CHAPTER TWO
Antonio Morano sat at the built-in-bar in his penthouse, gazing out at the city's twinkling landscape. The whiskey in his glass cast a golden glow, mirroring the turmoil brewing within. His mind drifted to the woman he'd seen earlier. Her innocent smile and haunting green eyes like a specter. six years ago, on this very day, his mother's assassination had shattered his world. The memory still seared his mind, his mother's lifeless body, the sound of gunfire, and the face of the culprit. The pain and anger had simmered, fueling his relentless pursuit of justice. Antonio's grip on the glass tightened. His revenge had been years in the making. He has waited for this day. Patience had become his virtue, the key to unraveling the past. "Today's the start," he vowed, his voice low and deadly, as he opened a pack of cigarettes. With a swift motion, he downed the whiskey, feeling the burn course through his veins. The fire in his chest spread, fueling his determination. Just as Antonio's thoughts consumed him, the doorbell pierced the silence. His assistant's voice echoed through the intercom. "Boss, Miss Whitehead is here to see you." Antonio frowned. He lit a stick of cigarette and puffed the smoke into the air. "Send her in," he said, pouring himself another glassful of whiskey. As she entered, her stunning beauty and elegance momentarily distract Antonio from his dark thoughts. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back, and her red dress hugged her curves, leaving little to his imagination. The diamond necklace he'd gifted her still adorned her neck. "Antonio, darling," She purred, approaching him with a seductive smile. He locked eyes with her. " What brings you here?" Sofia's gaze roamed the penthouse, her eyes resting on the whiskey glass. "aren’t you going to invite me for a drink?” He nodded at his guards and they vanished out of sight Sophia smiled. “well, I saw the lights on and thought you might be... lonely." She emphasized the last word, her voice filled with suggestion. Sophia stood at 5'8 and had a frame whose curves boasted a match with a Greek goddess. her stunning beauty was undeniable. she had a long honey blonde hair that rest comfortably on her butt and had two piercing on both ears. Her whirlwind romance with Antonio captivated Milan's elite. Their engagement was announced amidst ongoing war between Antonio's family and Milan's most dreaded drug lord. He raised an eyebrow, amused by her audacity. "You think you can just waltz in here anytime you like?" he arose from his stool. “you were supposed to be here tomorrow, not tonight.” Her smile faltered for a moment before she regained her composure. "Why not tonight?" she packed her hair in a ponytail. “I want to witness the showdown” He let out a low laugh and walked towards the window, his whiskey in his hand. "you of all people know better that I hate having uninvited guests.” Her eyes flashed with anger, but she maintained her poise. "I am not just a guest Antonio; I am your fiancée. I can come in here anytime I like.” "I'm not in the mood today, you should leave" he said, his tone final. Her face fell. She knew what he meant and how dangerous it would be to challenge his decisions, but she refused to give up. "Tonight is a great night. We should celebrate. And I can help you do just that" She walked towards him and rubbed his chest, then she took his glass of whiskey and placed it on the table. He stared at her as she ran her hand down to his dick and rubbed it against his trouser. She went on her knees and unbuckled his belt, causing his trouser to fall off his waist, revealing his huge manhood. He could see her nipple hardened as she wrapped both her hands around his cock. She moved her face closer to his cock and breathed the freshness of it before spitting on it. She gave it a light massage, her face upwards looking at him fight for his life. She spat on it again and took it in her mouth. She sucked it hard and could feel his hands holding her head to be steady, as he thrust deeper into her mouth. He pulled her back from his already fully hard cock, but she sucked on it again, slowly caressing the tip of his cock with her tongue. She knew his sensitive spot and made sure to focus her attention on it. “fuck! You’re a slut!.” He cursed in pleasure, as he continued stroking in her mouth. He hadn’t done this in a while because he was too focused on his revenge plan. Her tongue glide down to the underneath of his cock, a moan leaving his lips as she did so. She slid her left hand to his balls and gently caressed it, while still sucking his cock. Just as he was about to load her mouth with his seeds, the door burst wide opened. “don’t you know how to fucking knock?” he yelled with bloodshot eyes. “I’m so..sorry boss.” Viktor, his consigliere bowed his head. Antonio pulled his trouser to his waist and fixed his belt. “ well, did you interrupt me at