Rosana wasn't even aware of the tension that had suddenly formed in the air. Her only focus was on him, The Ruthless Sergio De Niro, the man she had unknowingly fallen in love with, and how her heart was beating wildly at the sight of him. "Rosana..." Allen's voice broke in behind her and she got back to her senses. She blinked twice and looked up, connecting her eyes with Sergio's dark blazing ones which made her heartbeat seize. "Sergio..." He lowered his eyes to Allen's hands still wrapped around her and glared hard. His jaw ticked. "Get away from him!" "You don't love him, Rosana, you don't have any business to do with him" Allen whispered into her ears again. "Let's get out of here" "Allen, you need to leave, now!!!" "Not without you" He replied and tightened his hold around her even though she tried to get away from him. "You need to leave..." She trailed off when she caught Sergio moving his hand behind him. That could only mean one thing... His gun. "Sergio, no... Ple
Sergio stared at her with his signature poker face, his hands slowly unclenching beside him. His metallic blue eyes were unfeeling and cold as ever, making it impossible to see past it or read through it. Rosana watched him in return, her heart beating wildly like it was trying to escape its cage. He hadn't uttered a word since and with the indifferent look on his face, she doubted he heard her. The silence that had served as a respite for days was now suffocating, crushing her chest like a brick. Just when she thought he was never going to reply, his deep voice broke in. "You do not have the slightest idea of what you are saying, Bambolina" "I do!" She replied at once. "I love you. I've had this feeling for a long time now but I never knew what it was. I..." "Then you do not" The indifference in his voice sent static down her spine, and a strange feeling of pain coasts down after it. "You do not know sh*t and for f*ck's sake, I would advise you not to think about it" No, wait. W
On hearing her words, a smile ghosted his lips. She had finally accepted that he was her man and there was no going back. "As you know, my beloved brother is the Capo dei Capi, the Capomandemanto, the don, and the godfather of the COSA nostra. My beautiful sister-in-law is Donna, the queen and is in charge of the nightlife and other affairs of the COSA nostra. I am the Underboss." He paused and continued "Ville is the Consigliere, also known as the f*cking advisor or right-hand man, and Alfonso is the Caporegime, the captain that oversees the soldiers." Lucretia blinked twice and stared at him with furrowed brows. Did he just mention Ville? Rosana's arrogant bodyguard who wouldn't stop hovering around her? She even lost count of the number of times she picked a fight with him and called him all sorts of names because he wouldn't let them have fun like they wanted. "I thought Ville was just a bodyguard?" "He is one of us. That is the reason why my brother chose him to protect Donn
Rosana alighted the car and walked inside the mansion. Unlike the other days, she was happy because she finally got to share the problems that had been troubling her with someone. Not just anyone but Lucretia. Suddenly, it felt like a heavy burden was lifted off her chest and she was back to feeling normal. With a smile on her face, she started climbing up the stairs. She couldn't wait to relax her tired limbs and also get some rest. But before then, Viola would give her some massage. Viola... What would she have done without her? The smile soon withered the moment she looked up and saw Vicenta standing at the top of the stairs. The sight of her reminded Rosana of the present situation and the fact that she was carrying Sergio's child. She had not seen her in days and now that she did, she couldn't help wondering what she was up to. "I see you are back!" Vicenta blocked the way and smirked. "And I see you are not so excited" Rosana replied and halted at the top of the stairs. "Now,
Enzo looked at Vicenta who lay unconscious and clenched his fists. Damn the men for distracting him with some stupid information when he arrived. If he had gone into the house earlier, he would've done more than push her off the stairs. "Oh, my goodness... The baby!" Munika continued. "The baby is gone! This is what she wanted!" "You f*cking knew about this?" Munika stilled and looked up at him. Her brain and tongue couldn't connect quickly enough to come up with words, let alone, an answer. What would she say to him? That it was all her idea from the beginning? That she was the one that talked the Mistress into carrying the Don's child when she knew it was wrong and could lead to her death? "She... She needs to go to the hospital!" Carmencita's voice broke in. She was as calm and collected as ever but deep down, she was falling apart. "She is losing a lot of blood" "I will call the driver..." "I will take her" Enzo's deep voice cut her off. Carmencita looked up at him but coul
"My beloved brother is on his way..." Enzo's words echoed in Rosana's head, causing her heart to skip. No doubt, Sergio had already gotten the news and was on his way to the hospital. What would his reaction be? Rosana wondered as unease trickled under the surface of her skin. Enzo on the other hand didn't care. He just kept smoking his cigarette and acting like he didn't have bloodstains on his hands and clothes. If it wasn't for the fact that Rosana was still there and Sergio was on his way to the hospital, he would've gone back to Lucretia and filled her up with his cøck. "For God's sake, this is a hospital. Why are you even smoking here?" He flicked a lighter and lit a new cigarette tucked into the corner of his mouth. "There is no sign that I cannot smoke here, my Lady" Rosana rolled her eyes and muttered. "I'm heading back inside" "You should. It is f*cking cold out here" Back inside the hospital, Rosana took a seat beside a pregnant couple and couldn't help watching them
"The Mistress hit her, once. I... I did not see it happen but I saw the mark on her cheek." Viola continued and paused, her heart beating heavily in her chest. "The next day, when I went over to serve her a drink in the library, I overheard her telling Carmencita." Sergio could barely hear her over the roar in his ears. The Mistress hit her... Rosana... His wife! Her words ran together into a murky stream that painted the world in vicious reds as his rage pulsed harder. It leaked from his veins and spread into his chest, hollowing it out until nothing else remained. When he didn't say a word, Viola summoned all the nerves she had and looked up. That was the first time she had done that since she walked into his Study with trembling limbs. Thankfully, he was standing in front of the window and she couldn't see his face. But with the way he fisted his hands so hard, she wished she had not given him that piece of information. What if she got killed for not telling him sooner? He had
The bathroom door closed and Rosana flinched. She didn't even realize that the shower had gone off and Sergio was out. Anxiety jittered inside of her, even though she kept telling herself that it was all right. He believed her and that was all that mattered."Good morning, Bambolina" He greeted and she finally turned to look at him. "Did you sleep well?"She was tempted to tell him that his shocking but soothing words had put her to sleep but then, she managed a nod and drank up the sight in front of her. He was standing in nothing but ink and a white towel wrapped around his waist. A drop of water trickled down his chest and she followed it till it reached his navel and disappeared into the towel.Her mouth watered and nerves started swimming in her stomach. She couldn't remember the last time she saw him that way—bare, even with a loose towel around his waist. And the last time he touched her... She couldn't easily forget because her Studio and all the artworks served as a reminder.
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