My body was almost soaked in sweat. I was looking as if I fell into a pool filled with water. Did I have a nightmare? No one could answer my question as I woke up with my eyes wide open. Turning my face to the other side of the bed, I found Luciano still on the bed with his laptop. "Shiiit," I cursed in a low voice. He didn't hear what I said and I was glad. How I wish I didn't wake up by his side. I wiped out the sweat from my face with my left palm. Luciano didn't bother taking a look at me. He knew I was awake but he was so engrossed in whatever he was doing on that laptop. "Good morning," I greeted him but I received a sarcastic reply from him which made me almost bluff. "I thought you didn't know that," he responded and I just ignored him. I didn't know how I fell asleep last night. All I was thinking about was Luciano and him knowing what I did. It may be that he didn't know anything that happened after all. Good gracious! I wil
I trembled as my legs got into the water. The chills the water gave me was enough to make me fly out of there if I had wings. I jumped out of the pool and took a look at Gio who was not paying attention to what I was saying. "I can't." Gio stood distracted, with his eyes focusing on something else. I stared at him, various horrible thoughts running through my mind. I don't know if I should be worried that a sixteen year old boy was looking at me hungrily. Or I should just be worried about not drowning. I took a look at the pool and I shivered again. There was no way I wanted to go in there. "Can I take a break?" I asked Gio, who was still lost in space. I wonder what he was thinking. He didn't answer me at first and until I walked over him and tapped him before he came back to reality. "You said?" he inquired and I folded my arms, looking at him. "Seriously, Gio? What on earth are you thinking about?" "And how does that have to do with
I arranged my hair while I was standing in front of the dressing room. I tried styling my hair into different styles that will suit me. The dressing room was scanty at the moment. About two girls were doing their thing while I focused on mine. While I was still dealing with my hair, I heard the door open and from the reflection of the mirror, I saw Gio come in. 'What the heck does he want now?' I said to myself. The two girls hurriedly left the room leaving me alone with Gio. "Hi, Gio," I said to him. I didn't turn around to look at him but I knew he was standing behind me. "I'm sorry I didn't help you on time. It was my fault you almost drowned inside the pool," he apologized and I chuckled. Really? That apology was not necessary to me. He had no control over what happened. Besides, it was his father, Luciano who oversaw the affairs of everything. He knew his father was deadly and he could not dare go against his father's wish. Besid
Sitting in the general dinner hall, I could not eat anything. I was staring at the sumptuous meal which was placed in front of me without touching any bit of it. A lot of things were disturbing my mind. When I returned last night, I could not find Luciano anywhere. I searched everywhere secretly but still, I could not find him. "I am doomed!" She muttered "Am I crazy?". For some reason, I am convinced that I met with Luciano last night. Various things I have done with Dee kept replaying and I stared at the food in disgust. Ewwwww! The sudden urge to throw the food on the tray filled me but I had to tame the feeling. I could not shake off the feeling that the last thing I did with Dee two days ago before going was him forcing me to swallow his sperm. After that, he refused to kiss me afterwards. 'Poor children' I muttered. I couldn't help but feel strange about this whole scenario. I got up from my seat and I took the tray of untouched food t
LUCIANO'S POV I stood there in front of my mirror. I was already dressed for the party . Anger coursed through me. I shut my eyes. Amara had been with Dee. I was sure of it after last night. Like a movie playing back in my head, I could see the delighted smile on her face; I could smell her intoxicating perfume as she hugged me thinking I was my brother. The images replayed again and again. I opened my eyes, wanting to concentrate on something else, but I couldn't get her out of my head. What did Dee have that I didn't have anyway? I had never felt so adverse to being a twin as I felt at this moment. I shuddered imperceptibly as I recalled the hug she had given me. Her body was so warm and soft, her breasts had pressed against my chest. I had felt like taking her right then. I felt a distention in my trousers and discovered I was already hard. Damn! How could a mere slip of a girl make me act and behave like a horny teenager? I opened the w
AMARA'S POV The house was huge with more hallways and balconies than I could count. There were women and men dressed in the most outlandish costumes. The men with masks; the women without. There was a lot of food,drinks and conversation. What made it stand out from a normal party was the fact that almost everyone was holding a gun in plain sight. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw that even the women were not exempted. I saw some women holding sophisticated looking guns-like they knew how to use them. Luciano saw me looking at them as we walked. "I'll have to do something to make you useful, you know? You have to adapt to this life now. I think you would have to learn to know how to fire a gun, Again." He didn't have to tell me that I was a failure. My hand was not in his grasp clenched. I didn't know how to fire a gun as he really wanted me but Gio toow asnt helping. The little I had learnt about guns aside Gio's practice was through movies. But
