“Go on, tell me the truth.” Salvatore urged her on when he noticed she was hesitant. He intentionally pulls open his blue blazer, showing off his stainless steel pistol stuffed in front of the waistband of his pants.“Please don't shoot me, sir,” Ruby pleaded when her eyes collided with the gun. She was visibly shaking in her shoes. Salvatore hated having a lady in this position, scared and terrified, so he decided to ease up on her a little bit.“Okay, no one is shooting you, but on one condition: that you say the absolute truth.” He said, keeping the gun on the table. “Sit.” He instructed him, and she sat on the bed. He walked over to the table and kept the gun, then picked up the bottle and glass on the table and poured water for her in the glass. “Here,” he said, handing her the glass, “Drink and calm down.” He ordered and sat on the yellow armchair that was just beside the small table that had his gun on it.“The truth is…” Ruby considered telling him the truth but changed her mi
“Boss, we know her exact location now,” Jax said as he entered Alessandro's study, the pride surging through him swirling in his voice.Alessandro’s eyes sparked with excitement for the first time in days. He had gone back to his workaholic self, distancing himself from Ruby. “Where is she?” he demanded.“She is east of town. It would take us approximately two hours to get to her.”“Where exactly is she? A hotel?” Alessandro asked again, and Jax shook his head.“No, she is in a mall. De Pristine Mall.”Alessandro knew the mall. It was quite a high-end mall. Only for the elite of the society. Camilla was not an elite. At least not yet. How did Camilla get the money to be able to afford such a place in just a short time? Or is she with somebody? Who could it be? His mind spun at the kaleidoscope of possibilities, but he knew in due time he would find out.“Get the cars ready; we leave in a few minutes.” Alessandro commanded walking to his room to get changed.At De Pristine mall with sk
Camilla noticed Allen's face morph into a more serious demeanour. “I want to tell you something, Camilla,” he said, leaning over the table and taking Camilla's hand in his. “I don't want you to take this the wrong way…” Camilla only stared at him, wondering what he was about to say.“Camilla!” She heard a familiar, gruff voice behind her yell her name, and she twirled. Lo and behold, it was Alessandro with Jax following closely behind him.“Alessandro!” Camilla sighed, slowly pulling her hand out of Allen's hold.“You don't want to see him?” Allen asked, his gaze following her line of sight.“No.” She replied, but then Alessandro was already close and took hold of Camilla's hands. “Where have you been? What happened?” Alessandro asked, looking a little distressed, “How are you?He asked and got no reply from Camilla but had his arms lifted off Camilla's hand, “Let her be. She doesn’t want to see you!” Allen barked.Alessandro's hot gaze trailed from Allen's hands to his face, and his
Camilla noticed Allen's face morph into a more serious demeanour. “I want to tell you something, Camilla,” he said, leaning over the table and taking Camilla's hand in his. “I don't want you to take this the wrong way…” Camilla only stared at him, wondering what he was about to say.“Camilla!” She heard a familiar, gruff voice behind her yell her name, and she twirled. Lo and behold, it was Alessandro with Jax following closely behind him.“Alessandro!” Camilla sighed, slowly pulling her hand out of Allen's hold.“You don't want to see him?” Allen asked, his gaze following her line of sight.“No.” She replied, but then Alessandro was already close and took hold of Camilla's hands. “Where have you been? What happened?” Alessandro asked, looking a little distressed, “How are you?”He asked and got no reply from Camilla but had his arms lifted off Camilla's hand, “Let her be. She doesn’t want to see you!” Allen barked.Alessandro's hot gaze trailed from Allen's hands to his face, and hi
“What about last night?” Allen asked, looking over his shoulder at Camilla.“It was a mistake. It should never have happened.” Camilla told Allen and saw his eyes darken.“No, it can't be a mistake. I mean, you even kissed me back,” Allen reasoned.Camilla sighed, embarrassment written all over her face, “It must have been the drink or something.”“Camilla, we didn't have any strong drinks.” Allen clarified, and Camilla knew she had no other excuse.“OK, you got me, but honestly, I don't know how it happened last night. But I don't want it to happen again, please. I don't want to complicate our relationship.” Camilla all but begged.Allen struggled to keep his poker face mask on after the brutal slap of her words; he immediately turned his face away from her and mumbled, "OK, whatever you say,” raising his hands in a surrender position as though it didn't affect him much. He walked back to his room, his heart wrecked and broken into a million pieces. He slammed the door behind him wi
“Exactly what I wanted to hear,” Barbara said. “I'll see you in a few hours.”“OK, ma'am,” Allen said, and disconnected the call.He rose from the floor and started putting his room back in order again, as he felt his chest getting lighter. After arranging and sweeping his room clean of the mess he had created, he took a cold, calming shower, and he walked into his room again with a renewed sense of confidence in his strides. He wasn't going to let go just like he did with Veronica; he was going to fight till the end. Till Camilla became his.He bandaged his fists due to the wound. His stomach will need a bandage if he doesn't eat something soon. He grabbed his laptop to do a little work while eating.He strutted out of his room and into the living room when he saw Camilla reading a book. She looked distressed.When Camilla finally noticed his presence, she threw the book on the chair and stood to her feet with urgency, walking closer to him.“Allen,” Camilla called, “I was worried ab
