Chapter 119 RUSSEL ~~~~~ As Allesia’s figure vanished through the front door, I instinctively took a step to follow her after numerous attempts at calling her back failed, but Kegan’s hand gripped my arm, and he gave me a warning look to which I raised a questioning brow.” “Let her go. She needs time to process.” Before I could reply, Nikolai surged forward, ignoring Kegan as his face twisted in panic, “What do you mean let her go?” he growled, trying to push past Kegan, “She’s going to the fucking cops!” A red haze clouded my vision, flashing bright red before my eyes. Before I knew it, I had Nikolai by the collar, my fist crashing into his right jaw with a force that had him crashing into the desk. “FBI?” I roared, each punch punctuating my words, “That’s what you’re fucking worried about?” Blood from his broken nose soiled my shirt, but I didn’t mind, “ I gave you time! Time to own up to your bullshit! But you refused to tell her, you fucking coward!” Each blow lan
Chapter 120 ALLESIA ~~~°~~~ _A MONTH LATER_ I zipped up the last luggage and rolled it to the side, then I straightened, but it wasn't enough so I sank into a nearby seat. I didn't know what I was doing, but I had long decided I was not going to think about it for too long. Thinking had never gotten me anyway. The news of Agent Vivian Thompson's disappearance was still evergreen in my mind, burning me up with guilt that threatened to consume me whole. The fact that she went missing exactly one night after meeting me for the first time, the same night I told her about Russel spoke volumes. Nolan and I were brought in for questioning because we were one of the last people she actually had a physical meeting with before her disappearance. When the cops asked what we talked about, Nolan’s answer and the way he cut me right off surprised me. “Agent Vivian was around the vicinity, coincidentally, Allesia and I were there to check out the place for a shoot we were planning. Vivi
Chapter 121 RUSSEL ~~~°~~~ SICILY, ITALY I've never been one for relationships or emotional attachments. Natural things like sex have always been arranged, just like business—a matter of control and predictability. Maybe there were a few exceptions, but they were rare and brief. For me, sex was just another thing to dominate, another transaction to manage. But Allesia. She changed everything. When I first met her, Kegan was so convinced I wouldn’t find her appealing because she didn’t fit my usual type. Blonde hair, hazel eyes, younger than my usual preferences, clumsy yet bold, stubborn yet willing to submit. But y hose qualities unexpectedly captivated me from the start, and every day thereafter. Now, months later, here I was, unable to move on even after a month of depriving myself of her– telling myself I couldn't force it, watching her from afar, seeing how much she was enjoying her new boyfriend and the peaceful life in his apartment. But the thought of what usually
Chapter 122 ALLESIA ~~~~~~ Ignacio might have been a bad man, but he was a popular, pretentious one, and so his funeral was like a senator’s send-off. The atmosphere hung heavy with tension as everyone stood in all black around the already dug grave in the cemetery. The gathering consisted of stone-faced mafia men, mostly Italian and others from all over the world. I felt lost among them, but Nolan stood beside me in his black suit, almost blending in with the crowd except for his golden burnt curls, which made him impossible to miss, thereby leaving me painfully visible to the exposed crowd. When I spotted Russel by the priest, he was in his sharply tailored black suit, one of those ones that usually had his name specially engraved on the collar, but this time his shirt was white and untucked, the jacket also unbuttoned, adding a roguish handsomeness to him that left the breath in my throat hitching. His hair was styled for the occasion, shiny brown strands falling to his
Chapter 123 ALLESIA ~~~°~~~ “You can't just leave him here,” I hissed, snatching my hand from him grip, “This is a fucking cemetery and you just tried to kill my friend.” “Your friend,” He repeated with a scoff, “Actually, I can leave him.” “Then I'm not coming with you.” “Don't make me carry you, Allesia, get in the fucking car.” By now, Luca had driven closer and was holding the car door open for me. Russel lifted a brow, “Or I'll ask my men to finish him off and ditch him in one of these empty holes.” “Then I'll never forgive you,” I retorted. Russel's smirk was immediately replaced by a frown. He hissed and turned to Luca, “Take care of that thing,” he instructed, nodding towards Nolan's unresponsive body, “Make sure he's back to New York where he belongs by sundown.” “Right away, Boss.” Nolan conceded before handing the car keys to Russel, who flashed me a gentle smile. Russel turned to me, “Am I forgiven?” “You'll have to do more than just kidnapping me to earn that
Chapter 124 ALLESIA ~~~•~~~ Russel’s smile grew darker as he watched my reaction. He took a slow sip of his brandy, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “You see,” he began, “You may try to convince yourself that you hate me, which is very ridiculous because I didn't even do anything to merit your hatred, but your body tells a different story.” I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll let you manipulate me again.” His gaze softened for a brief moment, a flicker of something almost human passing through his eyes. “I don’t want to manipulate you. I've never manipulated you,” he leaned closer and tucked a strand of my hair behind my ears, “I’ve always given you a choice, angel,” his tone was low and sensual, “Now, you might blame me for those choices you make, but you best believe there is nothing I want more than to love and protect you.” “By kidnapping and threatening my friend?” I shot back, my voice rising with anger. “Lately, it's alway
