Chapter 55RUSSEL We drove out of the estate in a fit, Vincenzo had silently left the table with us, Kegan was driving, Dylan sat beside him in the front while I sat behind with Vincenzo. Thankfully, neither of them said anything about the breakfast as we drove. We continued in silence for a while, our heartbeats and the sound of the car speeding past trees and other cars the only disruption to the quietness. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the headrest.It was a miracle she didn't remind me today of how I lured my father to his death, that was one of the saddest truths she ever told. Because perhaps, if I had been there… I shook my head, what was that the therapist said about portioning blame to myself? But hell, life was way more realistic than letting someone whose only job was to sit behind a desk, listen to all your problems and tell you how to avoid them when they couldn't even understand what you were probably going through. Besides, what had I done with the therapist
Chapter 56ALLESIA I'd never been around so much tension in my life, certainly not with my three-man nuclear family. Russel, I realize, had a very large family which consisted of people with different personalities and perception of the world. But they all shared one thing in common– they were all wealthy and proud. The breakfast came to an abrupt end after Russel left with brothers, the tension was far too much. All that revelation, with all that frustration that was left to simmer on the surface and their tempers were even hotter than the meals before us. I couldn't even eat a bite as I was unable to shake the feeling of his mother's eyes watching me. She hated me from the moment she saw me, but if she could hate her own son, who was I? From their conversation, I could pick up a few things though, things about Russel that I would never had known. And somehow, I could mirror his pain, even though I could never really understand how much it affected him. Like me, he had suffered a
Chapter 57 ALLESIA It took over twenty minutes for the officers to come out of the house with Luca and two of Russel's men trailing them. On sighting them, I noticed that Russel raised a questioning brow and the first thing Luca did was to give him a reassuring nod, which seemed to calm him a bit because there was a momentary relief on his face.I needed no telling that if anything goes wrong, none of those officers would leave this place alive because Russel still had his hand presser tightly on his gun holster, which the officers did not seem to notice. Not only that, but all four of them seemed to be communicating with their eyes and I felt like the only odd one out because I didn't understand what was going on. “So,” Kegan cleared his throat, “Did you find anything?” The officer shook his head, “Nothing for now.”“I told you,” “But we'd love to question your staff.” At this point, Russel hissed, “Whatever for?” he raked his hand through his hair and scoffed, “Are you accusing
CHAPTER 58RUSSEL After the cops left, I watched as Allesia place her hand on her lips, her expression lost in dreamy confusion, I felt a surge of emotions bubbling within me at the realization that she had just saved me for the second time, for whatever reason I could not tell. Left for me, I would have preferred to turn those cops into corpses, but no thanks to Kegan and the very reasonable Vincenzo. And now I was actually indebted to Allesia again. How do I repay her? And what was that thing she did with her eyes that felt like she could see right through my soul, like she could communicate through her eyes and somehow, my own eyes had a way of understanding her without any spoken words between us. I released a sigh, perhaps if I just thanked her then all these stupid thoughts would go away. But then, maybe not saying anything to the cops was her way of apologizing for disrespecting me last night. She did slap me after all, didn't she? But I also forced her to watch me fuck
CHAPTER 59RUSSELWas he being serious right now? I waited for Kegan to offer an explanation for what he just said, but when he said nothing, I had to ask, “What do you mean it'll involve Allesia?”“We'll need someone to distract them if my plan is to work.”“And she is the only one you could think of?”"The only one with the wit, yeah."I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as his words sank in. The mere thought of involving Allesia in this made my stomach churn with unease. Despite our tumultuous relationship, I couldn't shake the fear of putting her in harm's way."Absolutely not," I declared, my voice firm and resolute. "I won't risk her life for this.” Despite my anger, I remained oddly calm, “Besides, she’s not one of the girls, you can use any of the other Outfit girls and the girls at the hotel. That's why they are there, right?”Kegan's expression remained unreadable, but I could still see the resolute look in his eyes, "I understand your concerns, but have you forgott
Chapter 60ALESSIA I thought I was doing the right thing by helping him, but now I questioned if it was worth it. Maybe I misunderstood that look in his eyes, those devilish green eyes that said different things all at once. For a moment there, I had thought I saw a vulnerability in him, but how mistaken I was, because at the end of it all, I was the vulnerable one. I mean, was he not the great Russel Mancini? He always had things under control, even people, including me. And again, I made a fool out of myself in front of him and his brothers. What is wrong with me? Why couldn't I just be normal? Oh please, I scoffed miserably, how did I think I was going to have a normal life after signing my life away. Renzo was right after all. Oh how I miss him! I miss Elletra, I miss my mum! Maybe I miss my simple life at the bar. My chest suddenly felt dry and my throat constricted because of all the crying I had done. I can't believe I was allowing that stupid jerk to get into my emotions
Chapter 61ALESSIA His closeness was suffocating, his scent overwhelming as he loomed over me, a towering presence that seemed to consume the room. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to push him away, to run from his smoldering gaze– and I tried. But there was really no escaping him. His lips curled into a predatory smirk, sending a shiver down my spine. "Prison might be a bit too harsh," he said, his voice low and husky, sending tendrils of desire snaking through my veins. "But I could think of a few other ways to keep you in line.”Oh God, not today. I couldn't tear my eyes away from his, the raw power and dominance emanating from him like a palpable force. It was intoxicating, terrifying, and strangely thrilling all at once."You know, now that I think about it, we still have twenty-nine more days until our deal is done." My throat suddenly went dry again, "Twenty-nine days?! I've been here for over a week!” “And I've only fucked you twice,” he reminded casually. “And h
Chapter 62RUSSEL ~~~°~~~TWO DAYS LATERKegan handed me a glass of wine then took his place beside me. He was saying something, but I was too distracted to pay attention. The hall was filled to the brim, an indication that people will always be available to witness the grandeur of our world.Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I turned to meet Kegan's concerned gaze. "You seem distracted. What's wrong?" “She's still not here,” I replied absentmindedly, “I’ll kill her if—““Chill,” Kegan countered, glancing at his phone, “Luca already informed me that Melissa is helping her get ready. They'll be here in no time.” He glanced to the VIP seat, “Besides, our man is not here yet.”“What the heck is taking her so long? We need to ensure she remembers everything she’s supposed to say and do.”“Don't stress, you know she's not used to these things.” There was a sudden note of interest in his voice when he spoke again, “I'm still trying to figure out how you managed to convince her to agree to do i
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