Nora P.O.VI walked down the long hallway of the DiFronzo estate, the sound of my boots echoing off the marble floor. Today was my first official assignment as Lilian DiFronzo’s new bodyguard, and it was already starting to be a headache. I stopped in front of her door and knocked once, then stood at attention. The wait seemed to stretch on forever, and with each passing second, my patience wore thin. Still, there was no answer.I lifted my hand and knocked again, a little harder this time. That’s when I heard her voice from the other side of the door.“Tell my brother I am not coming out. I would not have his goon following me around like some shadow! I would not leave this room until he fires his new lapdog!” Her voice was muffled but filled with indignation.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. This was not exactly what I signed up for. “I am not paid enough to handle this in the morning,” I muttered under my breath before replying in a louder voice, “Well, unfortunately, ma’a
Lily P.O.VI walked up to my usual spot in the classroom, third row from the front. The gallery-style seats gave a clear view of everyone around.Emily, my best friend, followed me behind .We had this class together. Most of the students were already settling down in their seats. The class was just about to begin. I leaned back in my chair, opening my notebook and setting up my laptop, mentally preparing for another gruelling lecture from Professor Hudson.Just as I was settling in, I felt a poke on my shoulder. I turned to Emily, raising an eyebrow. “What’s up?” I whispered, noticing the uneasy look on her face.She leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper. “Look at the girl at the back,” she murmured. “She has been staring at you.”My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?” I glanced over my shoulder, trying to figure out who Emily was talking about. My eyes scanned the last row, and sure enough, my new bodyguard,Patricia Walker, stared directly at me with the same intense e
Lily P.O.V I walked through the corridors of the college, Patricia trailing close behind. We stopped outside the library, where I paused to face her."I need to grab some books from inside," I said, keeping my voice casual. "You can wait here. It would not take long."Patricia’s brows furrowed, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as if a threat might emerge at any moment. She clearly was not thrilled with the idea of leaving me alone, even for a few minutes. "I should come with you," she said, her voice low but firm.I sighed. "I am just grabbing some textbooks, Patricia. It will take five minutes."She hesitated, her jaw clenching slightly, but eventually nodded. "Fine. Five minutes. I will be right here."Relieved, I gave her a small smile and entered the library. The atmosphere inside was quiet. The smell of old books and polished wood filled the air, and the soft sound of students murmuring or flipping pages was comforting. I headed straight for the section where my course tex
Nora P.O.VWe stepped out of the college gates, my eyes sweeping the surroundings, making sure everything was in place. The black sedan waiting for us was being driven by one of DiFronzo’s men. Another car, stationed a few metres back, was packed with more of DiFronzo's bodyguards. They were positioned at the corner, keeping a watchful eye from a distance. I do not know why they have to hire more trained bodyguards. They looked like they could go against big grizzly bears but one thing our field of work taught us, muscle strength is not everything. It is very important to use your brain .I opened the door for Lily, my current charge to get in. She slid into the backseat without a word but I could not blame her. She had gone through a lot today. Anyone who has been sexually assaulted will be behaving like that. She was completely frozen in fear when I found her in the library. The prick was assaulting her. As her bodyguard, it was my job to save her and I failed. I should never have l
Robert’s POVI was in the middle of a critical meeting in my office’s conference room, listening as Riccardo walked the foreign client through the details of our upcoming project. But my attention wavered when my phone vibrated against the polished table. Glancing down at the screen, I saw one of my men calling.One who was assigned to guard Lily.I stiffened. The last time something like this happened, Lily had been kidnapped. I could not let anything happen to her again. Not on my watch.“Excuse me, gentlemen,” I said, standing abruptly. I nodded at Riccardo to continue without me and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me. My gut churned as I answered the call.“DiFronzo,” I barked.There was a slight pause before the man spoke. “Boss, we have a situation. Miss DiFronzo’s car... it’s disappeared.”The blood drained from my face. A bolt of fear sliced through me before anger bubbled up from within.“What the hell do you mean her car’s disappeared?” My voice was a low gro
Robert POVWe were sitting in the home office of the mansion. Patricia stood in front of my desk, her posture perfectly still. I watched her carefully, every slight movement, every blink. There was something different. Something deeper behind her calm façade. "So, what exactly happened there, Miss Walker?" My voice was low, almost a growl, as I leaned forward. My fingers interlaced as I placed my hands on the desk in front of me. I could feel the tension building in the room, a palpable weight.Patricia stood with her hands behind her back, her expression neutral, not betraying any emotion. She was a master at keeping her emotions hidden. Then, in that same level tone, she began to narrate what had happened after they left the college campus."We were in the car. I was a little distracted and did not notice the driver had turned onto a different road until I saw the neighbourhood. I recognized the area ,it was not on the way to the mansion. By the time I realised we were on the wrong