Chapter 125 RUSSEL ~~~0~~~ For one hellish week, Allesia has kept herself perfectly tucked away from my view. She did a very good job at avoiding me, locking herself up in her room whenever I was around. Even at breakfasts and dinners, she was always the last to arrive at the table and the first to leave. For me, it was the worst torture ever, because each time I saw her, she just had a way of looking even sexier than the last. Whatever she had learned from her modeling career, it was going to be the end of me. The kind of clothes she wore these days were just enough to make a man hard by just looking at her. Just yesterday, I nearly carved the eyes out of the skull of one of my trusted men for daring to look too long and lustfully as Allesia left the table. I would have poked my fork into the guy’s eyes if Kegan wasn’t quick to catch it. But as punishment, the dude was going to be working in the underground from now on—anything to make sure he never lays his eyes on Allesia, eve
Chapter 126 RUSSEL Allesia stood there, dressed only in lingerie. Draped over her body was a fishnet loose short gown that stopped just below her butt. But that wasn’t what set me off the most. It was the muscled fellow who had his hand wrapped possessively around her waist. He was nearly naked too, except for the beach boxer shorts he wore. The setting was that of a blooming sunflower garden. Everything was set to depict a honeymoon scene, with the foolish man even going as far as whispering sweet nothings into Allesia’s ear, making her giggle and twist under the camera light as he ran his hand over all the wrong places on her body. What the fuck? Maybe letting her continue this job wasn’t the smart idea after all. God, now I was sure I would really kill somebody. I closed my eyes, slowly feeling my anger rise. My hand trailed down to the hilt of my gun, each move the guy made adding a stick of dynamite to the explosive rage building inside me. The room seemed to narrow, m
Hey Everyone, I can’t thank you enough for all the support and love you’ve shown throughout the writing of this book. Your comments, votes, and encouragement kept me motivated and inspired. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. To my silent readers, I hope this final chapter will inspire you to leave a 5-star rating on the book’s main page. Your feedback helps others discover this story—don’t keep the magic to yourself! Scratch that, all of you wonderful readers, please, please, please vote and comment. 📍 Stay tuned for the next book in this series. I haven’t decided who the focus will be yet, (Rest assured it will be a standalone about a different couple) but I’ll keep you updated. Want the latest updates? Follow me on I.G @authorcommy and turn on notifications. Thank you once again for joining Russel and Allesia on their journey. Love you all. 💜
Hello, wonderful readers!💎I can’t thank you enough for all the support and love you’ve shown throughout the writing of this book. Your comments, votes, and encouragement kept me motivated and inspired. Every bit of feedback, every vote, and every comment has played a crucial role in bringing this story to life, and I truly appreciate each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart.To my silent readers, I hope this final chapter will inspire you to leave a 5-star rating on the book’s main page. Your feedback is invaluable and helps others discover this story—don’t keep the magic to yourself! Each rating and review makes a significant difference and encourages others to embark on this journey with Russel and Allesia. Scratch that, to all of you wonderful readers, please, please, please vote and comment. 📍 Your support doesn’t just help me as a writer, but it also builds a community around these characters and their stories. Engaging with the content through comments and
EPILOGUE RUSSEL ~~~0~~~ I stood perfectly still, my thoughts reeling as I waited in the quiet hall of the warehouse. During my absence, Stacy had refused to speak, see, or let anyone touch her. Even Kegan, who was supposed to order a pregnancy test done for her by now, couldn’t do that because she wouldn’t agree. And he couldn't tell me either because, well, I'd asked him not to mention anything about Stacy to me until I returned from my honeymoon. So whether or not she was pregnant was still a mystery. But it wasn't going to be for long. I had Dr. Ramola brought to the warehouse; she was personally going to run the test on Stacy. So far, Dr. Ramola was getting all the samples she needed for the test. “What’s up?” I asked as soon as she emerged from Stacy's cell. The doctor scanned all of us for a long moment. “I’ve gotten everything I’ll need,” she breathed. “I should be back with the results this evening.” “And the strips?” Kegan asked, coming up behind me. The doctor
