What a surprise from Mr.DeLuca?!! Stay tuned so you dont miss other surprises...
The cool night air hits my skin as Christian leads me out onto the balcony, the sounds of the ballroom fading into the distance. I shiver slightly, but it's not from the cold it's because of him."Where were we? I thought we were still at the party. Or did you transport me to another planet?" My nerves make my mouth says the worst joke if one could even call it that."Uhh that would be a great power to have but for now I'll have to be happy with that I can whisk you away even if it's just a simple balcony..." He says as he touches my cheek so elegantly, so tenderly that it almost feels like being grazed by a feather. "Any place, any time is more special with you." I let my face fall into his palms as his words made my knees weak."Do you want me to melt?" I ask, my eyes closed, simply enjoying having him so close. Christian chuckles softly, the sound deep and warm, vibrating through me like a pleasant hum. His touch is steady, grounding me as his hands gently cradle my face. "If I want
Mira's POVLove and Christian left the table and from the corner of my eye, I could see them disappear from the public eye while I was left at the table feeling like a sitting duck while everyone's eyes rested on me. More specifically on the thing hanging around my neck. Why did he do that? Who in their right mind gives away such a valuable thing to a stranger?"Girls will you excuse us for a moment, I know it's a bit rude to leave you in an unknown aviromant but Sebastian and I have some hoseting to do. I'm sure you understand." Grace says as she gets up and walks over to her son. I'm still trying to read her, from what Love has told me about her she seems a good person... with things to hide. People who tend to help others keep secrets are usually the ones who are the best at hiding their own. I would know.There’s a certain air of mystery around Grace, the way she holds herself it’s almost as if she’s always thinking two steps ahead, anticipating the reactions of everyone around her
"You think I would be willing to put myself in the hands of a criminal?" I ask and Tamara’s expression doesn’t flicker. She meets my gaze with a calm, almost bored like she’s been expecting this question."It's about layers Mira. You might not fall for the criminal part... but what about the handsome part or the generous part..." She says as she glances at the necklace. "Perhaps you would fall for the part where he makes donations to hospitals, or funds the schools, cleans the streets, and builds workplaces... You Mira could fall for the gentleman part of him to the point that the criminal thing wouldn't bother you so much... because that is who you are Mira, you put things on a scale and pick the lesser evil, even when you dont want to admit it." Her words settle like a stone in my stomach. Damn her for knowing me so well."But if you already know all of this about him, about the people that work for him... why did you want to come to this party then?" I ask Tamara. She called me care
My mind races as I stare at the message on my phone Until we meet again. I can feel my pulse quicken, the earlier adrenaline rush settling into a simmering confusion and anger. How could he have gotten my number? And why do I feel like I’ve just been played, even though I’m supposed to be the one in control here?I glance around the room, as though expecting him to reappear from the crowd, his sharp eyes locking onto mine once again, but there’s nothing. No sign of him. Not even his men. It’s like they were never here at all, as if they melted into the shadows, vanishing without a trace."Can we go now?" Tamara asks as she reapers behind my back."What?" I ask before I can read the angry face that event that beautiful mask couldn't hide. "It's not New Year yet, there is still an hour until midnight.""I lost my good mood." She says."Why? Who called you?" I ask."My TO." Uhh no. "Your new friend must have done something.""First of all he is not my friend, tell me what happened." She c
Love's POVIt was so easy to be happy. It was easy not to think about anything else that wasn't Christian, to allow myself to be fully consumed by him and everything that he is. His smile and the look in his eyes were all too much, and yet, they were everything I ever wanted. I could lose myself in him and not mind it at all. His touch became everything I craved and I knew that soon enough I would be addicted to him, in the best... and worst way possible. "It seems everyone abandoned our table," Christian says as we walk back into the ballroom, hand in hand, fingers interlocked, and I can’t help but smile, the warmth of his hand grounding me. "They must be close by." I say as I see Tam approaching with Mira right behind her. They seemed tense, well Tam seemed tense Mira had that posture she did when she pretended everything was fine when it wasn't."Ohh here come your friends... do you mind if I leave you just for a second, I promised Seb I would save him from Mother's friends and
