
Nicole.I swear, I'm dying inside.This is why I had promised to start taking care of myself. Who is this girl and why is Alessio calling her bunny?She is so beautiful that she's making me feel self-conscious. Alessio never talks softly to anyone apart from me, he even said please.Like what the hell?I'm sure as fuck that he doesn't have a sister."Baby, who is she?" I lowly mumble in curiosity. He is mine and I will fight for him even when I have zero strength. "Can we go already, I can't be here anymore second" the girl impatiently speaks shifting from one foot to another. Her green eyes glance around and back to us and she frowns at our lack of movement. She has a slight Russian accent and that explains her looks. Alessio is not Russian.Is he cheating on me?"Let's talk later " he places a haste kiss on my cheek and rushes to the midst of the fight. The girl gives me one bored glance and starts walking toward the back entrance. I'm left with no choice but to follow.It's like
Nicole."What do you mean I'm getting married, Alessio?" I whisper in disbelief as I stare at my supposed brother.From one shitty brother to another. Just great."Nicole I'm sorry, it's not as serious as you think" Leo defends and I can't believe he just said that. "Not as serious?" I mumble, taking unsteady steps towards him" You signing my life away is not as serious as I think?"Now everything makes sense. How he didn't want me with Alessio. Him being cool with the reckless Alex when he picked me up. Also, the smirk on Julio's face the other day, I knew there was a reason behind it.I didn't understand why they almost killed Ernesto's son for hurting me while we just met.I look at Leo in disbelief.He is just like everyone. Using me for his gain.I should have ran when I had a chance. This world will surely ruin me beyond my limits."He is gay Nicole. His dad found out and he is trying to manipulate him"."And you thought I was an object to be used by them?" now I wish I never
Nicole. Should I take it? This is what I wanted for a long time right? Freedom. The only problem I have is money because Ernesto froze my accounts and right now an opportunity is staring at me, why am I hesitating? " Take it" Alessio forces the card in my hands but I am finding it hard to accept it. The look in his eyes says it all. He doesn't want me to. Alessio wants me to trust him and stay. No matter what decision I make, I know I can't change the fact that I love him, and he is probably feeling something for me too. So with a shaky breath, I take the card and place it back in his wallet. I am a lot of things but I can't bear the thought of hurting him. I will give this one more chance and if it doesn't work, then I will look for a way out and that is without his money nor help. " I don't want your money Alessio, I want something else" I murmur and his brows furrow in confusion. " What is it" he whispers squeezing my waist and I sigh leaning forward. " I want your heart"
Nicole. "Just perfect. This is what we call, killing two birds with one stone. First, steal your boyfriend's shit for myself and then kill his dumb girlfriend" Ernesto laughs as he takes slow steps toward me. " I have never seen a stupid woman like you, Nicole. You thought a girl that warms my bed every night would choose you over my dick?" He laughs and I swear, all the color just drained from my face. Tara was fucking Ernesto? I can't believe I am that stupid. How could I not know? "Tara would do anything to please her 'daddy' and she would be greatly rewarded at the end of the day" He blankly stares at her dead body as if she meant nothing to him. She never was my friend. She was Ernesto's plaything from the beginning. " Her assignment was to befriend you and not to get her feelings attached. I am proud of her even though she is gone. I can always find another young pussy, but you?" Ernesto mockingly sizes me up and down before releasing a dark chuckle. "Not even Julio's fag
Nicole. I jolt up with a splitting headache and a sweaty body. The room I am in feels like it's rotating and I tightly hold the bedding to steady myself. "Are you okay?" A voice asks above me and I squint my eyes to stare at the worried Alessio. How long was I out? The last thing I remember was shooting my brother. How come I am already in Alessio's bed? "Can I have water, please" I clear my throat as my vision finally becomes clear. Alessio quickly fills a glass of water and I stare at his mum pleadingly. I need those painkillers again. "Painkillers? " She asks with a gentle smile and I quickly nod but groan afterwards. Fuck my head.I will get better soon. I believe that.I can't believe this is the same woman who was rude to me at the first meeting. To make matters worse, she even brought another woman for Alessio in my very presence. Thank God I set my record straight.Alessio takes the pills from his mother and sits beside me. "Your memories again? " He gently asks placing
Nicole. My gaze remains on my brother who doesn't make a move toward us. Now that I look at him, Liam acted bitchy but he was sincere. He didn't pretend with me. And his last actions proved that at least he had an ounce of care for me. Liam had a chance to seize all the necklaces to appease his boss but he didn't. Instead, he gave me the original one without malice. I might share some resemblance to Leonardo but I can't help but despise him. If he is working for Ernesto, he knew all along where I was and he didn't give a damn. He only made a move because he saw me as a bargaining chip. Leo just wanted to use me for his selfish reasons. I won't let him though. I will fight him to death for my freedom. Averting my gaze from my shameless brother, I peer at the boy in front of me. Another selfish bastard who thinks I am disposable, and he can use me as a breeder. "What do you want Alex?" I stare at him without a sense of interest. His eyes linger from Alessio to me and trail to the
