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The New Stage of the Game
Last Updated:
2025-01-06 02:45:00
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All Because I Kissed a Stranger Let the Ball Begin
CATHERINEMy breath caught in my throat. I tried to control my expression, but it was hard not to feel intimidated by the man who stood in front of us—Vito Cartelli. The resemblance between him and Dante was undeniable. He certainly was Dante's older version, but where Dante hid his viciousness under a carefully crafted mask, his father proudly exposed it in every sharp line of his face.Vito kept his eyes on his nephew, his lips twitching into something between a snarl and a smirk. Then he rolled back his shoulders and shifted his gaze to me. A cold flare appeared in his eyes, and his thin lips stretched into a grin. “I don't believe we've met. I'm Vito Cartelli.”He stretched out his hand, waiting for me to do the same. The last thing I wanted was to shake hands with the man responsible for killing Hunter's parents, but everything we did here was an act, a game we tried to play the best we could. So I let my lips curve into a soft smile as I extended my hand toward his.“I'm Catheri
Last Updated : 2025-01-06All Because I Kissed a Stranger Correcting the Deal
HUNTERI knew this was just a matter of time before Fabrizio Grasso found me. I merely finished my conversation with Luca when I caught that fucker staring at me from the corner of the hall. I studied him, expecting to find signs of shock in his expression. I saw none. Perhaps he was slightly restless but not surprised to see me alive. That only made me wonder how much he knew. Did he hide his emotions that well? Or perhaps he was no more than a dog following someone else's commands and knew nothing about the bombs?Slowly, he walked over, a faint smirk dancing on his lips. “I can only assume you checked the name you got from me the last time.”The cockiness in his tone turned my blood into molten lava. That fucker either had a death wish or truly knew nothing about the trap. Of course, this could be his trick to make me wonder, to make me hesitate… But somehow I doubted he possessed such brilliant acting skills.When I remained silent, he inched closer and lowered his voice to a whis
Last Updated : 2025-01-07All Because I Kissed a Stranger Fragile Trust
CATHERINEI could see Hunter's shoulders tense as I mentioned Grasso. His jaw clenched, and an obvious discomfort filled every inch of him. It took him a moment, but he inched closer and stretched his lips into a faint smile. “It's nothing to worry about,” he said, taking my hand in his and guiding me back to the ballroom.“Hunter.” I dug my heels into the floor and jerked my hand away. “Please, don't keep me in the dark. If there's something about Grasso, I need to know about it.”He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It's really nothing important.”“Even if it's not important, please… tell me,” I pressed.He drew a deep breath and looked at me. “Grasso believes he can get me the names of those fuckers who kidnapped you… and the name of that guy with a snake tattoo.”I gasped, studying him for a moment. “But you said you asked him about those people, and he didn't tell you anything you could use.”Hunter smiled wryly. “Well, now he thinks he can get me something.”My brows k
Last Updated : 2025-01-08All Because I Kissed a Stranger First Answers
HUNTERFor the last two days, Enzo and Remo had been trying to find anything useful in the material registered by our listening devices. Rowan and I spent long hours checking each lead they'd found and discovering their meaning. Perhaps we should have been grateful that Grasso was too lazy to hang away the suit jacket he had worn at the party. Instead, he kept it in his office, giving us a chance to hear all his conversations. For the first few hours, we'd thought we might have hit the jackpot, but the more time passed, the more we realized luck was not entirely on our side…As we expected, the first thing Grasso did after he'd returned from the party was to contact the so-called leader. We heard how he tried to use several different numbers, but all the calls remained unanswered. Twenty-four hours had passed before he received a message. Certainly, we couldn't see it, but Grasso was dumb enough to read it out loud for us.“New phone will be delivered shortly,” was what the message sa
Last Updated : 2025-01-09All Because I Kissed a Stranger Guido's Offer
Dozens of grim scenarios swirled inside my mind. A huge army of people driven by hatred, people who had the Pink Opium in their hands…I blew out a breath, trying to contain the storm inside me. Unfortunately, Guido saw right through me. He knew me too well not to spot the uneasiness crawling out to the surface. “I heard those fuckers tried to mess with your business, too.” A faint smirk curved Guido's lips. “I'm sure you're aware that these acts were only to test you, just like they were testing me. The true attack will come soon. Perhaps they're waiting for you to take over your position as Don Cartelli.”I considered his words, then asked, “Your clubs were also attacked, weren't they?”He nodded. “Two clubs were almost completely demolished a month ago, and now those fucking drugs…” He dragged his hand over his face. “I don't even want to start on how much money I had to spend on bribes. I made the police close the case, but one reporter wrote an article, and that fucking thing wen
Last Updated : 2025-01-09All Because I Kissed a Stranger Nox Aurea
CATHERINE“I still can't believe this old bastard tried to force Hunter to divorce you.” Fifi huffed over the phone. “I promise you. I'll make sure no Pelligrini ever finds a room in our hotels.”“You don't have to go that far.” I chuckled, putting my phone on the speaker and placing it on the bedside table. “As weird as it might sound, I'm partially glad it happened,” I said, stepping into the walk-in closet.There was a beat of silence. Then Fifi muttered, “You're… happy about it?”“I mean…” I snatched my jeans, a tee, a few skirts, and dresses and tossed them on the bed. “I wasn't thrilled when I heard about Guido's offer, but Hunter's answer was... a relief.”I bit my lip as I recalled everything he'd said last night. Just thinking about the velvet and sultry sound of his voice brought wickedly pleasant shivers. He had shattered my insecurities and chased away the restlessness I'd felt.Fifi considered my words for a moment. “Well… you're right, I guess. At least the next time you