the best part just to see my face? You moron.” “she is here.” Viktor announced. “who the hell is here?” he yelled again “the lady you ordered for, boss” “She better be the right one.” He pulled a gun from his coat hanging on the wall, and tucked it at his back. “else, you all won’t live to tell the story.” * * * * * * * Antonio walked into the room to see two guards pouring water on Luciana. Her ordered the door be shut. “what happened here?” he asked one of them “she passed out, boss” He laughed. “take the tape off her mouth” “where am I?” Luciana screamed immediately the tape was off her mouth. “you see, this is why I don’t like having girls around.” He pulled out a stick of cigarette and lit it. “too much noise.” He puffed the smoke in her face. “Let me out of here.” Luciana yelled, coughing from the smoke. "Not yet." He instructed Viktor to remove the blindfold. As the fabric fell away, Luciana's eyes fluttered open, blinking rapidly as if emerging from a deep haze. Her gaze was unfocused, like a patient regaining consciousness after anesthesia “ I know you.” She said, her eyes widened with shock. “ you’re the man from the gala… and my nightmares.” She whispered “hi baby girl, I am Antonio “Massimo” Bianchi, il più grande di tutti i tempi. Nice to meet you.” his smile widened. Luciana's gaze flicked to his outstretched hand. “whatever the fuck it is you just said, let me go!,” she yelled, ignoring his hand. Antonio chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He lowered himself, his left hand brushing against her ear as he tucked her hair behind it. “Not yet baby girl. I’ve been waiting for you . You have something that belongs to me” “what is it? Let me out of here” she struggled, but her hands were firmly tied behind her back He let out a short laugh. “you will have a great time here, I assure you” “tonto borracho!” She spat out in her language. He lit another cigarette, the flame dancing in the dim light as he chuckled to himself. Pacing around Luciana in slow circles, he seemed to be savoring the moment. But his amusement was short-lived, as the sound of raised voices drifted from outside the room. He strode to the door, his eyes squinting as he peered through the keyhole. A muttered curse escaped his lips. "Let her in," he growled, his tone abrupt. He turned back to Luciana, a sly smile spreading across his face. "It seems we have a visitor. I forgot to mention that." Luciana tried to balance her head to see who it was. She felt dehydrated and was losing her remaining strength. Just then, the door swung open, and a familiar scent filled the room. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the perfume. Antonio moved away from her, revealing a figure standing in the doorway. Luciana's eyes widened as she took in the familiar features. "Emily?"CHAPTER THREE “Emily?” Luciana’s eyes widened with joy as Emily approached her. "Oh Emily, I'm so glad you're here," she exclaimed, relief washing over her. "How did you find me? The taxi...that night..." Emily's expression was somber, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and guilt. " oh Ana! I got here as soon as I heard," she said softly. Luciana's gaze pleaded with Emily. "Come untie me. Let's get out of here, please." “oh yes, of course.” Emily walked to her and lowered herself as if trying to loosen the ropes tying her feet. Then she paused, look up at Luciana and burst into a roar of laughter. “Emily, what ..what happened? Why are you laughing?” Luciana’s eyes searched for answers, as she looked at her friend. “Shut up Luciana!” Emily rose up. She walked over to Antonio, who had been silently observing the scene. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him passionately. Luciana's face contorted in desperation. " Emily come over here.” She sniffed. “Please,
CHAPTER FOURAntonio stood in the grand estate of his family's Italian villa, the warm sunlight casting a golden glow over the lush gardens. His mother, Maria, stood before him, her sparkling blue eyes filled with warmth and love."il mio sole," she whispered, her voice like music to his ears. "You are destined for greatness. Never forget who you are and where you come from."Antonio's eyes locked onto hers, drinking in the adoration and pride that shone in her gaze. He felt a sense of comfort and security wash over him, like a baby soundly sleeping in its mother’s arm.“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I let that happen.” he went on his knees, shedding tears like the first day he was born into the world.“no shuushh..” she bent and stretched her hands to him, as if imploring him to take it.But as he reached out to touch her hand, her image began to fade away, like sand slipping through his fingers. Antonio's eyes flew open, and he was back in his bed, his chest heaving with emotio
