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.
Chills ran down her spine, accompanied by a burst of adrenaline. She had said those words on purpose, just to see his reaction, just to provoke him and push his buttons. It worked out perfectly cause he was all riled up, tense, and volatile, with emotions running high. Lucretia was excited about her new achievement. She knew she was playing with fire. The more she provoked him, the more likely he was going to make her pay bigger for it. But she couldn't stop herself. She couldn't stop the sharp thrill she got every time she pushed back. Instead of keeping her mouth shut, she took pleasure in enraging him all over again. "Are you jealous?" He spanked her a*s harder and she yelped. Tears gathered in her eyes but she refused to let them pour out. "I'm going to take my sweet time and punish the f*cking hell out of you" Enzo didn't sound pleased hearing her speak about other men's cøck. If anything, it served to further fuel his anger as silent rage seeped out of his pores. He was o
EPILOGUE>>PART 2After the handshake, they stood side by side in silence. The unexpected turn of events still shocked Alberto as he couldn't believe everything had gone smoothly, and he was now standing beside the one person he least expected to make amends with.As they stood, a question that had been nagging in his mind popped in and he couldn't resist asking. "About the scar on your chest... Did I do that? During the fight, I mean"More than once, he had caught glimpses of the scar when Enzo trained shirtless. And due to the depth, Alberto couldn't help but wonder if he was responsible for it."Nah. A girl." Enzo replied curtly.Alberto had not anticipated a response, but then, a girl??? Who could she be? What was her relationship with Enzo? The scar seemed too severe to be inflicted by someone Enzo didn't have a deep connection with. Alberto was curious, but he knew better than to pry even when the question still lingered in his mind. Just as they resumed standing in silence, Lucr
EPILOGUETWO YEARS LATER... The lavish table was set with fine china, crystal glasses, and silverware. Golden candelabras adorned the center, casting a warm glow over the spread of meat, steaming dishes, salads, desserts, and fresh fruits. The family had gathered for a grand Thanksgiving celebration with Ville, Carmencita, Lucretia, Alberto, and Alfonso in attendance. The twins, now 7 years old, burst with energy and raced around the dining room, pursuing Enzo. "I'm gonna catch you, Uncle Enzo""And why do you think so?" Enzo asked, breathing heavily as the twins continued their relentless pursuit."Because I'm the fastest""No, you're not," Vincenzo countered, trying hard to overcome his elder brother."I am""You're not!""I am"As the kids kept competing against one another, Alberto watched the commotion with a warm smile on his face, while sipping his whiskey. He hadn't expected an invitation from Sergio and was shocked when he received one. That was the first time he was dinin
Chapter 190Sergio's eyes locked on Rosana's as the air between them crackled with anticipation. It had been far too long since they'd last been intimate, and the tension was undeniable."Rosana." He called out and took a step closer to her. She stood frozen, her heart racing, as his fingers traced the curve of her spine. He gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and that sent shivers down her spine. With his eyes never leaving hers, he leaned in and grazed the curve of her neck with his lips. Rosana's eyelids fluttered close as she tilted her head, inviting him deeper. Just as she craved, he trailed kisses along her skin, each one igniting a spark that nearly engulfed her.Moaning quietly, she raised her hand to his chest and felt the warmth of his skin beneath his shirt. She tugged gently and Sergio's lips curved into a smile as he obliged, shedding his shirt to reveal the chiseled contours of his torso.Their eyes met once more, the connection between them wild and electri
As Rosana stepped into the house, she was immediately surrounded by the warm glow of twinkling candles and the sweet fragrance of fresh flowers. Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the breathtaking sight before her. What could be the occasion? It wasn't the twins' birthday nor was it their marriage anniversary."Welcome home, Mammà!" The twins chimed in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement. They stood in the entrance of the hall, each holding a bouquet of colorful flowers."Oh, thank you, my sweet knights," Rosana responded, her heart swelling with love and gratitude as she knelt to hug them. She then got the flowers and inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet scent."Welcome home, Amore mio. The kids wanted to surprise you. They've been working on this all day" Rosana's eyes met Sergio's, and she felt a flutter in her chest. He was now standing behind the twins with a warm smile on his face and deep down, she knew that this was more than just a sweet gesture from the