Last Updated : 2025-01-10All Because I Kissed a Stranger Her Payback
HUNTERI followed Catherine's line of sight. She was staring at one of the alcoves, her eyes locked on the two people sitting on the sofa. From where I stood, their faces were obscured by the shadows. Catherine, however, seemed to know exactly who they were.I stepped down from the dais and lined up with her. Only then did I understand what made her frown and clench her fists. That cunt, Calvin Rollins, was splayed on the sofa, drink in hand. A slim blonde in a slutty glitter-covered dress was sitting on his lap. I might have seen her in Thorn Club once or twice.I wrapped my arm around Catherine's waist, pulling her to my side. “Your shitty ex lost his wife somewhere, I see.”She gave me a wry smile. “Fifi told me Calvin is trying to divorce my sister.” Then she pointed at the blonde bimbo. “And that's Naomi, one of Portia's besties, or rather, an ex-bestie.”“Now I remember her.” My lips curved in disdain. “I saw her the night we met, right? She was that dumb bitch who came to me af
Last Updated : 2025-01-11All Because I Kissed a Stranger Feverish
CATHERINEHad I crossed the line? Had I officially gone bad this time? I had let the wicked side of me take the lead and savored every second of the terror in Calvin's eyes. After Calvin and weeping Naomi had been dragged out of the club, I heard the crowd calling me the Red Queen, as if I were walking around the club, shouting, “Off with their heads!”I would have lied had I said it didn't make me nervous and uncomfortable. I began to second-guess my decision. Maybe I should have just ignored them and waited for some godlike powers to grant them the fate they deserved…No. Enough was enough. Calvin had not only been a cheating scum but also tried to harm me, sent Giulio to rape me… My hands fisted as I recalled those moments. A part of me wanted to tell Hunter I changed my mind and wanted someone to drag Calvin back and beat the crap out of him.My nervousness lasted a few more minutes and ended as I finished my second drink. The tension finally disappeared and my party mood slowly cr
Last Updated : 2025-01-12
Latest chapter
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Desperate
HUNTERTwenty-six hours passed since Catherine had been abducted, and we still couldn't locate where she was kept. Potentially, she could have been in one of over thirty estates owned by Aleks Lagunov. So far, we were trying to narrow that list down, but excluding each location took too much time…After more than a few hours of useless quarrels, Lazar and I had finally gathered all our allies under one roof—my roof. Certainly, this agreement hadn't eliminated the mutual hostility, which currently satiated the air in the meeting room so densely, breathing had become a struggle. Well, at least none of them had chosen to resort to violence… so far.We all sat at the large oval table with Lazar and me on the opposite sides. We exchanged meaningful looks, then Lazar cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. “My spies confirmed our previous suspicions… The Lagunov family's old estate was abandoned some time ago,” he said. “That means the renegades' main headquarters has to be elsewh
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Imprisoned
CATHERINEThe pulsing, sharp pain in the side of my head drew me toward awareness. The pounding seemed to increase each time I tried to open my eyes. My heart thundered, its rate matching the vicious pain in my head. I swallowed shallow breaths as if I were inches above the water and struggled to remain on the surface.Finally, my eyes jerked open, and I was blinded by the sudden brightness. I might have groaned, but I wasn't sure whether the sound left my throat or remained in my mind. My mouth was dry, and my tongue darted out, desperate to wet my lips.“Thirsty, Kitty Cat?”That voice sent chills down my spine. I blinked a few times, hoping my eyes would finally adapt to the light. I slowly turned my head to the source of the sound and saw Dante Cartelli's cold smile.I gasped, trying to move away from him. Only then did I realize I was lying on the bed with one hand cuffed and chained to the metal rod hanging above the headboard. The light filling the room was coming from the larg
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Security Protocol
The high-pitched tone kept ringing in my ears. My breath was labored, and my legs threatened to give up from under me. I failed her. I let them take her away. I should have done things differently. I should have assumed the worst and headed to that fucking lab faster. I shouldn't have hesitated. I should have just lunged at them and blown their fucking heads off.I forced another deep breath into my lungs, but my tightened ribcage refused to cooperate. I could barely focus on my surroundings. My mind kept replaying the moment the redhead had carried my unconscious firecracker into the van and then driven away…“They're all dead.” Rowan's voice dragged me out of my bewilderment. He walked over to me with a tight grimace twisting his lips. “A few we didn't kill committed suicide as soon as they figured out they lost. Others were killed by the drug.”“Fucking perfect.” I dragged my fingers through my hair. “Catherine is gone, and there's no one who could tell us where those fuckers took
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Emergency