CHAPTER FIVEAntonio stared at Luciana. "How did you manage to get a phone?" he demanded.Luciana swallowed hard, trying to think of a convincing explanation. "I...I found it," she stammered.Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Found it?" he repeated, his tone incredulous as he folded his arm. "Where?"Luciana hesitated, unsure of what to say. Antonio's eyes seemed to bore into her soul, as if he could see right through her lies."Tell me," Antonio growled, as he clenched his fist tightly.Just as he was about to extract the truth from Luciana, the hostess voice echoed from the intercom."Attention. We are experiencing some turbulence. Please return to your seat and fasten your seatbelt. Thank you."“I’ll let this pass for the sake of my Sanity.” He gnashed his teeth and walked back to his seat.Luciana stood leg frozen on a spot, her pulse pounding in her throat. All these still felt like a dream to her. One minute she was in a gala in Columbia, another minute, she was going to Italy agai
CHAPTER 6Luciana collapsed onto the bed, exhausted, as soon as Viktor led her in. She kicked off her shoes and looked up at Viktor, her eyes welling up with tears."Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What kind of people are you?"Viktor's gave a light shrug before answering. "It's not up to me to answer that." He turned to leave, opening the door. "If you need anything, use the intercom over there." With that, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.Luciana stared blankly at the intercom before bursting into tears, her head buried in her palms. She thought of her Chihuahua, probably starving at home, and a wave of regret washed over her. If only she hadn't attended the gala, she thought. Her intention had been pure – to find a sponsor for her mother's hospital bills. But she had let her guard down, getting drunk and vulnerable. Sophia had known she couldn't handle her alcohol, which was why she had plied her with drinks.She got up and walked to the
CHAPTER 7Luciana's eyes fluttered open, groggily taking in the mixture of familiar and unfamiliar faces, Antonio, Viktor, and Sophia. She looked around the room like she was just sent to space in a time capsule. A beautiful middle age woman in a nurse outfit, caught her attention. The woman smiled warmly and took her pulse."Welcome back, dear," Nurse Rossi said, checking Luciana's pulse. "You've been through quite an ordeal."Luciana's gaze drifted to her bandaged arm, where a drip was attached. A wave of dizziness washed over her as she tried to sit up."Easy," Antonio said, lighting a cigarette. "You passed out in the bathroom. I called Nurse Rossi to revive you."Nurse Rossi frowned. "Antonio, you shouldn't be smoking here, especially after her revival."Sophia shrugged. "No one cares if she lives or dies. This is our house; we do what we want."Luciana stared at Sophia, wondering if this was the same girl she'd befriended six years ago. How could someone change so drastically?
CHAPTER 8 it was now the third day of being held captive in Italy, and Luciana felt like she'd suffocate from boredom. She'd exhausted her phone's games and scoured the internet, desperately searching for any hint of her father's whereabouts. But every attempt ended in disappointment. Frustration boiled over as she dialed the phone number she'd memorized as her dad's. The automated response cut through her like a knife: "The number you dialed does not exist." Luciana hurled her phone onto the bed, despair washing over her. Was this her new reality? Trapped, alone, and helpless? was she the modern Cinderella? The door swung open, and Antonio walked in, dropping a suit of clothes on the bed. "Get changed. We're going out." “I am not going anywhere with you.” Luciana folded her arm. “I am not your property or some ping pong ball you can toss around anytime you like.” Antonio laughed. “you have five minutes. Ms. Grace would assist you.” He said and walked out, leaving Lucia
CHAPTER 9Luciana stepped into the expansive fitting room, her eyes widening in awe. She twirled around, taking in the luxurious space. The contrast to her humble room in Columbia was stark – her small wall mirror barely revealed her waist, and the boutiques she frequented were modest in comparison.Her eyes widened in shock as she scanned the price tags on the dresses and shoes. The saleslady handed her a stunning gown. "Try this, ma'am. It's a limited edition."Luciana checked the price tag, and shook her head. "There's no way on earth, I'm wearing a dress this expensive." She said as she returned the gown to the lady. "Miss, if you don't choose something, he'll take you to even more expensive stores." Ms. Grace reminded her of his authoritative attitude Luciana sighed, resigned, and collected the dress. As she slipped into the gown, the saleslady couldn’t hide her excitement. "You look stunning, ma'am. We should show this to your husband.""He's not my husband! I'd rather be