Nicole. "Nicole, Can I talk to you?" I instantly stop at her voice, and turn around in shock. What the hell is she doing here? "I thought I told you to stay away from her, didn't I?" Alessio approaches her but I quickly stop him. The look in Tara's eyes indicates that she is desperate. She always has that look when she is scared or worried about something. "Hold on, babe" I grip Alessio's hand and he turns to me with raised brows. "Talk," I say without letting his hand go. Tara takes a step forward but Alessio stretches his hand forward to stop her. "Remain where you are, and make this quick. I feel nauseated just staring at you" Alessio snaps, and she instantly stops with a silent nod. That was a bit harsh and it appears to hurt her feelings. I don't know why I can't hate her just yet. "I wanted to tell you to be careful around your brother. He has been talking to Ernesto for some time now" She cautiously looks around us as if she's scared of being caught. No one likes a s
Nicole. "What is it?" I eagerly whisper, waiting for him to tell me something that may be useful. "When I met your brother. It wasn't a coincidence like I have been believing. Leonardo approached us with a deal. He wanted protection from me and in return, he worked for me. He was good with his gun and we didn't question him or perform a background check-up. Now, I am beginning to think he was sent by Ernesto" "The star tattoo that matches yours, he didn't have it. Do you know for how long you have had this" He holds my wrist and places a gentle kiss on the mark. My brows furrow in confusion as I stare at the supposed sibling tattoo. Where is he going with this? "As long as I can remember, I don't know how I got it" I frown at the mark and glance back at the man holding me. "I think we need to be cautious until you remember if he is even your real brother" Fuck me. First, it was Liam, and now, Leo? It can't be. "The resemblance Alessio, we share the same eye color" "There
Alessio. She stares at me in shock and silently lays back down. Ernesto did it. I am sure of that. At the ball, the bastard slipped away and left a trail of his men behind. My men and I got rid of all of them. Unfortunately, when I was done he had already gone into hiding. We had to pin Leo down for information after that and it only got worse. How could he, in his senses trust Julio? Leo has been working for me for some time and I assumed he knew all the snakes in the game, Clearly, he didn't Julio and Ernesto go way back. Their families had an alliance for years and to this day, they don't hunt each other unless one is getting in the way of another. He even had the audacity to sell his sister off. The only woman I love. He has been a sick pain in my ass lately and I assumed it was because he cared for his sister but no. " What is wrong with her son?" Father follows me to the kitchen when I return the glass, and I sigh leaning on the counter. "Ernesto messed her up Dad. He w
Nicole. Should I take it? This is what I wanted for a long time right? Freedom. The only problem I have is money because Ernesto froze my accounts and right now an opportunity is staring at me, why am I hesitating? " Take it" Alessio forces the card in my hands but I am finding it hard to accept it. The look in his eyes says it all. He doesn't want me to. Alessio wants me to trust him and stay. No matter what decision I make, I know I can't change the fact that I love him, and he is probably feeling something for me too. So with a shaky breath, I take the card and place it back in his wallet. I am a lot of things but I can't bear the thought of hurting him. I will give this one more chance and if it doesn't work, then I will look for a way out and that is without his money nor help. " I don't want your money Alessio, I want something else" I murmur and his brows furrow in confusion. " What is it" he whispers squeezing my waist and I sigh leaning forward. " I want your heart"
Nicole."What do you mean I'm getting married, Alessio?" I whisper in disbelief as I stare at my supposed brother.From one shitty brother to another. Just great."Nicole I'm sorry, it's not as serious as you think" Leo defends and I can't believe he just said that. "Not as serious?" I mumble, taking unsteady steps towards him" You signing my life away is not as serious as I think?"Now everything makes sense. How he didn't want me with Alessio. Him being cool with the reckless Alex when he picked me up. Also, the smirk on Julio's face the other day, I knew there was a reason behind it.I didn't understand why they almost killed Ernesto's son for hurting me while we just met.I look at Leo in disbelief.He is just like everyone. Using me for his gain.I should have ran when I had a chance. This world will surely ruin me beyond my limits."He is gay Nicole. His dad found out and he is trying to manipulate him"."And you thought I was an object to be used by them?" now I wish I never
Nicole.I swear, I'm dying inside.This is why I had promised to start taking care of myself. Who is this girl and why is Alessio calling her bunny?She is so beautiful that she's making me feel self-conscious. Alessio never talks softly to anyone apart from me, he even said please.Like what the hell?I'm sure as fuck that he doesn't have a sister."Baby, who is she?" I lowly mumble in curiosity. He is mine and I will fight for him even when I have zero strength. "Can we go already, I can't be here anymore second" the girl impatiently speaks shifting from one foot to another. Her green eyes glance around and back to us and she frowns at our lack of movement. She has a slight Russian accent and that explains her looks. Alessio is not Russian.Is he cheating on me?"Let's talk later " he places a haste kiss on my cheek and rushes to the midst of the fight. The girl gives me one bored glance and starts walking toward the back entrance. I'm left with no choice but to follow.It's like