In Anya’s room, Penelope knelt by the little girl, helping her out of her school uniform. “There we go, all done,” Penelope said with a warm smile as she folded the small blouse and skirt neatly. “Now, let’s find something comfy for you to wear. What do you think?”Anya tugged at the hem of her undershirt, eyeing Penelope curiously. “Are you always this neat?” she asked, tilting her head.Penelope chuckled, smoothing a crease in the folded uniform. “I guess I like things tidy. My mom always said a clean space keeps your mind clear.”Anya giggled as she pulled on a pair of soft cotton pants and a matching top. “Do you clean your room every day?”“I try to,” Penelope replied, brushing Anya’s hair lightly with her fingers. “But what about you, Miss Anya? What do you like to do? Any hobbies?”Anya shrugged, sitting cross-legged on the edge of her bed.“I like reading. And drawing. But…” She hesitated, then looked at Penelope with wide eyes. “Do you know how to make cake?”“Cake?” Penelop
Back in Anya’s room, Penelope wiped the crumbs from Anya’s mouth as the little girl yawned sleepily. “That was the best cake ever,” Anya mumbled, her words slurring slightly from exhaustion.“I’m really glad you liked it, Anya,” Penelope said softly, placing the empty plate on the bedside table. “Now, it’s time for bed, young lady.”“But I’m not sleepy,” Anya protested, rubbing her eyes and betraying her words.Penelope chuckled. “Not sleepy, huh? Then why are your eyes barely open?” She asked with a sly grin on her face.Anya shrugged without uttering a word. Penelope took that as her clue and gently guided Anya to lie down on her bed, tucking the blanket around her snugly.“Will you sing me a lullaby?” Anya asked, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes.“Of course I can. Do you have a favorite or I could pick one?” Penelope asked with a warm smile. “No I don’t. You should pick one. I know it’s going to sound good coming from you since you have an angelic voice.” Anya said, ma
The morning was unusually quiet in the Giovanni mansion. Brayden had left before anyone else was awake, as he often did. The staff went about their duties with practiced efficiency, and Penelope found herself filling the silence by focusing on her tasks for the day.She had already prepared Anya for school that morning and Darla, Anya's bodyguard, still gave her the creep when she had escorted Anya to the gate where Darla and Anya’s driver were waiting. By noon, the air in the kitchen was warm with the aroma of Inez’s cooking.She moved with precision, chopping vegetables and checking the pot on the stove.“Brayden will be home earlier today,” Inez calmly said, glancing over her shoulder at Penelope, who was busy with her own preparations.“He’s coming home early?” Penelope asked, slightly surprised. She remembered he didn’t return early the previous day.“Yes, he called to let me know. I’m making sure everything is perfect for lunch,” Inez replied, her tone leaving no room for er
The night was thick with tension as Brayden sat silently in the backseat of the car. His mask concealed his face, but his cold, piercing eyes told a story of determination. Luca drove with steady hands, his gaze flicking to the rearview mirror occasionally, reading his boss’s mood.“Are you sure you want to do this yourself, Don Giovanni?” Luca asked, his tone cautious. “The boys and I could’ve handled it.”“I want to make sure everything goes smoothly,” Brayden replied curtly, his voice low and commanding. “No mistakes. This deal is too important to leave to chance.”Luca nodded without argument. He knew better than to question Brayden’s decisions.They pulled into an abandoned lot, where a black car was already parked under the dim glow of a flickering streetlight. The client’s men stepped out, their faces hidden behind black masks, mirroring Brayden’s. Brayden gave a single nod. Luca understood the signal and moved to the trunk, retrieving a small black case. The other m
Darla stood in the shadows of the bar, her heart pounding with fury. She had witnessed everything—the quiet conversation between Brayden and Penelope, the way Brayden looked at her, and, worst of all, the kiss. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms as she tried to calm the storm raging inside her. “How could this happen so quickly? That woman just got here! It isn’t even up to a week yet and she’s already trying to seduce Brayden!” Darla thought bitterly as she gritted her teeth in anger.She had never been that angry for a while, but the moment Penelope stepped foot into Brayden’s mansion, everything annoys her! She watched as Penelope walked down the hallway, her steps heavy and hurried— Like she was trying to get away from Brayden at all cost.Darla scoffed, “Acting like she wasn’t leaning to his touch some seconds ago. Innocent looking girls always turned out to be sluts! Who would have thought…?” She mumbled underneath her breath.Brayden remained
Brayden groaned, the sharp ringing of his phone pulling him out of a restless sleep. He reached for it, but the call had already ended by the time he brought it to his ear. Blinking groggily, he stared at the screen.“Missed call from Luca,” he muttered, then noticed the list of notifications. “Ten missed calls? Seriously?” He groaned.His heart dropped. Something was wrong—Luca would never call him so many times unless it was urgent. What could have happened?’ He thought to himself. Brayden sat up abruptly, his body tense. He glanced at the other side of the bed, finding it empty. “Darla’s gone,” he thought absently before redialing Luca’s number.It only rang once before Luca answered, his voice shaky.“Don Giovanni….”“Luca, what happened?” Brayden demanded immediately, his tone sharp. He already had the feeling that something wasn’t right. Thus, he wasn’t in for pleasantries.“I was ambushed last night,” Luca stammered. “The briefcase… it’s gone. They collected it.”“What?”
