One Month Later... "Now girl, spill all the juices!" Lucretia said and took a sip from her cup of coffee. They were having a girls' time out and decided to stop by an Italian coffee shop first. Rosana picked up her cup and stirred the hot coffee with a smile on her face. She couldn't help it. Everything had turned out competently for the past month, starting from her marriage. The businesses also run smoothly with no losses. "Come on, Ana, spill it out" "Everything has been good. That is all you should know" She replied and sipped her coffee. "There's more. Go on" Rosana laughed heartily and placed the cup on the table. For the past month, they had been extremely busy and didn't have time to sit down and talk. They barely saw eyes to eye and when they did, they could only wave at each other. While Rosana traveled around and attended to business affairs most of the time, Lucretia remained at the clubhouse, dancing and also teaching the girls. By the time she was done for the da
"Where are we going?" Rosana asked after Sergio took the driver's seat. He had opened the door for her and helped her into the car. "Would you rather I ruin the surprise?" Rosana shook her head and he smirked, turning on the engine which roared to life. "Then I would advise you put on your seatbelt, Bambolina"Rosana put on her seatbelt as instructed and sat quietly. She was still shocked that the ruthless Sergio De Niro had planned a surprise date. He even asked if she had other options aside from the planned date. Was that a change of heart? She wondered."Give him a chance..." Rosana remembered Lucretia's words as she stared out of the window. How come she never thought of that? How come she never considered that even when things began to change between them?There were a few reasons, one of which included the Mistress and the fact that she still remained by his side even after they got married. Another reason was the several near-death punishments he gave to her. His unpredictable
In less than thirty minutes, the driver pulled up in front of a French restaurant which happened to be the biggest in the city. Rosana was overjoyed. She had always loved France and everything that had to do with it, including their cuisine. Sergio helped her down from the car and led her towards the restaurant. Once they got inside, all the chefs and staff who already lined up at the front bowed in greetings and respect. "Mr. And Mrs. De Niro!" The grand chef stepped forward and bowed slightly. "It is an honor to have you in our midst!" Clinging onto Sergio's arms, Rosana smiled and looked up at him. "Thank you, we are honored!" "De cette façon, s'il vous plaît," [This way, please~French] The grand chef said and led the way while they followed behind. The restaurant boasted a lavish interior with an elegant vibe, sophisticated furnishings, striking chandeliers, and jaw-dropping art installations. Rosana couldn't stop admiring the whole place as they got into the elevator and arr
Three Days Later... (AT THE CLUBHOUSE) "I know you are f*cking someone!" Sonya, one of the dancers teased after their dance. "Some hot guy with a good cøck" "Stop saying that!" Lucretia rolled her eyes and turned away. "And get the f*ck off my back" Sonya laughed and kept following her behind the stage. She was the only one who managed to get closer to her even after being pushed away plenty of times. The rest of the girls already knew that Lucretia didn't talk much and didn't like company. Her job was to teach them how to dance and that was all. "Not until you tell me who this mysterious dude is. If you tell me, I will tell you other guys that f*cks better than him." Lucretia sighed and turned to look at her. "I am not f*cking anyone" Sonya laughed and looked around before turning back to her. "Yes, you are. I saw it!" Once she heard that, her heart started pounding heavily. For the past month, she had been playing around with Enzo but they never f*cked. She didn't know why he
Someone hurt Lucretia... Someone had the guts to lay a hand on her and make her bleed. Such a person was tired of living. Such a person craved death and he was going to have it, slowly... Painfully... Miserably. "Mr. De Niro!" A nurse called out and touched him gently on the arm. Enzo immediately grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the floor so her feet were thrashing in the air. "Mr... Mr..." "Mr. De Niro" Dr. Amarillo called out and rushed over to the scene. He froze when Enzo pulled out his gun and aimed at his forehead. "No... No, please... You cannot do that here..." Enzo looked around the hospital and saw the terrified look on the patient's face, as well as the doctors and nurses. He immediately lowered his gun and released the nurse whom he held by the throat. She fell weakly on the ground and started coughing. "I am so sorry..." Enzo muttered and knelt in front of her but she moved away, trembling. "F*ck!" Dr. Amarillo signaled two nurses to take care of her and t
"Goodness... What happened?" Rosana inquired and sat down on the bed. They just returned from France and had to visit the hospital immediately when they got the news."I am fine. You do not have to worry about me"Sergio stood by the door with both hands inside his trouser pocket. He watched the two friends quietly, especially Rosana who looked so worried and concerned. When Talitha broke the news about what happened to Lucretia, she had been shattered and blamed herself for not being there to protect her."Talitha told me that someone tried to hurt you""Yes, that was two days ago. I am fine, seriously" Lucretia responded and shifted on the bed. She could feel Enzo's hard gaze on her which made her uncomfortable. Adding to that, her best friend's husband, the Don , was standing right at the door. Two powerful and ruthless men in one room."Tell me what happened, Cretia, I am almost losing my mind"Lucretia bit her lower lips nervously. How was she going to tell Rosana everything in fr
