Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, Bianca glanced at the small, slim watch she wore, a gift from St Just.It showed the time to be around three in the morning. With a huge yawn, Bianca looked around.From where she sat, she could see Barry’s two men, armed and dangerous, standing at the door. Wide awake and on the job, she grinned to herself.It was time to go home, to cuddle baby Cian and snatch some sleep. But the atmosphere in the Casino was that of an undefinable alertness, an edgy sensation, even at this hour.The casino shimmered like a mirage against the night — all mirrored glass, golden chandeliers, and velvet shadows. Inside, the air was thick with perfume, cigar smoke, and the soft clatter of chips — the lullaby of the rich and damned. Even at 3 a.m., the place was alive: half-drunken oligarchs, sleek women in backless gowns, men in tailored tuxedos, dealers with weary smiles, and silent bodyguards watching from corners.At the VIP level, past the velvet rope and behind gold
Bianca walked into the Casino.She had chosen to go modern minimalist and was wearing a dress that sent out very clear signals. A structured white dress with sharp lines, off-the-shoulder, cinched at the waist with a metallic belt. No sparkle, no noise—just clean geometry and flawless fabric. Paired with nude heels and a simple clutch, she radiated power through restraint.Bianca Cruz meant business.Heads turned, whispers rose, but no one confronted the young woman, who was accompanied by the burly, tattooed biker and a couple of his men, all sending out dangerous signals.Smiling to herself, Bianca marched into Liam O’Grady’s office and sank down on the leather armchair. She noticed the small photograph on the table and dimpled. The four of them, Bianca in the centre with baby Cian, flanked by her Masters.O’Grady, the reformed rake, had his heart in the right place, alright she thought as she called for his secretary to come in. Beaming up into the startled woman’s face, she purr
On the way back to the Delano mansion, Proserpina was silent. Wrapped in her thoughts, the Mafia Don's Woman sat, staring out of the window, her hand involuntarily resting on her baby bump, stroking it gently. And Roxanne was feeling the sadness permeate into her bones. Serena, as the doctor had assured Proserpina, rushing to meet her when he heard she was in the building.Serena was responding to treatment. Her internal injuries were healing. She was strong, he said, a kindly smile flickering on his face as he regarded the pale, wan face of the Mafia don’s Woman. The doctor was holding Proserpina’s hand as he spoke, and Roxanne cleared her throat rudely. Sending her a stink eyes, as Jamie called it, the doctor released the hand of the soft-spoken, lovely woman who had seemed oblivious to the interest in the doctor’s eyes.As they alighted in the basement garage, Proserpina sighed, her hand absently going to the small of her back and massaging it.“Time for Karina to leave,” she said
The silence in the waiting room outside Serena’s private room was heavy, pregnant with pain, with hope and somewhere below, the uncertainty of death which lingered in the room. The Delnos had had Louis’ fiancée shifted into a room which had all the extras he wished for her. Huge, spacious and clean.Like a suite in a luxury hotel.The hospital room was dimly lit, bathed in the low hum of machines and the steady, rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. In the middle of the sterile white room lay Serena Kingston—still, pale, and heartbreakingly fragile. Tubes ran from her nose and arms, machines breathing for her, measuring the faint flickers of life still pulsing beneath her skin. Her flame coloured hair was spread across the pillow like a shadow, her face too tranquil, if such a thing was possible, as if asleep in a place far from here.Louis Delano sat at her bedside, elbows on his knees, fingers laced so tightly his knuckles had gone white. His eyes, ringed with sleepless nights, di
Bianca walked into the visitor’s private room in the hospital where Serena was lying, still in a coma. The moment she entered, she noticed the group huddled in the corner, speaking in low tones.The words “Mumma” and “Rudenko” alerted her.Something big had happened. Jamie turned to look at her, her face pink from weeping and she threw herself into Bianca’s startled arms.“Mumma…” she sobbed hysterically,” That Rudenko woman…called Mumma yesterday…”Bianca felt her heart go out to he smiling, pleasant and beautiful matriarch of the Delano family. She had always been kind and caring and she could imagine how the call must have disturbed poor Proserpina.And quick on the heels of that thought came another,How had the Don reacted?The curvy Bianca had spoken to her Masters in the morning, for they had called her. Both the men wanted to know how she was and, most importantly, they wanted to see Cian. So she had done a video call and added archly that Montenegro looked very historical ind
Bianca walked into the visitor’s private room in the hospital where Serena was lying, still in a coma. The moment she entered, she noticed the group huddled in the corner, speaking in low tones.The words “Mumma” and “Rudenko” alerted her.Something big had happened. Jamie turned to look at her, her face pink from weeping and she threw herself into Bianca’s startled arms.“Mumma…” she sobbed hysterically,” That Rudenko woman…called Mumma yesterday…”Bianca felt her heart go out to he smiling, pleasant and beautiful matriarch of the Delano family. She had always been kind and caring and she could imagine how the call must have disturbed poor Proserpina.And quick on the heels of that thought came another,How had the Don reacted?The curvy Bianca had spoken to her Masters in the morning, for they had called her. Both the men wanted to know how she was and, most importantly, they wanted to see Cian. So she had done a video call and added archly that Montenegro looked very historical ind