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First Ally
Last Updated:
2024-11-24 17:15:27
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All Because I Kissed a Stranger A Painting For Sale
A week had passed since I'd moved into Hunter's mansion, and I wanted to thank every higher power for Gianna as my ally. Due to some new evidence in Connor's death case, Hunter and Rowan had left New York. With them gone, Gianna and sometimes Ferro had become the only people I could talk to…I promised myself I would adapt to my new environment, but my surroundings turned out to be less than a little unwelcoming. Most of the servants working in the mansion avoided me like the plague, and if it weren't for Gianna, I was almost certain no one would bother to deliver food or fresh sheets to my room.“It's because Mr. Thorne had yet to officially announce your status as his fiancée,” Gianna explained, giving me a wry smile. “I know it's unfair, but most of the people working here used to serve the old Don Cartelli. At least half of them don't like Mr. Thorne as the new head, and with you not having an ounce of Italian blood…”“I know.” I sighed but then grinned. “The more I'm grateful you
Last Updated : 2024-11-25All Because I Kissed a Stranger Damsel in Distress
Air escaped my lungs as if someone made tiny holes in them. Dante Cartelli, Hunter's cousin, stood before me with his hand outstretched.“Holy shit,” Fifi breathed out, a little too audible for Dante not to hear it.A soft chuckle escaped him as he turned his golden eyes to my friend. “And you must be Fifi Melott. Heard a lot about you,” he purred before shifting his gaze back to me.I cleared my throat and glanced at his hand before giving it a brief shake. “Pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Cartelli.”“I'd prefer you call me Dante. We'll be family soon, after all.” His smile widened, but its warmth seemed to disappear. “I hope you forgive me. I'd rather invite you out for lunch or dinner, but I doubted my cousin would allow that to happen. I had to use this… little ruse to see you in person.”I studied him. His trained expression, his lifted chin, his stance—every inch of him had been crafted to dominate his opponents. I swallowed and stepped back. “I assume you're not interested in any
Last Updated : 2024-11-25All Because I Kissed a Stranger Lunch
My restlessness grew by the second. Just when I thought I had my nerves under control, Hunter led me to his black Aston Martin. Seeing him behind the wheel did strange things to me. I kept staring at his confident grip on the wheel and the way he swiftly maneuvered the car through the traffic. Certainly, he caught me staring. The last thing I wanted was to boost his overgrown ego, but I failed miserably at this task…“This is the place.” Hunter motioned his chin at the large, glass doors, the entrance of his new restaurant.He quickly pulled over and helped me out of the car. I thought he would release my hand right after that, but he kept holding it, intertwining our fingers as we walked inside. All the employees bowed as we passed them by, as if Hunter and I were some damn royalty deserving their utmost respect. I felt awkward each time I saw it happen. Hunter, however, was clearly used to this kind of treatment.We passed the long hall with wall-to-ceiling windows on each side. The
Last Updated : 2024-11-26All Because I Kissed a Stranger Another Step Closer
HUNTERI had debated whether I should tell Catherine the truth and figured I wouldn't hide it, but only if she asked. She did. Now her face turned slightly pale as she processed my words and what they meant.“So… you know that your uncle killed your parents, and yet he is still alive and free,” she mused, fisting her hand. “And there's nothing you can do about it?”My lips stretched into a tense smile. “In my world, there are those you can eliminate and no one will ever ask you why, and those whose deaths will not go without consequences. The family heads might hate each other's guts, but there's an inner law we all need to stick to. I cannot touch my uncle without proof of his guilt accepted by at least five other heads.”Catherine nodded, analyzing... thinking. “If you don't have proof, how can you be sure it was your uncle?”I blew out a breath. “Everyone knew that he hated my father, and he was against his sister marrying him. Their conflict kept evolving as the years went by. He
Last Updated : 2024-11-26All Because I Kissed a Stranger An Unexpected Choice
CATHERINE“So someone contacted you and bought all your recent works?” Fifi looked at me as if I had just told her that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny were real.We were in my workshop, waiting for Ace to arrive with my dress. Of course, I filled that time telling her about every little thing that had happened after the whole Dante the Art Buyer disaster.“Yes. He wanted all my paintings and offered a price I could never even dream of.” A nervous laugh bubbled in my throat. I still couldn't believe it had truly happened. When I got a call two days ago, I was willing to bet this was another trick.Fifi inched closer, frowning. “And you're sure it's not Dante or any of his goons this time?”I shook my head. “It's not him. This was some anonymous buyer, but I precautiously called Rowan. He checked the case and told me I had nothing to worry about. I signed all documents, and Rowan and Ferro will help me with the shipment. The buyer already transferred half of the money to my account.”