CHAPTER 10Antonio stormed out of the car as they arrived the villa, slamming the door behind him. He dusted off the cocaine powder from his suit and entered the living room, where his father, Donatello, sat sipping a drink."Where is the girl?" Donatello asked, rising from his seat as he noticed Luciana's absence."She's gone," Ms. Grace replied, heading upstairs to her room."Does anyone let me finish speaking in this house?" Antonio asked rhetorically.Donatello lit a Cuban cigar as he approached Antonio and Viktor. He inhaled deeply exhaling a plume of smoke into the air. "What happened?" "She escaped from the boutique mall." Viktor blurted out, as Antonio hesitated.Donatello shook the ashes from his Cuban and clench it between his teeth. "You took her shopping?"Antonio smoothed his suit jacket, his nostrils flaring as he caught a whiff of something familiar. He sniffed again, his eyes rolled to the back of his head at the acrid scent of cocaine still clung to the fabric."W
CHAPTER 34 The night breeze whipped through the open window of the black SUV, as its tires devoured the miles of winding Italian roads. Antonio and the other men rode in silence, each one's mind consumed by brutal scenarios for Alessandro's demise. Antonio rolled his sleeve up, revealing the tattoo that symbolized his bond with Viktor. The inked image seemed to gleam in the dim light, a reminder of their unbreakable loyalty. He glanced in the rearview mirror, ensuring their backup team of eight men was still in tow. Donatello had argued against bringing such a large contingent, but Antonio knew Alessandro too well. He was certain their enemy had anticipated their retaliation after the video and would have assembled a formidable defense. Antonio's gut told him they'd need every man they had to take down Alessandro and his crew. In the front passenger seat, Domenico tapped his fingers against the dashboard. For what felt like an eternity, he'd been waiting for this moment,
CHAPTER 33“what?” Luciana sat upright on the bed. “you really think my father killed her?”“I didn’t say he did. I meant, if what I heard about the event was true, then it means he did. But I wasn’t present on that day, so I don’t want to make assumptions.” Mia replied.Luciana's face crumpled, and she covered her face with her palms. The sound of her sobs filled the room, heart-wrenching and raw. Mia quickly wrapped her arms around Luciana, trying to comfort her, but Luciana's grief was overwhelming. She didn't stop crying, her body shaking with each anguished sob.Luciana pulled her face from her hands, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy from crying. "I don't understand," she sniffed. “why would he do that? Why did he kill her?”Mia's hands moved gently, continuing to rub Luciana's shoulders in a soothing motion. Her face was filled with sympathy, and her eyes, with compassion. She didn’t know how to respond to Luciana’s anguish, and instead offered a gentle, comforting silence.Luciana
CHAPTER 32Luciana ushered Mia into her room, her mind racing with questions. Why was Mia being so friendly all of a sudden? Luciana's instincts screamed that something was off."Does she have a mission?" Luciana wondered, her thoughts swirling with suspicion. Hadn't Mia snitched on Antonio's family? Was she next on her list? “so he really did it.” She laughed."Wow," she exclaimed as she entered the room, running her fingers over the plush king-sized mattress. She straightened the hem of the duvet, her gaze taking in every detail."he really did it," Mia said, a low laugh escaping her lips.“did what?” Luciana asked, puzzled."Oh, he didn't tell you, did he?" Mia smiled enigmatically "Tell me what?" she pressed.Mia chuckled. "Right. I know he wouldn't have the guts to." She strolled into the bathroom, inhaling the fragrance of the flowers in the vase by the bathtub."Is there something wrong? Please, just tell me already."Mia walked back into the room. "This is Aunt Maria's room
CHAPTER 31Antonio pushed the plates away from him, as he wiped his mouth with a paper tissue. The rest of the table sensed a storm brewing."Ladies," Antonio began, addressing Sophia and Ms. Grace. "If you'd excuse us, we have some personal matters to discuss."Sophia let out a derisive raspberry in annoyance. "Of course, there's always something better than having a normal family lunch," she said as she pushed her chair back and stormed out, the sound of her heels echoing through the hall.Ms. Grace rose up and gave a gracious bow. "I apologize, sirs." She walked away, the door closing behind her with a soft click, leaving the men to their tense discussion."why did you shoot Donald?" Donatello asked. He sipped the last of his wine, his eyes locked on Domenico."Brother, the debt was getting out of hand," Domenico defended. "Something had to be done."Donatello shook his head. "And shooting him was the only resourceful thing you could think of? That’s the only family I can trust to