“But don't you think that the dress is a little too short?” Allen asked, his chest heavy with jealousy.The smile that had been on Camilla's face came to an abrupt end, the blush washed away by a simmering annoyance.Camilla twirled, looking at her dress, “Of course not, it is on my knee already. How long should it be before you consider it to be long?”“I mean no offence, Camilla. I was just making an innocent suggestion,” Allen said, seeing a big frown settle on Camilla's face, but he continued, “I just don't want those vile men undressing you with their eyes.”Camilla couldn't quite understand the fluttering of butterflies in her belly, despite her irritation. “That shouldn't bother you because the vile ones will always be immoral, irrespective of what the woman is putting on.”“That's why I insisted on coming with you. I'm not taking any chances. I'll give a black eye to anyone that as much as gives you an innocent once-over,” Allen said in a teasing note.Camilla bridled her laug
Camilla was quite taken aback by Alessandro’s question.“Is that what we are here to discuss? My personal life?” Camilla asked, wiping her sweating hands again for what felt like the hundredth time on her gown.“I don't mean to be nosey, but I think I need to know my business partner better,” Alessandro stated, “so is he your boyfriend?” He asked again.“I'm not answering that. It is absolutely unnecessary.” Camilla responded, annoyance swimming in her voice.“Yes, it is necessary.” Alessandro said, and Camilla scoffed.“What do you intend to do with that answer? Set up another pastry shop? Or do you want to get more flowers with my answer?” Camilla said her voice was filled to the brim with sarcasm.Alessandro shook his head in tiredness. “Just give me a yes or no,” he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, lifting the glass of water to his mouth.Camilla didn't know what came over her. If he wanted an answer, she sure as hell was going to tell him what he wanted to hear. “Ye
The gentle rustling of leaves and the soft whisper of wind through the trees filled the tingled night air. A quiet contrast to the impending storm."I'll be coming with you guys," Salvatore said, securing the grey blazers around his powerful back and matching to Alessandro, who stood just in front of one of the SUVs clad in his bulletproof blazer. He cast a long, dark shadow under the moonlight.His convoy was as long as a mamba, its colour, the dark shade of night. With poison-filled fangs and a hissing tongue, they were ready to bite.“Gather everyone here now," Alessandro ordered Jax, who was leaning on the hood of the S U V in front of Alessandro."Roger that," Jax said, and he went to every car in the convoy, calling everyone to get together. Soon they all surrounded him."Here is how we are going to move," Alessandro said. "We are going to move in three groups, so the long convoy doesn't attract too much attention—so as not to alert them." He pointed to his uncle. "My uncle her
When Alessandro entered the duplex's backyard, he saw most of his men working out in the large gym in the backyard.The stench of their sweating bodies reached his nose, and he wiped his nose with his handkerchief; his lips curled to a small smile. The clanging of the metal weight lifts was music to his ears.Just maybe he still stood a chance against the bloody axe mafia. His eyes scanned the backyard. It's been a while since he came here. The last time he was there, he was preparing for a war with the now impoverished Leones. He had utterly pulverised them. He had sent them to the slums. He planned to do the same to these people, but they were not the same. The Donatellos have external help: ninjas. They were undefeated like he was. He didn't know exactly what to expect.He had made sure to eliminate moles that could give away his next move to his dangerous opponents.That's why the backyard was built in such a way that those in the main mansion couldn't see what was going on ther
EARLIER THE SAME EVENING Allen leaned back on the reclining bench, his legs crossed, an elbow on the armrest, and the other hand scratching his stubble as he waited for Barbara to appear. He was swamped. In prickling thought. He replayed the conversation he had with Camilla earlier over and over again. Each replay another tonne of weight tied to his ankle, which sank him deeper into the sea of depression. Was he not good enough?The woman he loved was starting to fall in love with another man. He couldn't let that happen. He had to divert her attention from Alessandro to himself. He needed to do that fast. What could he possibly do? Was the question that vibrated in his mind?He was clueless as to what to do at the moment, but he knew he was sure to figure something out. Barbara pushed through the door with the doctor behind her.“Allen,” Barbara called him, and he raised his gaze to her. “I'm ready; let's go,” she said, and Allen glanced at the doctor, who nodded at him."Yes, she
