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CHAPTER 33 - MISSING
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BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 34 - SLIPPING IN UNCONSCIOUSNESS
“Problem in the office?’ Rebecca seemed to sense that there was something wrong with Nico. She acted quickly, placed her dessert spoon down, and dabbed her lips with the table napkin before rising to her feet. She walked to the door, passing a seemingly transfixed Nico. “Where are you going?” He managed to ask when he saw her stepping out of the private room. “To the office,” Rebecca said when he asked. Nico rubbed the back of his head, looking conflicted. He did not want to dampen their reunion lunch. For a moment, he thought of staying but knowing Kara was missing, he could not sit still and take it easy. He had to see her. Finally, he sighed and decided to leave. “You do not have to come with me back to the office." He told a seemingly offended Rebecca. He backtracked. "What I mean is, you can stay and enjoy your food. Later, I will send a car to fetch you.” He told her, but Rebecca ignored him.By the time he came to his senses, Rebecca was walking toward the exit.
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 35 - TO SAFETY
Nico watched the CCTV footage from the monitor. As far as he knew, Kara had gone to the third floor to throw her necklace away. The third floor was her last stop.He requested the security personnel to show him the footage only to find out, to his annoyance, that they do not have any recordings on file that would suggest Ms. Baxter's last stop before she disappeared was the third floor. Mario was also there. His man was shaking his head, and from his body movements, Mario could glean that he wanted to say something but was reluctant because of Nico.“You can say what you want to say. The boss will listen.” He advised Pedro.Pedro hummed. He clicked on his computer and checked several clips before muttering, “I do not think Ms. Baxter ever stepped foot on the third floor.” Come Pedro’s reply. “What are you implying? Her necklace, the one with the bug, was found on the third-floor dumpster. Are you saying that Kara deliberately misled me?" Nico’s voice sounded gruff. He was angry
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 36 - CHANGED
Nico walked briskly to his office.“Evelyn, check on Mario and tell him I need him in my office.” He instructed, looking over his shoulder when he passed by his secretary’s station.Then, he opened the door to his office, expecting to see Rebecca and Evan waiting inside, but was surprised to find Bruno instead. His right-hand man looked grim. “Bruno, why are you here? I thought I already told you to keep an eye on Bonacci. Where is Rebecca? Evan?”But before he could finish his sentence, Bruno lunged at him, punching him mercilessly on his right cheek. Nico lost his balance and skidded on the floor, bumping on the edge of the sofa. He looked up to see Bruno’s menacing features towering over him. Nico propped his palm up for support. Then he very quickly went to stand. When he was back on his feet, he confronted Bruno, wiping the blood from his cut lip. The blood smeared the pad of his thumb. He wiped it off on the front of his shirt. “What was that for?” Nico demanded. He was
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 37 - I HATE YOU
When Kara woke up from her drugged state, she had no idea where she was. Fear gripped her as she sat up groggily, clutching the comforter to her chest. She tried to recall what happened earlier. Kara shuddered when she remembered the fright she involuntarily felt on the stairway while being chased. As the distance between her and her pursuer narrowed, she felt terrified that she almost passed out, until finally, her pursuer gained on her. He held her hand, and she felt repugnance like she had never felt before. Tears streamed down her face. She opened her mouth to cry for help, but her pursuer immediately covered her mouth with his gloved hands. Her vision became blurry, and right after, she passed out. Kara checked herself. She was still in her barmaid uniform, and apart from feeling limp, she did not hurt anywhere. She sighed, feeling grateful that at least, he did not touch
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 38 - JEALOUS
It was hours later when Nico awoke due to the incessant vibrating of his phone. His fingers wiggled, groping for the phone, and with his one eye shut, he tapped on the screen to receive the call.“Bruno was out?” It was Evan’s voice. At the mention of his most trusted assistant and right-hand man, something pinched Nico’s chest. All his life, Bruno had been by his side - mentoring him and guiding him. Bruno was like a second father to him. It hurts Nico to see the older man go. But he can not let the older man’s trespass slide. What he did was betrayal. It was Nico’s non-negotiable. Nico carefully slid the comforter off his body and sat on the edge of the bed. “Yeah. He is going back to Sicily.” He replied before rising from the bed and walking naked out of the bedroom so as not to disturb Kara. They talked some more. Nico asked about Rebecca, and Evan reported that Rebecca has been staying at the Castiliogne Villa. “Tomorrow, she can take the Penthouse if she likes.” Nico
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 39 - SHATTERED HOPES
