The Viewpoint of LaisSitting on the park bench, I watched people pass by, children playing, picnics happening, and food trucks that made my stomach ache. I was hungry, but without a single coin, I couldn’t buy anything to eat. The sun set behind the trees and the triumphal arch, and with it, the warmth gradually faded. I hugged myself as the chilly breeze made me shiver. I should have bought a sweater before losing all my money, but it was too late for that.Little by little, the park emptied, and I realized closing time was approaching. I had to leave, but I had nowhere to go, and something told me this was the best place I could find to spend the night."We will be closing soon, miss," said a uniformed man as he walked past me, heading down the paved path to inform others.I nodded as if I understood and was about to leave. I got up from the bench and followed the path toward the exit, but I passed right by it and hid behind a tree. I would stay hidden long enough for the park staff
The Viewpoint of LaisThe garden was so blooming and fragrant that it intoxicated me. Under the touch of my fingers, I could feel the texture of the velvety petals. The sun was warm, embracing my skin in a friendly, warm hug. I felt neither hunger nor thirst. The breeze touching my skin was serene, gently brushing my ears like a sweet, delicate fairy song.The peace was so serene that it seemed unbelievable. I had never experienced a moment like this, not even on my best days at the convent. Was I dead, and had I found paradise?I made a sudden movement and bumped my head against a metal rod. The pain made me open my eyes. The first thing I saw was the treetops and the dawn. I quickly sat up and realized I had fallen asleep on one of the park benches. It was no longer raining, but my dress hadn’t dried yet and still clung to my body. I shivered, but perhaps I had grown accustomed to the cold, as it no longer bothered me as much. Now hunger gnawed at my stomach. I hadn’t eaten since lun
I leaned over the railing and picked up my cell phone, dialing my younger brother's number. It took only a few rings for Mateo to answer. I raised my gaze to the blue sky before he spoke. "Marco, any news?" "Yes, I'm with her." "Wonderful. How is she?" "Terrible. She looks like she's been on the streets for months, not just a few days." "She definitely wasn't ready for the world. When are you coming back?" "In a few hours. I'll wait until she wakes up and eats something. Is everything okay there?" "Yes. We've warned the gypsies; they won't be a problem anymore." "Excellent!" "See you later, brother." "See you soon, Mateo." "Let me in!" A high-pitched female voice echoed through the hallway, followed by a firm knock on the door. "Marco, I know you're in there, darling." The men remained silent, simply watching me, waiting for my cue on how to react. My demeanor spoke volumes as I opened the door and stepped into the hall. Donatella leaned against the wall, and I seized her
"You look terrible." I didn't respond, but my stomach growled loudly, echoing my hunger. "You seem hungry too." "I... um..." I stammered, struggling to find the words. "Are you hungry?" He pressed, his tone friendlier than I had expected. I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment. "I'll order you something to eat." "Where... where are my clothes?" I managed to ask, my voice shaky and breathless. "I threw them away." My eyes widened in shock. He was the one who stripped me! My cheeks flushed crimson, warmth spreading across my face. "Your dress was wet, torn, and dirty. You're already not well; if you keep wearing it, you'll only get sicker. I had them buy you some new clothes. They should arrive soon. In the meantime, you can take a shower." "T-thank you." He extended his hand, and this time, I didn't pull away. Perhaps it was the magnetism in his gaze that held me captive. His fingers were warm and gentle as they glided along my face, cupp
**LAIS'S POINT OF VIEW** When Marco parked the car in a huge garage alongside many other vehicles, I waited for him to get out before doing the same. Our conversation in the car was brief, but it was quite informative, and it made me feel even more foolish for having run away-not just foolish, but guilty, because his response, though evasive, let me know that Antonella had been punished in my place. I felt my stomach knot at the thought that what had happened to her was a guilt I would always carry with me. Marco stopped in front of me and nodded for me to follow. We left the garage and walked down a long side corridor that opened onto a beautiful garden until we entered a door that led us into an anteroom and then into a living room. The first person I saw was an elderly woman sitting on one of the enormous sofas. She was distracted, reading a book, but she looked up with raised eyebrows when she saw us. "You found her! How?" "I followed the trail left by the snake." "Did
"Excellent!" "I thought I'd stay a little longer with Lais, who knows..." "We'll be back in a few days, woman." "You can call her." Rosimeire smiled at my mother, who smiled back. "Thank you." My father approached me, grabbed my arm, and pulled me into a corner away from everyone. He looked at me with such fury that I felt every part of my body twist. "Your attitude almost cost us our entire family. If the deal with the Bellucci is broken, the Costa will destroy us, and we will all be killed, not just you. Don't make another stupid decision like that, do you hear me?" I nodded affirmatively. "You have a commitment, Lais. To me and to our whole family. Don't forget that again." "I won't," I assured him. I had learned the hard way that bad decisions cost lives. My escape had cost Antonella her life. It was something I would never forget. I may not have been able to remember what it was like to live with my family, but I didn't want the weight of th
