HELENA’S POVI wake up that morning with a splitting headache, My mind felt foggy, like it had been soaked in alcohol, though I knew that wasn’t the case. As I slowly blinked, my surroundings came into focus—the dark wood paneling, the sheer curtains filtering sunlight into the room.“What the hell was happening?” I whispered to myself amidst the blinding the headache that flustered.Slowly, the realization hit me like a cold bucket of water, and I groaned softly, sinking deeper into the plush pillows. I lay still trying to conjure up my memory from the previous night, last I remembered, I had followed Dante to the club and - the flashing lights, the overwhelming heat, the loud music and people dancing while I settled at the bar with a drink and then... him. The strange man that had approached me leading me away, the dizziness that followed, the confusion.Then Dante – Dante had saved me. I remembered his face behind my blurred vision and hazed state and – shit!I sat up quickly, a sh
HELENA’S POV“Mama said the wedding should be in three weeks, it’s only logical” my sister said to me at lunch in downtown restaurant just across from the dance studio I had just registered in. It was a breath of fresh air, being able to raise my legs above my head with other people who understand the arts of dance and not spank me afterwards for it.“Mama always wants everything to be logical” I said back to her, taking a sip from my chocolate milkshake and still side eyeing the diamond ring Dante had slipped on my finger earlier, it still felt like a blinding shock to me and I couldn’t understand why.“According to her, she doesn’t think it’s quite logical for you to be living with a man you’re not married to”“I was once married to him”“And divorced – brutally” she added the last part like an adlib to a song and I snickered, I should’ve been offended but Vivianna could be effortlessly funny when she didn’t mean to. Then she took a bite from her greasy burger and my picked my hand
DANTE’S POVAfter I had left the house after giving Helena the ring, the next agenda on my mind was to deal personally with Tony Anotti, of course he knew Helena was engaged to me, the only reason he had decided to pull the stunt with me and that was why I decided to give her the ring. I had rushed earlier that morning before she woke up, pulled up at the nearest jeweler and purchased the one that caught my eye, I didn’t care how expensive it was – it was my claim on her, to prove to everyone in Algreen Cove that she was mine now.I arrived at the warehouse where we’d been keeping Tony Anotti to find Paulo was already there, but he looked a tad bit disheveled with his normally crisp shirt untucked and his brow furrowed with worry."Dante," he said, his voice low and urgent, "Tony... he’s gone."The words barely registered for a second, and when they did, the rage simmering just beneath my skin flared up. "What do you mean he’s gone?" I barked, stepping closer to him but Paulo held my
HELENA’S POVI was so goddamn furiousThe whole ride back had been unbearable, the tension that brewed within us, Dante had his jaw set, not saying a word, while I sat beside him, my fists clenched in my lap, trembling from the whirlwind of emotions that swirled inside of me.He had swooped me off the ground so easily; it had been so effortless, like I weighed nothing in his arms. Despite the anger boiling inside me, there had been a split second where I felt... helpless. The way his grip was so firm, the way he just tossed me over his shoulder like I was some package he had to deliver. I hated that feeling—like he had control, like I was powerless. It made the fury burn even hotter.We didn’t exchange a single word as we walked into the house. I stormed past him, heading straight for the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I needed space. I needed air. I needed anything but him that moment.The next morning, I woke up still angry. The ache in my chest lingered, and my head thrummed
HELENA’S POVI remember Dante’s gaze when I saw him standing outside the dance studio – it was warm, dark and every emotion in between. I felt a shiver dance across my spine and I hadn’t even realized it when I walked towards him. I didn’t expect him to cup my face with the roughness of his palms and my heart soared.I heard a tiny groan from his throat, a quiet noise of satisfaction boomed from him when I pressed my face on his chest. His fingers slid from my cheek to the back of my head and his fingers threading through my hair. I inhaled deeply, feeling every ounce of touch he gave me, and I was on the verge of melting like candy in his hands.He smelled so good, felt so good – like I everything I needed and craved, comfort, security.“I – I – don’t know what to say” I breathed.“Shhh” he shushed me with his head resting atop mine “Don’t ruin it”He had done everything I should hate and resent him for but here I was finding comfort in his arms and doing everything my mind screamed
DANTE’S POVHer lips, the swirl of her tongue in my mouth, the slight sight that escaped her lips when I pulled her tender frame towards my hardened body, the mixture of feelings even I was yet to understand, everything came to a sudden halt when that call from Paulo came through.“Everything is gone”It was a turmoil in my head even after I had dropped Helena at the house, it was hard enough to push her out of my head and concentrate on the disaster that was going on in my turf.“I just need to sort this out – I’ll be back” I said to her, softly caressing her face and nearly kissing her but I didn’t want to get a hard on from just kissing her alone, I needed to focus.I gripped the wheel, my jaw clenched so tight it hurt.The drive to the warehouse was a blur. My foot pressed hard on the gas pedal, the engine roaring as I sped through the streets, adrenaline pumping in my veins. By the time I arrived, Paulo was already standing there, his face pale as he stared at the empty shell of