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Everyone cheered at the time of saying goodbye to the old year and welcomed the new while watching the spectacular fireworks. I smiled, hugged my friends, and then turned to Christian, whose eyes sparkled with something deeper than just the reflection of the fireworks. The energy in the room was electric, everyone buzzing with the excitement of a fresh start. This was my new start. Ours. I felt his arms wrap around me as he pulled me close, his breath warm against my ear. "Happy New Year, Angel," he whispered, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. "Happy New Year," I replied softly, my fingers grazing his jawline as I lifted my face to meet his tho I was still scared of meeting his eyes. I feared that if we connected he would know that his Angel was a liar. I put all of my faith in Grace and that she had a way of getting me out of this even if this lie hung over my head for the rest of my life. "I t
A week later, life had settled into a rhythm of its own. The new year felt different and brighter, yet the weight of everything still lingered, especially the unsaid words, the things I hadn't fully confronted. But I was adjusting, finding a balance between the pieces of my life that felt real and those that seemed like a dream I was still trying to grasp.Christian was a dream.The way he made me feel was a dream.Working, if I can even call it that just felt like I got to hang out at my boyfriend's place from nine to four each day, spending time with Bash and Grace while Christian worked in the company. The fact they were still paying me was absurd, it felt like taking advantage of them, even more so than before. I need to stop it.Mira, despite the events at the party, went back to her life as usual. She didn't talk about the necklace and with how much Tamara was stressed with what DeLuca did I figured I would give both of them a chance to settle down the tension.As the evening was
"What do you say, Charlie? Do you like this dress?" I said as I gave a little turn in front of the mirror. The purple bodycon cotton dress hugged my curves a little too perfectly, almost clinging to me like a second skin. God I wished I had a flat stomach like Mira, instead I had this lower belly that loved to stick out when I least wanted it to. "Perhaps some pants would be better?" I asked Charlie if he could actually give me an answer, but it did not matter since the doorbell had just gone off and I had no shoes on."Come on, Charlie the food is here. Then I'll change the clothes, again." I take my wallet and rush to the door as the bell goes off again."Just a second.""No need to hurry, I'm not going anywhere." I hear a Christian's voice on the other side of the door and I freeze. He was early and I was a mess.My heart skipped a beat as I rushed to the door, my hand frozen on the handle. I glanced down at the purple dress, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness wash over me.
The room is buzzing with laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses as guests chat, dressed in elegant attire, but I don’t miss the subtle glances from the crowd even when I have to pretend not to see. The bodyguards are present, though they’re more discreet now, blending into the surroundings like shadows. I couldn't tell how much Grace knew about what happened while she was away but if she knew everything she did a hell of a good job at hiding it. What I hated most of all was that I could feel everyone watching me. They don't know me, but they know of me. The little they know is a lie. And that makes it worse."Dont you look stunning?" I hear Tam's voice behind me while I stand in the middle of the room with Mira. For some reason, Christian decided to disappear for a moment, and without him here I felt more than lost."Tam, I'm so glad you could make it," I say as I hug her."Glad to be here." She says as she pulls away and looks at Mira. For a second her face remains serious bu
"This is getting ridiculous, how much longer are they going to follow us?" Mira asked about the bodyguard that walked behind us in the mall. It was safe to say she didn't like to feel watched, and to be fair neither did I. I spend all of my time pretending while in the house, and now I have to continue doing it outside. "Christian doesn't want us walking around alone, he doesn't think it's safe. I dont know if he is right or not yet somehow I'd rather be safe than sorry. And so should you." But she pretends she is above it, about the worry, about everything that happened."Well if he wants to keep you under wraps, taking you to the high-profile party isn't the best course of action," Mira states as we walk into a high-end dress store."Actually he thinks that being in the eyes of the world would make me safer, and besides it's his birthday party, as his girlfriend I have to be there. And now so do you." Mira gave a resigned shrug and walked deeper into the store, clearly still harbori
Love's POV"Where do you think he went?" I ask Mira as she pulls some things out of her suitcase while Charlie explores the new room. I still couldn't believe everything that happened. I was attacked, but what I find worse is the fact I wasn't the target, Mira was."I dont know, police maybe. Whatever he thinks will help." She says as she stuffs some things into a dresser drawer. "You don't think the police would help?" I ask her. "You think Vincenzo...""Vincenzo didn't do this." Mira cuts me off. "Trust me, Love. He wouldn't hurt me." I can trust she thinks that but is it really the case?"If you say so," I say as I look down at my hands, playing nervously with my fingers so she comes to sit down next to me."I'm sorry, Love. I really am, this... this should have happened to me, not you. I helped the wrong person it seems and what's worse I think they now want me because Vincenzo protected me." Her blue eyes looked distant as if she was seeing something beyond the room, beyond us.