Nora P.O.V.I was typing out the latest update for the operation on my laptop when my phone began ringing. The sharp sound cut through the stillness of the room, drawing my eyes to the digital clock on the nightstand. It was close to midnight. The phone buzzed again. Who would be calling me this time? I glanced down at the phone again as it buzzed on my bed. I picked it up and turned to see the screen, who was calling me before picking it up. I squinted slightly, then sighed in relief when I saw the name flash across the screen."Cyber," I muttered, rubbing my tired eyes. I removed my reading glasses, placing them beside the laptop. Then, I answered the call, wedging the phone between my ear and shoulder as I resumed typing on my laptop."Hey, Cyber, did you find anything about what I asked you to find?" I could hear the faint clicking of keys in the background on his end. This guy and his laptop are like two peas in one pod. Whenever I called him I would hear him typing away on his l
Nora P.O.V“You can continue to guard Lilian, but I want regular updates,” Robert said, his voice calm but full of authority. He sat behind his desk, fingers still steepled, eyes focused intently on me.I stood in the doorway, hand resting on the door, already half out of the room. The conversation was over, but the tension lingered like a ticking bomb."And Miss Walker," he added, his voice dropping an octave, “Do not try to double-cross me.”I just gave a short nod. There was no point in engaging further. Robert DiFronzo had an uncanny way of seeing through people’s lies, and I did not intend to test my luck tonight. I closed the door behind me with a soft click, the heavy tension in the room evaporating the moment the barrier between us was in place.Standing in the dim hallway, I exhaled slowly. That was done. The grumpy Godzilla did not seem suspicious of my real intentions, but I swear if I had stayed in there any longer, he would have unleashed his atomic breath on me.I hurried
December P.O.V "You do that," he said, humor in his voice. "In the meantime, care to tell me why you are on my doorstep at midnight?" "Yes. No." I pressed a hand to my forehead when he frowned at me. He was half naked and I was spiraling. "I mean, I have a reason but maybe this is a bad idea. My issues are not your issues, and I should not even be here right now. Um, I should just go. Sorry for bothering you." I turned to do just that, suddenly afraid he would call the police himself. And then where will that leave me? D-E-A-D dead. Or arrested for assaulting him and a slew of other crimes I committed before landing on his doorstep. Some of which, I am ashamed to admit, I committed before I saw his brother off someone. "December, wait." He grabbed my arm before I could slip away. As soon as he touched me. I nearly lost my footing on the slick stoop. He cursed beneath his breath and grabbed me around the waist, pulling toward his body to prevent me from crashing to the cement. I
December P.O.V “I should not be here," I whispered to myself, fidgeting from foot to foot. I glanced over my shoulder, peering into the shadows. Nothing moved. If anyone followed me, they were keeping themselves hidden. My heart pounded like a drum anyway, sending anxiety churning through me with every heavy beat. The wind rustled through the trees, stirring leaves all up and down the dark block and blowing cold rain into my face. I pulled my coat tightly around me, shivering as my heart jumped up to my throat. And then I huffed at myself for being afraid of the frigid wind blowing in from the lake. I could not help it though. Approximately forty eight hours ago, I saw someone die. No, that is not right. I saw Robert DiFronzo, the biggest mobster in Chicago, kill a man and then drop his body into the river. When I heard the shot, like an idiot, I screamed. He saw me. I know he saw me. I have been running ever since, terrified he was going to come after me,find and end my life th
Callandria P.O.V "Ah," he says quietly, his smirk growing as he pushes the door slowly closed.The quiet click as the latch catched made me flinch. "So you heard what we were saying outside.” "You mean I heard you saying you were going to deal with me?" I demanded, inching closer to the nightstand as if it offers even an ounce of protection. It did not. But I would rather be standing my ground in front of it than beside the luxurious bed. "I swear I would not be easy to deal with, Riccardo DiFronzo." I glared in fury, refusing to show him just how terrified I am. I am a principessa. If he is going to kill me, I will die on my own two feets, screaming defiance. "No?" His smirk turned mocking, his expression hardening. "You are chained to my bed, principessa. Seems easy enough to me." Oh, I hate him. He is exactly like my father. A monster. "Does that make you feel powerful?" I snapped. "Is that what you enjoy? Taking helpless women against their wills?" I run my gaze up and down h
