“Very well,” he replied and nodded briefly. “I'll give you a week. You have one week to give me an answer.” Vince reached into his jacket and pulled out a card and handed it to her. “Thank you,” Lina responded automatically as she held up the card. “When you decide, you call me at this number. Only when you decide you want it. If your answer is no, you don't need to call me at all.” “Deal. Can I get out, now?” she asked, nervously. The car was already parked in front of her building. Lina smiled, even more anxiously. If he knew her address, he had really wanted to know about her life.“Fucking shit!’ she cursed her stupid idea and also, Noah, for making her act like an imbecile. ‘No, it’s my fault. He didn’t force me to be stupid.’ “Sure. But...” She stopped with her hand on the car handle. “But…?” “Are you sure you don't want to make out first? Without commitment. Maybe this will be th
Gambini was already waiting for Lina, with a beautiful smile on his face. When Vincenzo gave the order to rehire the girl, he was happy. She needed and deserved that job. “How good it is to have you back, Lina!” “Thank you, Gambini! That ridiculous guy let you take me back, didn't he?” she asked and Gambini looked around. “Shh! If it reaches his ears...” “Tell me... Is he really from the mafia?” Gambini took a deep breath. “He is, Lina.” “And you let me serve that man?” she asked in astonishment, looking like she felt completely betrayed. “And what did you expect me to do? He's the biggest guy here. Owner of almost all of New York. I'm just an Italian trying to survive in these lands, Lina!” She sighed. “Next time, will you let me know when I'm going to deal with a client like that before I start to serve, please?” “So you can get a better hold of your tongue?” he asked,
*TWENTY YEARS BEFORE*“Come on, Vince. Time to go to bed!” Gioconda said and knocked on the boy's door, who was playing video games. “Ah, mom... just a little bit more!” “No, sir! It's time for you to go to bed. Tomorrow, you have class, young man,” she said and smiled. Vincenzo’s eyes were the same as his mother’s. That was the only physical trait you could see of her on the boy. The face and structure were completely his father's. “Ah, okay...” the eight-year-old boy said, getting up from the bed and going to turn off the game. He went to his mother, kissed her cheek and walked towards the bed. “No, no... Brush your teeth first. I know you haven't brushed your teeth yet.” He grumbled but did as she told him. Gioconda left the boy's bedroom and closed the door behind her. Vincenzo had tap running, as he usually did. Gioconda always said he should turn it off, to save water. And, because of this usual behavior, he d
“Oh, I can't believe we're finally going to a party!” Maddie said, excitedly, while putting on her earrings. “Honestly, I'd rather not go. Noah and that girl will be there.” “Are you still into him?” Maddie asked, stunned and rolled her eyes. “No. But it's unpleasant. Every time this girl passes me; she gives me dirty looks. I don’t like this. I don't understand why she can't just pretend I don't exist.” “Because you're much better than her and, unless she's really stupid, she knows that Noah only left you because he's fucking ambitious.” “Thank you,” Lina gave an awkward smile. “But still...” “Oh, come on! I'm not going alone. I pretty much only know you and Emma, but she'll be busy with other people.” “I don't even know how you ended up being invited...” Lina commented. Emma Moore was super popular, despite not being an arrogant person. “She's in the theater group. She liked me and, as she knows
“Olivia Campbell and Noah Perry. That's what happened!” Lina replied, irritated. “Campbell, like in, the lawyer?” Vince asked. “Exactly!” Lina replied. Vince smiled mysteriously, but Lina didn't see it. She was staring straight ahead, too absorbed in her own irritation. “Wait a minute... Who are you?” Maddie asked. Vince was covered in shadow. “He's my boyfriend. Vince.” Vince looked at Lina with interest. By saying that, she agreed to be his. Agreed to the deal he had proposed. Maddie knew that Lina didn't have a boyfriend, so she remembered that the guy at the club was a mobster and had offered to pose as her ‘man’. “Ah... I see,” Maddie said, weakly. The car stopped and they were in front of the building where they lived. “Maddie, do you mind going ahead? I need to talk to Vince, very quickly.” Lina asked and her friend just nodded, getting out of the car. “I'll accompany you,” the m
“Cool. Sweet dreams!” Lina finished drinking water, washed the glasses and went to her room. When she took off her dress, she imagined it was Vince doing that. ‘Is he really not going to try anything else?’, she thought and bit her lip. She was already past twenty… What harm would that do? At least he didn't lie to her, like Noah. And he was the most handsome man she had ever met in her life. Maybe it would be worth it. Lina had a sour expression when she remembered Noah. “Well, I'm not going to let people talk about me at college. I know this revenge thing is kind of ridiculous, but... Vince said this wasn't romantic involvement, so we're two adults doing adult things. Responsibly,” she said to herself, as she got into the bathtub. She shaved completely, despite being tired, then applied moisturizer to her body and exfoliated her skin. She wanted to be perfect. The next day, she would perfume herself and go to meet the man who would