"What! No way!” she gasped, despite the butterflies that fluttered in her belly. “Why would you go that far? I thought we were just business colleagues. Why do you want to kiss me?” Camilla asked, staring into his eyes for clues.“Yeah, we are partners, but is it wrong to just want to kiss a business partner?” Alessandro asked, looking back at her with an unreadable face.“Yes, it is wrong for business partners to kiss,” Camilla stated. Contradicting what the small voice in her head was whispering. The small voice that won't mind their lips getting again and again.“What is wrong?”“I don't mix business with pleasure,” Camilla said, yanking the bridle that restricted her lips from curling into a smile, and Alessandro smirked at her.“Well, this is not business, and neither are we in a business setting. Remember, you promised to do it. I didn't force you to promise.”“You didn't force me to promise, but I didn't know you would go this far," she explained.“Doesn't matter. A promise i
She took her bath and came out of the shower bare and dripping water. Alessandro had not yet brought the clothes. She limped to the door and opened it slightly. Alessandro, the cloth,” she called and poked out her dripping hand, and soon after she heard the sound of incoming footsteps and then felt clothes stuffed in her hand.She retracted her hand from the door and looked at her hand and saw a fresh white towel, a checked white and black boxer, and a big, sky-blue shirt. They smell new, and from the looks of it, they have never been used or worn before.She locked the door, dried her body, and put on the clothes. The shirt was enormous. It almost touched her knees, so she folded the sleeves to her elbows.She unlocked the door, wondering what she looked like in Alessandro's clothes. She stepped out of the bathroom, fiddling her hands in front of the shirt, and saw Alessandro cleaning the floor, which now sparkled. Alessandro raised his gaze to her and burst into laughter, and Ca
Camilla's face flushed in embarrassment when she noticed her clothes soaked in her urine. Desperately, she prayed for the floor to open and swallow her whole. She wished for a rewind, but unfortunately for her, this was reality, and there was no do-over.Alessandro groped on his cabinet for the remote. When he felt it. He clutched it and put the light on. He gasped when he saw Camilla on the floor amidst glinting shards of glass. He threw off the duvet and scampered out of bed, barefoot.Camilla raised her hands at him, palm out. “Please, don't come any closer; you will hurt yourself,” she warned, but Alessandro turned a deaf ear to her. He tiptoed to her as the sharp, acrid tang stung his nostrils, a stark contrast to the sweet floral scent of his air freshener. The stench seemed to grow stronger as he approached her.“Please don't come any closer,” she all but begged, and Alessandro stopped in his tracks and watched as she attempted to stand on her feet.She tried to stand on
"Never mind. Just know that I'm not sharing a bed with you.” Camilla stated, folding her arms across her chest in defiance, and Alessandro inhaled deeply and slowly breathed out in surrender.“Whatever you say, signorina,” he offered, plopping himself on the soft bed with a sigh of relief. Camilla watched him as he shrouded himself underneath his duvet with a smile on his face. She watched as he stretched himself on the bed while Camilla tapped her feet against the marble floor in impatience, her hands still folded across her chest.After a few minutes seeing that Alessandro was not going to make any move, she spoke, “Are you just going to lie down and watch me stand here all night long?”“What do you want me to do?” He shrugged, throwing aside the duvet. “I offered that you sleep right next to me, but you refused.”“Of course I'll refuse.” She widened her eyes at him. “How can a young lady sleep on the same bed with a man who is not her father, boyfriend, husband, or even brother?” S
Judging from the resolve in her narrowed eyes, he figured that going round in circles wouldn't help him get away, so he confessed, "I inherited a lot of businesses. I own casinos, hotels, real estate, and various other businesses,” he folded his hands across his chest.“Yet you don't seem to attend to any of them these days.” Camilla reasoned, and Alessandro swallowed hard; his facial expression slipped, and his smile upturned before he reined himself in, throwing on an indifferent facade.“I'm healing from a gunshot, remember?” Alessandro raised his left brow in question. “And by the way, I have competent managers that manage my businesses and report directly to me. I usually have lunch with them every week for updates on the business's progress, but since the attack, I have to stay indoors.” Alessandro explained.“Is that so?” Camilla asked in a contemplative tone, “Why do you have so many bodyguards following you around everywhere you go?”Alessandro shrugged, “To protect me from t
“What news?” Salvatore asked with eyebrows raised in curiosity.“Jax found out that Antonio had a hand in the shooting that happened a few days ago.” Alessandro sank into the plush seat.“I thought as much,” Salvatore smirked.Ruby perked up her ears when she heard “Antonio.” Could this be the remaining piece of her plan?“Antonio is back in town, and he is not alone. He hired assassins. He hired the Chinese bloody axe." He informed Salvatore, and horror poured on Salvatore; his eyes went wide and his jaw looseneded.“What!” Salvatore exclaimed. The Chinese Bloody Axe was the most prominent mafia in Asia and one of the biggest in the world. They were popularly known for their Ninja Assassins. They had never lost a battle instory.“Damn!” Alessandro cursed, brushing his hand over his face in frustration.Camilla and Ruby were thrown into confusion, as they didn't even know what the Chinese bloody axe meant or was.“Antonio is no child. He is sleek and sly as a serpent. That boy has bee