Chapter 165 ALLESIA ~~~°°~~~ Three wonderful weeks on this island, as much as we enjoyed the bliss, we couldn't stay forever. Tomorrow morning, we'll have to return to our life in Sicily. Kegan handled things in Russel’s absence up until the second week, allowing us undivided time to enjoy our honeymoon. But by the third week, Russel had to start working from here, still, certain things just can’t be done through a laptop. I’d emailed a few photographers and agencies, even talked to Mario about doing a shoot. Russel insisted I shouldn't have to work, but while the honeymoon glow of a newlywed lasted, I wasn't sure I’d be able to just sit around all day doing nothing. At least now that I was fully a Mancini and ten weeks pregnant, with any luck, my husband's jealousy and over possessiveness might thin down just a bit. Renzo suggested I try to get into school, but honestly, what did I need a degree for? Fuck it, I’d never really had the brains and patience for education. Russel e
Chapter 164 ALLESIA ~~~0~~~ I sat outside by the water, sipping lemonade from a glass. The warm sun cast a golden glow on everything, including my husband. He was swimming, his strong, graceful strokes making him look like he belonged in the ocean. “Enjoying the show?” Russel called out, a wide grin adding to his angelic face. “I was just wondering if you’re not a fish!” I called back. He smirked, “Let’s just say I’m good at everything I do.” I shook my head playfully as the tide swept him away once more. The cool beach air was a welcome relief from the heat. I adjusted my sunglasses and pushed the wide-brimmed hat back a bit so I could get a clearer view. I felt relaxed and at peace, soaking in the beautiful sight of my husband. Since that first night, he had been incredibly considerate, never pushing for more than I was ready to give. We’d spent the past three days of our honeymoon on this island doing all sorts of fun things— playing games, talking, holding hands
Chapter 163ALLESIA~~~0~~~We traveled straight from the ceremony in our wedding clothes in my husband’s private jet. Now, almost afternoon, a day after the wedding, we finally landed at our honeymoon destination, which magically had a built-in tarmac. It was a luxurious beach house nestled on the pristine shores of Bora Bora, French Polynesia. The journey had been long and exhausting, with only Luca and five other men accompanying us for security. Russel chose the place because he wanted to feel a sense of peace and serenity, he had been here himself once two years ago, which was when he secured the property.“An island paradise,” I was still inside the jet when I stared out at the beauty around me. “It looks almost magical!” I turned to Russel, “And it’s too perfect.”Russel led me down from the small stairs of the jet, a satisfied smile on his face. “Unlike other girls, you’ve never talked about wanting to visit a place where the sky meets the sea, so I thought, why not?”I chuc
Chapter 162 RUSSEL ~~~O~~~ I stood at the altar, my heart pounding as I watched Allesia make her way towards me. She was a vision in white, her gown simple yet elegant, flowing gracefully behind her with each step she took. Her pretty face was veiled, but she held a bouquet of flowers which she pressed close to her stomach like it was a shield against eyes following her every step. Her brother walked by her left, while Nikolai walked by the right, holding her right hand protectively. She had insisted that Nikolai be there to walk her down the aisle. I didn't try to stop him. The way she leaned towards him as they walked showed just how safe she felt around him. I felt guilty now that I understood their relationship better, he saw something in Allesia, a sister like Selina and I couldn’t take that away from him too. Even though their relationship didn't work out in a romantic way, he still loved her and she loved him right back– like a sibling, and that was simply beau
Chapter 161 ALLESIA ~~~°°~~~ Jesus, please! The very imagination of those men, taking turns on me made me want to carve my eyes out with my fingernails. And I will, I would rather die than live with this. “You can’t do this!” I declared. “Oh, I can, and I will.“ She gestured towards the men and they started advancing towards me, some rubbing their palms together with disgusting smirks and others simply licking their lips, a silent promise of the hell awaiting me. “I'm going to die,” I muttered silently, “Russel, please, save me. Please!” Again, I tried to pull away, but my back was pressed against the wall, so hard that I could feel the pain from the hard concrete as it grated against my skin. “Please, Elletra!” I sobbed helplessly, “Don’t do this!” She didn't answer, merely kept grinning. “I'm going to die if you let them do this to me, please!” The only emotion on her face was satisfaction. “No one’s coming to save you now, darling. Not even your crazy boyfriend.” "How ca
Chapter 160 ALLESIA ~~~ °° ~~~ I felt so weak and sluggish, like something had been ripped right out of me, a part of me I could never replace. The weight of the previous night hung heavy on my shoulders like a looming cloud as I moved about the room, fitting my stuff into a single suitcase. When Manuel came to assist me with the box, I felt an overwhelming sense of finality as he wheeled it out of the house. Each step I took felt heavier than the last, as if my emotions were physically anchoring me to the ground. This particular house had never felt like home, and yet leaving it bring so much pain. “Are you alright?” Manuel’s voice broke me out of my thoughts, I had paused for the third time in the short trip to the car without even realizing it. I breathed a sigh and nodded slowly. “Nikolai didn’t come?” “Yeah, he said to tell you he doesn’t know if he would be able to see you off without coming with you.” I chuckled in response, but it was a hollow sound, devoid of any re