His breathing in her ear made her dizzy. Lina just nodded. Vince kissed her neck and waited for her to open the door. Lina did so, still bewildered, and he winked before leaving. “If you're going to give it to him, don't forget to use a condom,” Maddie's voice echoed from the apartment hallway, waking Lina up. “Maddie!” Lina said, embarrassed. “Huh... You guys are so fiery. I know you will give it to him, Lina. It just won’t happen if something come up, I know it.” “My goodness, shut up!” Lina sat at the table, mortified, covering her face with her hands. “Oh, don't act coy. I'm sure you've already given him liberties. You were alone in the car last night, with him, and he looked like a horny man when he walked through that door a few seconds ago.” “Maddie!” “I'm not judging,” she raised her hands and sat down on the chair. “In fact, I think you really have to enjoy it. I just want you to be careful. He’s
The two left the house and went to the Bay Plaza Shopping Center. It was next to them and had several stores where they could look for good pieces. They found the perfect panties. Lina was beyond blushing as she chose such an intimate cloth for Vince to see —and take off of her body. The panties were small, and barely covered Lina's parts. In Maddie and Lina's opinion, it was sexy without being vulgar, with the beautiful lace on the sides. “If he doesn't go crazy when he sees it, he's crazy,” Maddie said, and they both laughed. “What are you doing looking at this type of lingerie?” Olivia asked. Maddie and Lina turned, sharing a look, towards the blonde, who was accompanied by two of her friends who were as unfriendly as she was. “It looks like a haunting! And … Interested in what, dear? How is that any of your business?” Maddie asked, with a mocking tone and a fake smile on her lips. “If you're buying this thinking about sho
Vince came over and gave her a good slap on the buttock.“Damn it!” he said, bending down and licking Lina. “Your taste is so perfect!” “Then eat me!” she teased, moving her thighs in circles in his face. “Cazzo!” Vince went back to licking Lina, holding her buttocks open. He only stopped when she was almost reaching orgasm. Then Vince stood. Lina whimpered. “You're going to cum on my dick, hottie.” “I want to suck you,” in response, she received a slap on the butt. “Later. Now I want to feel you squeezing me all over with that greedy pussy.” And without further ado, Vince positioned himself and started pushing, eliciting moans and screams from Lina. Vince held tightly to Lina's waist and increased the pace of his thrusts. “Vince! Oh, my love!” “My wife!” he started to thrust deeper. “My wife. I love you!” Vince was burning with happiness and pride. This was the first time they had been intimate
Everyone turned to look at the church entrance. A completely disheveled Noah was there. He looked drunk and his eyes were bloodshot.“Noah?” Lina asked and glanced at Vince.“You can't marry him,” Noah said. “The baby is mine!”There was commotion in the church. Lina opened her mouth, not believing what Noah was saying. Vince's eyes instantly went dark. The whispers of the Organizations members began. Some Camorra men were present, of course.“Get him OUT of here!” Vince ordered, indicating the church door, with his arm outstretched.“No! I'm not leaving! She is mine! You stole her from me, but she loves me, and we made this child.”Lina had already put up with too much. Noah had publicly humiliated her when he announced his relationship with Olivia. Then, every time they saw each other at college, and even at a party. He always allowed Olivia to make fun of her.Now, to invade her wedding and talk that nonsense? Oh, hell no! She wouldn't allow that anymore! On top of that, he was sti
She was completely ready except for the jewelry.Maddie started putting them on and Lina wanted to cry. Around her neck, she wore the chain that Vince had given her and also the one her mother had given her. In fact, it was a gift from Bartolomeo to her and, even though she was hurt by it, Maryam had never thrown it away.When Bartolomeo saw the necklace around Lina's neck, he was extremely moved. He then confirmed how much Maryam loved him, until the end. She needed money, but she never got rid of the jewelry. Now, the one wearing the necklace with a single sapphire, surrounded by diamonds, was Lina. The yolk wasn't big, especially because her mother didn't want it to be that way. Bartolomeo bought her a perfect piece of jewelry.“There,” Maddie said, finishing arranging Lina's hair back into place, after putting on the necklace. “And control yourself. Makeup is waterproof, but still, it is not eternal.”Lina nodded and stood up. She opted for a model with an ‘Empire’ style skirt. It