Amara's POV I hurried into the bathroom with tears threatening to fall off. The shock of what Luciano made me do was overwhelming. I was sad, but it was something I couldn't escape from, life has led me to this. Remembering the amount of shocks I received from Luciano caused the tears to flow unrestricted. I was in the bathroom so I could turn on the shower and scream as much as I wanted. He had promised to be with me tonight, which meant another round of torture. Like the one he made me go through earlier wasn't enough for him. I decided I wouldn't go to the room. He would have to break the door and get me, at least I'd know that I tried my best. Sometimes I wonder why my life is like this. One minute things are going well, the next minute it's going haywire. I slouched on the bathtub losing the will to do anything, I just wanted a break from everything. Ideas began to form in my tired brain as I thought of doing things that would really
Amara's POV Why on earth did they choose me to study Bella? I wondered, really infuriated but refused to show it. Being with Bella was another way of saying they wanted me dead. "Can I study someone else?" I asked, wishing she would oblige me. "No!" Olga said a bit loudly reminding me that I didn't have any option but to obey her command. She pushed me to the other rooms leaving me to find Bella myself. I smiled as I walked past some girls that I already knew then my eyes settled on someone who resembled Bella. I looked at her closely and realized that it was her. Her sight gave me the creeps but I hid my disgust for her and walked up to her. "Took you so long to get here, huh? " Bella started. "Looks like you've been waiting for me. Why?" I asked her, not able to contain the resentment I had for her. "Don't flatter yourself Amara, Olga told me we had an assignment to do together that's why I'm here," she informed me. I nodded realizing t
EpilogueLuciano's POV I tossed on my shirt and stood up from the bed. While heading for the door, I wondered what good news Dante talked about. Presently, I didn't believe that good things could happen to me with how the events were turning out slowly. My life was already a wreck and I felt that nothing else could make it worse. "What's the news?" I asked tiredly, not even sparing him a glance as we made our way to the office. Discussing with my workers wasn't something I did in my bedroom. I felt that it was too private, and I didn't want anyone to feel special just because we conversed in my chambers. "I don't know how to say this," He chewed on his lips which irritated me. "Dante, I don't want to imagine that you made me leave the comfort of my bedroom just so you could show me how nervous you can be," I barked and he shook his head in disagreement. My patience was waning and I was ready to unleash my pent up anger on him if he wasted my time. "Dee has woken up from coma b
Luciano's POV Arianna's smile was still imprinted in my mind, leaving me to ponder on why she was acting like a good person. I guessed that it was the help I rendered towards her, but I couldn't help but doubt her intention towards my son and I. Immediately we were done with the party, I headed for Amara's room to check on her hoping that she would be feeling better already. I knocked on the wooden door and got in after hearing her muffled reply. Walking in to meet her taking a gulp of orange juice from her cup had me smiling. Her eyes scrutinized me with a strange calmness then lowered towards what I had in my hands.A polythene bag which had a plate in it. I brought fruit salad for her since it had a good taste and it was nice for pregnant women. "What are you doing here?" She asked when I was done being searched. "I came to see you since you refused to attend Gio's birthday," I queried and narrowed my eyes expecting an apology but her nonchalant look threw me off balance. "Ho
Luciano's POV The house was bubbling with excitement. It was Gio's birthday and not only was he celebrating a new age, he was going to be inducted into the mafia as a Made man fully. The latter part of the celebration didn't sit well with me because I didn't want him to have anything to with the Familia. It was just too dangerous and I wanted everything to end with me. I took a stroll around the hall to be sure that everything was in place. Though I was sure that Raul had done a good job, I still didn't feel comfortable just sitting around and making people do things for me. Different kinds of aroma hit my nostrils from makeshift kitchen near the hall where the party would take place. I was almost tempted to enter the kitchen and serve myself some food. I was disrupted from my stroll by a shrill cry that sounded from the hallway. I casted a glance at the direction of the noise and I found Shuri running away from Gio. "Be careful!" I let out a warning when Shuri almost tripped, b