Last Updated : 2024-11-27All Because I Kissed a Stranger Fight or Surrender
I was sitting by my mom's bed, squeezing her hand. My chest tightened, turning every breath into a struggle. I kept my eyes locked on my mom's sleeping face as Doctor Sinclair's words swirled in my head.“We gave Mrs. Lewis the dose that is safest in her current condition. Of course, sometimes the body's reaction takes time, but we waited more than a week, and your mother's body doesn't respond,” he had said. “We can increase the dosage, but it carries a lot of risk. The drug can stimulate the brain, but the side effects might be lethal. Unfortunately, this is our only option. We can either stop the treatment or risk continuing with a high drug dose.”How was I supposed to make such a decision? I could sign the consent and risk watching my mom die, or I could give up and leave her in her sleep waiting for her body to naturally fade away. Doctor Sinclair had said it before: her chances of waking up from her coma without treatment were none. I heard a lot of stories about patients wakin
Last Updated : 2024-11-27All Because I Kissed a Stranger Jeopardy
HUNTERLeaving New York again was against everything I had planned those weeks ago. Chasing after a snake-tattooed guy had taken away the time I needed to prepare Catherine for what was about to happen. I knew she could talk back if she had to, but that wouldn't be enough to face those who had been schooled on how to become first-class assholes all their lives.I might have played it all wrong. Certainly, I needed her unconditional trust and devotion, but those treats would be useless if she got herself killed. A part of me hoped that the wedding would somehow go smoothly, but nothing in my life ever had. It was wiser to prepare for the worst.As most of my men had been working to secure the estate, Rowan and I had gone to find the fucker responsible for killing the kid. Rowan had received another hint, and we went to Pittsburgh to check if it could lead us anywhere. It hadn't led us anywhere, though. It was another dead end. We couldn't afford not to check that lead, but this call ha
Last Updated : 2024-11-28All Because I Kissed a Stranger Out of Control
CATHERINE“Bait…” I breathed out as my mind tried to process everything Hunter had just said. My head began to spin, and a high-pitched tone rang in my ears. I drew a deep breath and then another one. Someone tried to kill me. Someone planted a bomb to kill me! How was I supposed to leave this room knowing all this?! I wasn't sure if I could even stand on my damn two feet!“Focus, Catherine.” Hunter snapped his fingers, and I almost jumped in my seat. “You need to calm down. Now.”“Easy for… you to say,” I choked out.He grabbed my chin, forcing me to face him. “You can curse me later, but right now, you will listen and do as I say.”A shudder ran down my spine. He had never used such a cold, emotionless tone on me. Was this the true face of a man I was supposed to marry? Had I fallen for a fucking lie? Something within me snapped, and suddenly I couldn't determine whether I was scared, hurt, or pissed. Perhaps it was the combination of all three.“Normally, I would have prepared you
Last Updated : 2024-11-29
Latest chapter
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Preparations
I had three days to prepare for the snob party called Carla Pucci's Annual Banquet. According to Marcello's explanation, this event had been organized by the Pucci family for decades. The guests were the wives and daughters of the most prestigious Italian families and sometimes the wives and daughters of their associates. Gianna learned that all the invitations had been sent more than a month ago, which meant that my name must have been Carla Pucci's last-minute choice.I told Gianna to learn whatever she could about the other participants while I decided to meet with my very own queen of gossip and entertainment—Fifi. She invited me for lunch in her hotel. I agreed as long as it wouldn't be the restaurant I'd met with Grasso and my father. She happily obliged.Fifi greeted me in the reception hall. Today was her day off, so instead of wearing her usual manager's uniform, she picked a simple yet sexy light blue A-shape dress with a cute little rounded collar. She looked almost like an