Kara huffed and puffed in exhaustion.Her muscles complained everywhere everytime she hit the cylindrical-shaped punching bag in front of her and missed.She kept trying until sweat pooled on her forehead and drenched her cotton sports shirt.She was tired.Her muscles complained from too much exertion, but Evan would not let her stop. Evan harangued her to keep going and going and going to a point where she lost track of time.She did not know how long she and Evan had been at the boxing gym, but the latter kept nagging at her, making her ears ache and her mood extra lousy.It did not help that she had a rough night. She kept tossing and turning on her bed back in the guest room.When she realized that the woman who happily greeted Nico with an exuberant embrace was his first love everybody presumed dead, Kara felt a numbness all over her body. She does not know what to
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 40 - PIECE OF TRASH
“What do you mean?” Kara felt it hard to breathe. She was thankful that Nico broke the news to her while they were sitting. Otherwise, she did not know if she had any strength to carry herself after delivering the bomb. Her knees felt weak like they were made of jelly.For a while, there was silence between them. It was like Nico was allowing her time to digest his news.After a while, Nico cleared his throat, breaking her from her trance.Kara bit her lip. The pain inside her was unbearable, but she had to control herself. For days, she had been waiting for this moment, but nothing, no amount of pep talk or reasoning, could have prepared her for the real thing.“Rebecca asks me constantly about you. I do not want her to misunderstand.” Nico explained.Kara nodded. “I understand.” She was thankful that her voice sounded
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 41 - HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
Kara’s resignation went smoothly because Ms. Granger of the human resources office had already been notified before her arrival.“We had been expecting it. It was actually a wise decision, Ms. Baxter. The staff is beginning to question the extra favors the management accords you. Even if you were the boss’s girl, you are still an employee of this hotel, bound by its rules and regulations. It puts me in a tight spot.” Ms. Granger told her lengthily and saw a relief on the older woman’s face.Of course, Kara could have argued that it was not her intent, but she chose to remain silent. It was never her intention to come back and it certainly was not her choice to neglect her job. But of course, she could not put any blame on Nico.He was the boss.The human resources would be in a bind if they tried to call his attention to her absences. In the end, none of thos
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BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hello Loves, In every story, there is always a beginning and an end. I am deeply honored that you have become part of Kara and Nico's love journey. Your reviews, comments and votes matter a lot. They inspire me to come up with chapters regularly, and excites me every time because I knew that you were walking with me in this journey. Thank you, loves. Special mention to my editor Lyra Pinter for making this story possible. Thank you for the support and promotions you have given this book. A big thank you to my top 25 gem contributors as of this writing: magdalena.czajka, Roselyn Moore, Panela Ellis, Lei Esturas, Margaret, Katherine, Lean Cantara, Makhosazana Rebecca Mazibuko, Shirley Torres, Stina, Natalie Kae Foster, cathykoopman6, Laura Tomas, Edna Oclida, Blaca Villalpando Kelley, Joycelyn Eusebe, ruckik.evershine, Jody Conrad, Parker, Angelica Monteon, Annie Punto, Adeyiga Adepeju, Normah Mrs, Charlotte, and Anitra Christ. To my commenters and reviewers, I love your
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 85 - EPILOGUE
On a remote island in the Far East, a man leisurely reads an article from the spread-out newspaper. It says:‘Hotel Billionaire Nico Bernardi has finally been laid down to rest in a private cemetery in Sicily. His burial was attended by his adoptive father, Don Leo Castiliogne, and friends in the business. ‘It was a sad day not only for the Castiliogne Family but for the business world, having lost such a brilliant businessman who gained traction for the world-class service his businesses offered. Nico Bernardi reinvented the service industry, making it one of the most sought-after professions in the world. ‘His death impacted the industry, and many people are in mourning to date. ‘Meantime, the Castiliogne Conglomerate will hold an emergency meeting to discuss certain management changes particularly since the position of CEO has been left open due to the unfortunate demise of its CEO.’Nico folded the newspaper in front of him and placed it on the side of the rectangular dining
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 84 - NICO IS DEAD
After he heard the doctor declare Kara dead, a shift happened in Nico. His face became blank. He looked to be in a state of shock. “Sir, are you alright?” The doctor’s voice snapped Nico out of his mental breakdown. With a stony expression on his face, Nico kissed and patted Xoey’s head. Then, he handed his child to Frank. “Tell Rebecca to take care of our daughter.” Frank thinks of this as a bad sign. “Don’t act rashly, Nico. Think about Xoey. If something happens to you, too, who will care for your daughter? Her mother is gone. Don’t make her an orphan.” But it seemed as if Frank’s words had no effect on Nico. It comes and goes with the wind. Frank shook his head and took his phone to call his friends, Evan and Bruno. Both are expected to arrive today. ________Nico stepped out of the hospital, lost in his own grief. He felt constricted.He pounded on his chest several times, hoping that the simple act could make him feel alive, but it was no use. When he heard that
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 83 - SHE'S NOT DEAD!