CHAPTER 30Luciana entered the dining room, joining Antonio and his family for lunch. Her gaze swept the table, taking in the tense atmosphere. A stunning young brunette sat beside Domenico, her presence seeming to contribute to the strained silence.She looked round the table, noticing Sophia’s absence. This was the first time Sophia hadn't been present for lunch. Just as she settled her napkin on her lap, Sophia and Ms. Grace arrived, their entrance drawing Luciana's attention."Talk of the devil," Luciana murmured under her breath, rolling her eyes in annoyance.Her gaze followed Ms. Grace as she took a seat beside Viktor. Why was Ms. Grace joining them for lunch today?Donatello cleared his throat and they began to eat. “I’d like everyone to welcome the newest member of the family, Mia Morano.” He announced, beaming at her.“she isn’t welcomed here dad, you know this.” Antonio said.“it’s not you who decides who is welcomed here or not.” Donatello replied, still smiling at Mia.“t
CHAPTER 29Antonio stood in front of the large wooden desk in his study, meticulously polishing his favorite silver watch. The watch was a gift from his mother on his twenty-fourth birthday, received just days before she passed away. He held it up to the light, admiring the way the sunlight danced across its intricate engravings. A sense of fulfillment washed over him, still fresh from discovering Dante's hideout. He will finally get his revenge and his mother can now rest in peace. He had made sure to discard the letter, ensuring Luciana wouldn't have the means to get to him after their call.Just as he placed the watch around his wrist, Viktor burst into the room. "I'm sorry, sir. Your father has arrived," he announced.Antonio raised his eyebrows, wondering why this was news he needed to hear. "And?""He brought a guest. One you're not going to be pleased with," Viktor replied.Antonio frowned. His father had a knack for frustrating him. "I hate guests," he muttered, his voice dr
CHAPTER 28TB, ColumbiaLuciana sighed deeply as she watched her father, Dante, pack his suitcase. "You're really going, aren't you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.Dante nodded, his face still fixed on the packing. "I have to, Lucy. This job interview is a great opportunity for me, for us."Luciana felt a knot form in her stomach. She didn't want her father to leave, especially not for some job in Europe. "What if you don't come back?" she asked, her voice trembling.Dante paused with a checker shirt in his hand, turned to Luciana, and pulled her into a hug. "I'll always come back to you, Lucy. You're my everything."But Luciana's mother, Estana, was not as supportive. She stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. "So you want to leave your family behind and move to another continent permanently?" she spat. "Leave us for some job that's probably just a pipe dream."Dante shot her a sideways glance. He pulled away from the hug with Luciana and took a step for
CHAPTER 27 “Dad?” Luciana's voice trembled as tears streamed down her face like a torrent. “Lucy?” her father's voice cracked with emotion as soon as he heard her voice. “Is that you, my baby girl?” Luciana could sense the overwhelming emotions flooding her father's voice, mirroring her own. “Y-yes, Dad,” she stammered, her voice barely audible as sobs choked her. “I’ve missed you so much.” “oh dear.” Her father, Dante, breathed out. “what happened? Did you change your number?” Antonio grasped her elbow and gave her a stern stare. “I lost my old phone.” She replied. “oh dear. Did you get my letter and the flowers?” “yes father, I did.” She replied as Antonio pressed a gun to her neck and mouthed to her to put the call on speaker mode. “Ms. Pat mentioned she hasn’t seen you in a month,” Dante said, his tone tinged with worry. Luciana’s mind went blank as she struggled to respond. She couldn’t reveal her true location to her father, especially not with Antonio’s thr
CHAPTER 26Antonio burst into Luciana's room, Viktor following closely behind. Luciana raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Weren't you taught how to knock by your father? I could have been naked." she asked, rolling her eyes.“Like I have said before, there is nothing on you, I haven’t seen.” Antonio replied, shutting the door.“you’re so gross.” Luciana said in irritation.Antonio's face twisted in a scowl. "Where is your father?" he demanded, his voice low and menacing.Luciana shrugged, folding her arms across her chest. "I've told you before, I don't know where he is."Antonio's eyes flashed with anger. "My men visited your house in Colombia. Apparently, your father left a note for you." He turned and faced Viktor. “read it out to her.”Viktor stepped forward, clearing his throat like a priest about to join a newly wedded couple together, before reading the note aloud. "My beloved daughter, I am very sorry for my absence. I needed to be away, as