HELENA’S POVMy breath grew heavier with each passing second, and a certain heat seemed to envelope us – binding us together.“I’m going to count to ten, Helena. If you’re still here by then – I’m fucking you”I didn’t say anything, just the heaviness of my breath echoed back to him.“One, two, three – ” his counts were slow, measured and calculated but the fire inside me was more intense – and I wasn’t going anywhere. My need for him was greater than any goddamn rule I had created.“Four – five –”“I’m not going anywhere” I breathed, then I brushed a hand across his neck and into his thick hair at his nape, he let out a quiet, tense breath at my touch.“Six Helena” he counted but I had slipped my hands under his shirt, feeling the warmth radiate from him and I absorbed it like an addict“Seven”My breast were bare beneath my night gown and my nipples poked through the fabric, heavy and tight and so close to his face. He only had to lift his head to put his mouth on them, to relieve t
I had a fever, it was hot, itchy and my temperature ran increasingly high I might have shivered a bit. It was too late to turn back now and it wasn’t possible to stop. I rolled my hips against him, rubbing my wetness on his throbbing length.I could barely contain myself, and then it happened. I had ground down hard enough on the head of his erection that it had slowly slipped inside of me. He was so big, it stung and I trembled. Then he grabbed my hands and held them above my head and he let his dick slide further into me. We both watched it happen, my breaths coming out erratic.“Can you take all of me, principessa” I was so filled, it burned and I nodded. He looked down at where we were joined with a look that bordered on insanity and then with a growl he thrust all the way inside of me.I cried out and arched my back off the bed. I was so full, too full that I could feel him deep in my stomach. His body felt so heavy as he lay on top of me.“I’m afraid you’re creating a monster ou
MATTEO’S POVHelena didn’t look back.She gave me a single glance as she stepped through the grand entrance of the masked ball, her red dress shimmering under the low lights like spilled wine. It was a glance meant to reassure, but all it did was tighten the knot in my stomach. As she disappeared into the crowd, I stayed behind, lingering by the car, letting the cool night air ground me.There was a heaviness to the night, a thickness in the air that clung to my skin like smoke. People filed into the hall, their laughter and idle chatter masking the tension beneath their ornate feathers and flashy masks. They came here to escape, to lose themselves in the decadence and mystery of the night.But I had no intention of hiding.My mask was a reflection of who I truly was—dark, daunting, and utterly unafraid. It wasn’t meant to conceal but to intimidate, to remind anyone who dared look too long that I wasn’t here to play their games. I was here for one thing, and one thing only.To kill Da
HELENA’S POVThe day had arrived, though part of me wished it hadn’t.I stared at myself in the mirror, my reflection striking yet unrecognizable. The red dress clung to me like a second skin, its fabric pooling at my feet in elegant defiance of the night ahead. My mask—a sleek, feline design with sharp edges framing my eyes—only added to the surrealism of it all. I felt like a stranger in my own skin, dressed for a game where the stakes were life and death.Behind me, Matteo’s voice cut through my thoughts. “You look stunning.”I turned slightly, catching his gaze in the mirror as he stood in the doorway. His sharp intake of breath made my stomach flutter, but the butterflies were tangled with something else, something far darker.He stepped closer, his footsteps soft against the carpeted floor. When he reached me, his hands found my waist, and his lips brushed mine—soft, gentle, reverent. For a moment, I let myself sink into the kiss, into him, but the moment broke as quickly as it
HELENA’S POVThe evening air was thick with tension, so palpable it felt like an invisible hand gripping my throat. Two weeks had passed since I started staying at Matteo’s house—two weeks of stolen kisses, shared secrets, and careful planning. Tomorrow was the masked ball, the night that could either set us free or seal our fate.I stood in front of the tall, oval mirror in Matteo’s bedroom, the soft light casting a golden hue over the red dress I wore. It hugged my curves perfectly, the fabric cascading to the floor like a river of blood. The back was completely open, exposing my skin to the cool air. I gathered my hair up, twisting it into an impromptu updo, and tilted my head, studying my reflection. I didn’t look like the woman who had been Dante D’Angelo’s wife. I looked like someone else—someone dangerous.The door creaked open, and I saw Matteo’s reflection in the mirror before I heard him. He stopped mid-step, his eyes sweeping over me like a caress. His sharp intake of breat