“What have you done, you monster!” Nico shouted while he was trying to apply pressure on Kara’s head to keep it from oozing blood. His snot mixed with his tears as he attended to Kara, who lay on the floor unconscious. “Kara, wake up. Please, don’t leave me behind.” Nico choked on the words. The picture it painted in his eyes was so unacceptable.Don Leo’s gun still reeked of smoke. The older man looked stunned. The bruise on his cheek slowly turned purple, but he did not seem to mind. Don Leo looked shocked!Xoey’s cries echoed around them. The child must have sensed that her mother was in danger. Earlier, the baby was silent because Rebecca tried to cushion her little ears with her palms. Speaking of Rebecca, she, too, looked frozen on the spot. She did not think that her father would be capable of gunning a person point-blank. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. In her shell-shocked state, she almost forgot about Xoey, and her hold on the baby slackened. Were it not for Mar
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 82 - THE DAY HE OPENED HIS EYES
Nico heard the pain in Kara’s voice, but he willed himself not to look at her face, for it would be his undoing.He had things to settle first.There was general silence all around, except for Kara’s muffled sobs. “So, the prodigal son is awake.” Don Leo muttered under his breath. There was no relief nor excitement on his face at the knowledge that Nico surpassed death.For Don Leo, it would be better for everyone if Nico did not wake up. He can take care of the man until his last breath. But this twist forebodes nothing good for him and the Castiliogne family. Nico, getting out of the coma, was going to shake their world, and he wouldn’t let it happen. To him, Nico is better off as dead.For his part, Nico ignored the older man’s barb. He walked deliberately, his movements stiff due to the weakness in his leg, but he continued with his slow pace until he reached Don Leo’s side.Don Leo is a stocky man. Nico towered over him. He looked down on the man who had taken him under
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 81 - THE BABY IS MINE!
Nico’s eyelids flickered several times like a butterfly wing atop a flower, ready to explore. A short while later, his eyelids fluttered open, showing the dark eyes underneath. He looked around him. The familiar room was empty. After a while, his eyes glittered when he remembered his last ordeal. He thought he would not make it. But he had the best motivation on Earth. He remembered how he literally bit the bullets and braved through the obstacles. He remembered how he got hit. At the remembrance, he searched his body to check his injuries. He had two - one on his leg and one on his arm. He sighed in elation, muttering under his breath a prayer of thanks. It was good to be back. He mumbled to himself. He thought he died on the firing range, but it seemed like fate was giving him a chance. He vowed to use this chance to be with his family. He had endured enough. At the thought of Kara and their baby, Nico pushed his body to sit up, but all his strength had left him.
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 80 - WHAT ARE YOU DOING DADDY?
Don Leo’s men swarmed around them, leaving Kara’s body frozen in fear.Sweat and goosebumps fought for dominance in lining her smooth skin while being driven out of Nico's room. “Wait a minute. We are not doing anything wrong?” She blurted out when Frank and Marco underwent a body check. Marco was unarmed, but Frank had one tuck on the hidden holster on his jacket. The men confiscated the firearm before pushing them to walk the narrow hallway out of Nico's bedroom. Kara’s eyes darted from side to side, noting the unfamiliarity of the place. This was not the way out, she concluded to herself.“Where are you taking us?” She asked once more, thankful that her voice sounded strong, but deep inside, her heart beat fast - so fast that she nearly thought it would jump out of her ribcage. The men remained silent. They did not say a word. The only sound she could hear was the ringing in her ears. Frank, who was walking ahead of her, warned. “Stop talking and just walk.” Two men flank
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 79 - TAKE THEM ALL AWAY
“What happened to him?” The sound of anguish in Kara’s voice reverberated around the silent room. Gingerly, she walked to the bed and stopped near Nico’s head. She was trembling as she did so. Her eyes never left Nico’s unmoving form on the bed. Nico was breathing. Her eyes flew to his face, studying the changes in them. “He lost weight.” Frank told her everything that happened after Nico disappeared. While Frank talked, Kara sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly feeling like her knees were to give up on her any minute. Her hands trembling, Kara took Nico's free hand carefully and pressed it between hers. She was afraid that her movement might have hurt him. “What happened?” Without letting her eyes drift from Nico's, Kara asked Frank. “He wanted to get out, but the system did not let him. Given his position, it was impossible to allow him to go. He already knew too much. Besides, you only have a one-way ticket to the organization.” “There is no way out.” It was Marco
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 78 - OH MY!
Kara looked at the Grecian white building in front of her. Her brows furrowed in confusion.“I thought you were going to bring me to Nico? What are we doing here? This looks like a military camp to me.” She told him with a frown. For the first time, Kara regretted her decision to come to Sicily with Marco, and her doubt showed on her face as she watched Marco ducked his head when two men emerged from the structure. The men looked like hired goons. “Lower your head, and do not let them see your face.” Marco hissed. Kara did as she was told.She pressed her body into the cramped space at the back of the delivery truck where Marco pulled her in earlier. Afraid that any act of disobedience would endanger them. By now, she has fully understood that this is a covert territory and no one from the outside is permitted to enter. They were trespassing on private property!Suddenly, she felt for their safety. And fear slowly crept in. What if they were discovered and unable to leave this