Chapter 188A MONTH LATER•••"Things have been getting better. Sergio is slowly putting the past behind him and doesn't avoid me anymore. My favorite time of the day is when he comes home to us."Lucretia's face lit up with a warm smile as she sipped her lemonade. "Oh, that's awesome. I'm thrilled to hear that, Ana, you deserve it."Rosana's expression turned thoughtful, and she inhaled deeply. "I still quiver thinking about how close I came to losing him.""Well, I'm glad you came to your fucking senses and made things right"The two friends lapsed into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts, reflecting on the twists and turns their lives had taken over the past few years. Lucretia's thoughts drifted back to the rough months that had passed. She remembered the pain and the fear, the sleepless nights and the endless tears. But most of all, she remembered the realization that had hit her like a ton of bricks—Enzo was still alive.She hadn't seen him again since that nig
FEW DAYS LATER>>> AT THE CAPITALThe Mafia men stepped out of the meeting room, dressed in black suits that fitted their muscular bodies perfectly. Their faces were expressionless, hidden behind dark sunglasses as they stepped out of the Capital, disappearing into waiting black vehicles. As the rest of the men left, Alberto hung back, helping Ville and Enzo with some tasks. Within the past few weeks, he had gotten along with Ville and Alfonso, but things were tougher with Enzo. No matter how hard he tried, Enzo either ignored him or gave him a menacing glare that left him shaken. Still, Alberto refused to give up. He was determined to make amends for his past mistakes and earn forgiveness and acceptance, especially from his half-brothers Sergio and Enzo."You should head back home," Ville said to him three hours later. "I'll finish up from here""Yeah... About that... I've got nothing else to do. I'd rather finish up with you than return to that cold empty house"Ville chuckled and l
Sergio paused in front of the bedroom door, his hand hovering over the door knob. He had timed his entrance perfectly, believing Rosana would be fast asleep and he would be spared the agony of avoiding her. Instead, he conjured up an image of watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest while she slept peacefully. He longed to caress her hair and cheek, planting soft kisses on her forehead.Taking a deep breath, he turned the knob and pushed the door open. His expectations were shattered once he met with Rosana standing on the other side, her blue eyes wide and wary. She wasn't asleep, because unlike him, she had been waiting, ready to confront him and have that conversation he had been avoiding. "Bambolina!" Sergio's low and gentle voice washed over her like a gentle caress, triggering a flurry of emotions that left her breathless. Her lips parted, but there were no words. She just stood frozen, staring at him with wide eyes as though he had just emerged from thin air. Time seem
Ville raised an eyebrow, his skepticism, evident. Choosing not to pursue the matter further, he steered the conversation back on track as though there was no interruption. Sergio, too, didn't press for more information because he knew his brother's stubbornness all too well.Feeling thankful that they hadn't pushed the issue, Enzo lowered his gaze in an attempt to avoid Sergio's scrutiny. The truth was too raw and too painful. No matter how hard they pushed, he couldn't bring himself to share it, not now, not ever. He knew the consequences of revealing even a fragment of it and wasn't ready for that. For now, they would remain locked away, hidden behind his stoic facade until he was finally able to erase her and memories of their past. *****Rosana stood at the bedroom window, cradling a glass of wine as she gazed out into the night sky. The evening breeze carried a soothing calm, silencing her mind.She had just finished dinner with the family and Enzo. Seeing that the twins were s
Rio's sleepy eyes fluttered open, drawn to the soft sobs and sniffles that pierced the night air. He spotted Lucretia huddled on the windowsill and immediately scampered off the bed, rushing to her side. "Mammà, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Lucretia lifted her head, her puffy, teary eyes meeting Rio's concerned face. She hadn't realized he was awake. Quickly wiping away her tears, she forced a fragile smile and pulled him close."It's nothing, amore. I was just... thinking,"Rio's brow furrowed. "Are you hurt, Mammà? You fell on the floor and wouldn't open your eyes.""Oh, that..." Lucretia's voice trembled as she sniffled once more. "I'm sorry, I scared you. I was very tired and just... It will never happen again, I promise."Rio's small arms wrapped tightly around her, offering comfort. Then, suddenly, he pulled back, his eyes widening with curiosity. "Where's Uncle Enzo?"Lucretia froze. How did he know Enzo? "I can be friends with him because he's not a bad man, right?" R