"Lucretia was the only friend I had," Rosana told Sergio who sat behind her in the bathtub, drawing circles in her back. "She was crazy and always got us into trouble but I loved her, we loved each other" "But then, she disappeared on our graduation day. I searched everywhere for her and cried every night. I thought I would never see her again until she appeared at the club." She paused and sighed. "Turns out her father had used her to clear the debt he owed Grasso Romon. She was his slave... His s*x slave!" Sergio kissed her shoulder and drew her closer to himself. She relaxed and rested her head on his chest. "I wish I could find whoever tried to hurt her. No doubt it was one of his men" Before Talitha even called to inform Rosana about what happened, Sergio had gotten the news about Enzo's visit to the RE clan. What he couldn't understand was why he killed six men who had not offended him. Aside from that, Enzo wasn't a violent person. He was mostly quiet but dangerous. Sergio a
Carmencita knocked on the door and walked into the room with Vicenta's food. She gently placed it on the table and waited for her to finish taking her bath. It wasn't her duty to serve her breakfast but she felt the need to do so. With the rumors flying around, she needed to have a word with her.Vicenta finally walked out of the bathroom, covered in a white robe. Once she looked up and saw her, she placed both hands on her stomach and screamed her lungs out. She had expected to find anyone in the room but not Carmencita."What the hell are you doing in here?" Without waiting for her response, she added. "Get out. Now!!!""I am sorry if I startled you...""Get. Out. Of. My. Room!"Carmencita ignored her and continued. "I brought you breakfast. You should eat immediately before it gets cold!"Vicenta fisted her hands and gritted her teeth. What was she doing in her room? She wondered, glaring hard at her. And why did she bring her breakfast personally? Usually, it was always the maids,
Enzo's mind reeled, struggling to process the revelation. The past and present collided, threatening to upend everything—the secrets she'd kept, the lies she'd told, and the truths she'd hidden, partially exposed. What more could she have hidden from him?Rio, oblivious to the turmoil raging within Enzo, happily jumped up from his seat. "Catch me if you can!" Then, he ran off.Enzo, familiar with the game, stood up and ran after him, trying to catch him. The sun-drenched playground echoed with Rio's laughter as they chased after each other. Suddenly, Rio's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he waved enthusiastically."Mammà! My Mammà is here!" As Enzo's gaze followed him, his blood ran cold. Frozen in place, he watched as Lucretia walked towards the playground, her strides elegant, as always. She scanned the playground and once she found Rio, she smiled softly. "There you are!" The boy sprinted toward her with a ball in hand. "Mammà, come see! I made a new friend, he saved me from
Rio stepped out of the room, his small frame trembling. He had watched the scene unfold through the window and though he hadn't seen everything, he knew the unknown man had saved him. He had defeated the bad man who now lay motionless on the ground.Enzo, sensing his presence, shifted his gaze from the lifeless man. His eyes locked on Rio and for a moment, he froze. Those eyes... They were identical to Lucretia's, deep green.His expression faltered as a flicker of emotion crossed his face. The resemblance was uncanny—the same deep green that had haunted him for months. Memories came flooding back, but he locked them away and hardened his expression."Are you okay?" He asked and Rio nodded, taking small steps forward. "You should not be out here""Yes. Nana Silvana said to stay inside, but then, the bad man came." Nana Silvana? Enzo had thought the woman was the boy's mother. "You are safe now.""And the... And the bad man?"Enzo's expression softened. "He will never harm you again,
"Once I'm gone, lock the door from the inside," Silvana instructed Rio, her expression serious. "Do not go outside. Do you understand?""Yes, Nana." He nodded solemnly."Remember, do not open the door for anyone except your Mammà or me." "Yes, Nana," Rio replied, his brows furrowed with concern. "Is Mammà alright? I saw bruises on her face this morning"Silvana's face softened. Despite Lucretia's attempt to hide from the boy, he had noticed the bruises anyway. "She is... alright, dear, you do not have to worry about her. That is why you must stay safe inside and keep the door locked. I will be back in no time"With a reassuring smile, Silvana departed and Rio obediently did as instructed, his mind filled with worry. His mother's changed behavior troubled him and the fact that she wasn't herself anymore. The past few months had been filled with hushed conversations between Aunt Silvana and his mother who often whispered of "Paying the price" and that "He's coming for her." Rio could