I wouldn't reject him again. I had come to accept that my destiny was intertwined with his, and his mother had shown me that we could make it work. As I nodded, his hand slid from my chin to the nape of my neck, his fingers weaving through my hair, tangling in the strands. The softness of his touch was soon overshadowed as his other hand wrapped around my waist, revealing his strength. Marco drew me closer, pressing me against him, and my heart raced as the buttons of his shirt pressed against my chest. It felt like an eternity, though only seconds passed, until his lips finally locked with mine. When he deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into my mouth, I felt a surge of heat, as if lava coursed through my veins. It was overwhelming and exhilarating. I met his tongue with mine, discovering the rhythm of our dance, and Marco held me tighter, as if he wanted to merge our bodies into one. I had imagined what this moment would be like, but nothing could have prepared me for the warmt
Marco's Point of View "What was that shooting in the commune of Anzio yesterday? Explain that to me." I looked at Mateo, my younger brother and underboss, before shifting my gaze between the capi present at the meeting I had called. We were in an old warehouse that I used to meet with capi, associates, and sometimes for executions-not always one at a time. I snapped my fingers and squinted even more, analyzing each of them, their expressions, as well as their reactions to mine. I didn't like it when things got out of control, and everyone knew that very well. There was a very clear law: blood was always paid back with more blood. "Emiliano Esposito died yesterday morning, and they're starting to think it was the Galos. The Espositos want revenge, and they started by attacking a café known as the main distribution point in the middle of Galo territory," Martino began. I turned my head toward Mateo, who was just staring at me. I wanted to ask him why he hadn't mentioned the possible
“Is everything okay, Lais?” I nodded and settled onto the other end of the couch.“I thought my son was with you.”“He must have gone to find something.”Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and I swallowed hard as my mind raced with possibilities. No one spoke; Rosimeire had likely learned to ignore such sounds over the years.“Did he teach you how to shoot?” I nodded.“That’s fine.”“Do you know how?”“I’ve never been very interested, but there were times I thought it was important to learn.”“Have you delivered the books to the children yet?” I changed the subject.“Not yet. Theo asked me to wait until next week. There’s a turf war brewing in the streets, and it wouldn’t be wise for me to expose myself to conflict.”“Agreed. It’s best to hold off. I just wanted to know if I could go. I’d be really happy to do something like that with you.”“Do what?”I turned to see Marco walking
"A little better.""I'm trying.""We have all day." He patted my exposed shoulder through the sleeve of my shirt and kissed it."Yes. Thank you for taking the day off to spend with me.""There will be a price." He brought his mouth back to my ear, and something twisted inside me."Price?" I swallowed hard, going pale."Yes." He chuckled and pressed his erection more firmly against my ass.My core throbbed, reminding me how much I loved having my husband there."I think I can pay that price." I laughed, a mixture of perversion and shame.I'd grown up in a place that abhorred women even being interested in sex, but with Marco, it seemed impossible not to be seduced by that sin."Try again." He took a step back, and I had to balance myself to keep from toppling over, as his heat made me sway.I don't know how long I circled for—minutes or maybe hours. Marco put more ammo in the pistol a few times. I got a few lucky shots closer to the target,
**LAIS'S POV**I opened my eyes slowly, greeting the sight of him looking down at me, his face resting in the palm of his hand. “Good morning.”“Good morning.” A smile spread across my face as I looked into those brilliant blue eyes. It had only been a week since our wedding, yet each day I found myself more enchanted by him.“Do you have any appointments today?” I asked, still basking in the warmth of our morning.“Nothing too important. Why?” He traced the outline of my face with his fingertips, sending a shiver of warmth through me. I closed my eyes, surrendering to his touch.“You promised to teach me how to defend myself.”“Guns are dangerous, Lais.” His expression shifted, a frown replacing the affection that had filled the room. “They’ll be less dangerous if you teach me how to use them.”He held my gaze, and for a moment, I feared he’d change the subject. But after a deep breath, he exhaled and nodded,
"That's good," she admitted softly.I smiled as I began to move inside her canal. My thrusts were slow and persistent, letting her get used to my in-and-out movements, but I deliciously enjoyed the pressure her canal was exerting on my member.I moved my hand from her waist and cupped her breast, pressing and squeezing the nipple with my thumb. I tasted the honey on her lips again, and the rhythm of my thrusts inside her gradually increased."Oh! Marco..." Lais moaned in my ear, and my finger flicked even harder against her clitoris. The increasingly intense contractions of her vagina on my cock showed me that she was feeling pleasure too. I preferred it that way. I didn't want to enjoy the act on my own, because if it was something we both felt, the chances of us doing it more often would be greater.I turned off the shower and picked her up, still wet, and went into the bedroom. I was out of it for a few moments, but our bodies' protests subsided as I sat on the be