All Because I Kissed a Stranger The Unperfect
I watched Hunter putting on his three-piece suit as he stood in the middle of the walk-in closet. His already-packed suitcase waited by the door. The blissful moment we had was long gone. I could see it in Hunter's sharp gaze and clenched jaw. Of course, the anxieties within me blossomed in an instant.“Maybe I could come with you,” I suggested, leaning one arm against the doorframe. I was still in my nightgown. The black silk and lace clung to my body, and I was highly aware of how it emphasized every curve. Something changed within me, and that change had a lot to do with Hunter. He pulled out this new daringness to the surface. He made me want to be seen…His eyes slowly drifted down, as if memorizing every inch of my body. Then a sinful smirk curved his lips. “I would love nothing more than to take you with me.” He buttoned his jacket and sighed. “But I can't. If someone planted the drugs there, it's possible the guy with the snake tattoo and others like him will be close. I can't
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Pillow Talk
CATHERINESince Hunter had left, my restlessness became the bone-crushing corset around my ribcage. Falling asleep hadn't been an option, so I'd spent most of the night painting. The exhaustion struck when it was dawning, and I finally decided to wash off the drops of paint from my skin and crawl into the cold, empty bed.I closed my eyes, but despite how drained I was, the sleep didn't come. I wasn't sure how long I struggled to get some rest before I heard the door opening and closing. My heart tripped in response. “Hunter?” I murmured, turning around and trying to find him in the dimness of the room with closed curtains.“I didn't mean to wake you up,” he whispered.“You didn't wake me up,” I said. “I couldn't sleep anyway…”A soft chuckle sounded. “Were you waiting for me, firecracker?” The rustling sound followed. The bed dipped slightly, and a moment later, I was pulled against his bare chest. “Did you miss me?” he purred as his arms wrapped around me.“I was worried,” I muttere
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Signed By Blood
I sat by my desk, watching the sun slowly rising over Manhattan. My time was nearly up, and soon I was bound to make a decision. I shifted my gaze to the three-piece suite where a children-raping monster slept soundly on the sofa. I hated the sight of him in my office. I hated the fact he was still peacefully breathing while his latest victim was fighting for her life in Fabio Lanaro's clinic. But most of all, I hated the mere thought of dealing with this piece of shit and letting him walk out of here freely…I told myself I would make it right one day soon. Grasso would get exactly what he deserved. I couldn't be the one to serve the punishment, and it wouldn't happen today, but he would pay.Rowan's ID appeared on the phone screen, and I quickly took the call. “You figured out how to handle him once he wakes up?” he asked.“I'll have to tell him the truth… skipping the drugging part,” I muttered. “I'd appreciate some leverage, though. Did Enzo and Remo find anything in the data?”“N
All Because I Kissed a Stranger A Dangerous Game
Convincing Fabrizio Grasso to meet with me had turned out to be easier than I initially assumed. It was either sheer curiosity or simply greed that made him agree to come to Spine Dorate Tower. He would surely regret trusting me so easily once he figured out the reason behind this meeting. Unfortunately for him, by that time, it would be too late…The doors of my office opened, and Grasso strode inside, two bodyguards flanking him. I sat in the armchair, facing the doors. A hint of a smirk curved my lips as I locked my eyes on the fucker and slowly rose to my feet.Grasso looked around my office and put his hands into his pants pockets. “Nice place you have here. Perhaps I should visit your club one day.”I hated the sole idea of him tainting my place with his presence, but I kept my expression neutral as I pointed at the sofa. “Have a seat. We have a few things to discuss.”“Very well, Thorne.” He gave me a curt nod and walked to the three-piece suit, his guards following.I looked a