Brayden leaned back in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on Luca, who stood before him with his arm still in a sling. The tension in the room was palpable.“I can’t trust anyone right now, Luca,” Brayden said, his voice cold and calculated. “Not a single soul. That ambush? It was too well-timed. Someone betrayed us.”Luca nodded, his expression grim. “Do you think it’s someone on the inside, Don?”“Possibly,” Brayden replied. “But my gut tells me it’s the client from last night. Maybe they decided to double-cross us—take the goods and come back for the money.”Luca’s jaw tightened. “What’s the plan?”“We’re going to find them,” Brayden said firmly, leaning forward. “And when we do, they’ll pay for what they’ve done.”Luca raised an eyebrow. “How do we track them down?”Brayden smirked. “They’ll slip up. People like them always do. Start by gathering the men. I want eyes everywhere—any sign of them, I want to know.”“Understood, Don.” Luca pulled out his phone and started making call
In a dimly lit room in the middle of nowhere, armed men paced back and forth. The tension in the air was so thick it could be cut with a knife. The men—Aldo Ricci’s loyal soldiers—were visibly enraged.One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, slammed his fist onto the table in anger.“This is unacceptable!” he barked. “Aldo Ricci was our boss, our leader! And now he’s gone because of that Giovanni scum! Who does that scum think he is?” Another man, smaller but equally furious, chimed in, “We all know who’s responsible! Brayden Giovanni thinks he can get away with this? That we’ll just let him kill our boss and walk free?”The scar-faced man nodded sharply. “He made a grave mistake messing with Ricci. We’re not going to let this slide. I will not rest until I have gotten revenge on the killer of Aldo Ricci! We all will not rest until the killer pays with the last of his blood!”The room erupted in murmurs of agreement, the men all nodding as they checked thei
Brayden leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the table as he observed the men seated around him. The tension in the air was suffocating, thick with unspoken words and barely masked fear. He could feel their unease, the way their gazes flickered toward one another, silently questioning whether they had just made the biggest mistake of their lives.They had.The drugged whiskey he had just consumed was proof of their betrayal. But they didn’t know one thing—Brayden Giovanni was always ten steps ahead.Without a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, sending a quick message. The moment he hit send, the air shifted, a silent command that only his men would understand.Then, he spoke, his voice smooth but carrying the weight of a lethal warning. “Raphael.”The room remained still for a moment before the door to the private dining area opened, and Raphael walked in, a thick stack of documents tucked under his
Brayden sat in his office, his expression unreadable as he skimmed through reports, but his mind wasn’t on business. His instincts had been screaming at him for days, warning him that something bigger was coming. He could feel it in the air, in the way things were unfolding too perfectly for his enemies. He was waiting, watching, calculating his next move before they had the chance to strike. A knock at the door barely pulled his attention from his thoughts. When he called for the person to enter, Giorgio, one of his most trusted spies, stepped inside with a folder in his hands. He didn’t say a word as he placed it on the desk and slid it forward, his face tense. Brayden lifted a brow before picking up the file and flipping it open. The first thing he saw was a familiar name, and that alone made his grip on the paper tighten. Darla. His fingers curled around the edges of the page as he read through the details
The night settled heavily around the Giovanni estate, but Penelope was far from relaxed.Despite Brayden’s reassurances and the increased security, an unsettling feeling sat in her chest. The red X over her face in the photograph haunted her mind. Someone out there wanted her gone.Yet, amidst the danger, something unexpected had happened.Brayden had changed—or at least, her perception of him had.She had started to notice small things about him.The way his fingers tapped against a surface when he was deep in thought.The way he adjusted his cufflinks when he was frustrated.The way his gray eyes softened slightly when Anya was around.And the way his presence, for some reason, made her feel safe.She had spent the last few days carefully watching him—not because she was wary of him, but because she was beginning to understand him.Brayden wasn’t just some cold-hearted mafia boss.He was a man carrying more weight than anyone could see.