Théo stepped back, allowing me to see my husband better. The blazer he was wearing was dark, but I could see the exposed part of his shirt completely covered in red. "Marco!" I ran toward him without thinking twice. "What happened?" "Lais, stay away from me!" he growled colder than ever. I widened my eyes, surprised by his reaction, but I couldn't think straight as there was so much blood on his clothes that it distressed me. I couldn't have predicted how much I cared for him until that moment. There was so much blood... "Are you hurt?" I tried to embrace him, but Marco pushed me away, making me stumble back a few steps, only stopping when I was supported by the back of the sofa. With wide eyes, I stared at him, confused. I was his wife, and I thought it was one of my roles to worry about him. "He's fine." It was Théo who answered me. "This blood isn't mine," Marco said distantly. "I didn't want you to see me like this." I didn't say a
My mother-in-law stayed by my side while I ate, and then we went to the library so she could show me the books, especially for children, that she had bought for the community where she grew up. Rosimeire was very well adapted to this world, and I hoped to reach the same place. I would be stable, as the wife of the Don should be, and I would make Marco proud to have me by his side."How many books do you have here?" I looked around, standing on my tiptoes as I turned on the carpeted floor of the library."Thousands." My mother-in-law sighed, leaning on the armrest of the sofa. "It was my greatest whim over the years. I have invaluable pieces of history from around the world." "That sounds very spectacular." I walked over to one of the bookshelves and ran my fingers along the spines of the books on a large wooden shelf."It is.""Rosie?" I sat down next to her with a bit of discomfort in my stomach.
My stomach growled, and I grimaced, embarrassed. Rosimeire burst out laughing."Sorry.""You haven't eaten anything yet, have you?" I shook my head."Let's see if the breakfast table is still set; if not, I'll take you to the kitchen to eat something.""Thank you.""Come on!" She took my arm, and we entered the dining room together, which had a huge table with enough space for a large family. As soon as we arrived at the door, we ran into Theo, one of Marco's brothers."Good morning, Mom." He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "Good morning, sister-in-law.""Good morning, dear.""Where were you this morning? The men said you were gone, and Marco wasn't happy.""Marco worries too much." She pouted."After what happened to Laïs yesterday, he is on high alert. He asked me to increase the security of the mansion. I'm going after men to turn this place into a fortress.""What happened to Laïs yesterday?" Rosimeire paled and turned to look at me. I swallowed hard and placed my hand o
I left the house followed by Mateo, my younger brother, and we got into a discreet sedan, accompanied by three of our soldiers. Others accompanied us in a van and two other cars. They usually waited nearby, without revealing themselves, but I knew that the situation could always become uncontrollable, especially when I had to collect the product. Since I was born, I had been prepared for this moment, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be a daily challenge. The police themselves were one of our minor problems. I quickly realized that I had to be an excellent resource manager; I needed to control people, resolve crises, and manage the egos of local politicians and clerics from the Vatican. I also realized they all had a price, some more expensive than others, but they could all be corrupted with the right incentives. As a leader, I always had to keep control of things.LAÏS'S POINT OF VIEW"Madame." One of the maids knocked on the door while I was still wrapped in the sheets and partiall
When I walked away, she still had her eyes closed, and I was sure her surrender to me was deep. After the escape, I finally seemed to tame her. My father was the type to crush his enemies, but my mother had also taught me very valuable lessons. It was possible to captivate people and gain their loyalty with a little affection. My parents loved books with the word "prince" in the title, but *The Prince* by Niccolò Machiavelli and *The Little Prince* by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry had very different philosophies on how we should live our lives."Will I see you again today?" "Yes, you will." "That's great." She smiled again in such a sweet way that it infected me. "Depending on when I come back, I can teach you a few things." "That would be perfect." "Excellent." I kissed her forehead and grabbed a blazer from a chair before leaving my room. I closed the door and went down to the dining room. I arrived in the breakfast room and found my brothers being served by a maid. "W