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Planning a Trap
Catherine and I watched Lazar enter his limo and leave the estate. Tension radiated from me in waves, and I knew that Catherine felt it too. As soon as Lazar's car disappeared from view, I turned around and walked inside the mansion. Catherine followed me.“Something happened, right? Did Lazar tell you anything?” she asked, trying to read the answer from my expression.I grabbed her hand and led her to my study, debating how much I should tell her as we walked. Then I closed the door behind us and sighed. “Lazar didn't know any of the men I showed him, but he gave us a lead about those two Italians.”Catherine's brows rose. “Really? So what now?”I scratched the back of my neck. “I'll have to drag the answers out of someone who's not my ally,” I said carefully.“An enemy?” She fixed her eyes on me. “Who is it?”My lips twisted into an uncomfortable grimace. “Grasso.”She stumbled back, her face turning pale. “Will you interrogate him?”“I wish I could beat the answers out of him, but
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Dinner
The doors of my office slid open, and I strode inside, my fists loosening and clenching on my sides. Enzo, Remo, and Rowan were sitting in our usual spot, with documents and photos splayed on the coffee table.I'd tried to silence my annoyance as I drove here, and I would have lied saying that regaining my composure had come easily. I understood the urgency, though; to prevent another attack, we needed to act. Fucking my wife senseless would have to wait. Again.“Tell me you found something useful,” I muttered, sitting in the armchair.Rowan grabbed several photos from the table and tossed them over to me. “As you know, we'd taken photos of the bodies before we got rid of them. Enzo ran each one of those fuckers through the face recognition program. We searched through all the databases and police records, and—”“Tell me we have the names,” I gritted out as I went through the photos he gave me. Most of them had tattoos on their bodies. Hopefully, that would help with the identificatio
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Healing
HUNTERIt had been a week since Catherine's kidnapping, and all her bruises finally seemed to fade. She was healing… at least physically. I had tried to crush the guilt coiling inside her, but I doubted I managed to destroy it entirely. She sometimes stared at her hands, as if she still saw blood covering her skin—Castillo's blood. Her nightmares were now gone, but she had that haunting look on her face telling me her thoughts kept swirling around some dark place.I'd spent most of my time in the estate recently. I didn't want to leave her for too long, and I didn't trust anyone enough to replace me. Instead of forcing her to move back into the main bedroom, I sort of moved to hers. Every night, I had lay beside her, watching her fall asleep wrapped in my arms, making sure she felt safe throughout the night.The old me would have found my behavior absurd, but I'd grown to enjoy this sort of intimacy between us. As cold as it might have sounded, it also served my plans. I had managed t
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Guilt
CATHERINEDry twigs snapped under my bare feet as I ran through the woods. The lines of densely growing trees seemed to have no end. I told myself I could distinguish shapes in the darkness of the night, but the truth was I was nearly running blind.“There's no point in running from us, princess!” Garrett's voice boomed through the forest. “We'll catch you sooner or later!” He chuckled. They all laughed as they chased after me, as if my attempts to survive were their best source of entertainment.Every muscle in my body hurt, and doubts started to fill my mind. Would it hurt less if I surrendered? Maybe death would come quickly, painlessly… No. The one who ordered my death wanted me to suffer. I knew that, and still, a part of me wanted to stop and face the inevitable.“He won't be able to save you forever, you know?” Castillo's snicker echoed among the trees. “You're his weakness! He'll get rid of you as soon as he inherits it all!”I ground my teeth and quickened my steps. I glanced