HUNTERCatherine. Hearing she might be in danger knocked the air out of my lungs. I barked out several commands, grabbed my combat clothes and guns, and a moment later, I was inside the van, heading to the location Catherine had sent in her text.It wasn't far from Scarsdale, but we still needed time to get there. What if we came too late? No. We would make it. I couldn't let myself think otherwise.I shoved those thoughts away. I needed to focus. We rode in the column—five vans with my best men inside them. Ferro was driving the one I was in. I could see his firm grip on the wheel and rage burning in his eyes. I had rarely seen him this infuriated, but this was about Catherine, and I knew that he—just like the others in my team—would annihilate everyone who tried to hurt her.I called Lazar. His first team had just arrived and began to check the area, quickly confirming our suspicions: the renegades had surrounded the entire complex.My blood turned into molten lava. “Who else knew a
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Betrayed
My heart hammered against my chest. I looked around, but there was only him and me standing in that courtyard. I whirled around, trying to run, but then he grabbed my arm, violently pulling me to a halt.“Don't resist. It will hurt if you do.” His dark laugh sounded. He turned me toward him and pressed the gun to my temple. My breath hitched as I saw his finger slowly curling on the trigger. “He wanted you to live, but I could get away with killing you on the spot,” he purred.I believed him. He wanted me to give him a reason. Shit. I couldn't even risk calling out to Logan without provoking him. Not to mention that I would have been dead before Logan heard me…“I'll… behave,” I choked out.He huffed out a laugh. “Good girl.” He shifted his gun, pressing the barrel against my back as he pushed me toward a narrow passage. “Move,” he snarled.I was partially relieved he led me away from the lab, but that didn't exactly solve my problem. I started walking, cautiously glancing around. It
All Because I Kissed a Stranger So Close
CATHERINEI dropped the phone on the table and slumped down on the bed. My hands were shaking, and I could barely stop my hectic swirl of thoughts. The people I had laughed with a few days ago were slaughtered in their own house along with thirty members of the staff working for them.The renegades' attacks had become more frequent and more brutal than ever, and our new allies had grown impatient. My great-uncle told me to ignore them. He said he would handle them himself, but how could I let him when I caused it all?Vera or Nikolay had been coming to Lazar's office at least twice a day, asking for the Pink Opium. They kept pushing, demanding that Lazar tell them where our lab was. He wouldn't tell them anything, but I knew that their frequent visits had already been drawing too much attention. I would have lied had I said their reckless behavior hadn't made me anxious. I knew it was only a matter of time before the news about the complete Pink Opium formula reached the renegades' ea
All Because I Kissed a Stranger Building the Front
Exhaustion coated my feet like lead, turning each step into a struggle, but I couldn't allow myself to rest, not after what we had just found out. I rolled back my shoulders and walked into the salon where the rest of my Italian allies waited for the news.They occupied two leather sofas and two armchairs. Only Guido stood by the window, clearly avoiding my gaze as I entered. “Glad you're all here,” I said as my eyes swept through the room. Then I walked toward the seats, stopping in a place where I could see them all. “I bet you all want to know about the results of Arianna Pelligrini's interrogation.”I heard a quiet huff, and I didn't need to look to know it was Guido. He was the only one who already knew what Arianna had told us—he'd heard it all. Even now, a few hours after the interrogation had ended, I could feel the mix of rage and shame radiating from him.“Hope you learned something useful from your—as I believe—former fiancée.” Luca Barbieri gave me a meaningful look.I res
All Because I Kissed a Stranger First Answers
I walked over to Ferro, who leaned against the wall next to Arianna's cell. I jerked my chin at the door. “Did she behave?”A wicked smirk appeared. “She kept banging at the door and screaming for about an hour. Then she finally gave up and remained quiet ever since.”“I see.” I nodded before gesturing for him to open the door.He pulled out the key card but then halted and gave me a wry smile. “Boss… you don't have to do this. Remo and I can take care of the interrogation.”I almost laughed. “Your concern is unnecessary.” I clasped my hand on his shoulder. “Do you honestly believe I would feel sorry for someone who tried to kill me for my money?”“I see your point.” His lips formed a thin line. Then he nodded and opened the cell.The door creaked, revealing a dark cell. I pushed the door further, letting the dim light illuminate the small space. Then I noticed Arianna sitting on the floor with her legs curled up to her chest and hands wrapped around her knees. She was barefoot and dr
All Because I Kissed a Stranger One Step Closer
HUNTERI knew that showing up at this meeting was risky. Not to mention that my current allies had yet to find out about the changes they would be a part of. The mutual agreement would not come peacefully. They might have even more objections than the leaders at Lazar's table. But we had to start building this mutual front, and we had to do it now.I knew Catherine well enough to realize that something was off, and I knew I had to support her. It was crucial that none of the remaining Bratva leaders question her words. Fortunately, only Vera was overly curious about the drug and where it was produced. The new head of the Nikitin family helped shut her up. He seemed like a decent guy, and knowing the numbers of his family's soldiers, I wouldn't mind having him as my ally.The rest of the meeting had gone without incident. We all agreed we needed more information about Lagunov's army. A few shared the information they had on the renegades, but everyone was aware that this wasn't enough