Luciano's POV A knock sounded on my door immediately I dropped my phone on the wooden table and sat on the executive chair. It was another day, which meant that I had been given the opportunity to right my wrongs. "Come in," I ordered using my boss' tone. Things were slowly returning back to normal and I didn't expect any retaliation from Massimo's men. They were like sheeps without a shepherd and if he was truly dead, then I'd have to take over his territory. Gio sauntered into my office with a smile plastered on his lips. "What do you want?" My voice came out harshly, though I intended that it sounded nice and warm.He didn't care because his smile only widened. "I like the new father I'm seeing. I wish you'll continue to be like this and nothing will go wrong,"I shrugged in uncertainty. Gio was happy and I knew that Shuri felt the same way. I only hoped that I wouldn't mess things up later. "What will you do with Amara and Shuri?" He asked. "I'm still thinking about that. A
Luciano's POV For the first time in my life, I felt like I did everything right then wrong at the same time. My life was no longer the same with the kind of confusion that had taken a permanent place in my mind. I was so sure that I shot Massimo in the face, but his body was nowhere to be found. That fact alone should have disturbed me because it was common amongst us. Hiding people's body wasn't difficult for me, but I was just taken aback by the speed at which he was taken.I shook the thoughts off my head and went in search of Amara. She was the only one that kept me sane at such trying period. I didn't care if she was going to reject me again, I just wanted to know that her and my baby were fine. "Amara, can I come in?" I asked after knocking twice without getting any response. I smirked when I remembered how I used to barge into her room but now, she had to grant me permission or I'd stay outside for hours. "You can come in," Came her raspy voice. I didn't hesitate in goin
Luciano's POV My eyes blinked incessantly when I realized that I had shot Massimo. I lost the firm grip I had on my gun and I didn't bother picking it up when it fell. This wasn't me. I was always in control and never scared of killing. Seeing dead bodies and weak people plead for mercy before I cut off their heads or pulled a bullet through their heads was fun for me. So why did this feel different? I didn't regret any action I took but right now, I felt like turning the hands of time so I could make things right. I walked briskly towards him to know if he was still breathing but since he laid on his face, I couldn't risk it. Arianna who looked like she was about to faint held my hands while I dragged her away from him. If I couldn't do anything for Massimo, then I could channel my help towards Arianna and her son. "I feel so weak," She whispered and rested her head on my shoulder. "You'll be fine," I grumbled and she nodded. Her unsteady steps slowed me so I placed her on ba
Luciano's POV Sleep eluded me as I tossed restlessly on the bed. It was impossible for me to sleep with the thoughts that burdened my mind. My life was a wreck and so was the fate of my family. I sighed and got up from the bed and headed for the window to feed my eyes with the buildings that were lit up with lights. The street was quiet but it did nothing to calm me. I'd made a mistake by not listening to Obinna. He was right when he suggested that I take Shuri and Amara out of the house. Nowhere was safe anymore, not even my own house. Everyday, people did things to remind me that I should always have eyes everywhere or I'd die like a piece of shit. Massimo's face popped in my head as I thought of what to do to him. Though he had caused a lot of problems and unrest in my family, I took a bigger portion of the blame. Because of me my mother was killed and my father was kidnapped for several years. Alita killed herself because I'd turned into a monste
Luciano's POV Zino Alonso was kept in another room in my mansion. I didn't trust him to be treated outside my watch. I was still trying to come to terms with the fact that the man I had buried was still alive. Another surprising fact was that Dee kidnapped him. Father had really underestimated Dee's ability. He was smart but he lacked the brutality that was needed to operate in our world. My gaze lingered on the man who called himself my father and my mind was flooded with several memories of how he treated my brother and I. Dee always thought that our father loved me more than him, what he didn't know was that our father was a sadistic bastard who only cared about his ego and business. He gave me several dirty tasks and if I failed any of them, he'd make sure I was tortured till I became unconscious. I remembered a day when he gave me the worst punishment of my life than toughened me. That afternoon, he called me into his office. He was on edge for reasons I couldn't fathom and
Luciano's POV The room was extremely quiet, for which I was grateful. Amara had kept me on edge with her suicidal talks. She didn't feel excited to be back to me which made me wonder why it was so. I knew she loved me but a lot of things had happened between her and Dee. I was supposed to be repulsed by her, instead, I was drawn to her more than ever and wanted to protect her from any predator at all cause. My mind flashed back to the moment Amara was shot. I was still sad that Dee was shot even though he had been a pain in my neck. The moment he held Amara's neck and threatened to kill her, I knew that my brother had gotten more vulnerable than ever. And it was also surprising that Jordan put a bullet through him. They loved each other and it was surprising that Jordan would betray someone he loved so much. I strolled towards the wallpaper that covered the door to the secret room and stared at the patterns distractedly. "Isn't it for the best that I marry Amara? At least she w