Brayden sat at his expensive desk, his sharp eyes scanning the documents spread out before him. The dim lighting of his office cast long shadows across the sleek mahogany surface, highlighting the cold, calculated expression on his face. His upcoming meeting with the business tycoons was one of the most crucial gatherings of the year. This was more than just business—it was about power. Influence. Control. He flipped through the agenda for the night, double-checking the security measures. Everything needed to be airtight. No surprises. No risks. The last thing he could afford was a mistake. His assistant, Raphael, stepped into the office, his usual composed demeanor slightly off, a hint of concern shadowing his features. “Sir, there’s been—” Before he could finish, Brayden’s phone rang. The shrill sound cut through the stillness of the office. Brayden’s eyes flickered to the screen. Penelope. S
Penelope sighed as she tucked the last of Anya’s stuffed animals into the storage box. The little girl had a habit of leaving her toys everywhere, but Penelope didn’t mind.Cleaning up after her was a small price to pay for the warmth she felt being around Anya.She wiped her hands on her dress and stepped back, admiring the neatness of the playroom.Finally, a moment to breathe.She made her way to the living room, collapsing onto the couch as she reached for the remote. The large flat-screen flickered to life, showing the evening news.She didn’t usually care for the news, but today, something kept drawing her to watch it and then; something caught her attention.The headline at the bottom of the screen read:“SERIAL KILLER STILL AT LARGE—NEW TARGETS IDENTIFIED”Penelope’s brows furrowed as the anchor continued.“…Authorities are warning the public to stay alert as the killer appears to be targeting specific individuals. Witnesses have described
The room was dimly lit, the heavy drapes drawn over the tall windows, casting long shadows across the polished mahogany table at the center. The air was thick with tension, the kind that came when powerful people gathered in secrecy to discuss matters that could alter lives. Three men and a woman sat in an orderly manner, their backs straight, their eyes darting toward the door every few seconds. The room was silent except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Then—the door creaked open. The moment she stepped inside, the four of them immediately stood, their expressions shifting from unease to strict reverence. The woman walked in with graceful authority, her heels clicking against the floor, her presence commanding without needing to utter a single word. She was dressed in an elegant black pantsuit, her dark auburn hair cascading over her shoulders in controlled waves. Tonight, she was in charge. Witho
Brayden walked through the estate, his sharp eyes scanning the quiet hallways. It had been a long day, filled with endless meetings and business negotiations, but his mind wasn’t focused on work. It was on her. Penelope. Ever since she had shown him the recording of the traitorous guard, something inside him had shifted. She wasn’t just some woman staying under his roof—she had unknowingly become a part of his world. And that meant she needed his protection, whether she wanted it or not. As he neared the kitchen, the soft sound of laughter reached his ears. He stopped. It wasn’t just any laughter—it was Anya’s. And Penelope’s. Brayden stepped forward, pushing open the door. The sight before him made him pause. Penelope and Anya were seated at the kitchen island, decorating cupcakes. Anya had flour smeared across her cheek, her tiny fingers holding a frosting bag as
Penelope stirred awake in the middle of the night, feeling warmth on both sides of her body. As her eyes fluttered open, she realized she was still in Anya’s room, wrapped in the soft comforter with the little girl nestled against her chest.She turned her head slightly and saw Brayden lying on the other side of Anya, his arm draped protectively over his daughter. His breathing was deep and even, his usually sharp features softened in sleep.A strange warmth settled in Penelope’s chest. She had never seen him like this before—so unguarded, so human.For a moment, she just lay there, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.But then reality settled in.She shouldn’t be here.Carefully, she peeled Anya’s tiny arms from around her waist and slipped out of bed. She stood slowly, making sure not to wake them, and tiptoed toward the door.The hallway was dimly lit, the estate unusually quiet at this hour. As she walked toward her room, she caught
Brayden Giovanni was a man who thrived on control. He built an empire by keeping his emotions in check, by ensuring that nothing—no one—distracted him from his goals.And yet, Penelope had become a distraction.Ever since he had rescued her, ever since he had carried her into his villa and kissed her when she was asleep, he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind.That was a problem.A problem he intended to fix.So, he did what he always did—he buried himself in work.The moment he arrived at Giovanni Enterprises, Luca was already waiting for him outside his office.“Sir,” Luca greeted, falling into step beside him. “The board has called an urgent meeting. They want your input on the new marketing strategies before the campaign goes live.”Brayden adjusted his cufflinks, barely reacting. “What’s the issue?”Luca handed him a folder. “Some concerns about the branding approach. The marketing team is waiting in the conference room.”Brayden