NEXT MORNING~Lucretia stood at her kitchen sink, bracing herself against the cool countertop. The trembling of her hands subsided slowly as she gripped the edge of the sink, her head bowed in exhaustion. She couldn't sleep the whole night as the image of the men who had attacked her kept flashing in her mind, including the mysterious man who had saved her. Her thoughts swirled, reliving the terror of the alley. Each memory triggered a fresh wave of fear that made her stomach churn. She retched, but nothing came up. Her fingers instinctively went to the tender skin of her neck where Domingo had gripped her and she winced at the haunting memories it brought back.Enzo should've killed her at once, instead of letting her live. She had felt the life draining out of her when he encircled his fingers on her throat, but then his hands had fallen limp as he slipped away.Attempting to calm her racing heart, she forced herself to breathe deeply. If not for the mysterious stranger, she'd be g
"No, it isn't!" Lucretia gritted and darted towards the narrow gap between two dumpsters. Before she could make it through, she was grasped by the hair and tossed harshly to the ground."Always thinking you're fucking smart" Domingo laughed and walked over to where she was now struggling to raise herself from the ground. He crouched in front of her and grasped her hair, pulling her head backward so she was now looking into his face."But you're not!" He added and landed a hard slap on her face that sent her back to the ground."What the fuck do you want from me?!?""From you? Oh, everything!" He replied languidly and grasped hair one more time."Why? I did as you fucking asked!""That's what I thought. Until I found out the mission was unsuccessful, you fucking failed" He responded and smacked her on the cheek once more. "And he is alive!"Lucretia spat our blood as she struggled to get up from the ground. "He's fucking dead, I saw it, you saw it. Unless you were fucking blind"Domin
The leather strap cracked against Alberto's back, the sound echoing through the room. His cries were all that was heard, his pleas for mercy drowned out by the relentless cracking of the belt. "You should have taken the throne," Sergio repeated, each word punctuated by another strike. His expression remained impassive, his eyes glinting with cold intensity.In rapt silence, the men who had been ordered out of the meeting room and the soldiers watched, witnessing Alberto's public downfall. They all knew Sergio was merely toying with him. An actual fight would've ended in minutes, with Alberto broken and covered in bruises. But instead of using his fists, the Don had chosen to wield his belt as a tool of discipline.The measured strikes, the steady pace, and Sergio's unruffled demeanor served as a potent reminder of his unshakable power and authority. This wasn't about vengeance, neither was it a punishment. It was a deliberate showcase of his supremacy."Please... forgive me! I am you
•••TWO WEEKS LATER••• ☠️🏴☠️THE CAPITAL🏴☠️☠️The door to the meeting room swung open, and Sergio walked in, his presence grasping attention. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his shirt crisp and white, his tie knotted to perfection. But it wasn't his impeccable attire that drew the eye. It was the cold aura that swirled around him like a dark cloud.As he entered, the room seemed to grow colder, the air thickening with an almost discernable sense of fear. The mafia members, dressed in tailored suits, felt a shiver run down their spines as their hearts raced in unison.Hastily, they scrambled to their feet with their heads bowed in terror and their eyes fixed on the floor. Not a sound was made and not a muscle twitched, as they froze in place. Sergio's gaze swept the room, his eyes lingering on each member. His face remained calm, but his eyes burned with an icy intensity that seemed to pierce the very souls of those before him.With deliberate slowness, he made
"It's a miracle!" The Doctor exclaimed, snapping him out of his thoughts. "The Don is awake, and we owe it to these two little champions"A sudden shiver ran down his spine, as though a cold breeze had swept through the room. But it wasn't the temperature that caused the shiver—it was the unmistakable sensation of being watched.He could feel a pair of eyes digging into his back, boring into his skin. The sensation was familiar, yet it sent a trail of shivers down his spine. Without turning around, Sergio listened to the Doctor who continued talking. As Sergio finally turned to face the room, his breath hitched in his throat. His eyes locked onto Rosana's, and time seemed to stand still. She was standing just a few feet away, her teary blue eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his heart skip a beat. The children were with her, but his gaze was drawn only to Rosana—his Bambolina.In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the questions, not the doubts, not the fears. All that
In the depths of Sergio's subconscious, he had heard a faint whisper that echoed through the darkness. It was a soft, insistent voice, a gentle tug on the seams of his mind."Papà!""Daddy, wake up!" "We want you to eat lunch with us!"The voice was like a ray of sunlight, piercing the fog that shrouded his awareness. His subconscious stirred, ever so slightly, as the twins' words resonated deep within him. The voice grew louder, urgent, and more like a chorus."Please, Daddy, wake up! We miss you! We miss sharing your favorite sandwich with you!"Sergio's subconscious began to stir, like a sleeping giant awakening from a deep slumber. Memories of laughter, sunny days, and family meals together began to surface, tantalizingly out of reach.The twins' voices grew more insistent, piercing the veil of his unconsciousness. "Daddy, we love you! Come back to us!"At that moment, something shifted deep within his mind. A spark of recognition. As he slowly emerged from the darkness, it felt