Penelope Lorenzo, a woman who’d just lost everything and in utter shambles. She had never imagined that life would bring her to this point. Brayden Giovanni, the big, masked mafia who shouldn’t be trifled with. Billionaire by day and Don by night. Thrust in each other’s worlds by circumstances beyond their control and some that seemed to be in his control. But with danger lurking from their forgotten pasts, including a serial killer on the loose, choices must be made or consequences abound. What happens when their cocoon is threatened by forces they can’t seem to identify? What happens when she leaves after unraveling his secrets and almost gets trafficked? Will she embrace he who would raze the underworld for her or will she leave with the fruit of their passion?
Lihat lebih banyakBrayden’s piercing gray eyes swept over the group standing before him, his expression dark and unreadable. The tension in the air was suffocating, pressing down on everyone like an invisible weight. His fingers tapped against the side of his expensive watch as he exhaled sharply. “What happened?” His voice was quiet, but the dangerous edge beneath it sent a chill down Penelope’s spine. Darla stepped forward immediately, her posture straight and composed. “Don Giovanni, it was reckless on Penelope’s part,” she said smoothly, her tone carrying just the right amount of concern and authority. “She insisted that we step back and let Anya play freely, despite my objections. I warned her that it wasn’t safe, but she refused to listen. That’s how we lost sight of Anya.” Penelope’s eyes widened in shock. “That’s not true!” she blurted out, stepping forward. “I never ignored any warnings. I only—” Brayden lifted a hand, cutting her
Penelope’s heart pounded violently against her ribs as she sprinted through the park, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her voice was hoarse from screaming.“Anya!” she called, desperation clawing at her chest. “Anya, where are you?”The afternoon sun bathed the park in warm light, but to Penelope, everything felt cold and suffocating. Parents strolled with their children, unaware of the panic gripping her. Some cast curious glances, sensing the distress in her voice, but no one had seen a little girl wandering alone.Behind her, Darla and the other guards moved swiftly, searching every bench, every slide, every hidden corner.“Spread out!” Darla barked at the men, her sharp eyes scanning the playground. “Check near the fountain and behind the bushes. Someone had to see something!”Penelope’s hands trembled as she gripped her phone, hesitating for a moment before shoving it back into her pocket. Calling Brayden now wouldn’t do any good. She had to find Anya firs
Penelope sighed as she pulled the soft blanket over Anya’s small body, brushing a few strands of hair away from her peaceful face. The little girl had dozed off mid-sentence, exhausted from the morning’s activities. Penelope smiled faintly, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead before straightening up.She walked quietly out of the room, careful not to wake her, and stepped into the hallway where Darla stood, already waiting.“She’s ready for school,” Penelope said softly.Darla gave a curt nod and opened the door wider. Anya stirred, blinking sleepily as she saw the bodyguard. “Darla…” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.“It’s time to go, princess,” Darla said, her tone softer than usual.Anya yawned and stretched her little arms before slipping off the bed. Penelope helped her into her coat and adjusted the straps of her pink backpack.“I’ll see you when you get back, okay?” Penelope said, crouching to Anya’s level.Anya nodded before wrap
The morning sunlight filtered through the large windows of the dining room, casting a warm glow over the space. The sound of clinking cutlery and soft footsteps filled the air as the household staff moved about, ensuring that everything was in place for breakfast.Brayden sat at the head of the table, dressed in a crisp black suit, his expression unreadable as he scrolled through his phone while sipping his coffee. His plate was mostly untouched, the food before him barely registering in his mind. He had a long day ahead, and his thoughts were already occupied with business matters.The sound of small, hurried footsteps caught his attention. Looking up, he saw Anya running toward the dining area, her face bright with excitement. Behind her, Penelope followed at a more measured pace, her hair slightly tousled from sleep. She wore a simple dress, her features neutral as she realized who was seated at the table.Brayden’s eyes flickered to Penelope brief
Brayden stepped into his villa, exhaustion weighing heavily on his shoulders. The evening had been unnecessarily draining, filled with public appearances, staged moments, and the suffocating presence of Victoria Monroe. He had tolerated it all with his usual indifference, knowing full well what she was playing at, but he couldn’t let his irritation cloud his judgment.He loosened his tie as he walked through the quiet hallways, his footsteps silent against the polished marble floor. The house was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the security fixtures along the walls. He made his way toward Anya’s bedroom, his body instinctively guiding him there despite the late hour.Pushing the door open slightly, he peeked inside. The warm glow of the nightlight illuminated the room, casting soft shadows along the walls. His daughter lay curled up on her bed, her small body wrapped in the blankets, her soft breathing the only sound in the room. But