Callandria P.O.V I tossed my phone on my bed, cinching my robe tightly around my waist. It was after three in the morning, but sleep eludes me like usual. This house was too much like a prison. I might be free to come and go as I please, but I was in shackles, nonetheless. They locked into place around my ankles before I was even born. It comes with the territory when you are a Castellano. My grandfather, Tommaso, was one of the most infamous drug lords in Chicago. My father , Mark Castellano was in just as deep as he was. So was my older brother. The fact that I was female did not spare me. If anything, it bounded me even tighter. I may not have taken the vow of Omertà like they did, but I am no freer than my brother, Marcello. I was a principessa. Every moment of my life has been carefully mapped out and planned. I huffed at the reminder, casting a longing glance toward the window.How many times have I wished to climb out of it and disappear into the night? Too many to count. U
Robert P.O.V The crowd at the Chicago Grand Prix continued its rhythmic hum as I moved toward the exit. Castellano was already making his way out, his entourage trailing like obedient shadows. He walked with that same overconfident stride, the same smugness that made my fingers itch to wipe it off his face. He had no idea that this would be the last night he had ever walked so freely. Patricia’s voice echoed in my head as I strode through the crowd, the concern in her tone lingering. She had grown closer to me in a short period of time. I knew everything she did for Lily, though she lied because my sister asked her to,her loyalty still stood with us. She saved Lily's life several times. I just let her go away with lying does not mean I take betrayal kindly. Making her as my bodyguard was a way to keep an eye on her. I did not know what but something felt familiar about her. Patricia did not follow me immediately, but I knew she would. She was not the type to let things go unanswere
Robert P.O.V The crowd at the Chicago Grand Prix buzzed with excitement, their energy matching the roar of engines that reverberated through the night air. The city’s elite had gathered, dressed to impress, sipping on champagne, their conversations blending into the symphony of wealth and ambition. Everyone here was focused on the race, eyes fixed on the track, hearts pounding with the thrill of competition. But mine fixed on someone else. Waiting for someone who has been dancing away from my hold for too long. The race was nothing more than background noise. I was here for only one reason, one that had nothing to do with fast cars or status. Mark Castellano was supposed to be here tonight, and I am waiting for him here like Hades himself waiting for him to take him to my hell. He thought he could double cross me, that he could betray me and my operations and vanish into thin air without any consequences. He was wrong. I stood near the edge of the VIP section, my gaze fixed on the
Nora P.O.V I stepped into the adjacent VIP lounge, my pulse was as steady as possible at that time. I kept my senses on high alert. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the same tension that accompanied every clandestine meeting in this part of the world. The men barely glanced at me as I entered. For them I was just another waitress, a faceless figure delivering drinks and blending into the background. I placed the tray on the table with a grace that a waitress can only emit, keeping my eyes lowered, feigning the air of someone disinterested in anything but her task. That surely became problematic because of the heels .The men were focused on their conversation, and for a brief moment, I was invisible to them which was helpful. “… no loose ends. We need those records gone by the end of the week,” one of the men, a burly figure with a scar running down his cheek, said in a gruff voice.“He has been in jail for too long. If the records are not wiped clean, it would not matter i
Nora P.O.V The underground street race pulsed with energy. The crowd was a writhing mass of adrenaline and excitement, packed shoulder to shoulder in the smoky, dimly lit warehouse. The roar of engines reverberated off the concrete walls, blending with the shouting of spectators, the pounding bass of the music, and the clinking of glasses. I walked a step behind Robert, flanked by Matteo and Lorenzo, two of his trusted men. We moved through the chaos toward the VIP lounge, a secluded balcony overlooking the track, where only the powerful, the dangerous, and the wealthy gathered. Robert’s presence commanded attention, but he carried himself with calm indifference, his face a mask of control. We entered the lounge, and it was a different world altogether. The noise from the race was muffled, replaced by the low hum of conversation, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Luxurious leather couches were arranged around the room, the air heavy with the scent of expensive cigars and perfu
Nora P.O.V The training room in the DiFronzo mansion was a blend of luxury in brutality. The walls were lined with weapon racks filled with an arsenal that could arm a small battalion. Swords, knives, firearms, and even archaic weapons gleamed under the dim lighting. The floor was a polished expanse of dark wood, scuffed in places from years of use, and the air carried the scent of sweat, leather, and metal. Most of the DiFronzo's members were already training when I came down here. I adjusted my stance, muscles coiled and ready, as I faced off against Marco, one of the DiFronzo family’s top enforcers. His broad frame loomed in front of me, a mountain of muscle and experience. But I was not intimidated. This was the third opponent I had faced today, and each victory had fueled my confidence. My heartbeat was steady, my breaths controlled. This was where I thrived, in the heat of a fight, where every movement was calculated, every strike a test of precision and power. Marco circled