“You'll have to have dinner with me,” Renzo noticed the girl's nervousness and, as much as he had thought they could go out together and end up in bed, he changed his mind.“D-dinner?”“Yes. Dinner. I promise I won't attack you or anything. I just want to get to know you better.”“But why?” Carina asked, even more confused.“What do you mean by asking me this?”Renzo didn't understand her question.“What is your intention? Why do you want to get to know me better?”“I think you’re pretty, interesting, but I don't know much about you, other than that you're beautiful and you know how to sew very well.”Carina turned all red.“I think you better stop the car. I'll order a taxi from here,”Carina's heart was beating so hard, to the point that her head was spinning.“Hey, Hey! Why the sudden change?”Carina looked at him, clearly hurt.“I don't know why you decided to make fun of me, but I don't have to continue with this game. Please stop the car!”“Wow, chills! And who said I was making
“Shut up, idiot!” Nico said between his teeth.“Well, well…”“Maddie?” It was Carina.“Cari!” Maddie said, pulling Carina closer.“Ah, I just came to deliver the coat you left back there. They're closing things down and I thought you wouldn't want to leave it there.”“Thanks!” Maddie was thankful. She liked that coat. It was a gift from her mother, who unfortunately couldn't go because Maddie's father was sick.“You look great, Carina!” Lina commented. “And congratulations! I knew you sewed, but just by listening. I had never seen your creations. They are very beautiful and of excellent quality!”Carina turned all red and Renzo, who was looking at her, noticed it.‘Her cheeks look pretty, flushed like that.’“Let me see that eyeliner!” Lina asked. “I swear I try but I just can't!”Carina laughed and took off her glasses. The super thick lenses distorted her eyes. She had her eyes closed, but when she opened them, still without her glasses, Renzo couldn't stop looking at her.‘Lei... L
She looked back and saw Noah. He seemed to be healthier than the last time they had seen each other.“Oh, hi…?” she replied, holding the folder to her chest.“Is everything good? Ah… where is Lina? I never saw her again. Is she okay?”“She is great!” Maddie knew that Noah was trying to get closer to Lina, so she thought it best to deliver the fatal blow. “She's engaged. Officially.”Noah's smile trembled.“Fi-fiancé?”“Yes. They’re getting married soon.”Maddie was not one to forgive easily. And she never forgave Noah for breaking Lina's heart. She just didn't hate him at all because if it weren't for that, Lina wouldn't have met Vince and wouldn't be so happy today.“Everything okay here?” Nico approached them and glared at Noah, who swallowed hard. “Yeah. I was just telling Noah that Lina is engaged.” Nico saw Maddie's little smile and thought she could be cruel when she wanted to.“I see… So, shall we go?” Nico didn't speak to Noah and Maddie nodded.Noah remain
“And yet, it's me she wants,” Vince said, calmly. “She loves me and it's me she's going to marry. If you bother us with that again, I'll kill you myself.”Vince hung up the phone and Lina noticed his hands shaking.“Babe?” She asked, placing her hand on his arm. Vince looked at her and hugged her.“Do you think I'm little?”Lina was taken by surprise by that question. How on earth could he think that of himself?“Vince, I don't know what my cousin said, but whatever it was, he's an idiot. You are the best man, and not only that, you are the best man for me. I love you and I am with you. Forever.”Vince hugged her tighter.“I love you so much, Lina,” he loved her to the point of being able to overlook what her father had done. For her. “And I love you. And don't worry. Renzo is not going to be my administrator of anything. The will said that he would be in charge of my things as long as I wanted. And I don't want to,” she lifted her face from Vince's chest and looked into hi
“Try to calm down, everything will be fine!” Maddie said, while finishing Lina's hairstyle. “I'm scared, Maddie. I've never participated in that kind of stuff,” she closed her eyes and exhaled the air from her lungs and looked at her friend, through the mirror reflection. “What if there's some mess?” Maddie stood next to Lina and made her look at her. “Everything will be fine. You and Vince are getting engaged and in two weeks, you'll be married.” “I'm still worried. Vince looked worried. He spent all day yesterday on the phone, shouting here and there. I don't know Italian, but I learned a few words and he was angry.”In the office, Vince was bubbling with rage. “Traitors son of a bitch!” he punched the wooden table. “They betrayed Bartolomeo and wanted to kill Lina! They gave it as a gift to Vastano!” “And what will we do with them?” Nico asked. “They are in power. We have to be able to talk to the Camorra Council.”“Let's
The woman said, taking out her cell phone and starting to record. “I just got kicked out of here for no reason!”She was clearly recording a video. Vince remained impassive.“Kindly leave. I will not put up with your lack of respect toward my fiancée.”As the woman continued to talk nonsense, Vince just flagged down the security guards and turned away.“I'm going to call the police!”Vince didn't even look at the woman, and with Lina in his arms, he continued walking towards the VIP wing.“Vince, that woman is a digital influencer…”“Love, please! She is nobody! And if she was ever someone, from the moment she got involved with you, she ceased to exist.”Vince took out his cell phone and typed something, then put the device away and smiled at Lina.After eating, Lina excused herself and went to the restroom. She hadn't noticed how full her bladder was.Vince was going to tell her that their room had a private restroom, but Lina ran out and he didn't have the opportunity. He was gettin