HELENA’S POVI stirred awake slowly, the warm sunlight filtering through the curtains. Matteo was still sprawled on the bed beside me, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. His face looked so peaceful, free of the sharp, tense lines it usually carried. I turned lazily, propping myself up on one elbow to study him. His dark lashes rested against his cheekbones, his jawline relaxed. His hair fell in soft waves, and I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through it, to feel its silkiness. Maybe even kiss him, just once, full on the mouth.But I held myself back. He must’ve been exhausted after everything that happened last night. Having a gun pointed at your face tends to do that to people. Yet here he was, the same Matteo who made me feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time: safe. Being with him was so different from being with Dante. With Dante, every moment was a storm. With Matteo, there was calm, a quiet comfort I hadn’t realized I needed until now."Are you done staring
HELENA’S POVThe water was colder than I imagined, sharp and biting, and I felt it burrow into my skin, freezing me from the inside out. As the surface swallowed me whole, a single, panicked thought clawed through my mind: I can’t swim. The screws in my hip made sure of that. Every kick of my legs felt heavy, like I was dragging chains beneath me. But it was the only way.It was the only way to escape Dante—because I knew if I stayed, he wouldn’t just drag me out of there by my hair. He’d kill Matteo, and every ounce of defiance I’d summoned would have been for nothing.The pressure of the water wrapped around me like a fist, squeezing my lungs. My chest burned, desperate for air. I flailed my arms, trying to stay afloat, but my body betrayed me, weighted down by both the freezing cold and my own limits. Panic clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to think. Stay calm, Helena. Just keep moving. Help will come.I didn’t have to wait long.A splash rippled through the water near me, a
MATTEO’S POVThe cool night air brushed against my skin as Helena clung to me, her fingers wrapped tightly around my arm. Her flushed cheeks and wide, sparkling eyes were magnetic, like I was seeing her for the first time. Her laughter still echoed in my head, the sound of it rolling through the haze of the raunchy time we’d shared inside the club. The pulsing lights, the music, the feel of her body pressed against mine—everything about tonight felt like a dream.She looked up at me, her lips parted, slightly swollen from where she’d bitten them while dancing. My breath hitched as the urge to pin her against the nearest wall and kiss her until we both forgot our names overtook me. But I didn’t. Not yet. Not here. Instead, I held her steady, guiding her toward the car as her voice broke the moment.“God I’m starving” she said again, her voice light and airy.I smirked, trying to shake the wild thoughts coursing through my head. “Starving, huh? All that dancing must’ve done a number on
HELENA’S POVI put on the dress Matteo bought me, a little slutty with a long slit at the side exposing my creamy thighs. My eyes had lesser dark circles than it did in the morning, but nothing eyeliner couldn’t fix and throwing on a perfect shade of red lipstick which Matteo had also slipped into the bags, I didn’t know he had taste like that and I loved it.“Damn” Matteo deep voice filled my voice when I stepped out of the room to him waiting just outside my door, dressed in a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his biceps with the veins ripping through them.“You look – ”“Like a hooker” I completed for him, and he looked at me like I was crazy.“No damn – you look hot, you are hot and you should be mine” he breathed in my ears pulling me close, his deep husky voice causing goosebumps on my skin and I shivered slightly. This was all new, all these feelings that were beginning to ignite because of Matteo, the way he looked at me like he wanted to devour me on the spot.“
HELENA’S POV“Matteo, I want you to speak using your words. Did you plan this whole thing?” I asked again, emphasizing on my words because at this point Matteo had moved away from me to the kitchen area and was now pouring himself a glass of water. I didn’t care about the pain on my leg, I pushed myself up from the chair and followed him.“You’re not supposed to stressing my leg” he said turning to face me, running his eyes from my face to my leg.“I have had it with you D’angelo boys, thinking you can just play mind games and using me as a collateral”“No one is using you as a collateral Helena, this is a fight between me and Dante and I didn’t want you getting involved so I removed you from the equation”“Oh” a dirty scoff escaped my lips “So what now, I’m supposed to grovel on my knees and thank you?”He smirked “Well you can’t actually do that” he gestured to my legs and I wanted nothing much but to smack him in that moment.“Look Helena, you’re getting this all wrong. All I did wa
HELENA’S POV“Yea and I fucking enjoyed it too” I said to Dante, a subtle smirk on my phone. I wanted him to feel half the pain I felt, both the physical and the emotional one that stung at my heart“maybe, just maybe he might be the better brother – if you know what I mean” I winked at him, and everything happened in a split second. Dante’s eyes flared and before I knew it he was charging towards me. He grabbed my hands and pushing me against the wall, his booze breath hot on my face and the fiery glint in his eyes burning brighter and brighter, I was scared I might get engulfed in it.“You don’t mean that” he said “You don’t bloody mean that Helena”“Why do you care?” I shot back “You sold me to him after all”“I didn’t – I just – how can I fix it?”“You can’t” I said in his face, loud enough that he flinched a little. “When are you going to get it Dante, you’re the villain in this story, you’re not a hero – you’re the evil villain who’s not going to get the girl at the end” I pushe