The evening had played out exactly the way Victoria planned.From the moment they arrived at the high-end restaurant, everything had been carefully arranged. The paparazzi had been stationed at strategic angles, capturing shots of them walking in together, exchanging subtle glances, and sharing what appeared to be a pleasant dinner. Every element screamed elegance and power—just as she wanted.The moment they stepped out of the restaurant, the flashing lights returned in full force. Reporters and photographers called out to them, asking questions about their relationship, speculating on the nature of their bond. Victoria smiled, clutching Brayden’s arm with just the right amount of intimacy.Brayden, however, remained impassive. His face betrayed no emotion as he led her through the chaos. He was used to this. His presence alone was enough to stir media frenzy, but tonight, the focus wasn’t just on him. It was on them.As they reached his car
Penelope woke up the next morning feeling drained. She had barely slept the night before, tossing and turning as thoughts of Brayden and Victoria clouded her mind. Even now, as she forced herself out of bed and went to freshen up, the memory of the news report still played in her head. The images of Brayden and Victoria looking so comfortable together, so intimate, were burned into her mind. But today, she wasn’t going to let it affect her. She had a job to do, and that was all that mattered. Taking a deep breath, she pulled on a simple but neat outfit and stepped out of her room. She was expecting Brayden to have already left for work by now, which would make it easier for her to avoid him. But when she descended the stairs and stepped into the dining area, her feet almost stopped in their tracks. He was there. Brayden sat at the dining table, dressed sharply as always in a crisp dark suit. He had a newspaper spread open in front of him, his focus on the articles as h
Brayden leaned back in his chair, watching as Victoria Monroe crossed her legs, a confident smirk on her lips. Their discussion had gone smoothly, and she had been particularly pleased with the outcome. She always knew what she wanted, and from the way she kept staring at him, it was obvious he was included in that list. “Well, I’d say this has been a productive meeting,” Victoria said, tilting her head. “I’m glad we could finally sit down and discuss things properly.” Brayden didn’t respond right away. His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair, his expression unreadable. Victoria leaned forward slightly, placing her elbows on the desk as she gazed at him with amusement. “You know, Brayden, I have to admit, I was surprised when you reached out to me. I thought you weren’t interested in… anything other than business with me.” His sharp blue eyes met hers. “Business comes before personal matters,” he said smoot
Brayden stood from his chair, adjusting his cufflinks as he glanced toward Inez. His expression was unreadable, his cold demeanor in full force. He cleared his throat, drawing the attention of everyone still lingering in the dining room.“Inez,” he said flatly, slipping his hands into his pockets, “I have a meeting later with Victoria, followed by dinner. There’s no need to prepare anything for me tonight, and no one should wait up.” His tone left no room for questions. Without sparing another glance, he turned on his heels and strode out of the dining room.He had purposely not referred to her as a client to Inez because he knew Penelope would be listening to his words.Penelope, who had been in the kitchen washing dishes, froze when she heard his words. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped a plate, her heart sinking in her chest. Victoria. Again.She had overheard his phone conversation earlier when she went to call him. She had seen the way he ha
Penelope Lorenzo’s POV“Please help me!” My voice cracked as I dropped to my knees, clutching at the hem of a nurse’s scrubs. “Please, I’m begging you! My father… he’s dying! Do something!”The nurse took a hesitant step back, her face full of pity but devoid of action to render any sort of help. “Miss, I—I’m so sorry. There’s nothing—”“There’s Nothing?” I screamed at the top of my voice, my voice echoing down the cold hospital hallway. I just didn’t care!“He’s having a stroke! A heart attack! Do you understand? My father, He’s in pain! You have to save him! He is all I’ve got, please!” I yelled more on seeing no one was ready to help me out.“We’re doing all we can,” another nurse murmured, but her words felt hollow. Her gaze darted away from mine, as if she couldn’t bear to look at me.Was I looking so terrible that everyone kept avoiding my gaze? Why wouldn’t they just help me save my father? That’s all I’m pleading for!“No, you’re not doing anything!” I yelled and burst into mo...
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