"Christian, don’t do anything reckless," Aiden said with caution. "We need to be smart." He could be smart all he wanted but right now I was furious and for the first time in a long time I would act in an instant, not planning ahead. Besides this wasn't a negotiation that needed a tactic, this was going to be a statement. "I’m done being smart, Aiden," I snapped, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. "He came after Love. He hurt her. And I’ll make sure he never lays a hand on anyone I care about again." The words felt like they were coming from somewhere primal, somewhere deep inside me, a place where reason had no say, only the instinct to protect."Did we find him?" I ask Aiden as he waits for a confirmation on his phone. He was able to track down Love, now my people are breaking many laws to find him... it's only fair, even if I never thought I would need to use my name in such games. "We have him... ironically or not, he seems to like the same places as you," Aid
Christian's POVI paced around the living room while Mira took Love into her room so she could put on some clothes. I did my best to control my temper around her, but with every passing second, I wanted to go find Vincenzo and smash my fist into his face until it became flat. But I couldn't do that until I knew Love was alright and that she was safe... She can't stay here, so even if I have to carry her out she is coming to live with me so that I can watch over her safety. After all, I am the reason this happened to her. I stood up to him and she paid the price.The feeling of helplessness gnawed at my insides, making my fists clench involuntarily. I needed her to be safe. I could feel it deep in my chest, the relentless desire to protect her, to make sure nothing like this ever touched her again. She was mine, no other could touch her wherever it was with a feather or a finger, hell no one was allowed to look at her, they didn't deserve that privilege.I could hear the faint sound of
"I'm calling the ambulance," Aiden says as Christian sets me down on the living room couch while I hold my robe tight."No, please dont. I'm fine." Was I? Absolutely no, between the fear and the now piercing pain in my head I was the furthest thing from fine. But an ambulance in this case would also mean the police and I can't risk it, not without knowing more about the man who broke in, and for that I needed Mira."You say that because you can't see yourself," Christian says as his hand gently examines my neck. "You are very hurt, the bruises on your neck, the blood on your head... they cut open your lip..." Christian listed my injuries, his voice getting more furious by the second.I shake my head, wincing slightly at the pain that shoots through my body. "I’m not calling the ambulance, Christian. Mira should be home any minute now, she can take care of me." The words come out more strained than I intended, but I need him to understand. I can’t risk this becoming bigger than it alrea
I blink in shock, sprawled out on the floor, my robe hiked up and my hair over my face as Charlie barks wildly, his tail wagging furiously, clearly not understanding the situation. For a second, I just lie there, trying to collect myself as I hear quick footsteps through the chaos. I removed the hair from my face just in time to see a man grab me by the throat and pull me up to my feet as my scream was silenced with his hand over my mouth. My heart races in my chest, and panic surges through me like a tidal wave. The grip on my throat is firm, too firm, and I can barely breathe. My vision starts to blur, my head spinning from the force, but I fight to stay conscious. The hand over my mouth muffles my scream, and I'm helpless in his grasp, my body frozen in shock.Charlie is still barking, but the man doesn't seem to care. His eyes are cold, and calculating, and I can't make a sound, can't fight back. He’s too strong, and I can feel the pressure building in my chest."Hey man, stop. Th
Love's POV"Dont forget the sexy pajama set, although I think Christian will be fine with you sleeping naked... covered in sweat and glued to his skin," Mira says as she stands by my bedroom door and overexposes her words with body mimics. "Mira, stop it. I don't even know if I should go there," I say as I sit on my bed. I don't know how much longer I will be able to keep pretending." I don't want to keep pretending."Love, come on. Relax and go, enjoy your time with him. Be happy." She says. But what she wants is for me to leave, she doesn't want me here, and I do not want to leave her alone. Especially now that she got bad news at work and will be stuck here thinking about it alone."How about you join us and we all do something together, perhaps it would be good for you and Christian to get to know each other better.""Yeah no, I won't be a third wheel. Besides I have to go take Charlie for a walk but first I need to buy a new leash because he chewed through the one we had." And sh
A sharp edge slices through me, sharper than the anger I’m trying to keep in check. My mind flashes to Love, her smile, her warmth, everything she represents to me. She’s not just some pawn in this game, she’s everything. And for him to drag her into this... my chest tightens with a simmering fury. I push forward almost making Aiden stumble back as I look at Vincenzo dead in his different colored eyes that aren't cold but are filled with fire."You stay away from Love. Dont name her, dont even think about her." Vincenzo doesn’t flinch as my fists are clenched, but I force myself to remain still, to keep control...just barely, just enough.He tilts his head, his lips curling into that signature smirk that always seems to make my blood boil. "Oh, Christian..." he murmurs, his voice oozing with malice. "You shouldn't show your week spot so openly, not if you want to stay in the game." His words hit like a slap to the face, but I don’t back down. I’m past playing nice with this bastard."